Are you a fan of the 44 Special?

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Nonsense. If you load a .357 to 38 levels does it become a .38? Of course not. Likewise any load in a .44 Special cartridge case is a .44 Special load.

Why does the potential of the .44 Special, when handloaded, upset people?

Oh yeah. ..please post pictures when you get that 357 Maximum fully inserted in the 357 Magnum chamber.

35W
 
Originally posted by DM~
And "then" it won't be a 44 spl. any longer, it will be a light magnum load.

SO no, a 44spl. loaded with factory ammo will NOT do what a 357 mag will do loaded with factory ammo...

Yes, you can hop a spl up to out perform a 357... Then again, ever hear of a 357 MAX?? What them? You gonna switch to a 44 mag.??? AND on up the ladder we go.....

DM
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Uh, no, if its loaded in a 44 spl case, its a 44 spl load. You seem stuck on factory loads in 44 spl for some reason. Many of us never use them. I don't think I've ever fired a factory load in either of the Smith 24's I've had. The cartridge is very flexible when handloaded, instead of being stuck with the mostly wimpy factory stuff. The old RN loads were ok for rabbits, but don't be surprised when a jack gets up and runs off after a body hit now and then from that stuff.

The 357 max is entirely off topic, it has no bearing on 44 spl or 357 mag guns or a comparison between them.

And yes, if I want more power than the 44 spl will comfortably provide, and the old Keith loads can be fairly stout, then I carry a 44 mag. I do like the lighter weight and cleaner chambers of the Smith 24 in comparison to the 29 used with spl cases.
 
Of course, the 357 mag has a velocity advantage, so hits are easier at longer ranges.

I think it would be more accurate to say that a 44 spl is AT LEAST as effective as a 357 mag - once it hits the target.

It's all in how you define "effective", isn't it?

This argument is about apples & oranges! :confused:
 
I thought this was about whether one was a fan of the .44 Spl or not, not a debate between the .357 and the .44 Spl.......... :)
 
No. I shoot .38spl in my .357, and .44mag full loads in my .44mags. I kinda would like to get a .460 s&w... .500 is prohibitively expensive to shoot.
 
Gee, some of this discussion sounds like asking if a Chevrolet can go 200mph, which most people would say "no way", but it you put on all the NASCAR parts, and a NASCAR engine, and all the rest.....
 
I'm a fan; got some from Underwood Ammo that I really like. Like others have mentioned; my 44mag is loaded with the Specials.
 
Yep, a serious 44 Special fan here! Skeeter Skelton got my attention "way back when" and I couldn't rest until I landed a Model 24. Couldn't stop with just one, I have three now; a 3", 4" and 6 1/2". A couple weeks ago I snagged a Ruger Blackhawk Bisley in 44 Special. I can honestly say I never met a 44 Special I didn't like.
 
whitecoyote said:
Charter Arms Custom by Mag-Na-Port.
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How do you like the MNP? I've read a lot of negative reviews of the idea (i.e. Increases muzzle flash with no significant reduction in felt recoil) but I've never actually fired a 'ported gun or known anyone who owned one. :-/
 
I am now. Finally shot my Taurus M445 today. Just about perfect for what I wanted - a lightweight revolver with a big bark. Those ribber grips definitely make the shooting easier, but I can't imagine carrying with those on there. Great shooter though. Glad I picked it up and joined the .44 game.
 
44 Special...

Another 44 Special fan.

S&W's: 21 4", 24 6", 24 3" (NIB), 624 4", 624 3", 396 Night Guard & Taurus 445.

Yes. I reload.
 

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I think I'm about to be a fan of the .44 Special! I have a Marlin 1894 .44 Mag rifle coming Tuesday and I hear Specials are great fun to shoot out of it. Have looked online fpr the "cowboy loads" but haven't found any available so I may have to get some brass and reload it.
 
I had a Winchester 94 in .44 Mag that I shot a lot of .44 Specials out of. Killed a few possums with it. Lots of fun.
 
Huge fan of the .44 Spl. I own 2. One is a Taurus Ultra light 2", 5-shot w/ ribber grips and sees home defense duty. The other is a 5-shot Charter Arms "Pug" 2" w/after market rubber "boot grips" or grip (it may be a one piece deal). This has replaced my 1911s and Sig P220 for the summer ...and maybe longer. I reload and ballistically, if you get hit with either one...well, feel free to take it up with the management. For those who leaping for the keyboard to chastise me for having "only" 5 rounds at my disposal, instead of 7~8 in my .45ACPs, here's my feeling: I want the police report and the news paper article to use the term "shooting," not "gun fight."
as always, YMMV.
 
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To all who have replied to this thread. Thank you. I have many, many guns and in different calibers. Single action, double action and semi autos. I like them all. But my preference has always been the double action revolver. I prefer the 357 and 44 as my every day ccws. I like my 12ga riot for my bed gun backed up by my 45 acp. My truck gun is my hi-cap 9mm.
When I take to the forests of AZ and CO to hunt, hike and camp .I pack my 5.5 Redhawk and my Marlin 1894. I've never felt under gunned in any situation.
But I am always drawn back to my revolvers as my go to guns and the ones that will never be traded or sold.
I love the 44 Special. It really can do 97% of what a handgun needs to do. And I love to reload for it as well. Long live the 44 Special.
 
I had two. Both were S&W 696. I reload and could never find brass. It's almost as bad as 45 Colt in that respect. I finally sold both of them. I moved on to 45 ACP and moon clips. No shortage of brass there and it works in my 625 and my 1911. I really wanted to like the 44 special but it was a little too uncommon for me.
 
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35 Whelen said:
Why does the potential of the .44 Special, when handloaded, upset people?
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No idea. Seems like some people always get their knickers all in a twist whenever anyone talks about "heavy" 44 Special loadings ("get a 44 magnum they usually like to advise"). Funny thing is that you never see that response when people are talking about heavy 45 Colt loadings--nobody pipes up as suggests the poster should simply go get a 454 Casul.

Obviously the key in these situations is to take all reloading data with a grain of salt, consider the strength of the gun in question and simply use caution when working up any kind of over-pressure loads.

The seemingly paper thin walls of Smith and Wesson's new Model 69 in 44 magnum strongly suggest to me that most modern Special-chambered guns can far exceed the cartridge's original specs laid out over a hundred years ago.
 
I had two. Both were S&W 696. I reload and could never find brass. It's almost as bad as 45 Colt in that respect. I finally sold both of them. I moved on to 45 ACP and moon clips.<>
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When I started with .44 Special last year, I found brass immediately. The .44 Magnum brass was the challenge at that time. Those are certainly in more scarce supply and cost more than range rat .45 ACP.:rolleyes:
 
ExMachina said:
No idea. Seems like some people always get their knickers all in a twist whenever anyone talks about "heavy" 44 Special loadings ("get a 44 magnum they usually like to advise"). Funny thing is that you never see that response when people are talking about heavy 45 Colt loadings--nobody pipes up as suggests the poster should simply go get a 454 Casul.

Obviously the key in these situations is to take all reloading data with a grain of salt, consider the strength of the gun in question and simply use caution when working up any kind of over-pressure loads.

The seemingly paper thin walls of Smith and Wesson's new Model 69 in 44 magnum strongly suggest to me that most modern Special-chambered guns can far exceed the cartridge's original specs laid out over a hundred years ago.
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I have suggested to many range-mates & friends that they should consider a hotter caliber as opposed to hotrodding a lower pressure round - including the .454 over a + rated .45 Colt. Firearms manufacturers use the SAAMI spec's for a cartridge in their design specification, admittedly with a safety factor. Additionally, there is a lot more than just the pressure capability of the cylinder at stake here - including the yoke, recoil plate, etc. Even the frame is stressed. You know that the heat treatment is quite different for a .38 or .44 Special designed revolver frame vs that of a .357 or .44 Magnum, for example. To take all reloading manual's data with a grain of salt - and to work up to an over-pressure load - would seem to be somewhat cavalier. If such a reloader does so, it is his responsibility to warn other shooters of his choice and the collateral damage danger they might suffer.

All of that said, I will remain at .44 S&W Special levels maximum in my so rated firearms. If I need a little warmer loading - I have plenty of my admittedly wimpy for a 'Magnum' load .44 Magnum cases loaded and ready. Better 'safe' than sorry!

Stainz
 
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