GREAT post, Phil............

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Thanks Joe. I just love the Smith .44s, all of them, since the first ones. And the last ones, the Magnums, digest it all.

I have to say that I enjoy the .44 Special revolvers separate and apart from the fun of the .44 Magnums. The gracefully tapered barrels of so many of the various Smith & Wesson .44 Special models gives them a very pleasing balance all their own. The . 44 Magnum guns and their thicker barrels are heavier and balance differently unless one has a .44 Magnum Mountain Gun. I like the look of the N-Frame with tapered barrels, like the way it hefts, and like the way it recoils with .44 Special loads.

I don't want to just load down .44 Magnum to .44 Special equivalent loads. I really enjoy using the .44 Special case to assembly handloads in .44 Special revolvers.

I shoot .44 Magnum too but consider it a completely different breed of cat. I don't interchange .44 Special with .44 Magnum just like I don't interchange .38 Special with .357 Magnum. These are completely different cartridges in my view, having completely different applications.

A lot has changed in 75 years, Steels, powders, bullet shapes, lubes, and alloys just to name a few. I like my 44 specials but believe this statement is along the same lines as " the Packard Roadster is the best car ever built". When Elmer helped to develop the 44 Mag he went to it exclusively in that caliber.

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Front sight and squeeze

Bmcgilvray, you are right on target. The old .44 Special Smiths are very special in their own right, for reasons you mention. They have their own esthetic appeal, and feel. That's reason enough for seeking them out and collecting them. We all do it and understand the thought process. My earlier comments were about the practical, utilitarian aspects of having one fine gun that will do it all, as a 29 will. But having one gun which will do that is not how I end up having more than several dozen S&Ws. And that's today. I know full well that in a couple months, or years, the drawer will be more crowded. And I will not be less happy.

I have a 624 3" 44 special because my dad offered it to me for $200 back in 2004 making me promise that if I ever sold it, it goes back home to him. He has spent the last 7 years telling everybody and anyone that I stole it from him. It's a 44 special because I break it out every now and then to remind him what a truly special revolver it is.

I love mine just because it will do anything I need it to. I love the N frame and the tapered barrel. The 624 was the true ORIGINAL "Mountain Gun" before S&W coined that name.

It's a fun and useful round. Interesting to me that the 44 Special began as a pistol round, and the similar 44 WCF (44-40) round began as a rifle round. Handloading the Special is half the fun and the best way to enjoy the flexibility of this round.

In any case, the 44 Special is a sweetheart in its' own right. For myself, its' single failing is that it won't fit in a J frame!

Here are two great 44 Specials. Magnums will not fit into these chambers, and aren't needed for what I need.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

My very first forum I have ever submitted to. Retired U.S. Army first SGT. Then went on a major police Dept. for 20 years. I started playing with 44's right after Dirty Harry came out. Shoot at least 2 times a week now then it was about 3 times a week for 20 years. Been through a lot of 44's and always go back to Smith. Got a 396 Mountin Lite and a 629. Don't keep to many guns around that way I don't have to spend half my day deciding which gun to take to range. Can't say I am in love with the 44"s because I barely know anything else. Through the years collecting brass I probably have 10,000 pieces. Why would I change now?. Thanks for your time. Alamo Bob

[QUOTE=bobintherepublicoftexas;136342407]My very first forum I have ever submitted to. Retired U.S. Army first SGT. Then went on a major police Dept. for 20 years. I started playing with 44's right after Dirty Harry came out. Shoot at least 2 times a week now then it was about 3 times a week for 20 years. Been through a lot of 44's and always go back to Smith. Got a 396 Mountin Lite and a 629. Don't keep to many guns around that way I don't have to spend half my day deciding which gun to take to range. Can't say I am in love with the 44"s because I barely know anything else. Through the years collecting brass I probably have 10,000 pieces. Why would I change now?. Thanks for your time. Alamo Bob

44 and Harleys can't get better than that.

Compare the .45 ACP and .44 SPL ballisticaly and you will see why it is the choice of many in a carry revolver.

I have an older Rossi M720. It's relatively small and light. It's never missed a beat.
I carry Hornaday Critical Defense Ammo.
My biggest issue is I'm not set up to reload. The .44 SP ammo cost more than .44 Magnum around here. One shop wanted $60 for 50 rds of hard ball

So I'm seein' two problems here. Can you pick them out?

OK, there is no difference in cost to shoot Specials and Magnums. Cost is so close to identical its not even worth considering. Its just powder that you may use a little more of. Powder is cheap.

You need to discover the fun of reloading. Its cheap, just like me.

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Dick Burg

For me, the .44SPL is the most accurate round I've owned.
Even is an inexpensice Charter Arms Target Bulldog (my CCW gun in the 1970s and 1980s) was accurate.

With heavey lead semi-wadcutters, it tosses a respectible bullet that seems to do the job, whether it is cutting sunflowers, knocking down steel silhouettes (not the 100 yard rams - those are heavy), or shooting meat-in-a-bag.

If I found a reasonable Lou Horton .44SPL, I would gladly sell my semi-custom Wilson Combat .45 and I love that gun.

It's my favorite cartridge and a direct link to the great guns and shooters of the past. Here are too favorites of mine, separated by 30 years but the family resemblance is very clear.


Keith

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kbgrips.com

Skeeter, Elmer and just cause!

Oh I was concerned about the Rossi too. But it's never given me a bit of problem. Would I rather have a Smith? Sure! But the $200 I spent on the Rossi, intended to be a truck gun, was worth it to me just to have something different.
I agree with reloading. I need to get set up. Just not sure what to get and know nothing about it.

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Independent Field Tester/R&D

amazing flapjack hit the nail on the head! Personally I've found the .44 Special the revolver equilvilent to the .45ACP. It pretty much can and does match it in both velocity and power, bullet weights are similar and both weapons are about the same weight.
Thing is though there is just something about lobbing chunks of lead diwmn range out if a big bore sixgun that the autoloader can't match! And the revolver is more accurate!
My current .44 Spls are a Charter Target Bulldog and a S&W second model handejector in nickel with a 6.5 inch barrel. And although I prefer a model 58 for defensive duty, if and when I find a model 21 or 24, it might get reserved for a woods gun. But then the .44 Spl. CAN do that job too! Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

I've always loved anything "Skeeter" so I'd almost bet my next pension check that it was he who wrote his description of the sound of shooting the 44 spcl. To him (I think it was him), it made a sound like slapping a pony across the rump with a wet blanket. I loved that description and had to have one for myself. It was long coming and only one, the 24-3 wears the S&W monogram and the other, a new 8 1/2" model Flat Top Bisley, R**er---please forgive me. Thanks for looking

I love my 44 spl S&W. I load low power loads at 800 fps, and my hot loads at 1000 fps. That will kill anything I want to kill. Wallam in Ga

I'm another one that also likes the .44 Special.
Authough not a S&W, but do have a Taurus 445 2" and a Rossi M720 3".
Both good shooters.





Ernie

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S&W .500 Magnums RULE !

I just picked up a deal on the 'Thunder Ranch' 44 special m24-1.

I've put a couple hundred rounds thru it side by side with a 3" and 4" 629, using same ammo & targets.

SO far, I can run the entire falling plate rack 5 times in a row with rapid DA action only....while I can't do that with the 629s.

And when I get this brass restuffed, I'm going back to work on my technique so more!

I think I've been missing out on something with this DA stuff.....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Here's my thoughts and proven facts why i use the 44 special rounds.

I was loading the leadcast in the 44mag cases and realized using the same load I can get better ballastics when i use the 44 special cases with the leadcast bullets. My thoughts were why waste the 44mag cases for lesser ballastics when i can load the 44 special rounds at higher ballastics.

I been wanting to get the misses a charter arms bulldog in 44special. My plan is if its too much for her she can shoot the 44 russians out of it. the 44cal is still a making a big hole either way. Bill

Welcome to the forum I see its your second post.

Your right with the 10k of brass for one caliber. If you had more calibers it would be 10k of brass for every caliber plus the dies too, don't ask me how i know. Bill

Re: OP. I cannot speak for others. For myself I will only say that I've owned and used and gotten rid of a pile of revolvers and pistols. After 30 years, I've "simplified" my handgun lineup. I now have a .22 LR (18-3), a .38 Special (15-3), a couple of .357's (6" 28-3 and 4" 28-2), a .45 ACP (625-2) and a .44 which is intentionally a .44 Special (21-4). If I want more power, I'll just pick up my M-1 Garand as there is very little in North America that a M-1 loaded with M-2 ball can't handle. For hand gun work... I find the calibers I mentioned are about perfect. The 21 is just about ideal for my purposes... light and handy, rugged, finely fitted and finished, accurate and easily loaded with anything from plain Jane lead factory loads to the romping stomping JHP loads, and that doesn't even begin to take into account my various handloads.

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<><

After all of this, I honestly don't know what to add. I don't have a handgun manufactured strictly for the .44 special, as I belong to the "sometimes a magnum is necessary" camp, but I love the Special. The "boom" is right, the recoil is right (especially for these arthritic wrists) and the solid "thunk" of a large hunk of lead embedding itself into a dirt bank backstop is more than satisfying. I can manage 5 shot groups with all holes touching out of my .44mag Vaquero offhand at 30 feet which is plenty good for me, and go home at night without the week long ache that accompanies an outing with magnum fodder. It's great for reloading (just price a box of factory ammo ). It's one of the cartridges that makes shooting what it should be...fun! For me there are 5 calibers that fall into this catagory: .22lr, .38Spl, .44Spl, .45 Colt and .45ACP. I would hate to ever have to choose just one out of those 5, but if I did, the .44Spl would absolutely be in the running for the top!

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Tacticool?...NOT!

I like the 44 special because it saves on brass. 44 maggies start splitting a little, trim them to 44 specials and keep shooting. No problem. Out of the 44 loadings who knows how many more uses you will get out of brass. If you shoot as much as I do, you can't be wasteful. Alamo Bob

696 (3)
M24 3 inchers (2), one old, one new
624 3 incher
624 4 incher
newer 24-? newer version 4 incher fixed sights
newer m24-5 (2) long skinney barrel, adj sights tint grip version cylinder lock
Ruger 4 5/8 flat top
AWA, 4 5/8 and 7 1/2 inchers
almost forgot the little stainless Taurus

Easy to load round at just right volume for efficient medium rate powder, enough umph, casn be had in smaller size than 44 mag

The 44 special round is a great round all by itself and its joy to shoot and have plenty of power.

I have an M29 with a 6" barrel. As has been said, the .44spl is a tack driver out of that gun. The problem with .44spl is that it is not available in the market and I don't reload. So for now, I bought a 625 and will use .45acp. If I ever get into reloading, I'll be all over .44mags and .44spl. Maybe when I retire.

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18-4, 15-4

Cause Skeeter said it was the one and guess what?
Skeeter was right!

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Just got rid of the 329 like to shoot my carry gun, with loads that I carry. The 329 was brutal, no fun to shoot. I now have a 21-4 Thunder Ranch. I will like shooting that a lot better. Besides kind of special for me since Clint Smith his brother Ron and his dad and I were all on the Ft.Wayne Police Department at the same time, it brings back some memories with all those guys. Alamo Bob

Shooting a .44 Spl. is a lot like bowling. Watching that big "ball" scatter those pins when it hits them is like...fun.

Any of you folks lovin them .44s so much you might want to let loose one of your old 27-2 3/12" ??

Any of you folks lovin them .44s so much you might want to let loose one of your old 27-2 3/12" ??

rog8732:

I have a LNIB 3.5" 27-2 I will trade you for a 4" 4th Model Target of 1950 .44 Special !

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

Here's another reason.
Revolver is a Model 21-4.
Load: 240 gr SWC. 5.5 gr of W231
The target is a 1.5" dot.
Shot today by a half blind, arthritic, fat old man. 10 yds double action.
The second pic was shot last month by the same fat man.
3" post-it note, 6 rds , DA, at 10 yds.

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Field Researcher. IGC

HALF BLIND, ARTHRITIC OLD MEN RULE ! ! ! (SORRY, I'M JUST NOT FAT)

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Not bad for a one eyed fat man!!

John

Just read "Sixguns by Keith"! In my 1st edition version, the .44 Mag is not yet a reality and there is no "addendum" for it. Great read on a great caliber. By the way, that old "velocity rules" junk science from the "Super Vel" FBI reports in the 1970's was quickly discarded in the aftermath of the infamous "Miami Shootout". I would take a "warm" 1000 FPS .44 spl. load over any .357 mag load (even the venerable .45 acp is a better stopper)

Hey Alamo Bob , Glad I found you here. I do spend alot of my time on the Down Range forum but I like the guys here too. Let me see if I can post a pic of my .44 hear, hope this works. Conagher

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That is a 29-2 .44 magnum. Most of the loads that I shoot in it are 240 gr. LSWC at 950 fps.

Well liked for self-defence because those on the receiving end of a 44 Special don't like it as much.

I went to the range today for the first time in a few months. I took my Model 21-4, Thunder Ranch, in 44 Special to shoot for basically the first time (I had plinked a dozen rounds out back, earlier). I had a box of Winchester Cowboy loads to try out.

Now the range I went to, only has 7 yard pistol ranges, so it's not a great long shot, but man I was able to just shoot the "X/10" ring out of my targets today. That was FUN. Those big slugs cut a hole in that paper that even I could see. BOOM!!



I think I like this 44 Special thing, even though it's a non-pinned, MIM parts revolver, with a lock.

Now I need reloading dies for it.

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John 3:16 .

Ditto...I love my 696 no dash...I used to be a 1911 semiauto guy, but now I'm a revolver nut...in .44 S&W SPL of course!!!

The 44 special is a cart that can be shot in a slightly smaller frame gun because the pressures are lower than the 44 mag.

People can carry a lighter gun and still say "I have a 44".

Me I just shoot 44 special loads in my 44 mag and carry 44 mags in it when I am in the woods. But I live where I need the extra edge of the 44 mag.

It is a cult type following for the 44 special right now that is in all reality the why is it so popular right now.

John

Believe me, the 44 Special packs plenty of punch. There is more to being an effective cartridge than numbers on a sheet of paper.

Without reading through the entire thread, I'm sure there are many people here who can or will provide anecdotal evidence as to the effectiveness of the gentle 44. I'll let them say it better than I ever could.

Good question and I appreciate people that like to learn!

This revolver started life as a 686-4. It is now a 5-shot .44 Special - the conversion was done by David Clements.



Comparing the two cartridges in the same handgun, the .357 magnum has a louder bark, more flash, and sharper recoil.

This handgun has a ball detent in the yoke and an Ed Brown extended cylinder release on the other side. It is drop dead accurate and is an absolute joy to shoot.

Here is another David Clements conversion. This Uberti Remington 1875 "Outlaw" started life as a .44/40. It is now a .44 Special.



I really like the .44 Special. At last count, I have 16 .44 Special revolvers. I'm still looking for more. 8^ )

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NRA Life Member

Doc - your 5-shot .44 Special is fantastic!

Thanks! It really is a joy to shoot. I'm occasionally tempted to find some pretty wood grips to replace the Hogue rubbers, but they're so darn comfortable that I'm having a difficult time parting with them.

The barrel is 5" long. It's a very heavy barrel, but it balances beautifully in the hand.

To me, this is the revolver that S&W should have made. 8^ )

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NRA Life Member