In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Is the .44 special
riflemike
Member Posts: 10,599 ✭
a pretty potent round? I know pretty much any round is better than no round at all
thinking about getting one
44 special better than 38 special/ 40 cal.
thanks
thinking about getting one
44 special better than 38 special/ 40 cal.
thanks
Comments
38 spl around 400.
44 rem mag around 1,600
just my OPINION !
The 38 pushes bullets in the 158 range to 800-1,000 FPS in most cases. The 44 moves a 240 at the same velocity. Which do you think hits harder? For personal defense in the 44 Special a 200 JHP at 1,000 FPS is mild in recoil and has no trouble getting the job done.
I am rather partial to the 44 Special.
Too old to live...too young to die...
44 S&W special muzzel energy of around 500 ft. lbs.
38 spl around 400.
44 rem mag around 1,600
http://www.ballistics101.com/44_magnum.php
http://waterguy.us/handgun.htm
quote:Originally posted by RtWngExtrmst
44 S&W special muzzel energy of around 500 ft. lbs.
38 spl around 400.
44 rem mag around 1,600
http://www.ballistics101.com/44_magnum.php
http://waterguy.us/handgun.htm
I screwed uo the 44 mag. Should be around 1,000. Sorry about that.
It's a superb defense round (it's what I carry), a great hunting round, a noted accuracy round, and can be handloaded to any power level you choose up to just shy of the .44 Mag. In a modern revolver, you can load bullets from 180 to 300 grains, and from 400 to 1200 fps. If that doesn't cover what you need done - you need some other kind of gun altogether.
One of the best factory loads today is the Federal Champion 210 HP lead bullet. I can consistently hit football-sized targets at 100 yards offhand with it, and it smacks them hard. That or the slightly less powerful Winchester 210 Silvertip are my choices for defense. Others like the Hornady 180 JHP, but it shoots low in my fixed-sight carry gun.
Next I tried a .357 magnum, hit harder than the 9MM. Way to often the .357 went all the way through, wasted energy. The whole animal kind of shakes, kind of a ripple. But it really doesn't have that hammer affect you'd expect, not like the .44 special.
IMO .44 mag is a hand cannon and for me uncomfortable to shoot, second shot takes way too long. Over penetration is always a factor.
.44 special, either silver tips or better yet gold tips, seems to work well. Bullet rarely penetrates more than foot, even from six foot ranges. Expands to around 5/8's of an inch. Gets the job done. Opens up a good wound channel. Fairly quick second shot, tends to dump all if it's energy quickly after a hit. You can likely get the same results with a .45 ACP or even a .45 ACP wheel gun.
I can carry my Bulldog with me, my slug gun is often back in the truck (you can only carry so much into a high seat). I prefer the slug gun for finishing wounded pigs, big, relatively slow moving handgun round as a second choice.
buy a .44 Magnum and shoot the .44 Spcl., that way, IF you ever need more power, it is in your hand with the .44 Mag. loads.
just my OPINION !
+1
I am rather partial to the 44 Special.
That one made me drool a little bit.
I have a Smith 296, 18 oz. of big-bore, that is my favorite wheelgun until somebody makes one in .45 ACP. It's the only handgun caliber I own that I don't reload for, since I don't compete with it and don't need a lot of practice for what I have it for.
It's loaded with Gold-Dots for around-the-house use and some of the frightfully expensive Buffalo Bore 255s for off-road. I haven't bothered to clock them (just shooting them off-hand is brutal) but BB advertises close to 1,000 fps out of the short barrel of a Smith 396.
Figger that'll put a hole in a critter.
296 2 1/2"
696 3"
I have a 629 so guess i dont need these
here are my options for sell locally
296 2 1/2"
696 3"
I have a 629 so guess i dont need these
I dunno, 696s are pretty sweet...
The .44 Special & .44 Russian are very accurate cartridges. But since you already have a 629 you don't need to go buy one---unless you specifically want a new gun or your 629 is a long barrel version and you are looking for a defense gun. If you want some real fun or are trying to teach new shooters the fun of handguns you cannot beat running some .44 Russians or Specials through your 629[;)]
here are my options for sell locally
296 2 1/2"
696 3"
I have a 629 so guess i dont need these
Well okay then.
If you don't mind, what price range were those Specials advertised at?
27-2 6" nickle and blue both $1275 or $680 each (presentation cases included)
25-2 6 1/2" blue 45 acp $675 no box
296 2 1/2" 44 spl $575 no box
696 3" 44 spl $725 no box
36 blue or nickle sq bt $375 each no box
19-3 6" nickle $575 (LNIB)
Here is what he is selling Not bad prices but not that great
27-2 6" nickle and blue both $1275 or $680 each (presentation cases included)
25-2 6 1/2" blue 45 acp $675 no box
296 2 1/2" 44 spl $575 no box
696 3" 44 spl $725 no box
36 blue or nickle sq bt $375 each no box
19-3 6" nickle $575 (LNIB)
Thanks, those prices are a little better than what you usually see here on GB, and you'd save on the shipping. I was mainly curious about the 296, since you hardly ever see them for sale. Dunno why the 696s are usually more expensive, what with the size and weight you might as well carry a .44 mag. With the 296, a jacket pocket is all you need.
Yes, the 44 Magnum is more powerful than the 44 Special. Not what was being asked.
Too old to live...too young to die...
I carried a Charter Arms DAO .44spcl Bulldog for years, and tested all kinds of loads. The Silvertip isn't the most accurate, but from a snubby at threat range, anything you hit, and anywhere you hit it, it's not going to get back up.