Hello, I love the .44 Special and I'm an addict

[David LaPell]

I happen to be a big fan of the .44 Special. I know I shouldn't since the .44 Magnum is out there, but I am an old school gun fanatic even at the age of 33. Is there any help for me, or am I doomed to forever read the works of John Taffin, Skeeter Skelton, and Elmer Keith? My one and only .44 Special begs to be joined by another (if I didn't just buy a house and have a bay on the way).

 

[feralmerril]

Dave, you have a lot of company here. Basicly, the biggest and yet DUMBEST knock against .44 special is always, "why the .44 special when my .44 mag will do the same and more?" Answer to that is it isnt JUST the caliber, but the guns made for the cartridge. With the exception of the mountain guns, all .44 mags are heavier because of the bigger barrel and longer clyinder. You can load the special up to the lower end of the mag, and probley 98 % of the need for the mag and shots fired can be handled by the special with a lighter and sweeter gun. I guess I like the specials as I have six of em.

 

[Mickey D]

My 44 special contribution. One of my favorite cartridges along with the .45 colt

24-3 Lew Horton

Pre 24

696

 

[Crazy K38]

that 696 is gorgous! is it your regular carry? great looking guns guys!

 

[BadKarma]

Nice guns folks. You guys are making real tough on a new Smith addict.

 

[Crazy K38]

I am fairly new myself, the snubby thread made me get a 638 I am picking up tommorow and this is making me want a 696! I feel insane but am completly happy with it, now my wife that's a different story.....

 

[Mickey D]

that 696 is gorgous! is it your regular carry? great looking guns guys!

Yes, the 696 is in the ccw rotation.

 

[Gunhacker]

I'll second that M24-3 Lew Horton... I knew I just had to have one after I first laid eyes on it in that 1984 issue of Guns & Ammo. I Kept that issue all of these years, just to be able to have it to go with the gun, when I finally got my wish... which was last year.

 

[Grayfox]

Another .44 Special addict here. There is no cure. If there was, I wouldn't take it anyway.

Model 24-3s

 

[DCWilson]

Same here. I have a 629, but it's the models in 44 special that make my heart leap up.

The 296 has a Big Dot sight on it now, and will get its steel cylinder later this summer after other projects are completed.

Hmm, looks to me like I need to get some prewar military and target models to round out this assembly.

David Wilson

 

[Rule3]

Man, some really nice looking pieces. I just started loading 44 spec to shoot out of my 629 but do not yet have a specific 44 special.

Would this count? ( joke, The lounge not serious, be calm)

 

[KSCowboy]

Yep, me too!

I love the Special too. This one is with all the time hunting and it's even in the CCW rotation in the winter time.

 

[deanodog]

Does this one count?

 

[Nygma]

624

696

396

... and a Colt

 

[jag312]

Those of us who understand and appreciate the .44 Special have intelligence and wisdom far beyond that of ordinary shooters. My primary carry gun is a 696. Some people with whom I work have refered to it as a blunderbus, but that is because they prefer a plastic 9mm. I have forgiven their ignorance, because they are still young. With age comes wisdom, and with wisdom comes an appreciation of the .44 Special.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have a number of revolvers in .44 special. They can be heavy loaded to the low end of .44 magnum power and still be kept within pressure specifications, while the guns themselves can be more svelte. This is one of my favorite packin' pistols and can serve in a pinch for CCW work:

 

[tops]

I happen to be a big fan of the .44 Special. I know I shouldn't since the .44 Magnum is out there, but I am an old school gun fanatic even at the age of 33. Is there any help for me, or am I doomed to forever read the works of John Taffin, Skeeter Skelton, and Elmer Keith? My one and only .44 Special begs to be joined by another (if I didn't just buy a house and have a bay on the way).

Some people that sing praises about their .44 mag are only loading 850-1000fps. A .44spec. will do that just fine and you arn't having to always tighten screws. Larry












a

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Man, some really nice looking pieces. I just started loading 44 spec to shoot out of my 629 but do not yet have a specific 44 special.

Would this count? ( joke, The lounge not serious, be calm)

Don't be makin' fun of that Charter .44. If it was good enough for Son Of Sam it's good enough for me. Seriously, tho, I've always wanted one but shined them on for other priorities. I shot one once and it was excellent.

 

[greenmachine]

Indeed, the .44 Special is a great round. I'm at four and counting. First was a New Frontier SAA, next came the 624 6 1/2", then a 24-3 6 1/2", and just last week a 24-3 4". All were absolutely like new in box. Love them all.

Note to self - get camera fixed.

 

[Rule3]

Don't be makin' fun of that Charter .44. If it was good enough for Son Of Sam it's good enough for me. Seriously, tho, I've always wanted one but shined them on for other priorities. I shot one once and it was excellent.

Maybe the older original ones. I just about bought the Stainless DAO version of the one pictured. It is very light and has a decent trigger. Looks like cast pot metal, they call it stainless. The cylinder pawl is a thin piece of stamped metal. The cylinder thumb release was sharp as a razor and would cut someones finger. A round would not fit in one of the chambers, do not know if it is normal but you can pull the trigger and the hammer falls with the cylinder open. If it was a little better I would buy it due to the light weight and bobbed hammer. It comes with a schematic and price list for all parts which are very inexpensive. $20 for a hammer?
Made me a bit uneasy. I passed.