I am currently reloading for 44 mag and 44 special for my 44 mag rifle. I have been carrying a glock for some time and have been thinking of switching it up to a revolver. Since I already reload 44 mag/special, it would be nice to utilize the components I already have a surplus of. So I guess I am just fishing for info on carrying the 44 special. Not interested in carrying a 44 loaded with magnum loads as I do not live in bear country and I feel the magnum would be a little much for my carry gun. If I were to buy a 44 mag revolver I would load it with special loads. Anyone know of a good reason I should not go for the 44 special?
Is 44 special a good carry gun?
- Thread starter ldlfh7
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Depends largely on the gun.
Most in N-Frame sizes are a bit large to conceal & heavy to wear all day.
Spare ammunition isn't as convenient to carry as a spare mag for an auto.
If you can find one you can carry comfortably, go for it.
Denis
Most in N-Frame sizes are a bit large to conceal & heavy to wear all day.
Spare ammunition isn't as convenient to carry as a spare mag for an auto.
If you can find one you can carry comfortably, go for it.
Denis
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Sure it is a great carry choice, if revolvers float your boat. Ammo tends to be a mixed bag. Some (Winchester Silvertips...
) are insanely anemic. Most tends to be almost exactly equivalent of .45ACP. Some will put a stompin' on things.
) are insanely anemic. Most tends to be almost exactly equivalent of .45ACP. Some will put a stompin' on things.
RealGun
Member
One good reason is that I don't think you will find a NIB gun that shoots only .44 Special and is an appropriate frame size. Charter Arms is almost the only game in town and not the grade of gun I would choose to carry. Mine is a discontinued Taurus 430, currently getting fitted with target sights like the 431.
An easy carry size .44 Special double action will only have 5 rounds. That would be a medium size speedloader, which conceals much better than a large 6 shot.
For what's more commonly available The Smith & Wesson Model 69 is an L frame, 5 shot .44 magnum that will shoot 44 special. A gun like that has a true calling of shooting primarily .44 Special.
An easy carry size .44 Special double action will only have 5 rounds. That would be a medium size speedloader, which conceals much better than a large 6 shot.
For what's more commonly available The Smith & Wesson Model 69 is an L frame, 5 shot .44 magnum that will shoot 44 special. A gun like that has a true calling of shooting primarily .44 Special.
lowercase
Member
I carry a Charter Bulldog 44spl.
Shoots and carries great. I love mine.
Shoots and carries great. I love mine.
snooperman
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I have a Taurus 445 that I keep loaded with lead wad cutters and an old 1980 Charter bulldog too. I carry them sometimes. They will do the job if the shot is properly placed.
ACP
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I think if you are already handloading for .44, go ahead and get a charter arms revolver and give it a try. I always thought the biggest objections to carrying a .44 were anemic factory loads and the cost of factory loads, which prohibits practice, which is the most important aspect of self-defense. But I believe you have that covered!
.44 Special works for me.
I pocket carry, and have no problem with the size, and weight of my Charter Arms Bulldog. And I carry my own reloads, which is a 240gr Hornady XTP at 900 fps.
Whats not to love. .45acp power in a light weight package, and the reliability of a revolver.
I pocket carry, and have no problem with the size, and weight of my Charter Arms Bulldog. And I carry my own reloads, which is a 240gr Hornady XTP at 900 fps.
Whats not to love. .45acp power in a light weight package, and the reliability of a revolver.
I've carried a S&W Model 696 on occasion in the woods, and as a CCW. It's an L frame, with five-round capacity. I usually load it up with 200gr RNFP's.
I agree with Sam1911. The Winchester Silver Tips seem awfully anemic for such a light bullet.
I agree with Sam1911. The Winchester Silver Tips seem awfully anemic for such a light bullet.
RealGun
Member
But do you carry it regularly? That is the question here.
bannockburn
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Right now my only .44 Special is a Ruger Blackhawk but if I could find a Taurus Model 431, I would definitely carry it.
One of the very best for self defense. I own two. Taurus 431 and Rossi 720. I rotate them in my ccw carry. There are no flies on the 44 Special as a caliber or as a carry gun.
A+ for the caliber. It and the 357 are my favorite. Get a weapon in 44 special, reload and never look back.
A+ for the caliber. It and the 357 are my favorite. Get a weapon in 44 special, reload and never look back.
Zaydok Allen
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Great carry choice. Carry on man.............
hAkron
Member
I have a Rossi 720 as well. Very light, sturdy compact revolver. I've never carried it, but wouldn't hesitate to if I suspected I might need some extra power.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The .44Spl is a fine choice for carry. It's a potent cartridge and in this context, the equal of the .45ACP. It's best as a handloader's cartridge and you have that covered. For factory loads, the 200gr Gold Dot is probably best.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm a big 38/357 fan but if I weren't I would feel very well protected carrying a .44 Special revolver.
http://charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Bulldog_74421.asp
http://charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Bulldog_14421.asp
http://charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Bulldog_74410.asp
http://charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Bulldog_74421.asp
http://charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Bulldog_14421.asp
http://charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Bulldog_74410.asp
I carry a Smith and Wesson 624. If you can find one it is gonna cost you. It is only a tiny bit smaller then a Model 29 so there really is no size advantage. One advantage though is that you do not have to worry about through and throughs killing someone down the street when you have to return fire even with hotloads. A disadvantage though if you live in big bear country though.
It looks like you are just starting to reload. Do so research online for guys like Kieth, Skelton and Skeeter. Others here have whined about my 44 special loadings but If you dig through the names I listed you can see what they did and what you can do by using different loads and OALs. If you purchase the right 44 Special there can be no difference between it and a 44 magnum in your reloads.
It looks like you are just starting to reload. Do so research online for guys like Kieth, Skelton and Skeeter. Others here have whined about my 44 special loadings but If you dig through the names I listed you can see what they did and what you can do by using different loads and OALs. If you purchase the right 44 Special there can be no difference between it and a 44 magnum in your reloads.
MagnumDweeb
Member
The only reason I don't have one is because the ammo is hard to find and expensive. But come May or so I'll be picking up one of the Rossi snub nose .44 magnums and may finally take up handloading the cartridge as I just got a case trimmer a few months ago and have plenty of .44 magnum spent brass sitting around. Granted I'm going to get factory JHPs for SD but still.
As a side note, the .44 Special is a marketing advance of the .44 Russian. Smith and Wesson wanted to market a whole new line of pistols and didn't want to sit on the .44 Russian (probably because it had Russian in the name and might offend customers, and the other possibility being that a new cartridge would help move their new line of side hand ejectors). In its day the .44 Special was considered king among cartridges. Skeeter Skelton had one built for himself off an old Colt .38-40 of some sort I don't remember. And then you had the .44 Associates who were pushing the round to the limits of the rounds performance.
The .44 Russian could be loaded to perform on the same level as the .45 ACP, the .44 Special can be done the same way. The way I see it is if you get a 240 grain JHP going 850<+ fps, you are going to ruin most predator's days who walk on two feet. Remember the .44 Russian could take down a horse on the battlefield, and the .44 Special typically exceeds performance of the .44 Special.
I won't load it for my Redhawks because they are not SD/HD guns. But if it cost the same as .357 magnum I'd op for it in a sweet model 24 with a 4" barrel if I could find one for less than $600.
As a side note, the .44 Special is a marketing advance of the .44 Russian. Smith and Wesson wanted to market a whole new line of pistols and didn't want to sit on the .44 Russian (probably because it had Russian in the name and might offend customers, and the other possibility being that a new cartridge would help move their new line of side hand ejectors). In its day the .44 Special was considered king among cartridges. Skeeter Skelton had one built for himself off an old Colt .38-40 of some sort I don't remember. And then you had the .44 Associates who were pushing the round to the limits of the rounds performance.
The .44 Russian could be loaded to perform on the same level as the .45 ACP, the .44 Special can be done the same way. The way I see it is if you get a 240 grain JHP going 850<+ fps, you are going to ruin most predator's days who walk on two feet. Remember the .44 Russian could take down a horse on the battlefield, and the .44 Special typically exceeds performance of the .44 Special.
I won't load it for my Redhawks because they are not SD/HD guns. But if it cost the same as .357 magnum I'd op for it in a sweet model 24 with a 4" barrel if I could find one for less than $600.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It's the exact same size, just has a tapered barrel.
PJSprog
Member
Like ArchAngelCD, I'm a big fan of the 38/357. Beyond that, .44 Special is the obvious next choice. It's a fine carry round, especially since you already load your own.
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