The .44 special can be hotroded in some popular guns to reach the low end of .44 mag loads. The .44 special can be loaded to do what 95% or more of what people buy the .44 mag THINK they need.
The .44 mag is a more powerfull cartridge, no argument. However the beautifull thing about .44 specials in smith & wessons is they have tapered or "pencil" barrels that make the guns feel much more handy, lighter and portable, yet do the same job in most cases as the .44 mag.
I have a 24-3 .44 special. I also own the heavier straight barrel 29-2 .44 mag. There is a big differance if you actualy wear them all day.
In colt single actions they are a sweet heart too.
Here are my .44 specials. There is two conversions amoung them. The long barreled colt saa, and the 5" HD looking smith has a model 21 barrel on it and rechambered to .44 special.
Like most of us on this site I own .44 mag, a bunch of .45 colts, .357s, .45 acp`s etc. .44 special is my favorite. That is partialy because of the guns made for them. They are all sweethearts.