charlie echo
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Please recommend a 44 Special +P "rated" six shot revolver for my wife, that dislikes semi-auto pistols, for CA CCW in her purse or bag, to supplement her J-Frame?
recommend a 44 Special revolver?
- Thread starter charlie echo
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All the current makes I can think of that are 6-shot are .44 magnums. The S&W 329 or 329PD might not be a bad choice. Both are alloy framed, and a bit lighter for carry.
If you want to consider 5-shots, there were the S&W 296 and 696s of the past. They currently offer a 69 in .44 mag that is 5-shot. There is always the Charter Arms Bulldog, but it isn't .44S +P rated. I'm not sure you really need +P for .44 S though. The Speer Gold Dot and Corbon DPX are both pretty potent standard pressure loads.
If you want to consider 5-shots, there were the S&W 296 and 696s of the past. They currently offer a 69 in .44 mag that is 5-shot. There is always the Charter Arms Bulldog, but it isn't .44S +P rated. I'm not sure you really need +P for .44 S though. The Speer Gold Dot and Corbon DPX are both pretty potent standard pressure loads.
charlie echo
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We go backpacking in bear country, so 250 grain hard cast 44S+Ps will do nicely. My wife can shoot my 44RM as single-action fine, but the double-action's too strong for her for accurate fast fire.
Like the spec's on Buffalo Arms Anti-Personnel 44S+P ammo for urban settings...
Like the spec's on Buffalo Arms Anti-Personnel 44S+P ammo for urban settings...
Forget about +P loads. You don't need them in a .44 cal. revolver. Use 200-240 gr. loads at moderate velocities. The gun will last longer - she'll shoot it better - and it will drop a bad guy just as well as any +P load. There's not much available in the current offerings besides Charter Arms today. Their QC is hit or miss but if you get a problem they will stand behind it. In the used market there are Taurus snubs in .44 Spl. that are perfectly good revolvers unless someone has abused it with +P Corbon/Buffalo Bore loads. The older Charters are better quality than the new ones but there again a lot of them will have been beat to death with heavy loads.
Taroman
Member
There's no SAAMI (official) specification for 44 Special +P.
If that's what you want, either handload or get a 44 Magnum.
Skeeter Skelton's load of a 240 LSWC over 7.5 grains of Unique should do anything she wants.
Not sure how well she will like shooting it from a Charter Bulldog, however.
For me, a 3" S&W 624 is just fine:
If you can find one, a Taurus 441 is another good choice:
If that's what you want, either handload or get a 44 Magnum.
Skeeter Skelton's load of a 240 LSWC over 7.5 grains of Unique should do anything she wants.
Not sure how well she will like shooting it from a Charter Bulldog, however.
For me, a 3" S&W 624 is just fine:
If you can find one, a Taurus 441 is another good choice:
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I own a Taurus 431 in 3in and a Rossi 720 in 3in. Both are excellent weapons. Both have not been made for 10 plus years. Get either one ifyou can find them. They are all you need for self defense. I shoot Blazer 200 grain GD out of mine. Roll my own for practice.
Very nice weapons. Very dependable round to stop the perps. No flies on the 44 Special.
Very nice weapons. Very dependable round to stop the perps. No flies on the 44 Special.
Eaglestroker
Member
I own a 24-3, 624, pair of 696's, and had a Ruger NM Flat Top in 44 special for a little while. The 696 is the 'perfect' size to me but the normal going rate unless you stumble on a deal like I did, twice, is pretty high.
The 44 mag in a lighter frame as suggested would be a good route to go as well.
The 44 mag in a lighter frame as suggested would be a good route to go as well.
farm23
Member
I have a 3" 629 44mag but shoot mostly 44spl and carry it every day. If your wife shoots SA better than DA and most of us do, what about a Ruger SA? They made a few in 44spl. and a 43/4" while not small could go in a purse.
earplug
Member
Consider another caliber such the S&W mountain gun. I gave up on loading 44 spl when I figured out I could do the same thing with a 45 ACP revolver. the bigger holes make the gun lighter.
35 Whelen
Member
Just got one of these:
I'll be installing the smaller factory grips soon. At 21.6 oz. and with 250 gr. handloads and close to 850 fps, recoil was quite astounding. The little pistol has a nice DA pull though.
35W
I'll be installing the smaller factory grips soon. At 21.6 oz. and with 250 gr. handloads and close to 850 fps, recoil was quite astounding. The little pistol has a nice DA pull though.
35W
calaverasslim
Member
Had a Smith M21 but it has the round butt which I detest. Just doesn't feel right in my hand. Great revolver though. Got id of it.
Bought a Older Charter Bulldog, 3", 44 special. Almost identical to the J frame and loaded with 44 Colt or middle of the road loads, accurate and ez to handle.
Bought 2 Taurus 441's, a 3" and a 4". They are 5 shot but great pistols
Bought a Older Charter Bulldog, 3", 44 special. Almost identical to the J frame and loaded with 44 Colt or middle of the road loads, accurate and ez to handle.
Bought 2 Taurus 441's, a 3" and a 4". They are 5 shot but great pistols
dprice3844444
member
charlie,get one in 44 mag,use 44 special
Charlie,
Why on earth would your wife want to go with .44 special for concealed carry? Why not a .357 / .38 Special +p revolver. It should give her one more round in the cylinder depending on the revolver. I also think it would be a smaller and lighter package. I don't see a .44 special doing anything better than a .38 / .357. Also .44 special ammo can be difficult to find.
CB
Why on earth would your wife want to go with .44 special for concealed carry? Why not a .357 / .38 Special +p revolver. It should give her one more round in the cylinder depending on the revolver. I also think it would be a smaller and lighter package. I don't see a .44 special doing anything better than a .38 / .357. Also .44 special ammo can be difficult to find.
CB
35 Whelen
Member
I think a 6-shot .38 is going to be physically about the same size as the 5-shot Charter .44 Special.
35W
35W
ThomasT
Member
The OP said he wanted it for purse carry then he added that it was for bear protection.
I had a Taurus 44mag 5 shot that was about the same size as a L-Frame S&W. Not a six shot like you asked for but a little lighter in weight than an N frame smith.
I don't know if you read gun mags much but Phil Shoemaker writes for Rifle/Handloader and had an article talking about bear guns and stated that his daughter Tia (IIRC) carried a 6 shot 357 mag with 180gr FMJ bullets used for silouette shooting for lighter recoil but better pentration on bears. And this guy lives in Alaska and has a lot of experience with bears. I like advice from experts who have first hand experience.
And a 357 is a top drawer SD round.
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=227&category=Revolver&toggle=tr&breadcrumbseries=TS2
This is the gun I owned and had zero problems with it. It weighs 34oz and has a ported barrel that really helps with recoil. But its still a 5 shot gun. And it has a lighter frame than an N-frame smith. I would limit full power loads in it. But it will shoot all the 44 Special+P loads you care to shoot.
I had a Taurus 44mag 5 shot that was about the same size as a L-Frame S&W. Not a six shot like you asked for but a little lighter in weight than an N frame smith.
I don't know if you read gun mags much but Phil Shoemaker writes for Rifle/Handloader and had an article talking about bear guns and stated that his daughter Tia (IIRC) carried a 6 shot 357 mag with 180gr FMJ bullets used for silouette shooting for lighter recoil but better pentration on bears. And this guy lives in Alaska and has a lot of experience with bears. I like advice from experts who have first hand experience.
And a 357 is a top drawer SD round.
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=227&category=Revolver&toggle=tr&breadcrumbseries=TS2
This is the gun I owned and had zero problems with it. It weighs 34oz and has a ported barrel that really helps with recoil. But its still a 5 shot gun. And it has a lighter frame than an N-frame smith. I would limit full power loads in it. But it will shoot all the 44 Special+P loads you care to shoot.
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gamestalker
member
If it were me, I would find a nice sized 44 mag and then just run specials through it. This way you can have your cake and eat it too, as in shoot what ever +p, or +p+ if such a thing exists without worry of exposing it excessive pressures for 44 spcl..
GS
GS
RealGun
Member
I wonder if you simply have to find a 44RM with a DA trigger pull that your wife likes.
A Ruger NMBH 4.62" in 44 Spl (#5232) is a new gun but certainly odd for a purse gun. But then it won't do the rapid DA fire you specified. Personally, I would be more interested in making the first shot count.
The Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan (#5303) is another gun available new that is meant for what you specify. I would make sure she gets to try that double action. It is 44 mag, so you have the full range of possibilities for what to shoot in it. Also check with a gunsmith about what he thinks he can accomplish in DA with a trigger job and spring options.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I respect those who are suggesting a .44 Magnum and the quality of the guns suggested but there is a problem. The OP said his wife wants to carry the revolver in her purse and most of the guns suggested are very heavy. she will not want to lug them around every day pulling down on her shoulder. Any gun is no good unless you have it with you all the time.
How about a Charter Arms .44 Special Bulldog? They are made in 8 different models so I'm sure she will find one she likes and they weight only 21oz, not so heavy it won't be carried.
http://charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Bulldog_74421.asp
Add a good SD ammo like the Speer 200gr GDHP .44 Special round and you are very well protected.
http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx (or any quality name-brand SD ammo of your choice)
How about a Charter Arms .44 Special Bulldog? They are made in 8 different models so I'm sure she will find one she likes and they weight only 21oz, not so heavy it won't be carried.
http://charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Bulldog_74421.asp
Add a good SD ammo like the Speer 200gr GDHP .44 Special round and you are very well protected.
http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx (or any quality name-brand SD ammo of your choice)
fiftybmg
member
Find an old model 29 in 4", and carry .44 special rounds in it.
They have the best trigger of the .44's, and the frame is just a bit bigger than Security Six.
If your wife has smaller hands, you'll need to get the right grips.
They have the best trigger of the .44's, and the frame is just a bit bigger than Security Six.
If your wife has smaller hands, you'll need to get the right grips.
RealGun
Member
That concern doesn't fit the premise. A .44 Special with 6 rounds is inherently a large, relatively heavy gun, at least based on what's realistically available.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Methinks one of the lightweight L-frame .44Spl's would be the best choice for this endeavor, or the 329 loaded with Specials. I doubt even a light steel gun like the 629 Mountain Gun would be comfortable pulling at a woman's shoulder all day.
Somebody should get Phil to the 21st century. Silhouette bullets are not optimum for such purposes. She would be much better armed with a good 180gr LBT cast bullet. FMJ's are not as tough as people think.
RealGun
Member
If a woman is requesting a bear gun for her purse, go dolly! I am not going to make judgments about what she can carry all day. Anybody check the weight of women's purses lately?
Riomouse911
Member
I have a 629 Mountain Gun in .44 mag..they are lighter than the regular 29's by a bit..but honestly not enought to make any sort of diffrence when carried all day long. ( I really like that 3" 624...one of my "lottery winner" guns someday 
)
You're asking for a "Carry a lot-shoot a little" gun that'll do in a pinch for bears... About all I can imagine that will be portable enough to actually WANT to carry in a purse are the alloy-framed .44's. (Personally I won't ever want to shoot one with serious ammo, my airweight .38 is bad enough)
Personally I would opt instead for the J frame .357 for this scenario...but no matter what you choose make sure she shoots/handles it efore you buy it, and actually likes shooting it, or your quest will be moot.
)You're asking for a "Carry a lot-shoot a little" gun that'll do in a pinch for bears... About all I can imagine that will be portable enough to actually WANT to carry in a purse are the alloy-framed .44's. (Personally I won't ever want to shoot one with serious ammo, my airweight .38 is bad enough)
Personally I would opt instead for the J frame .357 for this scenario...but no matter what you choose make sure she shoots/handles it efore you buy it, and actually likes shooting it, or your quest will be moot.
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