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Old 03-21-2014, 02:04 AM
iimage333 iimage333 is offline
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Default carry 44 mag. Light

Better all around 44 magnum round
I own several 44 magnum handguns. I own two smiths and 3 Rugers I wish that a Ammo company would make a 44Mag, Light. A round halfway between the 44 special and 44 magnum round. This I hope would come with a quality hollow point similar to the Critical duty round. The 44 Mag round is too powerful for self defense and uncomfortable to shoot. The 44 Special round is OK for self defense but barely. Actually a bit weak compared to a 357 round. There is a market for such a round if it existed and people knew about it, Any help out there.
Thanks
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Old 03-21-2014, 02:10 AM
BarnStorm BarnStorm is offline
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Buffalo Bore has a reduced recoil round in .44 Mag however it's not a hollow point. Their item number it is 4E/20.
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Old 03-21-2014, 02:41 AM
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Speer has a decent offering:


Speer Ammo - Ballistics Tables

ETA wrong round, see below for correction
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Last edited by 2hawk; 03-22-2014 at 02:10 AM.
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Old 03-21-2014, 10:46 PM
kaaskop49 kaaskop49 is offline
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In the 1980s, the major mfgrs produced a .44Mag 'medium load,' a 240 gr. lead bullet at about 950fps. They were not HPs, but they were a viable choice for SD in a .44Mag revolver and more powerful than the weaker .44Spl factory loads. It might still be possible to find a box or 2 of these loads at a show.
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Old 03-22-2014, 12:46 AM
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Default Buffalo Bore

BB has both light .44 mag. and heavy .44 special.
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Old 03-22-2014, 01:14 AM
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Yes, I know what you mean. It's tough if you don't reload. I've tried the Speer 210 mentioned above (it's one of the Short Barrel rounds). It's fairly controllable - give that a try.

I just loaded up some 240 gr. XTPs over 9.3 grns of Unique - a good mild/medium 44 Mag load I carry in the woods.
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Old 03-22-2014, 02:00 AM
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With that many handguns in that caliber, you really should consider loading your own. The .44 Mag is one of the most versatile rounds there is. But only if you handload! Not that difficult, either. It's the one I learned on back in '79.
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Old 03-22-2014, 02:09 AM
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Default oops, my bad...

I loaded the wrong clip.

Here is the spec on the Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot Hollow Point:



As shown here:
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Old 03-22-2014, 04:48 AM
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Price and availability of factory loads that offer what you are looking for being what they are, I would buy an inexpensive Lee Loader, complete with powder dippers. Load a soft cast lead 200 / 240 grain hollow point to around 900 / 950 fps. Sort of like the old FBI 38 spl. load, only on steroids...

Larry
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Old 03-22-2014, 08:28 AM
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The WW Silvertip might meet your criteria.
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Old 03-22-2014, 11:28 PM
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A 44 Special will push a 200gr jacketed bullet ~850 fps while a 44 Magnum will push that bullet to ~1450 fps. Since you said you are looking for a compromise between the two I would think a 200gr bullet ~1100 fps would probably be a good choice.

The Speer Gold Dot 44 Special uses a 200gr GD bullet listed @875 fps. Their 210gr 44 Magnum is listed @1450 fps. Their Short Barrel 44 Magnum uses a 200gr GD bullet reported @1075 fps, just what you seem to be looking for...
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  #12  
Old 03-23-2014, 01:03 AM
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[QUOTE=2hawk;137800041]I loaded the wrong clip.

Here is the spec on the Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot Hollow Point:

Yea, that's the one - very controllable in a 44 Mag.
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Old 03-23-2014, 01:26 AM
NE450No2 NE450No2 is offline
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The Speer 200gr Short barreled load is a very good one.

While I am usually a heavier bullet kind of guy I like the Cor Bon 165 gr JHP at 1300fps 44 Mag load.
I will usually use one of the above loads when I carry a 44 Mag in the city.

Another good load that I like is the Cor Bon 225DPX, at 1350, but it does have more recoil than the other two.

If all of these 3 loads have more recoil/recovery time than you like then take a look at Cor Bon's, and Buffalo Bores +P type 44 Specials.
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  #14  
Old 03-23-2014, 01:46 AM
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I don't know where you are getting your information about the .44 Magnum, but if you ever had to defend yourself with a sidearm, nothing would be "too powerful".
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Old 03-23-2014, 06:16 AM
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I carry a 4inch 29 as my off duty CCW. I load it with Federal 240 gr hydra~shoks. These are a good middle of the road load that are marketed for self defense. I have personally used the load on a deer a couple years ago and have grown quite confident with it. I put the load through a chrony a year or so back and out of my 4inch guns they are running just shy of 1200 fps.
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