Understanding the .44 Special obsession

Art Doc · #**101** 02-03-2009, 08:20 PM

I can do some 44 Specials.

A pair of poorly refinished 1926s.

And a pair of pretty 1950s.

buffalo4star · #**102** 02-03-2009, 08:31 PM

I'll srare mine.

#1) A 2nd. Mod. HE with British proof marks.It appears to be unfired but does have a few handling marks (less than that you might expect from a 80 yr. old gun that has crossed the sea a couple of times).Bright crisp bore ans dark blue recoil shield.

#2)Blue 5" 1926.Stag grips.

#3) Nickle 4" 1926.Need to letter this one since the ser.# 232XX is below what is the stated ser.# range for the 3rd. Mod.Genuine ivory grips.

#4)1950 .44 Target 6.5".Keith Brown Ropers.

#5) 1950 44 Target 5" that the seller told me had been cut.Reasonably priced shooter.

DCWilson · #**103** 02-03-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Emerson:
How can you distinguish the Lou Horton M-24 from a non-Lou Horton model?

Product code 100787. The LH 24-3 is distinguished by the 3" barrel and round butt.

DW

Muley Gil · #**104** 02-04-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Nickle 4" 1926.Need to letter this one since the ser.# 232XX is below what is the stated ser.# range for the 3rd. Mod.

You probably have a 2nd model that has been rebarrelled. I've run into several like that.

Of course, about the only difference between the two IS the shrouded barrel.

Bacon · #**105** 02-04-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DCWilson:

Quote:

Originally posted by Emerson:
How can you distinguish the Lou Horton M-24 from a non-Lou Horton model?

Product code 100787. The LH 24-3 is distinguished by the 3" barrel and round butt.

DW

Isn't it also supposed to be in a certain serial # range? I have a 24-3 that fits your description but never thought it was a LH.

tbury · #**106** 02-04-2009, 10:14 AM

My only 44spcl so far. But I do have an Uberti 44 Russian.

Hand Ejector Second model DOB 1931.

buffalo4star · #**107** 02-04-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Muley Gil:

Quote:

Nickle 4" 1926.Need to letter this one since the ser.# 232XX is below what is the stated ser.# range for the 3rd. Mod.

You probably have a 2nd model that has been rebarrelled. I've run into several like that.

Of course, about the only difference between the two IS the shrouded barrel.

You may be correct.What puzzles me is the barrel is numbered to the frame as is the cyl. and the underside on the ratchet.Also I don't know if the frame itself needs to be altered for a proper mating of the bbl. with the ejector housing.

ladder13 · #**108** 02-04-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by buffalo4star:
You may be correct.What puzzles me is the barrel is numbered to the frame as is the cyl. and the underside on the ratchet.Also I don't know if the frame itself needs to be altered for a proper mating of the bbl. with the ejector housing.

Beautiful gun Buffalo4star.

buffalo4star · #**109** 02-04-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stbryson:

Quote:

Originally posted by buffalo4star:

Quote:

Originally posted by Muley Gil:

Quote:

Nickle 4" 1926.Need to letter this one since the ser.# 232XX is below what is the stated ser.# range for the 3rd. Mod.

You probably have a 2nd model that has been rebarrelled. I've run into several like that.

Of course, about the only difference between the two IS the shrouded barrel.

You may be correct.What puzzles me is the barrel is numbered to the frame as is the cyl. and the underside on the ratchet.Also I don't know if the frame itself needs to be altered for a proper mating of the bbl. with the ejector housing.

Hello buffalo4star,

I hope I don't start a flame war or get accused of trashing a member's gun, but if the complete serial number is 23250, the gun shipped as a Second Model .44 Hand Ejector.

When serial number 23250 was listed on AuctionArms about a year ago, I contacted Roy Jinks, because of the lower than usual serial number (for a Third Model .44 H.E.).

Mr. Jinks advised me that "the revolver in question shipped as a .44 Hand Ejector Second Model and has been converted to a Third Model. I have lettered this gun before so who has it is not telling the full story."

If they are not the same gun, please disregard my post.

Take care,

Steve:
23250 IS THE SER.# ON MY 44.THE PRICE I PAID WAS DEFINITELY TOO MUCH FOR A 2ND. MOD.THE QUES. IS WHAT IS THE VALUE (W/O THE IVORY).THESE WERE ADDED LATER.THE GRIPS THAT CAME WITH THE GUN DO NOT MERIT MENTION.NEED TO HAVE WRITTEN CONFIRMATION THAT IT LEFT THE FACTORY AS A 2ND. MOD.IN ORDER TO RECOUP SOME OF MY MONEY.SHOULD YOU HAVE A LETTER THAT WOULD SAVE A GREAT DEAL OF TIME.LET ME KNOW.
APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND THERE WILL BE NO WAR, JUST A WORKOUT OF THE $ INVOLVED.

DCWilson · #**110** 02-05-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bacon:

Quote:

Originally posted by DCWilson:

Quote:

Originally posted by Emerson:
How can you distinguish the Lou Horton M-24 from a non-Lou Horton model?

Product code 100787. The LH 24-3 is distinguished by the 3" barrel and round butt.

DW

Isn't it also supposed to be in a certain serial # range? I have a 24-3 that fits your description but never thought it was a LH.

Off the top of my head, the LH three-inch combat models were mostly in the AEL and AEM series. Mine is AEM11xx. I remember a thread with a lot of detail about this; I will try to find it and post the link here. One of the wrinkles (if I remember correctly) is that LH ordered 5000 of these, but could not move them all. I believe S&W moved some of them directly. But I am now rummaging in corners of my memory without benefit of caffeine, so I am going to shut up until I find the additional information. More later.

DW

handejector · #**111** 02-05-2009, 07:34 AM

SaxonPig said:

Quote:

And a pair of pretty 1950s.

SP,
That is a neat pair of 1950's. Five inch? Do they letter?

KSCowboy · #**112** 02-05-2009, 10:59 AM

OK, I finally got some pictures taken of my Specials.

24-3 with McGivern Gold Bead.

624 with McGivern Gold Bead.

SAA 44 Special #1

SAA 44 Special #2

semperfi71 · #**113** 02-06-2009, 11:48 PM

M24-3 with Hunter holster

Colt 3rd with COWS leather

netfotoj · #**114** 02-07-2009, 05:05 AM

Quote:

KSCowboy and semperfi71

As Doc Watson would say, "Mighty pretty needlework."

Those are some of the finest .44s I've ever seen.

Maybe someday I'll find a Lew Horton 24...

Carolina Tom · #**115** 02-08-2009, 02:26 PM

Here's my .44 Specials. A couple of 24-3s, a four inch and a three inch. A pre model 21 made in 1956 with five inch barrel and number matching grips. Sometimes it's called a fourth model hand ejector military.

starbuck · #**116** 02-10-2009, 10:17 AM

For those of you that like the larger bore and smaller frame I understand Charter arms is coming out soon with a .45 ACP in their bulldog size frame. That should be interesting to carry/shoot.

dick44 · #**117** 02-10-2009, 10:22 AM

Question on rebarreled 2nd models
Was this done by choice or was S&W
out of 2nd model barrels?

dick44

KSCowboy · #**118** 02-10-2009, 10:43 AM

I like the idea of a 45 acp Bulldog. I didn't find anything about it on their website. Where did you hear about this?

starbuck · #**119** 02-10-2009, 11:01 AM

Click your mouse on the right where it says rimless revolver in red.

KSCowboy · #**120** 02-10-2009, 12:38 PM

Thanks Starbuck I found it. I like it! But I guess I can sell all that 45 AR brass I have socked away.

Wish I could find a doggy old 25-2 in the mean time to chop the barrel off and make a snubby.

netfotoj · #**121** 12-13-2009, 08:55 PM

I haven't been able to find a Smith .44 Special I can afford, but I did manage to find a .44 snubby I could buy, a used Charter 2000 Bulldog Pug stainless with 2.5" barrel taken in by the gunshop where I work. It looked virtually unfired and locks up tight, so it will have to do until I can find a used Model 24.

In the first outing with my new-to-me Bulldog Pug .44 Special snubby, I discovered the good folks at Charter set up the iron sights for full-house-load 240-grain bullets.

I had a box of Cowboy Load 240-gr. ammo which is certainly no wimp at 760 FPS, classic numbers for .45 ACP .230-gr. FMJs.

But the Charter's iron sights placed the Cowboy Loads about 2-3" low on the target. Then I tried some full-house-load 240 gr. SWCs and they were exactly what the iron sights liked, right on the bull.

So the next step in using the Bulldog for a carry pistol is to find a jacketed hollowpoint load that will line up with the iron sights.

I never did find a JHP load that lined up with the iron sights of my Charter Patriot .327 Magnum (bottom pistol in 2nd photo), so I had to get a set of Crimson Trace Laser Grips to enable it to hit where I'm aiming.

I suspected that might be the case with JHPs for the Bulldog Pug. I had four JHP loads to test. Top left on the target board, standing two-handed at 25 feet, are some 200-grain Georgia Arms Gold-Dot JHPs. Printing low and with a lot of muzzle blast and recoil. Not pleasant. The three clustered at 6 o'clock about 3" low are mine, the other holes are by the sergeant at the Armory, whose rounds drifted even lower and to the left. All the rest of the holes in the other targets are mine. Three of the GA Gold Dots were all the sergeant wanted to try. Can't imagine why.

Top right target are some CCI steel-case JHPs, probably 200-grain but they were some loose rounds we had at the gun shop with no box, so that's just a guess. Even hotter and more unpleasant to shoot than the GA Gold Dots and though still low, closer to the bull by a bit.

Then bottom left are five holes with Winchester Silvertip 200-gr. JHPs, much more pleasant to shoot and getting pretty close to the bull.

Finally, bottom right is the clear winner, five rounds with Speer Gold Dot 200-gr. JHPs, right on the money and also fairly pleasant to shoot. I am delighted to find a carry load so easily and not to have to add CT Lasergrips for the Bulldog. I may still add some grips later, but not right now when I've got other pistols to buy hopefully in my near future, like maybe that elusive Model 24.

Snowbandit · #**122** 12-14-2009, 12:41 AM

I would strongly suggest that anyone considering the .44 Special Silvertip for self defense ammo chronograph them first. The last ones I checked were only running 650 fps. Needless to say, they wouldn't expand either.

Old Corp · #**123** 12-14-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowbandit

I would strongly suggest that anyone considering the .44 Special Silvertip for self defense ammo chronograph them first. The last ones I checked were only running 650 fps. Needless to say, they wouldn't expand either.

I had no idea they were that lame. Their price does not reflect that!

Dave T · #**124** 12-14-2009, 12:23 PM

I only have two 44 Specials right now. One is a 4th Model Hand Ejector that was re-barreled with a 24-3 4" barrel (the original barrel was trashed by the original owner). Don't have a good picture of it right now but do have a picture of my other 44 Special:

First Model 44 Hand Ejector, First Century or Triple Lock, this model represents the start of both the 44 Special cartridge and the N-framed S&W. This one letters to have been shipped in 1914 as a 5", fixed sight, blued. Stocks are original and it has a Pachmyer grip adapter. This old warrior was re-blued sometime in the past, which made it both affordable and shootable.

Dave

Centenniel · #**125** 12-14-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okie john

The key to understanding the 44 Special obsession is to buy a 44 Magnum.

Okie John

Now, that is a statement that is very true. Well said!

sonny · #**126** 12-14-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron H.

Sir, nice rig. I hear ya about those grips, though. A buddy's 325PD has the same grips, and they don't suit my hand at all--it's downright painful to shoot with them.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

I had a 325PD, almost unfired. It was still almost unfired when I got rid of it two months later. Pretty gun; bugger to shoot.
Sonny

netfotoj · #**127** 12-14-2009, 09:25 PM

I thought I'd found a great .44 Special, S&W 396 Airlite SC Mountain Lite: Scandium frame, Titanium cylinder, chrome-lined 2.5" barrel, Hogue Bantam grips, Hi-Viz front sight, adjustable rear sight, 5-shooter, light as a feather. What's not to like?

Took her out to the gun shop range. Fifteen rounds of 200 gr. Remington and Ultramax full-house-load .44 Specials gave me all the answer I needed.

My left hand started to sting about the third round. Good thing I'm ambiguous. Switched over to the right for the second five, then back to the left for the third five. Enuff! Now I know why one gun magazine writer called this Mountain Lite the "Mountain Bite!"

Back to the shop she went. Ultralite ain't Ultraright. One of these days I'll find a S&W .44 snubby I can afford that will also be one I can enjoy shooting. Until then I'll keep on shooting my N-Frame Smith 29 and my Charter Bulldog Pug.

AZ Desertrat · #**128** 08-01-2012, 09:20 PM

Yes, indeed....it's a mighty sickness to overcome....but I will live with it.....hehehehe M24, Ruger BH .44 Special, Colt SA .44 Special...oh yeah....and a M21 too...thank Keith and Skeeter....

STCM(SW) · #**129** 08-01-2012, 09:32 PM

Na, I don't like .44 SPL's.......

Yea, good 'Ol Skeeter.......

pilgrim6a · #**130** 08-02-2012, 10:32 PM

Don't care much for those old, slow .44s at all.
Except for these.
Model 24-3
.44 Hand Ejector, Model of 1926.
Model 21-4

I may just get rid of them, IF I get tired of shooting them.

ladder13 · #**131** 08-02-2012, 10:55 PM

brucev · #**132** 08-03-2012, 09:03 AM

Once upon a time I saw a M&P styled .44 Special S&W revolver. It was way beyond my pocketbook! But it fascinated me. Over the years I owned several .44 Mag. revolvers, but they didn't really hold my interest. Then, I saw a 21-4 Thunder Range S&W in a gunshop... in the presentation case, etc. It was NIB. I gave them $500 OTD and took it home. Loaded with Winchester Cowboy Action 240 gr. lead loads, it will reliably shoot into about 1.5 inches at 15 yds. double-action. With 200 gr. JHP Gold Dots, it will shoot just as well. The sights are I think better regulated for the 200 gr. load. I swapped the grips for Pachmayer square-butt Presentation grips as these allow me more comfort in shooting. I think it is just about the ideal revolver for anything I might do be it range, woods/fields or HD.

Stophel · #**133** 08-14-2012, 04:32 PM

Love the .44 Special! Too bad they're so hard for me to find (and afford!!!)

My 21-4 that has been heavily "oldified" (delocked, recontoured, etc.). I just need to finally get around to making the grips for it, and finishing it.

My 624 (Red "C" box included)

I'd like to have a 4" 24-3 (or, of course, a 24....

or a shrouded third type pre war .44.... )

jdickson397 · #**134** 08-16-2012, 07:52 AM

There is a gun shop near me in NC that has two M24-3's with 6-1/2" barrels for sale. Both are in excellent shape and one or perhaps both of them are in the original boxes. Just saw them yesterday. Send me a private message and I will reply with the contact info.

Chuck Jones · #**135** 08-16-2012, 11:03 AM

Dave Nash and I have consecutive numbered Mod. 24s.

C.S.63 · #**136** 08-17-2012, 01:46 PM

sort of new member to the 44 spl crew/cult,
Well just and put a new to me S&W 396NG on lay away
pics will follow in a week, Just need a 696!!

Lenny_D · #**137** 08-17-2012, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stainz

I first bought a 629MG for .44 Special - followed by a 696 & 296 - both bought new the same day nearing six years ago - then a 20+ yr safe queen 6.5" 24-3. After starting my reloading hobby with .45 Colts, I made .45 ACPs... then .44 Specials - then .44 Russians. Just something about Specials - and Russians!

The 696 became an every range trip companion, along with usually that 629MG. The 296 fit an OWL black leather pancake OWB holster - a great closeout buy from Michael's of oregon. It sported the 696's UM's rounded Combats - enclosing that hump for better recoil control. I shot 1,200+ Blazers through it - still miserable, but what a shooter/protector.

The 24-3 was beset with a myriad of inexcusable QC problems - thank goodness they don't make them like that (1983-ish) anymore. I fixed it finally - but a new favorite had arrived - a closeout on the '01-'02 Heritage 24 - in 6.5" - far better than that -3 would ever be - what a blue job, too. I sold the older 24 - and traded the newer one away, my last blued guns... I couldn't bare seeing the Heritage model grow 'character' like that -3. I soon bought a new 6" 629-6 - SS - and available now - my idea of a proper '.44 Special' - Keith-load ready, too. I ultimately replaced my 629MG with a new production 4" 629-6 - same as the 6", except for the barrel. Sporting wood grips, they are .44 Special/Russian shooters... cleaned - and sporting Hoge .500 Magnum grips, they are .44 Magnum ready. YMMV, but those are my all-time-favorite '.44 Specials'!

The 296 went back to it's OEM boots - and a Mika's pocket holster. The combo fits ~75% of my britches front pockets - and gets a lot more carry. No more Blazers - one burst in my 696. The GA Arms 200gr GDJHP .44 Special load is the same ballistically, cheaper, and in reloadable new Starline brass. I'm up to 2,200+ through it now - still tight (The gun... not my wrist!).

Stainz

Stainz,
Are those round to square conversions on the 696 Ahrends?
If not whose are they? What kind of wood and are they the retros or tacticals?
I realize they add size for a carry gun but man they look nice!
Thanks,
Len

Lenny_D · #**138** 08-17-2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carolina Tom

Here's my .44 Specials. A couple of 24-3s, a four inch and a three inch. A pre model 21 made in 1956 with five inch barrel and number matching grips. Sometimes it's called a fourth model hand ejector military.

CT,
That pre 21 is just plain gorgeous!

GM4spd · #**139** 08-17-2012, 02:19 PM

You're right--- I don't get the obsession with the 44SPCL
when I have the 44 Magnum! Pete