Question about Revolvers Chambered for .44 Special

[NCBeagle]

Does a revolver chambered for .44 Special, like a Model 24, offer any advantage above a similar revolver chambered in .44 Magnum, like the Model 29, which can shoot both .44 Special and Magnum?

I am more of a .38/.357 guy but a 3" Model 24 with combats caught my eye. Got me thinking...what if I want to shoot .44 Magnum too? Should I just buy a 3" Model 29 and cover the bases? Is there any reason that the 24 would be better at launching .44 Special than the 29?

Why build a gun that large today that is not capable of handling both loads? is it just tradition, because revolvers chambered in .44 Special existed before the .44 Magnum load?



Ryan

 

[smithman]

I think it’s tradition if we’re talking N frames. Heck, even the 44mag L frame makes more sense than the .44spcl 696.

 

[Laketime]

Lighter weight.streamlined barrel. No red insert front sight.More of a classic revolver look in my opinion .

 

[Pondoro]

Yep, unless you downsize the frame and cylinder I see no advantage to a 44 special. Some will complain that shooting 44 SPL in a 44 mag makes it hard to load a 44 mag later. True, unless you clean it. But cleaning will never make a 44 spl revolver accept a 44 mag! So in my book the mag is better.

Now a 44 SPL with a correctly downsized frame might be neat, but I have no experience with one.

 

[BC38]

Yep, unless you downsize the frame and cylinder I see no advantage to a 44 special. Some will complain that shooting 44 SPL in a 44 mag makes it hard to load a 44 mag later. True, unless you clean it. But cleaning will never make a 44 spl revolver accept a 44 mag! So in my book the mag is better.

Now a 44 SPL with a correctly downsized frame might be neat, but I have no experience with one.

Ditto all that. A 5-shot L-frame sized 44 mag is just the ticket.

 

[smithman]

Lighter weight.streamlined barrel. No red insert front sight.More of a classic revolver look in my opinion .

The mountain gun has that same tapered barrel and classic look.

 

[Capt. F.]

Ryan
If you’ve never owned a .44 Special, you won’t understand.
I have three Model 29 .44 Magnums and five .44 Specials.
Buy the 624, shoot it for a while and you’ll begin to understand what makes those of us who own them - own them!

 

[Paul105]

No advantage.

If you want a traditional blued firearm, then go for the 3" M24 -- classic. I personally prefer the S&W M69 2.75" L Frame 5 shot 44 Mag. Here's a 4.25" (w/S&W X Frame 500 grips) and a 2.75" (w/S&W X Frame 500 grips modified to remove finger groves and round butt.

Better Pic of 2.75" w/Modifed S&W X Frame grips (shown with 460 Rowland conversion)

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Ryan
If you’ve never owned a .44 Special, you won’t understand.
I have three Model 29 .44 Magnums and five .44 Specials.
Buy the 624, shoot it for a while and you’ll begin to understand what makes those of us who own them - own them!

You nailed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gman51]

Since I bought a 44 special I really don't care for the 38 or 357 much now. If I had the 44 mag I still would seldom ever shoot it with 44 mags. The 44 special IMO is the cats meow in handguns. The caliber is up to the job with a good punch yet it doesn't have the noise or recoil of the 44 mag. I am not in bear country so I don't need a 44 mag. A 44 special revolver can be bought for much less money than 44 mag. No mine isn't a S&W but a Charter Bull Dog that has yet to show any flaws in it.

44 special revolver is my main carry after many years carrying 38/357. I agree with the above that after shooting the 44 special you will have a fondness for it.

Bottom line is if you plan on shooting 44 mag as well as 44 special then by all means get the 44 magnum. I shot one 44 mag and no I didn't enjoy the loud boom or the recoil.

I have maybe four 38 special revolvers and five 357 revolvers yet I have shot many boxes of 38 special in all the guns buy maybe only a box or so of 357 magnums. The 357 is much like a 44 magnum in loudness and recoil. For a self defense gun the loudness and recoil doesn't fit the need for me. I wouldn't ever want to shoot a 357 or 44 magnum without hearing protection on. The 44 special isn't as loud as a 9mm.

 

[Shotguncoach]

Ryan
If you’ve never owned a .44 Special, you won’t understand.
I have three Model 29 .44 Magnums and five .44 Specials.
Buy the 624, shoot it for a while and you’ll begin to understand what makes those of us who own them - own them!

Came here to post this....except that I have five .44 Specials and one .44 magnum.

An elegant weapon of a more civilized age.

 

[6518John]

Ryan—give this a read:

10. SKEETER RESURRECTS THE 44 SPECIAL

 

[shouldazagged]

I've wanted a .44 Special for many years. If I had the money and came across a Smith or Charter Arms, I be on it like ugly on a baboon's butt.

I don't live in bear or moose country. A .44 Special would be more than adequate for my handgun needs.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I have a S&W M29-2, haven't shot it in many years.
I have 6 .44 Specials from a M696 to M 24 I shoot all the time.
From my 1923 44 Spl target to my M21-4 I just prefer less recoil now.
Maybe I still am living in the 20th Century....

 

[SuperMan]

Becase as indicated above, one can do 95% of what needs to be done with a Big Bore revolver with a .44 Special.

The .44 Special was my #1 cartridge back in the mid to later 1980s before going over to .41 Magnum. Had all six of the 24s/624s and a Charter Arms Bulldog. With the right powder and bullets it was no problem at all getting well beyond factory velocities of the time into what Buffalo Bore and several other manufacturers make today.

To me the slim barrel and short cylinder of the 24/624 Combat Special balances MUCH better than the Magnum versions...

Try it...you'll love it....Bob

 

[Jtown]

I have several 44mags from different manufactures. I shoot mostly 44 specials in them. I want/need to get a 44 special.

Walt

 

[Mike0251]

The 44 special always needs a companion like his big brother.

 

[msauter]

Since I don’t hunt, I have never felt the need for a .44 Mag ... but I love .44 Special, and have been looking for more! Could be the perfect cartridge.

 

[CajunBass]

I like the 44 Special, because it's different. Everybody and his brother has a 44 Magnum, but a 44 Special...well...that's special.

 

[ladder13]

I have a few,a 696, three 624’s, a1926 Wolf And Klar, a USFA single action,and a 24.
None of them are going anywhere, I like them all.