What is the difference between 44 mag and 44 special?
- Thread starter rosader
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blackpowder30
Member
The short answere is that, depending on what ammo your using, the mag has 2 to 3 times more energy and 2 to 3 times less fall in trajectory than the special. The mag is a decent hunting revolver while the special is lots of fun to shoot. So get the best of both worlds by purchasing a 44 mag revolver because you can shoot both mag and special ammo in it. You can only shoot special ammo in a 44 special revolver.
snowman
Member
rosader:
The .44mag. case is around 1/8" longer than the Special, allowing a larger powder charge and thus is a higher velocity, higher pressure round. Revolvers chambered for the magnum will therefore have a longer cylinder. Maybe those who know more than me will provide further information on differences in the design of the gun to accommodate the higher pressures of the magnum cartridge.
Specials may be fired in magnum guns, BTW, since the case and bullet diameters are the same.
Hope that made sense, and helps a bit.
Andy
[Looks like Blackpowder and I were writing at the same time -he provides an excellent perspective.]
The .44mag. case is around 1/8" longer than the Special, allowing a larger powder charge and thus is a higher velocity, higher pressure round. Revolvers chambered for the magnum will therefore have a longer cylinder. Maybe those who know more than me will provide further information on differences in the design of the gun to accommodate the higher pressures of the magnum cartridge.
Specials may be fired in magnum guns, BTW, since the case and bullet diameters are the same.
Hope that made sense, and helps a bit.
Andy
[Looks like Blackpowder and I were writing at the same time -he provides an excellent perspective.]
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mariodesmo
Member
Yea, about 1/8 inch longer on the Magnum.
Bullzaye
US Veteran
To be precise...the 1/8" of extra case length of the .44 Magnum over the .44 Special, as with the .357 Magnum versus the .38 Special, is not so much to allow for a greater case capacity as it is to prevent the more powerful magnum rounds from being chambered in "special" revolvers.
That is to say that, by and large, one can load a .44 Special/.38 Special case with a "magnum" load...which would then be unsafe in a "special" rated firearm. To avoid this, the designers lengthened the case by 1/8". The same is true with the .454 Casull and the .45 Colt cartridge.
In any case, what others have said here is true...the .44 Magnum is a higher pressure/velocity cartridge. It is considerably more powerful than the .44 Special, with an attendant increase in recoil.
Personally...I like my .44 Mag revolvers. I can fire the more sedate specials if I prefer, or I can blast some magnums. If you're new to firearms, you'd probably be better served by a .38/.357 revolver(or even better, a .22 LR.) A new shooter can pick up some bad habits by learning on a .44.
Tim
That is to say that, by and large, one can load a .44 Special/.38 Special case with a "magnum" load...which would then be unsafe in a "special" rated firearm. To avoid this, the designers lengthened the case by 1/8". The same is true with the .454 Casull and the .45 Colt cartridge.
In any case, what others have said here is true...the .44 Magnum is a higher pressure/velocity cartridge. It is considerably more powerful than the .44 Special, with an attendant increase in recoil.
Personally...I like my .44 Mag revolvers. I can fire the more sedate specials if I prefer, or I can blast some magnums. If you're new to firearms, you'd probably be better served by a .38/.357 revolver(or even better, a .22 LR.) A new shooter can pick up some bad habits by learning on a .44.
Tim
Bullzaye
US Veteran
cowart
US Veteran
Since you described yourself as a beginner, you would do better starting out with 44spl *ammunition*, even if you do have a 44mag revolver. A full-power 44mag can be a bit of a handful for a beginner.
They're both very useful cartridges. The birth of the .44 Magnum is often credited to Elmer Keith. I don't know if that name is familiar to you, but he died about 25 years ago (roughly). He was a gunwriter in the early part of the 20th century, almost up until the time of his death. He was famous for loading .44 Specials very hot and getting some very impressive ballistics with them. He pestered the gun and ammo companies to produce a ".44 Special Magnum". They resisted him for many years, until the mid '50s when S@W agreed to produce the gun and Remington the ammunition. Elmer got one of the first ones and was ecstatic. He wrote a number of books, my favorites are "Sixguns by Keith" and "Hell, I was there". Read them, and you'll learn a lot about two great cartridges.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum.
I'm a beginner to revolvers but I conceal carry a Glock compact .45 which I practice with every weekend. More recently I purchased a Taurus .357 snub and its been giving me trouble (cylinder lock pin is jammed) so I sent it in to be fixed and I plan on selling it when it gets back and getting me a nice S&W. I don't have any problems shooting a high recoil gun, I can handle a good kick
That may be true, but there is a decided difference in the recoil of the .44 mag over any .45 ACP or .357 load. A big difference. Still, as long as you are seasoned with them, and ready to try it, just start off with a few full power rounds until you get the feel for it. You don't want to develope a flinch from firing too many rounds through the .44 the first few times out with it. Work up to it and you should have no trouble becoming proficient with it.
Or, you could shoot one of the truly big powerhouse rounds a few times first. Then the mighty .44 won't seem all that bad.
Ya I do realize there will be quite a bit more kick but I think I can handle it maybe I'll go rent one at the range and see what it's like. I think a 357 would be sufficient for protection but the 44 just gives you the "cool" factor idk I'm still undecided but I still have plenty of time at least 2-4 weeks before I get my Taurus back from repairs and 1 or 2 weeks to sell it.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Okay, I am the other side of the coin. Yes full house loads in a .44 mag are more powerfull----- if you need them. If you hand load you can load up the special to do probley 90% of what most people buy a mag for.
So why am I defending the special if a mag will shoot specials and mags too? Because EXCEPT FOR THE SOMWHAT HARD TO FIND MOUNTAIN GUNS, the specials are less weight, less bulk, and more of a sweetheart to pack. That is because the specials have a thinner "pencil" barrel and shorter clyinders.
I own a mag and many .44 specials. 45 colt too. I load my specials to where you can hardly tell the difference from the 45 colt.
Seldom, if ever, in the real world do I think you realisticly need the extra power of a mag over what you can load the special or 45 colt up to.
Except for that maybe 1% of the time, you can lug a club around, or a sweetheart!
I dont have a .44 mag model 29 mountain gun, but since that is almost the same size as a 24-3 special, I conceed that would be the best of both worlds------- If you can find one.
So why am I defending the special if a mag will shoot specials and mags too? Because EXCEPT FOR THE SOMWHAT HARD TO FIND MOUNTAIN GUNS, the specials are less weight, less bulk, and more of a sweetheart to pack. That is because the specials have a thinner "pencil" barrel and shorter clyinders.
I own a mag and many .44 specials. 45 colt too. I load my specials to where you can hardly tell the difference from the 45 colt.
Seldom, if ever, in the real world do I think you realisticly need the extra power of a mag over what you can load the special or 45 colt up to.
Except for that maybe 1% of the time, you can lug a club around, or a sweetheart!
I dont have a .44 mag model 29 mountain gun, but since that is almost the same size as a 24-3 special, I conceed that would be the best of both worlds------- If you can find one.
RidgwayCO
Member
The .44 Magnum case is just an eighth of an inch (.125") longer than the .44 Special case, but it's maximum average pressure (according to SAAMI) is 36,000 psi, vs. 15,500 psi for the.44 Special. Luckily for me, everything I need to do with a handgun I can do with the .44 Special.
snowman
Member
Thanks for that correction, Tim; I had forgotten that. I don't know that I'd be able to compress my H110 load in a Special case, though. What do you think?
Andy
cowart
US Veteran
In that case, why not go for the 500 magnum? See Product: Model S&W 500 Revolver
Attachments
Bullzaye
US Veteran
You very well may be correct, sir. I'm afraid that reloading is not my area of expertise...which is why I carefully chose my wording, "...not so much to allow for a greater case capacity...".
I endeavored to leave myself enough "wiggle" room by not claiming that the extra case capacity was absolutely unnecessary, because I suspected that there may be some types of powder that might use the entire case.
Tim
Snapping Twig
Member
Tossing my hat in the ring if I may...
EK developed the Mag using the Special case and IIRC 2400, so I'll step out on a limb to say that you could in fact load up the special to magnum territory. This is to say nothing of a hot load of a fast powder.
A word of warning...
Elmer went through quite a few pistols doing this! Not a healthy endeavor.
EK developed the Mag using the Special case and IIRC 2400, so I'll step out on a limb to say that you could in fact load up the special to magnum territory. This is to say nothing of a hot load of a fast powder.
A word of warning...
Elmer went through quite a few pistols doing this! Not a healthy endeavor.
There is an exellent article in Handloader # 236 on loading the .44 special. It was written by Brian Pearce who is about as good as any writer has ever been. He backs up his statements/loads with pressure tested data. The 24-3 and several other revo's can take mid-range magnum loads without a hitch. Anyone who is really interested in this subject can/should buy a back issue from Wolfe publishing.
I know that it is no trick to safely load a 250 grain Lyman 429421 to 1200 fps in my 24-3, which is the original Elmer Keith load.
The .44 special in the right gun, makes a lighter/handier trail gun than the same gun in .44 magnum, and that includes the mountain gun since they still have a longer, heavier cylinder than the 24-3, while the 24-3 is still capable of taking the same range of game.
I know that it is no trick to safely load a 250 grain Lyman 429421 to 1200 fps in my 24-3, which is the original Elmer Keith load.
The .44 special in the right gun, makes a lighter/handier trail gun than the same gun in .44 magnum, and that includes the mountain gun since they still have a longer, heavier cylinder than the 24-3, while the 24-3 is still capable of taking the same range of game.
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snapping twig, came about the closest in reality, as thats exactly what happened, so the 44 MAGNUM cylinders are a different heat treat as well, ( stronger for the pressure...) yes, we shoot & used 44 special s ALL the tme in our guns, and always enjoyed them "better", and stilll left the chance to actually use the 44 magnum ,if needed......
yes, took a bit of careful cleaning ( time) for the chambers but never an issue for us..................so that being said, I say get the "magnum" and have MORE selection.....(same goes for the 357/38...........)
yes, took a bit of careful cleaning ( time) for the chambers but never an issue for us..................so that being said, I say get the "magnum" and have MORE selection.....(same goes for the 357/38...........)
