44 Special Question

[mhg2tld]

I recently bought a N frame converted from a model 25 to 44 magnum and plan on shooting 44 specials through it. I read a lot about the 44 special guns and how much people love how they shoot. My question is will my gun being a 44 magnum shoot the 44 specials as good as a model 24 which was built specifically for that round. Since the 44 magnum cylinder is slightly longer than the 44 special cylinder, is that difference going to affect the accuracy of the gun.

 

[Breakaway500]

Accuracy will be just fine. Matter of fact, I shoot .44 Russian out of my .44 Magnum with more than acceptable accuracy. It's like shooting a big bore .22!

 

[JP@AK]

I have Blackhawks, a Super Redhawk and various Model 29 Smiths. Over the past 30+ years I've fired many more .44 Special rounds out of them than .44 Magnum. They are as accurate now as they have ever been (which is excellent in every case).

The only thing to pay attention to is build-up in the charge holes. But if you do what I do - scrub the charge holes as well as the barrel after every range or hunting session - you will have no problem.

BTW, some say the .44 Special is an inherently more accurate round. Maybe so, but I've not found a difference in accuracy between my Special and Magnum loads. Of course, I hand load just about everything I shoot.

 

[Sebago Son]

In a practical sense, I doubt you will see any difference. If you think that you do, you can always load .44 Special level rounds in .44 Magnum cases. This will shorten the bullet jump from the case to the forcing cone.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Some hard-core bullseye shooters will tell you that the bullet jump of that extra 1/10 inch will make a difference to a very, very skillfull bullseye shooter. Unless you are at that level it will make no difference at all. Shooting .44 special in a.44 mag cylinder does create a little extra cleaning problem but considering the relatively low velocity of the rounds involved it isn't that big a deal if you clean it well. Also, if you roll your own, you can simply load .44 special level loads in .44 mag cases and avoid the problem that way.

 

[Pisgah]

Maybe, maybe not. I have seen .357s that were MORE accurate shooting .38s, and .44 Magnums that were more accurate shooting Specials than Magnums -- and vice versa.

 

[OFT II]

I tend to shoot better with 44 Special than magnum loads in my 29-3 but then I suspect that the difference is me. I have been accused of flinching sometimes.

 

[gwpercle]

In theory a 44 special fired from a 44 magnum should not be as accurate . But in reality , you will be hard pressed to see it.
Maybe a good shot at 100 yards could see a difference.
I've tried 38 specials in 357 magnum chambered guns and 38 specials in 38 special chambered guns , at 50 yards I could not see any difference. My groups stayed the same with both.
In practice I'm going to say the answer to your question is no, unless you are a member of the Olympic Shooting Team then it's a a maybe .
Ammo affects accuracy more , feed it ammo it likes and you will do just fine.
Gary

 

[geeollie]

Interesting. is this just a cylinder change to go 45 Colt to 44 magnum?

 

[murphydog]

No, you'd probably need to fit a barrel with a .429" bore instead of a .454" too .

It is an interesting conversion. The barrel stamp on the left is centered, the ejector shroud comes just to the end of the muzzle, and the overall finish is uniform. Someone very skilled put this one together.

I think the .44 Magnum frames received different heat-treatment so keeping at .44 Special pressures would be wise in a model 25 frame.

 

[Drm50]

I've got some experience with this. I've got several 29s, a couple
24s and Ruger Super Blackhawk. Both 29& SBH shoot better with
44sp loads in mag cases. I can't shoot the 29s or SBH as well
as 24 with target loads. I don't know the reason for it. Using
Target WC ammo both 24s and one of my 25-5s will out shoot
the 29s. I may be the 29s just don't like that bullet. I have not
located my own 44WC mold yet, 29s might do better with a
heavier bullet. I'm looking for 210-220 WC, my 45 WC is 242g.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I have only had 2 M28-2's converted. One to .45 Colt and the other to 38-40.
I reload and don't push ether one with hot loads.
A wise choice I think....

 

[mhg2tld]

Interesting. is this just a cylinder change to go 45 Colt to 44 magnum?

Allan is correct. Along with changing the cylinder, a new barrel was installed. This one being previously a 25-2 it was a 45acp in it's previous life and came with a 6 1/2" barrel. He also brings up something I did not know relating to the different heat treatment that a 25 or 29 would receive. I have not heard that before. I have shot a few 44 magnum loads through it although they were 240 g 1240 fps Winchesters and not what you would call a hot magnum load. I also have ordered some 1000 fps 240 g 44 magnum loads for future shooting. I hope it holds up to the strain. Should I be worried about this frame holding up? Here's a couple more pics.

 

[mike campbell]

A 240grain JSP loaded in a 44 special case and fired in a 44 magnum chamber has to move an additional .125" to reach the forcing cone. About .050" of bullet will still be in the case when it reaches the forcing cone.

A typical 22LR cartridge is less than 1.0" OAL . A 22LR revolver cylinder is 1.50". That 22LR bullet completely exits the case while still in the chamber and travels a considerable distance in the chamber before reaching the forcing cone.

If .125" of "bullet jump" makes a difference in accuracy, I have to wonder just how accurate all those 22 revolvers that shoot 1" groups at 25 yds could really be.

ANY revolver worthy of being called accurate is capable of 5-shot, 1" groups at 25yd with its favorite load. That's not to say that less accuracy can't be perfectly satisfactory for the task at hand.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I have posted this earlier. My Thunder Ranch 21-4 came with a 44 mag length cylinder. Smith said not to shoot 44 mag ammo, but I have shot some pretty hot 240gr 44 spl. I might add, the gun shoots better than I can.