For those of you who carry Magnum calibers for personal protection for two-legged threats, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum and 10mm, do you carry;

a) Full Magnum loads (1250+ fps);

b) Mid-Range loads (Speer .44 Magnum Gold Dot Short Barrel, .41 Magnum Silvertips etc. 1000-1250 fps)

c) "Special" or "Police" grade loads (.44 Specials in a Magnum, .41 Magnum 210 LSW@950 fps, .40 S&Ws in a 10mm 1000 fps and under)


Was wondering what gun/load you carry and why...

Thanks....Bob Makowski

Option C. Two legged critters are relatively fragile compared to wild predators so full power big bore magnums arn't needed and the lighter loads allow faster follow up shots if attacker is not alone.

In the 57 Silvertips, in the 1894 41 mag Federal 250 Cast Core.

Social work? Option C, like my neighbor. For the .41, I run 215-grainers at 1015 fps. Nothing wrong with the STHPs, either.

Currently option C (Hornady 180 gr XTP 44 Special) but looking at option B seriously. Speer's 200 gr Gold Dot SB 44 Magnum load looks like a pretty good compromise.

10mm

A.

Double Tap 180gr Gold Dot, 1240-1300fps

Double Tap 155gr Gold Dot, 1400-1475fps

44 mag. with federal 180 grain hp's at 1610fps claimed by rhe factory.

quote:

Originally posted by Wyatt Earp:
Currently option C (Hornady 180 gr XTP 44 Special) but looking at option B seriously. Speer's 200 gr Gold Dot SB 44 Magnum load looks like a pretty good compromise.

Wyatt...I was so impressed with that load I went out and bought a 629 MG just to shoot them out of...and that is not a joke... A friend bought a M22 for a carry gun and after expansion testing all the .44 Special rounds he could find was totally unimpressed. He then bought a 3" 629 PC fixed sight gun with the single port Comp and all of the .44 Magnum GDSB loads expanded nicely...

The .41 Magnum Speer 210 grain GD HPs were, somewhat surprisingly, only going 100 fps (1180) more that the .44 SBL. This is slower than both the Silvertip at 1225 and the CorBon 170 at 1280..all were chronographed the same day from a 4" M57. Most other 210 grain full loads run 1250-1325 from a 4" gun.

Thanks for all the great replies so far...

Bob

Speer .41 210 grain Gold Dots into gallon jugs of water...950, 1250 and 1400 fps...



Bob

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SuperMan,

I used to carry my Model 58 loaded with Silvertips, with one spare speedloader of 250 gr Federal castcores. I no longer use this revolver for personal defense. I became concerned that the Silvertips weren't really enough in the "oomph" department, as they are a 10mm level loading, so was considering switching to either using the Federal all the time or else using 210gr JHPs.

I carry a miderange .44 magnum load simply because I carry a S&W 329PD. To practice a lot I need a moderate loading in the lite weight revolver.

C except in 357 then I go with A because the 357 is my usual open country carry.

B: 41 STHP in my M58, even as a duty weapon. Good stuff.

GF..I somewhat share your concern about the 175 ST but then I remember a) the round has a very good track record b) we aren't taking .35 guns... Once one gets over .40 velocity seems to get a little less important. Try the 210 GD HPs...they expand nicely, have a large meplat so even if they don't open up they will cut a BIG hole and the recoil is moderate. Didn't you sell your M58 and get a long barrel M57?

Hook...what rounds are you using or are you rolling your own?

OFT...I agree...when using .357s I go 125 JPHs as fast as I can get them to run...

Thanks again for all the replies.

Bob

Interesting thread. I've been "carrying heavy" pretty often lately, with either one of my .44 mag. Mountain Guns or my standard 4" 629-4. In my full-weight gun, I've been keeping Buffalo Bore "Lower Recoil" loads, a 255gr. Keith at 1350fps. Yes, "Lower" is relative. In my Mountain Guns, I usually carry the Speer Short Barrel load, which is a 200gr. Gold Dot at about 1075fps. However, I sometimes carry the Buffalo Bore load in a Mountain Gun, as well. My 3" 629-4 stays loaded with the Short Barrel load. On the rare occasions when I carry my Model 58, I break my "factory only" rule, and carry a handloaded 215gr. Keith at about 875-900 fps.