Why Do People Love the 44 Special So??

[Ron H.]

Sir, there are lots of practical reasons to like the .44 special, but IMHO the love and cult status it gets are based more on nostalgia and "cool factor" than practicality. As a rule, love is not rational.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Larry from Bend]

Sir, there are lots of practical reasons to like the .44 special, but IMHO the love and cult status it gets are based more on nostalgia and "cool factor" than practicality. As a rule, love is not rational.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

I'd agree about the nostalgia. I wouldn't have bought one if it hadn't been for Ruger bringing out the old FlatTop in the original .357 frame size. This configuration hadn't been made since '62 and never in 44 Special. What I didn't realize is how much I'd enjoy it and how accurate it would be. With warm handloads it's "enough" in a size that appeals to me. Plus, I was a Skeeter devotee!!!

 

[Dave T]

Interesting to learn the five 44 Specials in my safe are there because of fashion and nostalgia. Who'd a thunk it!

And here I thought it was because I like the cartridge and think it is one of the easier ones to reload for the performance level I want (800-900 fps and bullets over 200g). Oh and it's easier on the gun, the brass and my arthritic hands than the magnums.

Maybe some of you should stick to reporting why you do or don't like the cartridge personally and not try branding us all with your goofy ideas and excuses.

Dave

 

[one eye joe]

Maybe some of you should stick to reporting why you do or don't like the cartridge personally and not try branding us all with your goofy ideas and excuses.

Dave

LMFAO, Dave..........

 

[ExMachina1]

Velocity kills and is the most important part of the formula Velocity (squared) x bullet weight (grains) / 450240 = Muzzle energy (kinetic energy at the muzzle).

it's not that simple. velocity has always been the "easy" way to gain extra muzzle energy but you have to factor momentum in here too. and because of momentum and because of what we are asking our bullet to do, a larger bullet mass will always be the most efficient way to deliver that energy into the target.

think about this: when it enters a game animal, both a zippy light .357 magnum bullet and a slower 250 grain .44 (both with the same muzzle energy) will expend energy as it moves toward the vital areas. when the bullet finally gets to the vital areas, the heavier.44 bullet will have more of its original energy remaining because it had more momentum to begin with.

bigger bullets are always going to preform better so long as you can easily pack them around. the 44 special is so "special" because it's a well-balanced cartridge (in terms of bullet size and chamber pressures) and that results in a well-balanced gun (in terms of weight & size). some would argue that the 44 magnum corrupted that balance.

 

[jspick]

Jerry,
Nice "fashionable" guns there!

I enjoy you guys response. The 44 mag is and was fashionable because in our culture more is better. I explained that.
I enjoy my 629 5" because I enjoy shooting my light,(44 special loads) in it and yet have the power, if needed, for protection in the woods.

John

 

[amazingflapjack]

The proof of the puddin'

The gent who started the thread answered his own question, in my view. It's in the shootin'. And if money is a little tight right now, and you want to get in the game, I would recommend a Taurus model 441. I have a 4 inch blu that is a magnificent revolver, probably the best out of the box double action I have ever experienced. If you can find a real nice one, put some custom grips on it, they make the gun. They are 5 shots, so they are quite packable even in a 4 inch. Flapjack.

 

[Calliope]

While waiting for my 624 to come back from S&W, I bought a Ruger flat top Bisley in .44 special. Now there's a T/C Contender down at my local FFL in .44 mag that is calling my name.
Within a space of two months, I might end up with three .44s. Very addictive indeed.

 

[.357Magnum.]

A 200 grain hot .357 is a little better

Exmachina 1,

I use a 200 grain .357 Magnum hard cast gas checked from Double Tap. It does 1275 fps from my 5 inch Model 60. That
is a .224 in sectional density, 722 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. There is no regular pressure .44 special load that will penetrate remotely as well or produce the same energy at 0 to 10 yards for a
Close quarters black bear/predator load. Penetration is the most important factor in large predator protection. I don't handload either so the .44 special is second best for me. Now if I could get
1125 fps out of a .44 SPL 255 grain Keith style load in my 3 inch barrel without exceeding 17000 PSI then I would switch over LOL

I still LOVE the .44 special

 

[PALADIN85020]

I don't like the .44 special. Here's why...

First of all, it doesn't have the power of the .44 magnum. Ya gotta love touching off the maggie - it's like getting hit by a baseball bat in the palm of your hand. And the flash and roar! It's enough to scare everyone around you into the next zip code. Nah, the .44 special just shoves your hand when fired, and there's none of that flash-bang thrilling stuff. And you save on the costs of ammo with that magnum, also. After a couple of cylinders full, you really don't want to shoot much more. And as you get older, the shock traveling up your arm gets your joints in such disrepair that you pump more money into the economy by paying for doctors, salves, etc. It's good for the country.

Accuracy? Hey, the .44 mag has plenty of accuracy, given that you fire from a solid rest and resist your tendency to flinch and jerk that round into the ground or the sky in anticipation of that wonderful recoil I talked about. Yeah, the .44 special is plenty accurate, but will never be the equal of a nice Model 41 .22.

Reloading versatility? Hey, the .44 mag can be loaded up or down. It's just that your choice of powders may be somewhat limited given that you really should fill up that cavernous case for best accuracy. You can't stray too far from high velocity with powders like 2400. But, what the hey. Cleaning all that unburned powder out of the barrel is fun, right?

And that .44 special is just plain wimpy. It shoots like a .38 special. I give you that it puts some heavy lead downrange and can be loaded up a bit to bear-stopping capability, but how many of us shoot bears today? I mean, really!

And those .44 special guns are so damn light. Real men carry iron and the .44 maggies have plenty of it. Give one of those to someone else to heft, and they'll remark on how much of a man you must be to pack it!

So there you have it. I just don't like the .44 special. To prove it, I only have these four guns chambered for it. It's one caliber I can do without...NOT.

John

 

[jspick]

Paladin85020,
Exactly why I shoot 44 special loads out of my 44 mag. I dislike recoil. So what is the difference in in N frame in weight in 44 mag vs. a 44 special????

As for a 357 penetrating for bear????? They can do it but............................ it is not all about penetration to kill a bear. Believe me I know!!

John

 

[PALADIN85020]

Paladin85020,
Exactly why I shoot 44 special loads out of my 44 mag. I dislike recoil. So what is the difference in in N frame in weight in 44 mag vs. a 44 special????

John

The main difference in S&Ws is that the cylinder is shorter and barrel is thinner. May be only a few ounces, but on long hikes, every ounce counts!

John

 

[Snapping Twig]

There's a certain elegance to it.

Hand loaded it is equal, if not superior, to the 45 colt which is known for its power and considered the magnum of the west back in the old days.

Yeah, they had the 44 Walker back then, but relatively few were made and used.

The accuracy is what's so amazing IMO.

 

[Maximumbob54]

From this thread alone, I haven't seen a picture of a .44 SW Special that I haven't liked yet.

 

[dcxplant]

The main difference in S&Ws is that the cylinder is shorter and barrel is thinner. May be only a few ounces, but on long hikes, every ounce counts!

John

That may or may not be the case, I'm really not sure as I own an M29 44mag.

What I DO know:

Checking multiple reloading manuals and the overall cartridge lengths of the 44 spcl and 44mag reveal that many 44 special loads have overall lengths LONGER than 44 magnum.

 

[Calliope]

Paladin85020,
Exactly why I shoot 44 special loads out of my 44 mag. I dislike recoil. So what is the difference in in N frame in weight in 44 mag vs. a 44 special????

John

I don't know about all the .44 specials, but the 624 has the shorter cylinder as mentioned, but it also has the short underlug and tapered barrel profile so it's very similar to the .44 magnum 'Mountain Gun'. Very light for an N frame.
Full power .44 specials (240 gr x 900 fps) have good, solid recoil. Nothing painful, but not the same as shooting specials in a bull barreled, unfluted, full underlug 629.

 

[BearBio]

Just 'cuz!

Was at the range yesterday. Shot two of my favorite 44 spl: my Blackhawk and a Colt Anaconda (shot 44 mags in it once!). Also, shot my 45 AR (another real joy to shoot). Wife felt the Anaconda was too heavy-really liked the Blackhawk (still likes her 41 mag better). Those mid-speed, Forty-something cartridges just do the job and do it well=45 Colt, 45 acp, 44 spl and 45 AR.

 

[jspick]

OK, I'm going to extremes here and see what you guys say---just for fun! OK?

So is the 44 special lighter in weight than the 44 mag mountain gun? It would seem that the weight issue is mostly a mute point to me anyway. Even with a shorter cylinder. Not so in a Ruger with the OM blackhawk frame and alum. grip frame.

As I have said before I shoot 44 special handloads in my 44 mag. Therefore I have less felt recoil than someone shooting the same loads out of a lighter gun.

Snapping Twig, aawwwwww..... I don't think so! Check your reloading manuals.

Bear bio, I will let it rest unless I just have to jump in, but your answer of "just cuz" is the reason most of us have a favorite caliber/ frame style firearm. That is the best answer I have heard yet. No justification------JUST CUZ....It works for me!

John

 

[Calliope]

OK, I'm going to extremes here and see what you guys say---just for fun! OK?

So is the 44 special lighter in weight than the 44 mag mountain gun? It would seem that the weight issue is mostly a mute point to me anyway.
John

Boy, it's got to be razor close. The Mountain guns have a round butt, and the specials have the shorter cylinder.

The new Bisley Blackhawk, even with the '.357' frame, is a heavy brute with the steel ejector rod housing and grip frame.

 

[feralmerril]

I am the guy that has 7 44 specials. I also have a nice model 29-2 with a 5" barrel. In the past I owned other 29-2s, a 4" and a 8 3/8", had other rugers in all the calibers.
The regular (Not mountain) 29s all have the straight heavier barrel and some the stupid full length heavy lug. The only thing that comes close IS the mountain gun. I just dont have one. In the 4" 24-3 it would be pretty close to a 29 mountain gun, yet weigh slightly less because of the slightly shorter clyinder. I am a beliver in the magna style stocks, I have faux ivory on mine. Elmer keith even used magnas on his 29. I havent yet. The magnas along with the tapered barrel make the gun noticably more desireable than the straight barrel heavier 29 with the bulkier target type grips. I like what I call "sweetheart" guns in all type guns. The 24 and colt saa qualify in .44 special. In shotguns a 16 or 20 gauge might be sweethearts, or in rifles 25/35, 7X57, etc. They all seem to be old proven non magnum cartridges that worked a hundred years ago and still work. All the sweetheart guns traditionaly are no heavier than they have to be, usualy have good looking wood and good blue.
Unless you figure you might have to defend yourself from a kodiak or grizzley the 44 special will do any popular realistic job for you with less weight to pack, less kick and muzzel blast. Now except for exspendsive special rounds like buffalo bore, the special does need handloading to make it as usefull as I am talking about.
I will say the 44 mag in a mountain gun does sound appealing, but I have so much other stuff I cant justify getting one.