Looking at a .44 Special, but ammo availability concerns me

[CraigC]

CraigC, I understand that hand loading ANY round will save $$$. No one questions that. Some don't have the know-how, equipment, or TIME even if you did have the equipment.

Like I already said, it's not all about saving money. The .44Spl suffers from two maladies that don't affect most cartridges. One being the poor state of factory loads, which is related to the second, unreasonably low operating pressures. Handloading cures both. Just like it was in the 1930's when Elmer Keith started experimenting with it, handloading opens up a whole new realm of possibilities.

Conversely, there's nothing lacking in the performance of 9mm or .308 factory ammo.

It's kind of like saying, do you ever take your car into the shop? If your appliances break, do you call someone? If so, why not learn it on your own and do it yourself?

Not the same thing, at all. I shoot all the time, I don't fix appliances or cars all the time. Nor do I do it for enjoyment or recreation. I don't practice fixing washing machines so I can take a washing machine to the woods in the fall. I do, however, shoot .44Spl's (and others) all year and take them to the woods often.

 

[Drail]

I would say that to get the full performance from the .44 Spl. cartridge - you really need to experiment with handloading it. With the right load it is fully equal to the .45 ACP.

 

[1911Tuner]

I would say that to get the full performance from the .44 Spl. cartridge - you really need to experiment with handloading it. With the right load it is fully equal to the .45 ACP.

The original 246 lead RN @755 fps was equal to the .45 hardball in the real world.

Handloaded, it's head and shoulders above the .45 Auto.

Handloaded, The

 

[JERRY]

I have an original (Bridgeport stamped) Bulldog .44 spl. I prefer the 240gr. LSWC over 5.3 grains of Unique, anything more starts to kick too much for my liking as the gun has a small (bulldog?) slick wooden grip.

the factory loads like gold dots kick a bit more as they are loaded hotter. the win sthp seems quite tame for a factory 200gr. self defense loading.

 

[gamestalker]

As far as finding 44 spcl. on the shelf, I see it regularly on the shelf.

From an economic stand point, unless I were a once per year shooter, I wouldn't consider buying factory anything, 44 spcl. or other. If you don't have enough time to reload or shoot much, maybe factory ammo is the best option for you. Other wise, I would buy what you want, then set the press up, laod when you have a little extra time on your hands, and shoot when you have some time.

GS

 

[ThomasT]

I never found a 44 special I could buy at the time. A triple lock or one of the N-frame specials would be nice. We just never met.

I had a Taurus Tracker 44 mag. A smaller 5 shot gun that I wish I hadn't sold. It was close to K-frame in size and I thought it was too lightly built for a lot of mag rounds so I mostly shot 44 special or just a little hotter in it. That was fun. I may buy another someday. There was nothing wrong with my gun I just hated the ported barrel. But after reconsidering it was not that bad.

 

[RustyShackelford]

.44spl, Ables Ammo .....

I looked into a stainless snub DA only .44spl Charter Arms revolver.
I would feel safe with a .44 snub with the right factory made defense rounds.
Id look at the Corbon DPX, PowRball or Glaser Safety Slug silver. The MagSafe SWAT or Buffalo Bore "anti personnel" .44spl loads could work too, .
I've heard the Hornady Critical Defense .44 round works well but it is difficult to obtain, .

Rusty
www.shopcorbon.com www.buffalobore.com

PS: do not shop at Ables Ammo. They have awful service and are not worth the $$$. I ordered one time from them & it was a nightmare.

 

[Tallball]

It is one of my favorite cartridges. One of the LGS's always has it, though it's pricey. I REALLY enjoy shooting it, especially through my Rossi 720 and my old single action.

I would say go for it.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I went out yesterday To practice with my 1st generation CA Bulldog .

Now I have a different way of doing things I had pistol in holster OWB under T shirt. I was wearing a lite jacket and had 2 , 5 round speed strips and 1 new speed loader. In jacket pocket. All loaded with blazer 200 gr Gold dots
So 20 rounds total.

I looked around my old barn trash pile . Came up with a plastic barrel approx 18" high and about 11 inches across . I set up on scrap wood pile . Backed off about 15 ' drew and fired 1 handed point Re holstered and repeat . Found out speed loader will work barely with the thick wood grips. Ive always loaded speed strips or from pocket. I repeated single shots and a double tap now and then . Speed strips faster reloading for me.

Last 3 rounds I drew and empty the pistol only miss was the 3rd shot. Rapid fire and recoil I pulled it off . I walked back to house cleaned reload the pistol and speed strips and re-holstered.
I never shoot 50 or a 100 rounds at a time . I think after a while you mind wanders and recoil starts to affect you. I shoot my 45's same way . I don't use paper targets and never of those see where you hit type .

Some time if out .I will draw and fire at one of my fence posts I am surrounded by thick woods 50 acres across back of house and most up hill . If your back their your trespassing and walked a long way to get their.


Now if I am playing with a 22 I will shoot more ammo its plinking tin cans. balloons what ever. But my SD calibers 20 rounds or 3 mags from my 1911's . Just my way of shooting . I haven been on a pay range since early 1980's .

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

I'm not a reloader, and very much enjoy shooting my 44. Like most, the 44 is only one of several (or many) guns that gets use, so it's not like I'm burning through a lot of that ammo.

There are folks that wouldn't flinch on spending $1,000 on a scope or other accessories to their guns, but would actually make a gun decision based on ammo costing a little more per round?????

Get the gun you want and shoot it as you can afford. Don't buy a 45acp instead like some are suggesting. You will regret it. I have both calibers, and like both calibers, but they are not the same. Buy what will make you happy. You will shoot it more and will be more likely to keep it.

You make a very good point here. When you put the incremental cost of .44S in the context of many mid- or high-priced objects-of-desire that many gun enthusiasts purchase, it would take a long time and a lot of shooting for the price of ammo to be equivalent.
Though reloading does take a lot of the cost out of .44 ownership, many many (many!) people don't reload and just buy it. If it's the only firearm that you bring to the range, it can get costly. If its a second, or one of many, it all just works out.
B

 

[weregunner]

For .44 Special ammo I use two online search engines that cover most of the online ammo places or sellers.

http://www.ammoseek.com

http://www.gunbot.net

I also use www.georgia-arms.com

http://www.venturamunitions.com/

www.aimsurplus.com

www.ammonow.com www.bullets.com

That should keep you in clover.

 

[JERRY]

Getting back to the OP's lack of time to reload or even target shooting, which ever gun he gets will be a carry a lot shoot on occasion type gun. the Charter Arms Bulldog was made for this role and buying a box of bullets once a month will not break the OP.

 

[smkummer]

I would still reload

Just a lee C press for $29, dies for $29, 2 cavity mold for $25, ladle and pot that goes on the stove for $20. Bullet sizer for $20. So for the price of 3 boxes of ammo, your reloading 44 special for 7-8 cents per round. Provided you have a source for wheel weights. If not add about 10 cents per round for a bought lead bullet.

Here is how I reload, but I appear to have more time than you. If I have free time, I cast and put it away. So in your case, you can easily make 100-150 bullets in one hour. Then at another time, load your empties, again, in about 1 hour, you should be able to load 100. Loading is therapeutic. Remember, you can customize your load, light medium or heavy. For 44 special, I would generally start with a 240 grain bullet.

just my .02.

 

[CraigC]

You make a very good point here. When you put the incremental cost of .44S in the context of many mid- or high-priced objects-of-desire that many gun enthusiasts purchase, it would take a long time and a lot of shooting for the price of ammo to be equivalent.

Did you see the numbers posted in post #21? The savings for something like 9mm is minimal. However, with the cartridge in question, the difference is monumental. And we're not talking about one-time equipment costs. We're talking about the recurring costs of consumables.

I always default to Georgia Arms as the cheapest and their .44Spl load with a 200gr RNFP at 750fps is $24.50/50rds if you buy 1000rds. That's $490! I can duplicate that with a handload using a commercial cast bullet for $6.50/50rds or $130 per 1000rds. I understand that some folks don't have the desire to handload or don't need the volume.

That's not even the main point. That load is fine if all you want to do is punch paper or plink. Like most factory loads, it's useless for anything else. Bump that up to a 240-250gr at 950fps with just another 1.5gr of powder and you have an excellent general purpose load easily capable of taking deer sized game. That's a load you can't get without handloading or Buffalo Bore at $84/50rds. The 1200fps Keith load is unavailable anywhere.

 

[bannockburn]

Always wanted a .44 Special and finally got one when Ruger brought out the Blackhawk Flattop model. Couldn't find much .44 Special ammo locally so I ended up buying it all online. Stocked up when I found a good price and plan an reloading the brass when I have the spare time.

 

[Panzerschwein]

With all the bashing that .44 special gets on the internet, you'd think it was less effective than .38 special, which I simply don't believe. That's why I got a Charter Bulldog to carry when my J-frame .38 just isn't up to the task.

 

[P5 Guy]

The last factory made 44SPL I bought was $17.95 per box of 50. It was Federal Cartridge Classic. I bought 10 boxes. With the handling and shipping charges it came in at right around $200, IIRC. That was a long time ago and the reason I taught myself how to handload.

 

[35 Whelen]

We all make time for the things we want to do. I've needed to hang two light fixtures for my wife after work every evening this week, but chose to load and shoot.

I think most don't realize how little time it takes to handload a box of handgun ammunition. I keep an old Lyman turret press filled with .44 Special and 45 Colt dies. Two powder measures which have something like Unique, 20/28 or Power Pistol in them at all times, at least 50 cases in each caliber sized and belled and another 50 that I "load and shoot". If I have 30 minutes of free time, I can easily walk to the shop, throw together a half a box of shells, walk out behind the shop and shoot them.

Put down the remote control, step away from the computer or smart phone, and go load a box of shells.

35W

 

[Phaedrus/69]

As to the OP it kind of depends on why you want it. Is the revolver you found an exceptionally good deal? If the gun is something you rarely run across or the price is really great then why not get it? Even if it does sit in the safe it's always smart to lock in a deal if it's something you'll use down the road.

In my area there's always some .44 Special to be found. Not a lot of variety but something. SGAmmo almost always has a reasonable selection of .44 Special to choose from. Right now I see they have Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense and XTP and some cowboy action loads. Their service is great and shipping is reasonable. The more you buy at once the better it works out price wise (shipping averaged over more rounds).

Reloading is going to be way more economical but if you just want to be able to put 50 rounds downrange every month or two ordering it is reasonable.

Especially if you're looking for a defensive gun then it makes sense to pick up that one! Even middle-of-the-road loads are going to be in the general performance range of the .45 ACP and the best .44 Special loads are considerably more potent.

 

[CajunBass]

I know the OP said he "doesn't have time" to reload, but it really doesn't take that long as others have said. I just bought a 41 Magnum, and the factory ammo situation is worse there than for 44 Special at lelast around here.

I use a Lee hand press and I can do all my case prep work while watching TV with the wife. Resize the brass, trim the case if needed,flair the case and reprime. (I use all Lee hand tools for this stuff. It fits into a shoe box.)

Then usually another night, I make an hour or so to myself to charge the case and seat the bullets.

It doesn't take all that long.

I used to have a Smith & Wesson Model 24-3 (44 Special). Man that was a sweet gun.

 

[Zendude]

I used to handload, and quite a bit. But I don't now. Between family, work, and a half dozen other commitments, I don't foresee getting back into handloading for another few years. Right now, it's hard enough to find time to shoot. So again, handloading is not an option for me in the short term.

It sounds like you are not going to do that much shooting, so there's no need to have 300 rounds on hand.
Go ahead and buy the gun. If you like 44sp then you should get it. What little free time you have should be maximized by shooting the gun that you really want.