Who makes a .44 Special revolver?

[Candyman87]

I'm looking for a new woods fun. Something to carry while I hunt or while I hike.

I'm not a wheel gun guy but they have their obvious advantages so I want to buy one for outdoors use, not to mention I can't have my semi autos while hunting in PA.

Who still makes a .44 Special revolver? I can find a few .44 Magnums but don't want to spend the extra money on a cartridge I likely won't shoot.

And as a reloader, I'm not worried about the cost of ammo.

 

[stoky]

Rossi

 

[Rio Laxas]

Ruger and Uberti both make single action revolvers in .44 special. A Blackhawk in .44 special would make a fine woods gun.

 

[bannockburn]

Ruger makes a great single action in .44 Special with their Blackhawk Flattop and Bisley models.

 

[Candyman87]

Thanks guys, so far I can't find anything in the Rossi site in .44 special. Or Uberti for that matter. I know they both have older models but there's something about new guns I can't get over

As far as the Blackhawks go... I never liked the way they felt in my hand. I haven't found a way to like that grip.

Any experience with the S&W Model 69? .44 Mag in a K frame? Definitely interested!

 

[Radagast]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=757378
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=748226

 

[Ditchtiger]

http://galleryofguns.com/genie/defa...ype=Revolver&cal=44SP&fin=&sit=&zipcode=97456

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I'm surprised it took so long to get to the Charter Arms Bulldog.

 

[Rio Laxas]

The Cimarron Model P is an Uberti that is imported and sold by Cimarron Arms. If you don't like the Blackhawk, you may not like a Single Action Army clone either.
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/ca...-p-4-3-4-44-special-4-3-4-in-model-mp680.html

If the grip on the standard Blackhawk is uncomfortable to you, you may want to try a Bisley grip.
http://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkDE/specSheets/5236.html
http://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkDE/specSheets/5235.html

 

[Candyman87]

Thanks guys. Headed to Cabela's later today to pick up some things... A revolver might just be on that list

 

[CraigC]

It's a good time to be in the market for a .44Spl. S&W doesn't have anything at present but they've made quite a few in the last 10 or so years. Not hard to find them on auction sites. Ruger makes several, including Blackhawk, Bisley and New Vaquero models. Cimarron and Dixie Gun Works both market .44Spl SAA and Bisley replicas made by Uberti. Then there are the 1860 cartridge conversions and 1871-1872 Open Top models also made by Uberti. Colt offers the cartridge in the New Frontier but you're in for a 1-2yr wait. Perhaps the best .44Spl extant are those made by USFA but prices skyrocketed when they stopped making them.

Ruger Bisley:


Uberti Bisley:


S&W 24:


Custom Ruger Old Model:


Cimarron 1860 Richards Type II:


Cimarron 1871-1872 Open Top:


USFA Pre-war:

 

[340PD]

Buy the 44 mag and shoot 44 Special out of it.

 

[Panzerschwein]

A S&W 296 or Rossi 720 would make excellent packable wood revolvers, and with Buffalo Bore .44 special you could sure lay the hurt on anything that woes you.

A Charter Arms Bulldog is what I have, it's a bit lightly built for the heavy .44 magnum stuff, but does quite well and is very light.

I carry one in the field in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster either loaded with CCI shotshells or CorBon DPX 200 grainers, depending on threat risk assessment.

 

[TomADC]

One more vote for Ruger Blackhawk..

 

[PJSprog]

Buy the 44 mag and shoot 44 Special out of it.

Yup. Just like the .38/.357 guns, the .44 Magnums will also shoot the slightly shorter .44 Special. You don't have to limit yourself to a Special-only gun.

The Charter Arms Bulldog seems to enjoy a pretty good reputation. And for a kicking-around-in-the-woods gun, they can be had for well under $400.
Edit: That's a Special only gun, BTW.

 

[TruthTellers]

I say Charter Arms Bulldog as well, but I would recommend if you already have the dies to reload it, choose a .45 Colt revolver instead. Lot more options available in that cartridge.

 

[AABEN]

WHY not a 629 S&W that way it can use both reg & mag also resale will be better. GOOD LUCK

 

[Candyman87]

Thanks, I'm well aware that a .44 Magnum can shoot .44 Special, but it also comes with a higher price tag.

.44 Magnums are also relatively easy to find in comparison. That's why I'm asking who makes something slightly less common.

 

[Drail]

If you want a single action - Ruger. If you want a DA - S&W.

 

[wgp]

Look for a S&W 696, a 3" stainless 5-shot .44 Sp. I don't think they have been made for several years, and they may be hard to find, but surely somebody has one for sale (I must admit that mine is the only one I've ever run across at a store or gun show, and it is not for sale).

 

[Drail]

Yup. I've been carrying a 696 since they came out in 1996. Best carry gun S&W has ever made in one of the best calibers ever made. With handloads it will do anything you could ever need. Easy to handle recoil - like playing with a big puppy. Mine will never be sold either. CraigC - THANK YOU for those photos. Those are simply wonderful.

 

[CraigC]

You don't have to limit yourself to a Special-only gun.

It's not a limitation, at all. The .44Spl is best at home in smaller, lighter, handier sixguns that are appropriate to the .44Mag. The custom Ruger pictured above is the perfect example. It's half a pound lighter than a comparable .44Mag and you forget it's even on your belt. Yet it's capable of launching a 250gr cast bullet at 1200fps.

THANK YOU for those photos. Those are simply wonderful.

Thank you!

 

[Rio Laxas]

It's not a limitation, at all. The .44Spl is best at home in smaller, lighter, handier sixguns

I very much agree.

I used to dismiss .44 Special revolvers as being unnecessary and that shooting specials in a magnum was the way to go. Then I bought S&W pre 24 and fell in love. There really is something special about a dedicated .44 Special revolver, but I'm glad most don't feel the same way as the competition is already stiff enough on the older ones.

 

[CajunBass]

I know you said you wanted new, but if you see one of these on the used market, I can recommend it.

Taurus 431. A five shot, K-frame sized, fixed sight revolver, with a 3" barrel, in 44 Special. This one shoots just fine. I don't know how it would stand up to hot loads, but if you wanted to hot load one, you'd probably be looking for a 44 magnum anyway, wouldn't you? I've also seen them with a 4" barrel and adjustable sights and wish I had grabbed it.





Regarding the Model 69. I think it would be a great choice for 44 Specials. I looked at one this morning at my dealers, and except for the fact that I had just put a really nice Model 15 on layaway, I'd have put that one in the bin. Yes, they told me I could have two on layaway, but I'm not that dumb.

 

[cfullgraf]

And as a reloader, I'm not worried about the cost of ammo.

I have a S&W Model 69. Shoots and handles well. Being an L frame, it is a bit smaller than the N frames.

If you are a reloader, you can load 44 Special level loads in 44 Magnum cases.

Virtually everything I shoot in the Model 69 is a smidge hotter than a 44 Special load but in 44 Magnum cases. Besides, it eliminates the carbon ring build up shooting short cases in the longer chamber.