Howdy

I was just chatting with somebody on another forum about the 44 Mag cartridge. Got me to thinking. We always hear about how Elmer was hot rodding 44 Specials and pushing Smith to come up with the new cartridge. But I never stopped to think just what model he was using for his hot 44 Sp loads.

Does anyone know?

Thanks

Howdy

I was just chatting with somebody on another forum about the 44 Mag cartridge. Got me to thinking. We always hear about how Elmer was hot rodding 44 Specials and pushing Smith to come up with the new cartridge. But I never stopped to think just what model he was using for his hot 44 Sp loads.

Does anyone know?

Thanks

The model 1926 that was created for a big Texas sporting goods store. N frame, fixed sights, barrel underlug.

Sir, he used a number of different guns, including the 1950 .44 Target (pre 24), Triple Lock, and Colt SAA. There may have been others as well, but those are the ones most frequently mentioned in "Sixguns."

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

Tell you a little story about Elmer. In 1975 the NRA had it's annual meeting in San Diego. The S&W Collectors Assoc. had recently been formed and we were putting on a display of engraved S&Ws owned by famous people, for the NRA meeting. Since I lived in San Diego I got the job of setting up the display and running the booth during the meeting. Elmer had a booth near by and was hawking his latest book. During a slow period one afternoon, he and I got to talking and I suggested that since he had a close connection with Carl Hellstrom @ S&W and the .44 Magnums, etc. he should accept my invitation to sponser him as a new member of the S&W Collectors Assoc. Elmer asked me when our next shooting match would be held, and I explained that we were serious collectors and met to exchange information about our S&W collections and shooting matches were not a formal part of our activities. Elmer thanked me for the kind invitation but allowed that his forte was shooting not collecting, so he would have to pass. I told him to keep us in mind and someday when he was to old to shoot anymore, my invitation would still stand! He did give me a signed copy of his book, however, which I still have. Ed.

Wolf & Clar, Ft. Worth, TX

Thanks

I doubt Elmer was pushing the envelope for a different cartridge but, for better terminal balistics with the .44 guns?
Steve

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NRA Life Member

I think the idea of extending the cartridge and pushing it farther than what Elmer was working on came from John Lachuck, who was doing much the same thing Elmer was, only hotter.

And of course, Elmer was all for it.

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Kevin Gibson

Beg pardon. Spelling issue. Wolf & Klar.

T-Star

It was my understanding the addition 1/8 of and inch was the same thing they did to the 38 Special/357 Mag. By adding the length to the brass they made it so it could not be fired in older gunner or weaker guns chanbered in 44 Special.

Heat treating is different on the magnums or at least was.

RWT

His load in baloon head 44 spl. case was 18.5 grs. of 2400.

When solid head case came out he reduced it to 17.5 grs. of 2400.

I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on by Elmer Keith.
I recall that he was also a big proponent of the .45 Colt in the SAA, but opined that there was not enough 'meat' between the chambers, thus, rendering it less suitable for the serious-purpose handloads he was concocting. The .44 spl. had alot more going for it in terms of handloader potential in that regard.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Elmer wrote to D. B. Wesson in 1935 and told him he would have a "hell of a demand" for the NEW .357 Magnum in 44 caliber. D. B. Wesson did not comment on EMK's statement, but the 44 Hand Ejector Third Model (Model of 1926) would have been the gun available to Elmer at the time. Later, some of his favorite carry revolvers were 1950 Target 44s with a 4-inch barrel.

Bill