In terms of self-defense against two-legged threats with the .44 Special, which would you rather use...the 250 grain Keith bullet or the 200 grain Gold Dot hollowpoint?

For the 250 Keith I would say the velocity would be 900 or so, and with the 200 Gold Dot it would either be the same velocity or a bit higher.

Also, what would be your reasons for using one over the other?

Thanks.

I went with Hornady's 180 grain XTP.

HP would be safer from blowing a hole thru the guy and hitting an innocent bystander.

Solids are for hunting.

I carry Keiths in the woods and Gold Dots in town. For what has been termed "serious social encounters," I want the Gold Dots. For critters, I want Elmer's bullet. Both loads are around 900 fps, iirc

The soon to be departed, won't know which he's been gifted with if truly delivered.

I don't own a .44 Special any longer, but when I did, a 200 gr lswchp was loaded. Seems like they were Winchester. They would dispatch phone books real well. Wished I still had the gun.

Originally posted by Pistol Toter:

"I don't own a .44 Special any longer, but when I did, a 200 gr lswchp was loaded. Seems like they were Winchester. They would dispatch phone books real well. Wished I still had the gun."

That was the Federal load of 200 grains. Good bullet, mild load. The Winchester personal defense offering is/was the Silvertip.

quote:

Originally posted by Parson Colt:
I carry Keiths in the woods and Gold Dots in town. For what has been termed "serious social encounters," I want the Gold Dots. For critters, I want Elmer's bullet. Both loads are around 900 fps, iirc

+1. I don't own a .44 spl., but if I did that's what I would do. With a marginal hit a hollow point could have a slight advantage as far as incapacitation goes. Since I'm a fan of the New York reload, I have no use for the Keith bullet for self defense. If I was going to use a nonexpanding bullet, I would just use wadcutters.

quote:

That was the Federal load of 200 grains. Good bullet, mild load. The Winchester personal defense offering is/was the Silvertip.

Thank you sir, it was Federal. I had forgotten. The gun was a Rossi bought for me by a son. When he got married I gave it to him for his home. You are correct in that it was mild to fire but that big ole honkin soft lead bullet plunged DEEP into several boundup phone books. I'm not so sure that them old calibres don't exhibit characteristics far better than the current breed of majic knock'em down dead fodder. Ain't nothin wrong with a .44 special.

I am a big fan of heavy bullets but I no longer carry cast bullets due to the smoke they generate and the potential for the lube leaking out on these 96 degree days like we're having today. So I would compromise and load the 250 gr. Gold Dot to 900 FPS. I have learned that truly effective ammo is that which gives through and through penetration. But don't expect this from a factory loaded Gold Dot.

Dave Sinko

Here you can see my gold dots, and a handloaded 208 grain swchp. I haven't tested them, so due to the narrow cavity they may not open very easily.

I carry a Model 696. I have it loaded with Silvertips, but a Gold Dot is an excellent choice. The placement of the shot is more important than the type of ammunition that you use. However, I am not overly impressed with the old-fashioned 246 grain lead round nose bullets.

Bullet placement being the prime directive is a given. I personally carry Gold Dots in my 1991-vintage Charter Arms Bulldog chambered in .44 S&W Special. The 3" barrel gives it enough runway to "drop the bad guy" when properly placed. I don't feel undergunned with this revolver. It saved my life on one cold December 30, 2006, changing the mind of one machete-wielding fool! Needless to say, he "got the message."

Scott

I keep 200gr. Gold Dots in all my .44 mags. and .44 Specials, except when I'm out where there might be hogs and such, then I switch to 250s or heavier. Unlike some here I HAVE seen overpenetration become a legal problem, and I don't carry solids for self-defense against humans for that reason. I may be overly cautious about it, and a 250 at .44 Special velocities might not be that much of an overpenetration hazard, but I can't see any advantage in one for self-defense use that outweighs the potential risks, unless you have a fixed sight gun that prints lighter bullets way too low. Additionally, the .44 Gold Dot loads I've checked for accuracy have been very impressive, whether in Lawman, Blazer, Georgia Arms or Pro-Load guise. Finally, they expand like crazy, and I like that.

Well .38/44 your probably right?
I find myself being concerned about having to do the antler dance with that one in a million mutant, that HAS the thoracic dimensions of a Tennessee hawg though? But that's because I'm older, skinnier and not half as tough as I was prior to surgery. I'd be hard pressed to try to go medieval on a 6'2", 275# dude 30 years my junior?
But I think it was Shortranger who in the past wrote about compensating for one's physical decline, by carrying a heavier load. Unfortunately as usual, he was right!