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).

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Vaya con Dios

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.

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

24-3 Lew Horton


Pre 24


696

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

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

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

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.....

Yes, the 696 is in the ccw rotation.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

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.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

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

Model 24-3s

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

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David Wilson

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)

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Still Running Against the Wind

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.

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KSCowboy

Does this one count?

624


696


396


... and a Colt

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.

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:

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

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

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.

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.

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.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I used to have one of these too, but like a big dummy I traded mine off. I sure do miss her!!!!!
Steve

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Steve

WOW, that is dedication. It was worth the wait that 24 years. I have the same edition of GA, which came out after I got my 24-3 LH. I ordered the gun when the first ad in Shotgun News came out in 1983. Nice picture of a great gun.

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Tony

Here's the coolest .44 Spl. I ever had. Notice i said HAD? A Colt New Service Target in .44 russian bored out to 44 Spl. It was made in 1900 and shot great. i took this picture to remind myself I can occasionally be an idiot.

There is no cure for this addiction! That's a nice one you have there! If you are into single actions at all, ya gotta get one of the Lipsey's Ruger .44 Spl's. Man those thing's are tack driver's!

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Stay safe people!

I'm another .44 special fan!
I have a S & W Model 624 3", Model 696 3", Model 296, Model 1926 2nd Model 6 1/2", Model 1926 3rd Model 5", Ruger Old Model Blackhawk .44 Special (Bowen Custom), 3 Ruger New Model Blackhawk .44 Specials and two Colt SAA .44 Specials (with Ivory Grips). I have a few photos but not of all of them. What's not to love about them!!!

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Yes, I do think the Charter Arms Bulldog is a relevant .44 Special. In short, it has the history and notoriety, and it has always filled that special niche as being the best option for a deep concealment/backup, large bore snubby.

My favorite revolver caliber is .44 special. You can keep the magnums. If I ever go elephant hunting I'll see about it but until then I'm a stickin' with the special. The magnums are unnecessary for most self defense scenarios and the risk of collateral damage is very serious. Some people see too many Dirty Harry movies.

I've heard that the .45 auto had been called the "flying ashtray" and in the semi auto category it is my favorite caliber. A lot of people prefer the 10mm but here, just like with the .44 mag it may be too much potential for collateral damage.

I call the .44 special the flying ashtray for revolvers.

My avatar is my old 624 and I'll post again, for the second time today my favorite revolver in the world.

As you can see my favorite caliber revolver is the awesome .44 special and my favorite .44 specials are S&W N-frames.

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Real men love cats!

5 years ago I had more hair.

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Just another brick in the wall

I'm right fond of her my own self





Like a good shooter.........



.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I reload for both the 629 and the 296ti. It's a great cartridge. In current aged hands shooting target has to be fun not punishing.

Defensive shooting, you never feel the recoil.

What's not to like of a .44 Spl?
This was done yesterday



With this, M24-5

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

The .44 S&W Special became a favorite of mine rather quickly, even though I've owned only five .44 Special revolvers, of which three still occupy my safe. Two N frame S&W's and a Ruger New Model Flattop (small .357 Mag frame, all steel) Blackhawk 5.5 inch.
Here are the Smiths:

624 with 4 inch barrel.

21-4 Thunder Ranch 4 inch barrel. Man, she is accurate! Pictured before I ditched the round butt grips for a set of Ahrends tactical conversion grips.

The Colt 3rd Gen SAA I owned briefly. Just too pretty to shoot and to expensive to keep as a safe queen.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

I've never owned a .44 Special, have long wanted one, and certainly wouldn't turn down a CA Bulldog.

David, you're a young man of unusually mature judgment and taste.

Looking at some of your photography on other threads, especially the macro work, I had you figured as considerably older and more seasoned.

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Oh well, what the hell.

What's not to love...they don't call them Special for nothin'

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Bill Bates