Who makes a .44 Special revolver?

[PJSprog]

It's not a limitation, at all. The .44Spl is best at home in smaller, lighter, handier sixguns that are appropriate to the .44Mag.

I don't disagree with that at all. In fact, I'd love to have a snubbie .44Spl. My point, though, was for the sake of selection. There are fewer offerings in .44 Special only guns than there are when considering either/or.

However, the OP has since stated that he's looking for something "slightly less common," which makes my original comment a moot point.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I know you said new, but don't forget Smith and Wesson invented the 44 Special back in 1908, and made an awful lot of guns chambered for it, long before the 44 Mag existed.

They are not falling off of trees, them that has old S&W 44s tend to hold onto them. But they are out there.

Here is the gun that started it all in 1908, the 44 Handejector, 1st Model, also known as the New Century, but most commonly known as the Triple Lock. It took me a long time to find a Triple Lock I could afford, but after looking for years I now have two of them. This one left the factory in 1915.





Then there was the 44 Handejector 2nd Model. Basically the same as the Triple Lock but without the fancy third latch in the cylinder crane. This one shipped in 1921.






I came across this funky 44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model a bunch of years ago. Refinished, not too well either, stippled on the top strap, and the original grips are badly worn. It is wearing some replica grips now. This one was made in 1929, and was carried by an officer during WWII. It didn't cost too much, and I couldn't pass it up. I even got the officer's well worn holster with it. It would make a neat carry gun.






Craig, I looked for a Model 24 for years. Foolishly passed up a beautiful one a bunch of years ago and have not seen one since. They are rare as hen's teeth around here. Instead I came across this terrific 44 Handejector 4th Model a couple of years ago and grabbed it. I forget when it was made, it is a five screw, and I'm guessing it left the factory in the early 1950s, but I'm not sure right now. So I'm no longer looking for a Model 24, which probably means I will finally come across one.






Here is a really nice 624 I ran across a few years ago, made in 1985. Not too expensive either. Pretty new gun for me. I took the oversized target stocks off it and put a pair of Magnas on it. This one would make a pretty nice carry gun too. Much lighter than a 44 Mag. Yeah, I have a Model 29, but it is just too big and heavy, I much prefer the 44 Special guns.




So, in case you feel like looking, there are some nice old 44s out there, but you have to hunt for a while.

 

[AZ Desertrat]

Rugers and Colts if you can afford them. And don't forget the S&W Model 24...IF you can find one...I want another one before they quit making them!!

 

[Tallball]

If you want DA, Charter Arms and Taurus are both offering brand-new ones. I own one of each. They work fine.

My Rossi 720 is a gem. They haven't been made for years, but if you can find a used one, I would recommend them.

There are some nice S&W used ones also.

And LOTS of SA ones are available. My Ruger Blackhawk in a similar caliber is one of my very favorite handguns.

 

[mnrivrat]

I have a pair of Rossi 720's which are K-frame sized 3 inch barreles guns with a 5 shot cylinder.
Again not a new product but can be found for half the cost of a S&W 696 .

The Taurus Tracker in .44 mag is about the size of the L-frame S&W and is also a great gun to cary and shoot .44 specials from.

For a gun that is still being made the Charter Arms in .44 Special is a great carry gun.

 

[Tallball]

Please forgive the bad pictures. Here are three 44 snubbies. I believe that the Charter Arms and the Taurus are still being made. I'm adding the Rossi 720 just because. They are all K frame size, more or less, with 2"-3" barrels. To me all three have moderate recoil, kind of like a bigger 38, not at all like a magnum.

Here is my Charter Arms. It is light for its size (alloy?). The trigger feels odd to me, but is decently light and smooth. I happened to run across a good deal on one with a used one with a shrouded hammer. I can shoot it well enough for SD purposes. It hasn't malfunctioned in the few hundred rounds that I've shot it.

 

[Tallball]

Here is the Taurus. I think it is called a Model 44. It is light, I think an alloy frame. The trigger is good. (Sometimes a Taurus will have a pretty good one.) It balances well. The grip is very rubbery - I like it, some don't. I can shoot it a little better than the CA, for whatever reason. It has never malfunctioned in the 500 or so rounds I've shot through it.

 

[Tallball]

Here is the Rossi 720. I think they only made them in the early 1990's. It is steel and heavy. It has decent-sized adjustable sights. With the weight and the sights, it is no surprise that I shoot it better than the other two. The trigger is better than the CA or the Taurus. I rescued it from an abusive home. It is fun to shoot and I have easily put over 1000 rounds through it.

 

[Candyman87]

Here is the Rossi 720. I think they only made them in the early 1990's. It is steel and heavy. It has decent-sized adjustable sights. With the weight and the sights, it is no surprise that I shoot it better than the other two. The trigger is better than the CA or the Taurus. I rescued it from an abusive home. It is fun to shoot and I have easily put over 1000 rounds through it.

And that's the model that re-sparked my fascination with .44 Special! I'd love to come across one of those but I have yet to see one in person despite a year of searching. Don't like buying used without being able to see them first.

 

[PRM]

My grail .44 Special. I had a .44 Colt Bisley custom built from Colt parts. Even had pre-ban elephant ivory put on it just because I like it, and it annoys liberals.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Last night there were a couple really nice Rossi 720s on Gun Broker for decent prices.

I was very tempted, to say the least.

 

[paul105]

Not personally a fan of Rossi, but here's what appears to be a good deal on a 720.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=513271389

I recently sold a S&W M696 -- it just didn't work for me. Still have a 396, the titanium/aluminum version of the 696 and 5 1/2" Freedom Arms Model 97.

With that said, if I was going to limit myself to one .44 for the OPs stated use, it would be the new S&W M69. Lots of stuff about current S&W QA, but their customer service is excellent. It's Same size as an L Frame .357 and weighs 37 oz. I have two and one is my everyday woods bumming gun. Between the two, I have fired over 6,000 rnds (from 240s at 750 fps to 325s at 1,180 fps) with no problems, and no signs of wear.

This is just my opinion, and as always, your mileage may vary.

Paul

 

[Panzerschwein]

Not personally a fan of Rossi, but here's what appears to be a good deal on a 720.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=513271389

I recently sold a S&W M696 -- it just didn't work for me. Still have a 396, the titanium/aluminum version of the 696 and 5 1/2" Freedom Arms Model 97.

With that said, if I was going to limit myself to one .44 for the OPs stated use, it would be the new S&W M69. Lots of stuff about current S&W QA, but their customer service is excellent. It's Same size as an L Frame .357 and weighs 37 oz. I have two and one is my everyday woods bumming gun. Between the two, I have fired over 6,000 rnds (from 240s at 750 fps to 325s at 1,180 fps) with no problems, and no signs of wear.

This is just my opinion, and as always, your mileage may vary.

Paul

The Rossi 720s were made back when Rossi was making really good revolvers. Some I've spoken to put them at the same level of S&W quality, or very close to it. Nowadays, I don't care for the modern Rossi revolvers either, but they used to make some good stuff.

 

[Tallball]

I was determined to get a Rossi 720 for under $350. I haunted Gunbroker for months until this one fell into my lap for $330. I would love to also have a hammerless one with fixed sights - it will probably be a long time before I find one for a reasonable price when I happen to have money in my pocket. I had two other Rossis in the past that weren't worth squat, but this 720 has a great trigger, balances well, and is surprisingly accurate. I just finished putting another box of shells through it, as a matter of fact!

 

[Crunchy Frog]

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.

Even if you don't like the "plowhandle" grip of the standard Blackhawk, give the Bisley a try. To me it feels much like a DA revolver.

 

[Gun Master]

What Do You Want ?

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

"Son-of-Sam" phobia, I would expect, but a good choice.

If possible, get .44 Magnum, and shoot .44 Special. Then you have two options.
Also, .44 Magnum guns are more desirable, if you later want to sell or trade.

All boils down to what you want: DA, SA, snubbie, hunting, self defense, etc.
Study first. Buy later.

 

[CraigC]

If possible, get .44 Magnum, and shoot .44 Special. Then you have two options.
Also, .44 Magnum guns are more desirable, if you later want to sell or trade.

Apparently you've never sold a .44Spl Freedom Arms, Colt, S&W, USFA or Ruger.

 

[ThomasT]

I had a Taurus Tracker 44 mag that I wish I hadn't sold. I didn't like the porting on the barrel but loved the rest of the gun. It weighed 34oz so wasn't too heavy to wear and I shot reduced 44 mag loads in it. With the porting it was easy to shoot.

They seem to run around $500 on GB the last time I looked. About wht you will pay for a Ruger Bisley or a little less. Plus it has adjustable sights that I prefer for a field use gun over fixed sights.

http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=227&category=Revolver&toggle=tr&breadcrumbseries=TS2

 

[mnrivrat]

Not personally a fan of Rossi, but here's what appears to be a good deal on a 720.

I felt the same way until I was handed a 720 by the Dealer I was doing work for. He wanted me to go thru the action and make it the best it could be.
This gun reminded me of the 1970's vintage S&W prodeucts as far as quality of materials and coming close in the finish of parts.
When I was done I thried to buy it from him but he would not sell it, and still has it as his carry gun to this day.
I managed to buy 3 of them over the following decade at prices under $300 , and swore I would buy everyone I could for under that $300 mark.

The BIN price on the one linked to on GB is an excellent price in todays market. I've heard it said that the 720 was the best gun that Rossi ever made, and I tend to agree with that meself. ( I still have a pair ) The third one I sold 6 years ago to a dealer for $350 and it also was not for sale once the dealer bought it.

 

[ca13860]

CHARTER ARMS BULLDOG or BACKPACKER, with Hornady Critical Defense 165 grain and the one that is 180 grain. Three chambers with the 165, two with the 180. And plenty of speed loaders.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=952714224807730&set=o.292565084186070&type=3&theater

 

[ST1959]

Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 special. Get the #74410: shrouded hammer. I got mine, new, about a year ago. It has functioned flawlessly, and mine was $300 including shipping. Of course, with His Majesty King Obama in the White House, gun prices have gone up, but you can still find one, new, in the $350-400 range. CA customer service is outstanding.

 

[Monster Zero]

I didn't either.

 

[CajunBass]

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

Since I last posted on this, I've sold the Taurus 431 I had and used the proceeds to purchase a Model 69.

It's an "L" frame, not a K, the first "L" I've ever owned. It has quickly become one of my favorite revolvers. I've only got a couple of hundred rounds of 44 Special level reloads through it, but it's a great shooting gun. For this I usually use a 44 Special load in 44 Magnum brass. I can't comment on carrying it, because the only way I do is in a range bag, but it should be no worse than any other 4" barrel, S&W revolver.



I was lucky and found one on the "used gun" side of the counter. Why it was there I have no idea, it was unfired, still with the box and papers, but I jumped on it at a fairly good saving over the "new" price, but still it was more than I believe the OP said he was looking for.

MY 44 Special hankerig is handled now by a pair of Uberti 1871/72 Open top Colt Copies.. These are just plain fun to shoot. Even my wife loves them. At the range the other day, the range master came over looking for them and was disappointed when I didn't have them.



I was looking for a 44 Special when I found these, but hadn't counted on buying two of course, but my wife wouldn't let me break up the set.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I too have a 69. Spent my third time at the range with it yesterday. The more I shoot it, the more I like it. Recoil is much more manageable than a 329pd I had. The L-K frame fits my hand much better than the N-frame.
I ran about 300rds through it yesterday including magnum as well as some .44spl reloads.
It's shooting in nicely! It's a keeper!!!

 

[rWt]

There are shooter-grade S&W Triple Locks out there in 44 Spl. Good enough for Indiana Jones...