Big Bore 44 Special for self defense.
- Thread starter azgunner
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Ahhhh, YES, They are. The only other thing I thought about, and I don't
know if it's a good idea or not is to load the gun with every other chamber
a Gold Dot. If one wouldn't get em, the other would.
know if it's a good idea or not is to load the gun with every other chamber
a Gold Dot. If one wouldn't get em, the other would.
On those occasions when I don't feel confortable with a .38, I carry my Taurus 445 (5-shot/.44 Spec./2" Bbl.) Which I much prefer to the .357 Magnum in a snubby configuration. As they say, it doesn't need to expand if it starts out big in the first place. 
Guillermo
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must stay highroad
must stay highroad
must stay highroad
Guillermo
member
LOL!
you got me
Leathermarshmallow
Member.
My Charter Arms .44 bulldog has become my wife's favorite revolver. It is what she would reach for when things go bump in the night.
Owen Sparks
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I have tested a variety of .44 Special loads and the one that seems most likely to expand reliably is the 200 grain Gold Dot bullet made specifically for this caliber.
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That's what bothers me, and why I won't bet my life on it. "Most likely"
My first 5 shots will be with full wadcutters.
My first 5 shots will be with full wadcutters.
Frank V
Member
kwhi43
Those Buffalo Bore wadcutters look & sound awsome. I'm looking for some, I think they'd be great to carry in the .44.
Frank
Those Buffalo Bore wadcutters look & sound awsome. I'm looking for some, I think they'd be great to carry in the .44.
Frank
RX-178
Member
I don't carry one, in fact I don't even own a .44spl (or a .44 mag that I could load with .44spl), but I have absolutely no doubt that it's a great round for self defense, and don't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who asks me for advice about it.
My own testing has convinced that the Gold Dot HP really does perform as advertised. I have not yet had one fail to expand fully even at 800 fps in handloads shot from a Charter Bulldog. But those full wadcutters go through stuff like a Freightliner. There may not be deep penetration but they certainly dump ALL their energy in the target and the sharp corners tear stuff up and smash bones. You're not going to make a quick reload with them though. Loading them into a revolver is like installing a piston in a cylinder block.
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Full wadcutters at 950 fps very hard cast will penterate much more than
a Gold Dot at 800 fps that has expanded. Reloads? I use Gold Dot if I need
another five.
a Gold Dot at 800 fps that has expanded. Reloads? I use Gold Dot if I need
another five.
bubba15301
Member
i carry a ruger vaquero in 44/40
Frank V
Member
Bubba15301
I like the .44-40 too, it's also known as the .44WCF. It's easy to get a 200gr bullet to just over 800fps.
Fine CTG.
Frank
I like the .44-40 too, it's also known as the .44WCF. It's easy to get a 200gr bullet to just over 800fps.
Fine CTG.
Frank
Gordon
Member
In a CCW I have come to the conclusion that .38spl. is a better option- for my needs. I recently tested my S&W 296 and my recently acquired 1st gen Charter Bulldog .44spl. both with Win Silvertip 200 grain . I also brought my Colt Officer's Lt weight .45acp and a Glock 26. Lastly my Colt Agent and an S&W flatlatch model 37.
The .44spls produced 4" 15 yard groups and 10" 25 yard groups off hand, The .45acp Officer's Lt wight cut that almost in half and the recoil was about the same as the .44s which is fierce enough to slightly effect repeat hits for me. The Glock 26 9mm shot about the the same as the .44s at 15 yards but somewhat tighter at 25 yards. The rapidity of fire was about twice as much however.
The .38 snubs produced 3" 15 yard groups with the Colt Agent doing it better- closer to 2" .The 25 yard groups were 5-7" and I could shoot the Agent pretty quickly.
What this means for me is the ability to take a head shot with the .38s pretty surely while the .44spls were about 60% for me . The .45acp could do it too. The 9mm mini Glock was about 75% in the brain at 15 yards. Also the 25yard bunny shot is important to me and only the Agent was reasonable for that shot. Note my Detective special shoots into 4"at 25 yards with 158 Rem +p ammo! A bunny getter oer could take a deer if it had too! The .44s have the power, with maybe a triffle too much recoil , but I'll take the faster and better .38 spl accuracy which allows head shots.....
The .44spls produced 4" 15 yard groups and 10" 25 yard groups off hand, The .45acp Officer's Lt wight cut that almost in half and the recoil was about the same as the .44s which is fierce enough to slightly effect repeat hits for me. The Glock 26 9mm shot about the the same as the .44s at 15 yards but somewhat tighter at 25 yards. The rapidity of fire was about twice as much however.
The .38 snubs produced 3" 15 yard groups with the Colt Agent doing it better- closer to 2" .The 25 yard groups were 5-7" and I could shoot the Agent pretty quickly.
What this means for me is the ability to take a head shot with the .38s pretty surely while the .44spls were about 60% for me . The .45acp could do it too. The 9mm mini Glock was about 75% in the brain at 15 yards. Also the 25yard bunny shot is important to me and only the Agent was reasonable for that shot. Note my Detective special shoots into 4"at 25 yards with 158 Rem +p ammo! A bunny getter oer could take a deer if it had too! The .44s have the power, with maybe a triffle too much recoil , but I'll take the faster and better .38 spl accuracy which allows head shots.....
weregunner
Member
Yes sir, gotta love the .44 Special.
Own 7 Tauri with that caliber. 3 inch-4inch barreled Taurus 431s and 441s.
The 5 shot revolvers give little up and I can do without the 6th shot.
Since extra ammo is carried on HKS CA-44 speedloaders , no problems.
Winchester Silvertips in .44 Special have had a good real world documented record.
I also like the Gold Dots.
BVAC and Georgia Arms can make up a goodly number of rounds for practice or defense. Granted, the all lead semi-wadcutters do not expand well, but semi-wadcutters are going to cause a more traumatic wound than round nosed ammo.
Bad things are going to happen to anyone who gets in a 240gr. bullet. Even at .44 Special velocities.
The 5 shot revolver is the same size as a 6 shot .38 Special revolver. That makes it easier for short people like me to be able to carry it for CCW or for field use.
Don't get me wrong. I like the .38 Special and .357 magnum rounds. Got a bunch of those as well. It 's just that there is something comforting about big old slug going down range that is fun for practice and or for defense.
There is no way I can pack a 6 shot .44 magnum N frame sized gun. Never could. Nor a N framed 6 shot .44 Special. I do admire the S&W 624 though.
Own 7 Tauri with that caliber. 3 inch-4inch barreled Taurus 431s and 441s.
The 5 shot revolvers give little up and I can do without the 6th shot.
Since extra ammo is carried on HKS CA-44 speedloaders , no problems.
Winchester Silvertips in .44 Special have had a good real world documented record.
I also like the Gold Dots.
BVAC and Georgia Arms can make up a goodly number of rounds for practice or defense. Granted, the all lead semi-wadcutters do not expand well, but semi-wadcutters are going to cause a more traumatic wound than round nosed ammo.
Bad things are going to happen to anyone who gets in a 240gr. bullet. Even at .44 Special velocities.
The 5 shot revolver is the same size as a 6 shot .38 Special revolver. That makes it easier for short people like me to be able to carry it for CCW or for field use.
Don't get me wrong. I like the .38 Special and .357 magnum rounds. Got a bunch of those as well. It 's just that there is something comforting about big old slug going down range that is fun for practice and or for defense.
There is no way I can pack a 6 shot .44 magnum N frame sized gun. Never could. Nor a N framed 6 shot .44 Special. I do admire the S&W 624 though.
FoMoGo
Member
I have a pair of Taurus 445s, one blued one stainless, that I carry quite often.
The 200 gr Gold Dots are my preferred defensive load.
Not bad at all to shoot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og-6nxJTt04
Jim
The 200 gr Gold Dots are my preferred defensive load.
This isn't magnaported, but it is my Astra Terminator .44 Magnum loaded with 240 gr WWB ammo.Has anyone shot a short (2-3") ported 44 Mag? I was wondering about the recoil on one compared to the 44 SPL. I've been looking for a 44 Mag that I can afford, but haven't found one yet.
Not bad at all to shoot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og-6nxJTt04
Jim
JERRY
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oh snap! im gonna play too!
Rossi 720 .44spl with a S&W 640-1 .357mag
business ends.
lining them up by the top strap, the .44spl isnt much bigger, and a whole lot easier to shoot.
BTW, if you want the best anti personnel, best self defensive .44spl round....look at Buffalo Bore's 190gr. LHP .44spl @ 1,150 fps. its the "fbi load" of .44spls. sorry C.A. youre not built hardy enough for it.
Rossi 720 .44spl with a S&W 640-1 .357mag
business ends.
lining them up by the top strap, the .44spl isnt much bigger, and a whole lot easier to shoot.
BTW, if you want the best anti personnel, best self defensive .44spl round....look at Buffalo Bore's 190gr. LHP .44spl @ 1,150 fps. its the "fbi load" of .44spls. sorry C.A. youre not built hardy enough for it.
surfinUSA
Member
I really don't understand why the 44 special isn't more popular (other than ammo cost). It and the 45 Colt have been around forever, both can be loaded much hotter than from the factory. It also has very similar ballistics to the 45 ACP (which is substantially cheaper) but in a revolver.
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