44 Special Ammo Suggestions

[BlackSky]

What would you guys suggest for a factory self defense load in .44 Special. Not hunting or woods carry, just for two legged threats. The gun would be a S&W Model 624 with 3" barrel. A quick search of Midway shows the following rounds. Should I go with the heavier bullet or the lighter bullet with more velocity?

*Hornady Critical Defense Ammunition 44 Special 165 Grain Flex Tip eXpanding
*Hornady Custom Ammunition 44 Special 180 Grain XTP Jacketed Hollow Point
*Speer Gold Dot Ammunition 44 Special 200 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point
*Winchester Super-X Ammunition 44 Special 200 Grain Silvertip Hollow Point
*Cor-Bon Self-Defense Ammunition 44 Special 165 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point
*Cor-Bon DPX Ammunition 44 Special 200 Grain Barnes XPB Hollow Point Lead-Free
*Grizzly Self-Defense Ammunition 44 Special 220 Grain Xtreme Copper Hollow Point Lead-Free
*Buffalo Bore Ammunition 44 Special 180 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point

 

[Hovnnes]

Go with the one that you can shoot most accurately in your firearm. Accuracy trumps velocity & bullet wieght IMHO.

 

[Rock77]

BlackSky,

I currently own three .44 Specials and have loaded for this caliber for many years.

Either one of the Hornady loads would be excellent self defense loads; I have loaded thousands of Hornady 180 gr, XTP bullets at around 1000 fps and have tested them on many kinds of mediums with excellent results. I have heard many good things regarding the Critical Defense factory loads in various calibers.

One good thing regarding the lighter bullets is that follow up shots are much easier and cuts down on the over penetration issues. One of my .44 Specials is the same revolver that you own; the S&W 624 with 3” barrel. It is one of my absolute favorite carry guns; completely reliable with surprising accuracy and decisive ability to accomplish any and all self defense needs.

 

[Pointblank2U]

I own several .44 Specials and I opted for Winchester Silvertips. Winchester redesigned the bullet some time back and the new design is a winner. Out of a 2.5" barrel they got these results over on StoppingPower.net in ballistic gelatin covered in 4 layers of denim:

Penetration: 14.00"
Recovered Weight: 187.0 gr.
Expansion: .711 cal.

 

[brucev]

I recently bought a 21-4 .44 Special Thunder Ranch revolver. It is outstanding... very well fitted and finished. I found some Blazer aluminum cased .44 Special ammo loaded with Gold Dot 200 gr. JHP. These have worked well for me. POA = POI at 15 yds. Groups run less than 2 inches... one group was barely 1 inch across. Found the Blazer .44 Specials at Academy for $32/50. Good ammo.

 

[cochise]

I reload but my factory loads are Speer Gold Dot, Winchester, and Federal . Federal is the most accurate of the 3 in my revolver.

 

[Mule88]

Ive had excellent results also with the speer 200 gn GD. But as mentioned already, what ever is most accurate in your gun is a good way to go as well.

 

[Dnovo1]

I have had outstanding results from my Buffalo Bore loads in a variety of 44s, S&W and others. Dave

 

[Mack]

This:
CCI AMMO 44 SPL 200gr HP BLAZER 50/bx 20/cs
Our Price: $31.79
In Stock
Item #: CCI3556

Graf & Sons - CCI AMMO 44 SPL 200gr HP BLAZER 50/bx 20/cs

$31.79 for a 50 round box, not reloadable but an excellent round that uses the Gold Dot bullet at about the most reasonable price out there, although I liked it even better when I used to find it at $16 a box :-(.

 

[scattershot]

I have some of that, too. The hollow point looks like a shotglass from the front. I load it in my Charter Bulldog for walks in the woods.

 

[batmann]

Cor-Bon 165 gr HP is what I carry.

 

[lebomm]

All my .44 Spls. like the Federal 200 gr. LSWCHP, but I'm not sure they still make it. Barring that, the Winchester 200 gr Silvertip and the Blazer GDHP are also winners.

Larry

 

[crsides]

Gold dot blazer 200g HP

 

[Hovnnes]

Winchester Silvertips

 

[XTrooper]

Cor-Bon DPX or the venerable Winchester Silvertip.

 

[Larry from Bend]

I've shot some of the 200 gr GDHP in the Blazer brand. It was pretty accurate and light in recoil. Midway says it does 900 fps (unspecified barrel length) but I wonder what it would clock it a 3" barrel. If it were me I'd try to see if it expands at the velocity you're getting from your revolver. If it doesn't expand, Bitterroot Valley makes a 240 lead SWC in HP or FP that is advertised @ 800 fps which is even MORE accurate in my .44 Special. These are a good value (inexpensive) and would surely penetrate very well. I got them from Cheaper Than Dirt.

 

[Limey46]

I use 200 grain Hornady XTPs in my handloads. They work like a charm in my S&W 296, still my very favorite carry gun.

 

[Snowbandit]

The old Silvertips were horribly under powered. The last ones I checked barely made 600 fps over my chronograph. I always liked the Federal 200 grain LSWCHP. I don't see a lot of advantage in the jacketed bullets in a low pressure round like this but, some of the new stuff is probably pretty good.

 

[senecaap]

I use Gold Dot (Georgia Arms) Winchester Silvertip and Semi Jacket HPs. I get the best results out of the SJHPs. If I want something more I go with Buffalo Bores 255gr Keith style bullets.

 

[38-44HD45]

200 gr. Gold Dots. I've chronoed them through both my 3" 624 and a Charter Arms Bulldog, but I don't recall the exact velocities. I do know they break 800 fps, maybe 850, and expand like crazy in water.