inexpensive .44 special ammo?

[krs]

I really like the .44 Special to shoot and I have a 3" Model 24 for it as well as a 5" 629 .44 Magnum that sees a lot more .44 Special than Magnum loads.

Yeah, I do reload the .44 Special but I'd already been reloading for a while

All it takes is to screw down the .44 Mag dies about 1/8" and you're in the ballpark. Also, I use the same charge of bullseye in .44 Spec. as I use in .45 acp so I don't even have to adjust the powder measure. Nice big 240 or 260 gr. bullets moving slowly to make a heavy "Thud". You gotta' love it!

 

[Landric]

Handloading really is the only way to go for .44 Special. It doesn't cost any more to load a .44 Special than a .45 ACP (not counting the price of brass), and one is not limited to what the factory thinks one should shoot.

I have quite a few guns that have never fired a factory cartridge, and ammo cost is not even a factor I take into account when considering a new gun purchase.

Ever price .32 H&R Magnum ammo? Its about the same price a .44 Special (perhaps slightly cheaper), but the point is that its expensive. On the other hand, handloading for the .32 H&R Mag using bullets I cast myself, reused cases that pretty much last forever, and the only components I have to purchase, primers and powder, makes it almost as cheap to shoot as a .22LR and a lot more fun. Each round has a $0.02 primer and about $0.01 worth of powder, so $0.03 or perhaps $0.04 per round, depending on the powder used. .44 Special using cast bullets and reused cases might be $0.05 per round since it uses more powder. What does .22LR cost these days, $0.02 per shot?

As much as I enjoy shooting a good .22LR, I'd rather shoot .32 H&R Mag, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, .45ACP, etc. Handloading and past that bullet casting really is the way to go if you want to shoot centerfire on the cheap, not to mention make ammunition specifically for your needs.

 

[Clarence]

.44 Special is one of my favorite rounds to shoot.

Personally I shoot way too much NOT to reload. Cost for .44 Special loads - ~$6.00 / 50 rounds.