Why the .44 Special: better question might be is...why not? Mainstream calibers are fine for like 95% of most handgun situations but every now and then I like to get off the beaten path and do a little bit of exploring. The .44 Special (along with the .41 Magnum and the .38 Super in a semi-auto), allow me to play around with handloading and have a bit of fun experimenting with them. Just something different to do!
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Great post and my thoughts to a "T".
I'll add that the .44 Special may be the easiest caliber to load for accuracy, that I've ever loaded. Most any mid-range powder will do...there's lots of data available...the 'hotter' loads, while well below .44 Magnum pressure levels, are thoroughly documented by knowledgeable writers, and the selection of bullets and weights, both commercial and home cast, are legion. Too, the Special round makes better use of the case's volume, and you're not faced with cleaning out the grud ring that shooting them in a Magnum entails.
Good loads, accurate to sub-2" group at 25 yds standards, and with velocities to match any taste are easy. With ANY quality 240 gr LSWC of 0.430" dia., you can PLAN on achieving accurate results with velocities that range from 650 fps to 1200 fps. Bullseye, Unique, Win 231, WST, WSF, Herco, Blue Dot, BE-86, 2400, Win 296, H110, Ac#9 will all do the job....Picking one, I'd go for Unique. Skelton's justifiably famous 240 gr LSWC with 7.5 gr of Unique at 975 fps, will do all that any sane pistolero needs in the lower 48, and do it with superb accuracy.
Summing it all up...it's not the .44 Special...it should have been the .44 Spectacular!
YMMv, Rod....Here's one of mine....