Well, since my first reply in this thread, I have had some changes. My 6.5" 24-3 was sold - and my 6.5" Heritage 24 was sold. I bought a new 6" 629 (SKU 163606) and replaced my 629MG with a new 4" 629 (SKU 163603). My 296 & 696, nearly six years from new here now, persist. The 296, a 2.5" AirLite hammerless larger sibling to the 642, rides most days in a Mika's pocket holster in my front pocket. The 696 is just fun - as are the 629s, which don't know they weren't built for .44 Specials and Russians. I do have some wood grips for them, as well as two S&W .500 Magnum Hogue grips for those days when I feel the need to launch real Magnums. In that case, I always clean the chambers first - with a chamber brush, which is a bit larger in OD and considerably longer - made for chamber cleaning. My .44 Russians and Specials do leave residue behind which can cause a possibly disastrous pressure spike by impeding the opening of the longer case's crimp.
My carry ammo was the Speer #4427 bulleted 200gr .44 Special GDJHP Blazer - until one of those Al cases split in my 696 - and the local 'Academy Sports/Outdoors' chains more than doubled it's price. You can get the same bullet in a new Starline case from Georgia Arms for less - and gain brass, too (#GA44SC). They are ballistically equivalent, making 800-805 fps from my 2.5" 296, 840 fps from my 3" 696, and 875 fps from my 4" 629. Speer reports reliable full opening of the GDJHP by 800 fps incident in ballistic gelatin. I keep them in #CA44 HKS Speedloaders for the 296 (&696), and the #29 HKS Speedloaders for tmy 629s - perfect defensive ammo for CCW and home/car defense.
So, if you cannot find a decent 'real' .44 Special revolver, just buy a 629 - capable and easily cleaned. My current '.44 Specials':
Don't forget the .44 Russian case if you reload - beautiful cases from Starline, etc. They feed from the CA44 & 29 speedloaders - not as well as the Specials & Magnums, but not bad, either.
Stainz
