I was talking with some people about this in another thread, and I must have misunderstood what they were saying because I was under the impression a box of 44 special rounds would not have the black powder and smoke.

Anyway, I bought a box and was firing them at the range the other day and WHA-HO Baby did they STANK! My friends were making fun of me and I don't think the the people in the adjacent lanes appreciated it either.

I apologize if this is a stupid question, I am still pretty new to fire arms and ammunition. If there are 44 special rounds that don't smoke or stink, could anyone recommend some?

Thanks,

- Helmer

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Drop me off at Lane Bryant.

What kind did you buy?? Were the bullets lead?

I'm not sure. I just asked for a box of 44 special. They gave me magtechs, which I had fired before in 44 magnum, but these put out a lot of smoke and reeked.

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Drop me off at Lane Bryant.

The smoke is mostly from the lubricant on the lead bullet. It is really nasty if indoors.

Yep. The lube on the lead bullets is the cause. The smokeless powders in quality commercial cartridges don't resemble black powder, but burning lube makes a smoky mess. There are a LOT of kinds of lubes and recipes.

I've been shooting some commercial cast (Missouri bullets) that were well made and shot very well but smoked up the indoor range pretty good and it got kinda hazy in there.

If you use Jacketed or plated bullets it should be much less smoky.

All major manufacturers (and a lot of Mom & Pop reloaders) make 44 Spl ammo with smokeless powder, and its not too hard to find black powder loads too.

Around here at least, the most available(and least expensive) factory 44 special loading is PMC Bronze loaded with a 180 grain jacketed hollow point. Although not completely clean burning(I'm not aware of any ammunition that is) they at least don't have the smoke and smell that you usually get with lead bullets.

I pay $28/50 for these at the local Cabelas-I've seen the same load at other stores and online for anywhere from $26-$40 a box.

Looking at Midway's website, I also see a Fiocchi 200 grain jacketed 44 special that they list for $31.99/50 and Blazer 44 special loaded with a Gold Dot hollow point for $38.99/50. Most of the higher end self defense ammo uses jacketed bullets also, although at $1-$1.50 per round I can never bring myself to shoot much of it when I go to the range.

They were not Black Powder loads if they were made by Magtech, they don't make them. Like said above, some ammo can be very smokey mostly due to the bullet lube when loaded with lead bullets.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Like the above people stated. I load ammo with both lead and lead alloy rounds, also copper jacketed rounds, and use smokeless and black powder depending on ether my 1858 Remington Army and a model 29.

The only thing you really have to deal with in any ammo using bullet lube on lead ad lead alloy rounds. Also if you accidentally buy cowboy loads which are black powder loads mostly with lead or lead allows and wadcutter and semi-wadcutter.

The reason for cowboy loads is for modern ammo for older revolvers such as civil war era revolvers that were converted from cap and ball and factory rigid shell ammo along with leveraction and single fire weapons.

To bad that smith and wesson did not get the credit due to them for inventing the lever action mechanism with the pistol Volcan 10. 10 round lever action pistol. Was not successful in the market and sold to Winchester who then developed the winchester repeating leveraction rifle.

That smoke is nothing compared to the billowing white clouds of foul sulphur smelling smoke real black powder ammo puts out.

Helmer, is that Paul Lynde in your avator?

That was one sharp-witted funny guy.

Shooting 44 Special (or any other handgun round for that matter!)
is a good reason to get into handloading. Much cheaper and you can
craft exactly the kind of ammo you want/need.
You can pretty much load the 44 Special and Magnum with the same
equipment until you get into real specialized stuff like dual ring carbide
dies or the Lee Quicktrim dies.

Try it. You will like it

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Nemo

Thank you for the information. It sounds like it was not the powder, but the lead bullets that were causing the smoke and foul odor.

Is the distinction here the jacketing, ie, if I can find jacketed 44 special rounds, I won't encounter that problem again?

I was looking through the midway site and it looks like everything there is out of stock.

After some searching the only thing of this sort I could find were the 44 Special 180 Grain JHP PMC Bronze rounds on surplusammo.com for thirty dollars.

44 Special 180 Grain JHP PMC Bronze - 50 Rounds - Surplus Ammo

That seems like a good price and I think these are the rounds I am looking for. Does anyone know anything about this retailer? I don't know anything about any online retailers or their reputations.

It certainly is and he certainly was.



Thank you for the suggestion. I have thought about getting into handloading. Obviously it would save money in the long run and it seems like it could be a fun hobby. I need to read up on it though.

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Drop me off at Lane Bryant.

Thanks again for the advice.

I ordered the PMC rounds and had a chance to fire them today. They were exactly what I was looking for.

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Drop me off at Lane Bryant.

That's true. I bought a bunch of odds and ends from a pawn shop that included some loose 44 spls. Imagine my dismay when I fired a round that gave off a tremendous cloud of white smoke, and that familiar BP smell. Having to bathe my revolver afterwards really ticked me off.

The answer is to cast your own bullets and add your choice of perfume into your own bullet lube. It’s really simple. Use mayberry candle wax in your lube for mayberry sent or whatever you can dream up. Otherwise choose an indoor range with modern ventilation fans.

Not sure I would actually touch off unknown rounds in my Specials,
especially the Bulldog. Maybe in the Redhawk.

I have had folks look sideways at me when letting loose loads buffered
with used walnut shell media. Smells a little like a rock concert

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Nemo