44mag Garrett Defender Ammo

I am loving this 310gr 44mag. Garrett Defender Ammo from Randy Garrett ( Garrett Cartridge Inc ) . This is the best IMHO backwoods carry 44mag ammo for those using the S&W 29-629 revolvers. This is not the hotter 310gr Hammerhead ( 1320 fps ) or the even hotter 330gr Hammerhead ( 1400 fps ) ammo. This is the 310gr Defender ( 1055 fps out of my 629-6 5" barrel ) ammo which will do your 629 revolver no harm even in a steady diet form. It has very controlable mild recoil allowing faster follow-up shots on any animal that wants to eat you for lunch. That said as we all know ( or should know ) any 44mag handgun is a poor substitute for a rifle in any LARGE bear encounter but IMHO this stuff gives you the best chance there is using a 44mag. It really fills the cylinder on the 29s. The Garrett ammo isn't cheap $$$ by any means ( you get what you pay for ) but in a life or death situation I am not going to worry about saving a few bucks.



The 310gr Hammerhead 1325fps ammo could be used in the 629 but I wouldn't want to use it alot of it for fear of pounding the poor old 629 into a loose condition. Although Randy Garrett states it can be used in any steel standard length cylinder gun including the S&Ws. On the other hand the 330gr Hammerhead is only recommended for a limited number of guns including some Rugers and no S&W guns.

This ammo is very close to Federal CoreCast 300gr ammo but Randy Garrett's stuff has just a lot of researched improvements to make it a much better bear defense ammo IMHO.
Since I don't reload this is the only way to go for me as far as I am concerned. Randy Garrett has some very well researched thoughts on his site about 44mag bullet construction for deep penetration on large heavy boned animals and makes for good reading.

Once you get that heavy bullet moving it is like trying to stop a freight train even if it isn't moving as fast as some of the lighter bullet loads out there.
Garrett Cartridge Inc. only makes ammo for the 44mag and the 45-70 so it is a pretty specialized ammo company that does things right.

No I don't work for Garrett but just passing along to share what I have found from my experience with this fine ammo.

I guess after me spouting all the attributes of this ammo and why I like it and how it works for me I should have asked the obvious question if anybody else here is using this ammo.
Pros :
Cons :

Coincidently I just ordered two boxes of Garrett's .44 ammo.
One Defender for a 329pd I ordered and one hotter hammerhead box for a 629 I have.
I agree that for those who do not reload, this is the best option for last resort grizzly encounters (after pepper spray).

I don't see any "cons" to the Defender ammo. Everything I hear about R Garrett is positive. I enjoy reading about his Meplat hypothesis.

My handload, while surely not any better, is a split between the Defender and the Hammerhead. It's a 285 grain WFLGC @ 1235 fps from my 5" 629-4. This load is more controllable than a 240 grain WW factory load. I was surprised (21 years ago) when the chrony said 1235 because it felt like such a "soft" load to me.

..a handgun on the hip beats a rifle left back at camp any day...

Considering the bullet weight, nose design and velocity I don't think any bear or other "problem" would know the difference hit in the same spot with either load.

I mostly use my own handloads in .41 and .44 but the Federal CastCore 250 grain .41 loads clock 1080 from a 4" Mountain Gun...it will get the job done...

Bob

I have been using Garrett ammo for several years, in 44 mag ans some in 45/70.

When I first started carrying it in th 44 Mag he was loading a SWC of 285 grains, if I remember correctly.

I have carried the newer 310gr ammo in bear country in Montana, Idaho, and Alaska several times. I also carried it in my 44 mag in Zimbabwe.

I can say it will shoot through the skull of a cape buff and penetrate deep into the neck, and will reach the brain from the side, on a cow elephant, from a 4" 629.

It is great ammo.

His bullets seem a lot harder than any other cast bullets I have fired, but they are not brittle.

I concur with this initial post... years ago I placed a substantial order from Garrett and the Man himself called to thank me. Ever since we've corresponded by phone and e-mail. I asked him about making something my 329 and told him 1000fps was about all I could manage and shoot accurately; he sent me some test stuff and we did have to work on the crimp. Now that ammo has become as perfect as his oher wicked stuff. I shoot a 450 Marlin a lot; however Randy's 45-70 ammo is going to get the nod when I can afford a trip to Africa or Alaska. I still can't shoot his 44 mag +p ammo with any good control. Thanks Randy.