.44 Mag snub ballistics

[kaaskop49]

Hi people, not having much luck online. Can anyone come up with some real-world ballistics for .44Mag factory loads in 2.75" to 3" bbls? BBTI has very limited results. Would like to know what I'm (not) getting. Thanks in advance.

[JPriest]

Your question got me interested. The shortest barrel I have is 4.25" (Canadian), and I have seen articles comparing ballistics between 6" revolvers and 18" rifles, but nothing on snubs. I googled it and came up with this. BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .44 Mag Results

Hope it helps. I found it interesting.

[kaaskop49]

Many thanks for your reply, appreciate. That BBTI is the only chart showing snub velocities and only for a few, what I consider, non-standard .44 Mag rounds.
Wondering if anyone out there has done any chronographing. Published charts mostly show 4" for the shortest bbl length.

Understand shooting is now a chore in Canada. I recall a restrictive law (forget the title) being enacted in the mid/late 70s which took a lot of fun out of shooting up North. C-I-L used to produce some cool, US-unavailable loads for handgun and rifle; guess these are all history.

[JPriest]

I'm pretty sure that C-I-L was bought out and isn't in the ammo business anymore. Maybe paints or chemicals (like a mini Canada DuPont), but I could be wrong on that.

Shooting is still fun up here, but there are a lot of hoops to jump through and paperwork involved. There is strong anti-gun sentiment in most of the big cities, so if you live in one you'll be hard pressed to find a good place to shoot within city limits, but I think for most people outside of the major metropolitan areas it is still not too bad.

[Nevada Ed]

I have one book that shows a 4 inch 44 mag at........
180gr ...... 1610 fps
240gr ...... 1180 fps

Its data for my 6" 357 is dead on, so you should be in the ball park by subtracting 100 fps for your short barrel.

The factory 240gr should have a MV of around 621 ft/lb +/- .

[kaaskop49]

Ed, Hi from Vegas! Many thanks for your interpolation. You'd think there'd be more solid data on this, given that these guns are out there.
Understand there are more, and more interesting, guns up north in the Reno area. Down here, it's a desert, 2d and 3d grade mdse at 1st grade prices. Too bad you have cold winters or I might want to live up there. Lungs, you know...

Thanks again and best wishes.

Kaaskop49

[Cal44]

BTW, Buffalo Bore has some low recoil 44 Mag ammo available.

The descriptions says it was developed for lightweight guns like the 329PD.

Nearly full power, with lower recoil (they claim).

I ordered a couple boxes to try in my 2.5" 629 backpacker.

They give brief ballistics for 4" but no shorter.

I also would think they would test it for 44 snubs as well.

Dave

[kaaskop49]

Many thanks. I found this load on the B-B website. Yes, you would think they would test in a snub bbl. Am interested in how it works for you in your 629.

[Nevada Ed]

I'd live in Vegas but can't afford the A/C bills !!
At least you do not have to shovel snow.................

Both places have their good and bad but you have the "Stays...thing " while we get to strap on ski's or boards in the winter and suck on a Vota bag with vino or white Christmas. (off duty ski patrol thing )

Safe shooting, have fun and don't take any long rides into the desert from strangers..................

[Cal44]

Most people only think of casinos when they think of Las Vegas.

But, to the East of Vegas is some of the most beautiful country in the US.

You have the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Capital Reef, Canyon Lands NP, Arches (near Moab Utah), Monument Valley -- plus some others I've forgotten.

To the West you have Death Valley (a very scenic place) plus other small parks and monuments.

I grew up in AZ, went to college in SoCal, and lived ever sense in NorCal and I've traveled to all the places I've mentioned and more.

A great place to live.

Dave

[kaaskop49]

Cal, Many thanks for your informative post. I have one question for you: Where's the subway?

Kaaskop 49