.44 Magnum/Special Self-Defense Ammo

[26Ford]

My vote is also for the Hornady #9070, 180 XTP, 44 Special, my 629-4 w/6 1/2", 26

 

[rburg]

I'm going to offer up my opinion. What I've seen in watching other shooters over the years is the vast majority can't handle magnum recoil. Every one wants to act macho and declare they can, but the evidence seems to point the other way. Its OK to lie to your buddies and fellow shooters, but its really stupid to lie to yourself.

Way back in the 1930s, they developed the .357 Magnum and at that time the shooting press went wild over how powerful it was. Then in the 1970s we had Dirty Harry who declared it would blow a bad guys head clean off.

I've got a couple of the 329s. Basically hand grenades with handles. They can be fired, but not well by most shooters. In fact, I've seen a few on sale that appear to have only been fired a few times. Guess why.

I even pulled a stunt a while back with one of mine when it was still brand new. I loaded it with 3 rounds of garden grade 240 grain loads, and then 3 of the 300 grain bear stoppers. Still having a little common sense, I indexed the lighter loads first. Then after firing them, I announced it was too much for me. It was all it took, I had a sucker. One of my group had to show how manly he was. He fired the 3 of the worst recoiling rounds. He wasn't nearly as cheerful, and sat in a chair with a cold beer in his hand from then on. Even more interesting was he held the beer in his right hand, but switched to his left to drink it. The cold was probably easing his pain.

At some point in the power/recoil equation it gets to be too much. More than anyone with any sense would use, anyhow. It all made me realize the 329 is one of the best 44 Specials ever produced. It does every thing well, and with a lighter load than a hand crusher. Steel frame guns become even more pleasant to shoot with Specials. One of the tests you can do for yourself is go out shooting. Doesn't need to be at an organized range, just a place to shoot. Fire a few gun loads with a range of ammo. You can determine for yourself what the best loads are for you. The next guy may come to a completely different conclusion, and it could be right for them.

 

[Spacer]

Hornady 280 jhp critical defense

 

[WoodsCustom]

Here's a post I did on the 165 grain Hornady Critical Defense..

http://smith-wessonforum.com/concealed-carry-self-defense/212706-329pd-hornady-critical-defense.html

WC

 

[Larry from Bend]

Any recommendations on self-defense ammunition (2-legged) in the .44 Magnum/Special category? These are the three I am looking at:

Federal Hydra-Shok .44 Magnum JHP:
240 grain
1210 ft/s
780 ft-lbs

Speer Gold Dot .44 Magnum JHP:
200 grain
1075 ft/s
513 ft-lbs

Speer Gold Dot .44 Special JHP:
200 grain
875 ft/s
340 ft-lbs

I am leaning towards the Federal, but I would like to hear your thoughts.

I reload for the 44 Special and 44 Mag and my current self-defense favorite is the 200 grain Hornady @ 1130 fps in 44 Special cases. Of the choices above, I'd vote for the Gold Dot @ 1075 fps.

 

[NE450No2]

It's hard to imagine a better SD .44 mag load than the Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo: 200 gr JHP at 1100 fps from a 4" barrel. Mild recoil combined with good expansion and great accuracy.

Greater velocity or energy is neither needed nor desirable for this purpose, but the 210 gr Silvertip load at 1200 fps is also a good load with mild recoil.

Those are both excellent loads. In fact I carry the Speer short barreled load a lot of the time in the city.

I also like the 165gr CorBon 44 Mag load.

I am usually a heavy bullet kind of guy, but I think the CorBon load would be good in the city, as it should "wack" hard and not over penetrate, kinda like the 125gr 357 Mag load.

 

[Spacer]

A buddy of mine has got a super redhawk 44 mag and his prefered self defense round is hornad critical defense jhp i believe 240 gr but not sure. Anyway i call em the claimer of limbs. Consider any part of the body that gets hit with that is no longer useful! Fun to shoot but damn if it dont start hurtin after a bit!

 

[NE450No2]

Spacer

One thought is, if you shoot somebody with a 44 Mag, you do not have to shoot them too many times...

From personal knowledge of shootings I am aware of, with the 44 Mag or the 45 ACP, that is a true assumption.

 

[ScottJ]

There is no doubt in My Mind that the 44 Mag is the best "all round" revolver cartridge on the Planet.

I agree.

When I first cast the Lee tumble lube 240 SWC I loaded them over a start charge of Trail Boss. Recoiled like my .380 Bersa but was still moving that 240 grains at 850fps. That's .45 ACP performance.

I can also run the same bullet at 1025 over 8.3gr Unique, 1065 over 8.8 and 1154 over 9.5. All are quite mild in the recoil department.

I can also make it essentially a hand rifle. Look at this post I made over in reloading about chrono results for some old Remington 210s: http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/213458-yowza-i-forgot-how-hot-old-rem-210s-were.html

 

[JeffHolt]

Appalachian Emancipator .44 Special 180 gn XTP-HP uses a flash suppressed powder that delivers 1140 fps.

Their Appalachian Emancipator 44. Magnum delivers over 1400 fps. (Six inch barrel.)

Available at: Appalachian Ammo - Home

 

[one eye joe]

Appalachian Emancipator .44 Special 180 gn XTP-HP uses a flash suppressed powder that delivers 1140 fps.

Their Appalachian Emancipator 44. Magnum delivers over 1400 fps. (Six inch barrel.)

Available at: Appalachian Ammo - Home

Great link, Jeff. I never heard of this company. Their ammo looks interesting......

 

[JeffHolt]

For the Sake of disclosure and clarity; I am the Company's President, Sales Rep and Janitor. We are a new outfit (located in the western foothills) in Maine. We are Federally Licensed and insured.

One of the Forum members, Retired W-4, posted his report over on the ".41 Mag Ammo" thread. He bought some 41 mag in lead and some of our 357 magnum 125gn xtp hps.

We have had great reports on our .44 Mag 240gn xtp, our 45 LC 250gn XTP (Ruger/ TC) Ammo and our flash suppressed 125gn XTP 357 Magnum has some locals folks talking. We also make some dandy remanufactured HPs in 9mm and 40 cal. and 45 acp.

Plans are to introduce some new product lines in 9x18 MAK, 38S&W. Some rifle calibers will be trickling in over the Winter/Spring 2012.
Regards,
Jeff

 

[Jitterbug]

Jeff, just visited your site, I reload, but I'll pass your info around, good luck with your new business!

 

[Nemo288]

---
Nemo

 

[one eye joe]

That's some fine shootin' Nemo......

 

[Nemo288]

That's some fine shootin' Nemo......

TYVM. I have a feeling this gun shoots better than I do.
I am 62 and don't see as well as I did when I took up shooting
more than 30 years ago.
The 44 spl loaded right can make anyone a good shooter. There
is a reason this old dog has hung around for 100 years.
The 4" 624 is becoming a cult gun like the 696 although not
with the insanity level attached to the latter. Unlike the 696
it's popularity is due to the fact that it may be one of the most
accurate guns S&W has ever made.
Considering when it was made and the problems the company
had at the time it's a bright star shining from a dark cloud.
And maybe another testament to the inherent accuracy of the
cartridge itself.
Always remember Skeeter made me buy them
He knew what he was talking about.

---
Nemo

 

[nvpliers]

The Hornady Critical Defense round might be a good choice for 44 mag.

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 44 Mag :: 44 Mag 180 gr FTX® Critical Defense®

 

[Magnum-Krazy]

My model 29-2 6 1/2" I always carry is loaded with PMC Eldoado Starfire 240 grain jacketed HP.
Keep the same loads in two speed loaders as well.
Recoil dosn't seem to be to bad, putting you back on target quickly.




Ernie

 

[elm_creek_smith]

You might look here:
ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 Special Pistol and Handgun Ammo
ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 MAG.

I'm getting their standard pressure .38 Special with the gas-checked 158 grain LSWCHP for my S&W Model 37.

ECS

 

[nawilson]

You might look here:
ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 Special Pistol and Handgun Ammo
ANTI-PERSONNEL 44 MAG.

I'm getting their standard pressure .38 Special with the gas-checked 158 grain LSWCHP for my S&W Model 37.

ECS

I would like to see what happens when a 200 grain wadcutter hits at 1300 fps. I bet it is messy. It probably doesn't fly to well at longer ranges though.