Does the .44 Spl snubby concept work?

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I used to own a S&W 629. I packed it around the woods with .44 mag loads but when I got back to town I put .44 specials in it. My favorite .44 special load was the CCI blazer 200 grain gold dots. Meanest looking hollowpoint for the money.

 

[Old Fuff]

I have a Taurus model 445 and love it.

I haven't had any problems, but I deliberately avoided any version except the one made from blued high-carbon steel with an unported barrel. Having used a Charter Arms with a 4" barrel I wanted a gun that had some heft to it to help control recoil - which is stiff, but nothing like a .357 Magnum in an ultra-light S&W J-frame. That's something I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole!

The 445 is on the large size for pocket carry, but fine in the slash pocket of a jacket, or an IWB holster. To be honest I would like it better with a 3" barrel (for conventional holster carry) and If I should happen to find a used .44 Special Tracker with a longer barrel a conversion might happen.

In the big-bore cartridge class the usual candidates are the .44 Special, .45 ACP and .45 Colt. Of these I prefer the "Special" when it comes to Taurus revolvers. The .45 ACP requires moon clips, and Taurus had some problems with these. Unfortunately you can't use .45 Autorim rounds in their guns. The .45 Colt sometimes has extraction issues in hand-ejector revolvers, and the round is longer then it needs to be with today's powders. In either instance, a fat, shorter cartridge (say the length of a .45 ACP) would be better for the purpose - but we are unlikely to see any.

With the .44 I don't have to worry about the bullet expanding - because it's "expanded" before it leaves the bore. No smaller mid-bore cartridge can offer the same.

 

[FoMoGo]

My 445 is my pocket gun of choice... I love it.
And with most factory ammo, even our kids can shoot it.


Jim

 

[Stainz]

The .44 Russian and .45 Auto Rim are nearly the same length - 'cute' little big bore cartridges. It would seem a likely candidate for a near maximum pressure load with the Speer thin wall (#4427?) 200gr Gold Dot JHP in .44 Special. Breaking 800 fps, the incident velocity in gelatin for frontal area doubling from a 3" barrel, would be easy (The .44 Special Blazers, and my favorite, the GA Arms load with that same bullet in a new Starline brass case, do this easily from a 2.5" barrel - such as my 296.), making it an effective bg stopper - in a compact bullet. Yeah - hold your breath for renewed interest in the .44 Russian, the original mass produced metal centerfired cartridge. It's interesting how a 240 gr LSWC over 3.5gr Titegroup in a .44 Russian case can make 692 fps from a 3" 696 - the personification of a 'poof' load. But - it easily makes 'major' power factor!

Of course, the .45 Colt small Taurus - or a .45 ACP one, adapted to .45 Auto Rims - could carry a bigger and more massive Gold Dot - the also thin walled Speer #4484 250gr GDJHP for .45 Colt. I keep them loaded with some 255gr LSWCs, both 840+ fps from my 4" 625MG - solid for thick skin; HPs for thin. Choices!

Stainz

 

[orionengnr]

I can't believe I bit on a six year old thread...... duh.

I can--it happens all the time. The question is...why?