Are you a fan of the 44 Special?

[BullRunBear]

Don't have anything designed for the Special but the old Model 29 and a 44 magnum Contender see 95% specials. What's not to like? The 44 Special is accurate, comfortable, versatile, and reloaded brass lasts a LONG time. It lets me reserve my magnum brass for magnum loads. In my experience, the 44 Special is an excellent training round (only the 38 Special is better) when introducing new shooters to center fire handgun use. I'm past the point where I crave heavy recoil for it's own sake; I want accuracy and comfort.

Finally, it's a great round for home defense. Loud as the 44 Special is, I don't want to even think about firing a 44 mag or 357 mag inside a room. It would take days to get the grimace off your face.

I really should get a Flattop in 44 Special. Talk about a Perfect Packin' Pistol.

Jeff

 

[RealGun]

I really should get a Flattop in 44 Special. Talk about a Perfect Packin' Pistol.

I think of those guns as intended for open carry. It depends what you mean by "Packin'.

 

[BullRunBear]

Hi RealGun,

I had open carry in mind, walking in the woods, camping and the like. John Taffin has discussed the phrase over the years: a combination of enough power, comfortable when walking or sitting, controllable recoil, etc. Generally a SA revolver with 4 inch barrel by Taffin's preference. I've used an old 357 Flattop Blackhawk for this but a 44 Special version would be at least as nice.

Jeff

 

[DM~]

In the last 4 or 5 months, every time I walk in to a Cabelas store, I see 44spl. ammo on the shelf...in more than one brand...

Although I do have 44 specials, including a S&W M-19 in 44spl., I prefer my S&W M-19 in 357 mag., as my self defense revolver

DM

 

[Fireforger]

Monac, yeah, the 44 Russian and Special aren't far apart (practically speaking, in lighter loads in my guns anyway). However, the Russian is a little gentler and more accurate in my Bulldog using 214 grain SWC. But my Colt SAA is far and away the most comfortable in all loads, especially 250 grain safe top end loads (my other revolver is a S&W 624). I gave up magnums a long time ago because I can do everything I need with a Special and .45 Colt. And since I'm stirring it up a bit, I think the .44 magnum is over-rated, and I've had plenty and taken my fair share of deer with them. But this is about .44 Specials, so I digress.

 

[Stainz]

I started my .44 Special 'affair' 11/02 with a new 629 Mountain Gun, followed by both a production and a Heritage 24, a 296 & 696, a 4" & 6" 629, and, briefly, a Henry Big Boy lever gun in .44 Magnum. Whether a 'real' .44 Special chambered firearm or one in .44 Magnum, they are fed a diet of my .44 Russian and Special homebrews here. Sure - I've reloaded a bunch of .44 Magnums in my day - never more than a warm .44 Special, however. The brass was free! All are gone now save the 296, 696, and 4" & 6" 629:

There is nothing 'wrong' with buying a .44 Magnum 'just' to shoot .44 Specials or Russians in. It allows greater choice in styles, ie, full or partial lugs, barrel lengths, and longevity (The 296/396/696 family's diminutive forcing cone!), much like the .357 Magnum vs the .38 Special. Well, the .44 Special has never enjoyed the .38 Specials commonality - it's always had a sort of cult-like following. After carefully cleaning the crud from the chambers, especially after firing the 'cute' .44 Russians, you can always shoot 'real' .44 Magnums from your .44 Magnum revolver. I think the greatest indignity the cartridge faced was in 2007 - it's 'parent' (The cartridge is the '.44 S&W Special'.) didn't even commemorate it's 100th anniversary by producing a revolver in it's chambering that year! Well - I loaded and shot enough for it that year!

Part of my love of the cartridge is it's history. You cannot escape the fact that it is based on the first mass-produced brass cased centerfire revolver cartridge, the .44 Russian. Sure, the later developed .45 Colt gets the credit for 'winning the west', but lots of bad guys - and lawmen - liked the top break .44 Russian chambered sixguns - they were far faster to reload than the .45 Colts. Accurate to a fault, even Annie Oakley reportedly preferred them. The .44 S&W Special came from good stock!

Stainz

 

[dickydalton]

In the last 4 or 5 months, every time I walk in to a Cabelas store, I see 44spl. ammo on the shelf...in more than one brand...

Although I do have 44 specials, including a S&W M-19 in 44spl., I prefer my S&W M-19 in 357 mag., as my self defense revolver

DM

Who converted the 19 to a 44 Special?

 

[Jaymo]

It's my favorite handgun round

 

[BobWright]

WestKentucky said:

I don't dislike the special but I don't particularly care for it. Where I am at I'm much more likely to need a flat shooting gun than a slower more rain bowed trajectory. Flat and fast chases down stray dogs and coyotes a lot better. They are brave and plentiful around my hunting spots. I do like 44 but in the mag flavor. ..........

Several years ago I loaded some Sierra 180 gr. Jacketed Hollow Cavity (JHC) bullets in the .44 Special, using Winchester 540 (now discontinued, but I believe same as HS-6) and got velocities around 1100~1200 fps. Not Magnum velocities by any means, but very nice shooting for varmint eradication.

This is my current .44 Special battery:



Two Colts, a Ruger Blackhawk Three Screw (ex-.357 Magnum) and a Uberti.

Bob Wright

 

[PistolPete45]

I bought two of the Taurus 431's back in about 97. great lil snubbies , just had to get a Magnum So I got an Anaconda with a short barrel to go along with the specials . Then what happens The Ranch Hand in 44 Magnum . I shoot the Specials 10 to 1 over the magnum rounds . I will advise everyone to give the 44 special a try .. a real pleasure to shoot and what you shoot will react to that big bullet. Steel or just plinking a tin can .

 

[Robert101]

What 44 Special? If you like handguns you like the 44 Cals. I'm a bit on the edge as I like to purchase 44 Magnums and shoot both Special and Mags in it - I guess I'm not a purist.

 

[lowercase]

I'm a big fan of the .44spl and the Charter Arms Bulldog that shoots it.

Can't live without my Bulldog. If I ever lost it, I would be at the LGS the very next day buying a new one.

 

[35 Whelen]

I currently own...seven(not counting the rifle), as you'll see below, so you might say I'm a fan:























The S&W 24-3 is trading material, it won't reside here long.

I know I'm in the minority, perhaps even a lone voice, but I've never quite understood the point of buying a gargantuan frame, heavy .44 Magnum then loading the cartridge down to .44 Special levels. It makes more sense to me to use the smaller, lighter .44 Specials revolvers, with .44 Special loads, and then if for some reason I need to load to near .44 Magnum levels, drag the NM Blackhawk .44 Special out and do so. Besides, in the limited hunting I've done with the .44 Special, a 260 gr. SWC at around 950 fps has been plenty of power so far.

35W

 

[joneb]

I load for a 44 mag, same dies and bullets for my 44 specials. No different than 357 mag and 38spl just works for me.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Who converted the 19 to a 44 Special?

I don't know who converted DM's revolver but there was a gunsmith in Spokane WA back in the 70's, IIRC who did quite a few of these conversions.
Spokhandguns or something was the name of the shop.

 

[Stainz]

35Whelen,

Sometimes the use of a 'large frame .44 Magnum' is the only viable - or affordable - choice. Your 624 will command a premium due to it's current rarity. Size differences really aren't that great - look at my 696 vs 4" 629. There is only six ounces difference in the two - 35.5oz vs 41.5oz. L-frame to N-frame, 5-shot to 6-shot, 3" to 4" barrel. etc. Now, SA revolvers are another matter. In my 'Ruger Years', I wanted a SS 4 5/8" .44 BHG - to go with my .32, .357, & .45 Colt versions - had to make it by getting a BHG frame and fitting it to a new SBH - gross overkill. Fun gun - great with .44 Russians and Specials. Long gone now, as are all of it's siblings. Excuse the poor picture - it's the only one I have of it. Note the .458 Lott round for size comparison, all I have left of a beautiful furnitured Ruger #1H.



Stainz

 

[stu1ritter]

I never quite became friendly with .44 Mag loads and so now I shoot nothing but the hottest .44 Special +P loads in .44 Mag brass in my cut down 629-3 and it is the most fun revolver I own. Hard to describe but the recoil is just plain pleasant and the gun very accurate.
Stu

 

[HexHead]

I'm a big fan of the .44spl and the Charter Arms Bulldog that shoots it.

Can't live without my Bulldog. If I ever lost it, I would be at the LGS the very next day buying a new one.

I really like my Bulldog too...

 

[j1]

I think that I would just load my 44 magnum down. More versatile, but I do understand that the special is lighter. It is a superb choice if that is what you want.

 

[stu1ritter]

j1,
Loading down the .44 Mag case from hot magnum to hot special +P takes you from ouch to ahhhhh.
Stu

 

[RealGun]

I know I'm in the minority, perhaps even a lone voice, but I've never quite understood the point of buying a gargantuan frame, heavy .44 Magnum then loading the cartridge down to .44 Special levels. It makes more sense to me to use the smaller, lighter .44 Specials revolvers, with .44 Special loads,

In terms of new DA guns, I don't believe there are many .44 Special only guns that are not simply done on a .44 Magnum frame. That is to say that there are few 5 shot .44 Specials available and probably no 6 shot on a frame distinguishable from a Magnum. I wonder if that perception is different for SA. Those all seem to be six shooters on a standard frame within a model line.

I enjoy my Taurus 441 very much.

 

[35 Whelen]

In terms of new DA guns, I don't believe there are many .44 Special only guns that are not simply done on a .44 Magnum frame. That is to say that there are few 5 shot .44 Specials available and probably no 6 shot on a frame distinguishable from a Magnum. I wonder if that perception is different for SA. Those all seem to be six shooters on a standard frame within a model line.

I enjoy my Taurus 441 very much.

I believe you're correct regarding DA's, but in the SA realm there are options. 4 or 5 ounces doesn't sound like much weight difference when the discussion takes placen in the comfort of a recliner or chair, but out romping over hill and dell is different.

35W

 

[RealGun]

I believe you're correct regarding DA's, but in the SA realm there are options.

I infer that there are 5 shot SAs or SA frames for 44 Special that are not used for Magnum. I think we know that there are myriad SA .44 Special-only guns in vintage style, but on the Blackhawk, Old Vaquero, I'm-a-big-bad-SA Ruger side are there any frames dedicated to .44 Special, while a similar gun is .44 Magnum?

 

[35 Whelen]

I infer that there are 5 shot SAs or SA frames for 44 Special that are not used for Magnum. I think we know that there are myriad SA .44 Special-only guns in vintage style, but on the Blackhawk, Old Vaquero, I'm-a-big-bad-SA Ruger side are there any frames dedicated to .44 Special, while a similar gun is .44 Magnum?

The flat top Blackhawk in .44 Special uses a frame that is smaller than that of the .44 Magnum. I'm not aware of any 5-shot SA .44 Special but there sure may be one.

I own a Hawes. 44 Magnum and it's a bit beefier than my 44 Specials.

 

[mavracer]

4 or 5 ounces doesn't sound like much weight difference when the discussion takes placen in the comfort of a recliner or chair, but out romping over hill and dell is different.

I don't even think it's really all that different in the field either, If I couldn't afford a dedicated 44 Special It's no big deal to carry a few extra ounces, heck I'm 50# overweight. However if all I think I'll need is 44 special level loads which is most of the time and since I can afford both a mag and a special why not lose the weight and pack the svelt and slightly better balanced special.
Yes I'm a fan of the 44 special but like most of my hero's Taffin, Keith, Skeeter and Quinn I love em all lol.