Texas Star
US Veteran
Assume for the moment that you were going to be in a jungle region where you might encounter hostile natives, dangerous wild cats, possible dangerous canids (hyenas, maybe dholes in India or African wild dogs.) Venomous or constrictor snakes and crocoodiles or caimans might be a menace.
The setting might include Brazil, India, or Kenya. The time is the mid to late 1920's. (This is for a fan fiction that I may write.)
You're deciding which N-frame revolver to carry. Would you choose a Second Model or Third Model .44 Special, a .44-40, or order in .45 Colt?
Do you think the M-1917 .45 is better? What real world difference is there in factory loads between the .45 auto round and the heavier lead .44 Special, which was slower?
I'm leaning toward the M-1917, because its jacketed bullets might penetrate better than .44 Special. And then, .45 Auto Rim ammo with FMJ bullets could avoid the nuisance of fooling with half moon clips.
Have any of you shot a coyote or even jackrabbits with such factory ammo? I've read that results can be disappointing, with flatpointed bullets much more effective. But those had to be handloaded, and Elmer Keith was just beginning to publish his results with handloads.
But one character might recall the wadcutter bullets in .455 and have a mould made to cast them in .44 caliber.
Seriously, today, would you trust factory loads in .44 Spcl.? I think the Federal 200 grain lead HPs might suffice. Barrel length on these guns would be from five to 6.5 inches, not modern items with three-inch barrels, which I personally think are caliber-inappropriate.
The setting might include Brazil, India, or Kenya. The time is the mid to late 1920's. (This is for a fan fiction that I may write.)
You're deciding which N-frame revolver to carry. Would you choose a Second Model or Third Model .44 Special, a .44-40, or order in .45 Colt?
Do you think the M-1917 .45 is better? What real world difference is there in factory loads between the .45 auto round and the heavier lead .44 Special, which was slower?
I'm leaning toward the M-1917, because its jacketed bullets might penetrate better than .44 Special. And then, .45 Auto Rim ammo with FMJ bullets could avoid the nuisance of fooling with half moon clips.
Have any of you shot a coyote or even jackrabbits with such factory ammo? I've read that results can be disappointing, with flatpointed bullets much more effective. But those had to be handloaded, and Elmer Keith was just beginning to publish his results with handloads.
But one character might recall the wadcutter bullets in .455 and have a mould made to cast them in .44 caliber.
Seriously, today, would you trust factory loads in .44 Spcl.? I think the Federal 200 grain lead HPs might suffice. Barrel length on these guns would be from five to 6.5 inches, not modern items with three-inch barrels, which I personally think are caliber-inappropriate.
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