.44 Special

[Gunnut1952]

Howdy all
Would like to know what models S&W makes in .44Special ?
I want it as a carry gun.

Been looking at Ruger GP100 and the Charter Arms in .44 Special. The Ruger is heavy but I like the 3.00" barrel. The Charter Arms is lite but then you have considerable more recoil. I hear from some folks that the Bulldog isn't made well but from what I've been watching on videos folks like them. Thanks MC.

 

[Shark Bait]

I suggest the S&W model 69 with a 2.75 inch barrel. You can shoot 44 Special and step up to 44 magnum if necessary. Lots of versatility in a relatively small package.

 

[Blademan]

Model 24-3 factory 3 inch is a great carry gun.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My friend bought a 3" Charter w/adj. sights.....It rattled so much when I shook it and you could finger push the cylinder side to side when was in its locked position........That I refused to shoot it......By the Ruger or one of the older discontinued Smiths if you want a special with longevity....

 

[BC38]

I have a vintage Charter Arms Bulldog 3" barrel.
No rattling like Mike SC Hunter describes.
Not a S&W, but still a good solid no-frills revolver.
5 rounds of 200 grain flat points or hollow points at 900-1000 fps will be more than enough to take care of any predators I'm likely to come across.
And yes it will fit into a front pocket of most of my pants - though I usually carry it in a JRT IWB leather holster.

 

[MCorps0311]

I'd say the S&W 69 .44 Mag. 2.75 or 3" for edc. I have the 4" and love it.

 

[murphydog]

"Makes" - none.

"Made (in the past)" - the L frame 696, the N frame .44 Hand Ejectors from prewar and postwar (including the fixed sight Military and adjustable sight Target versions), the model 24-3 Target from the mid-'80s and the fixed sight 21-4.

Edit to add: others posted about the 296 and 396, the latter in a Mountain Gun version, and the Nite Guards...forgot about those.

Of these a 696 or a short barrel 24-3 are probably your best choices but be prepared for sticker stock.

 

[amazingflapjack]

I have an older Bulldog 44 and a model 441 Taurus-would trust them both with my life.

 

[Coaltminer]

44 SPECIAL

I'm sure you've gotten some good advice in this forum from Smith gurus' here. I've got the Ruger GP100, 3". Good gun. I reload, as factory is very pricey. Nice sight setup, heavy, not a Smith trigger, but not bad, accurate, no problem hitting those little rubber cubies at 20 yds, I use 240gr. plated bullets, light loads at about 850fps. You'd be surprised how much recoil those big slugs have. Yes I'm a wimpy dimpy fella, so lemme be!

 

[BLUEDOT37]

If you're wanting a currently produced 44 then I'd vote for the 2-3/4" Mdl. 69 also. You could shoot whatever 44 Spcl loads you want, or preferrably reduced 44 Mag loads. At 34oz. it's not too light & handles even full loads well & is surprisingly accurate.

Past production: 329NG (27oz.) in 44 Mag or a 396NG (24oz.) in 44 Special.

.

S&W 44 snubnose: M396NG-M69-M329NG

(-01c)

.

69 Combat Magnum, w/Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips

(-01b)

.

 

[k22fan]

Also there were 5 shot titanium cylinder Model 296 light weight fixed sight L frames with enclosed hammers and early Model 396s with adjustable sights. In addition to their dark finish the later Model 396 Night Guard cylinder was changed from titanium to stainless steel. The Night Guard's top strap was milled the same as adjustable sighted guns so its fixed sight could be swapped for an adjustable.

Taurus made a lot of 5 shot .44 specials. Their early Model 441 frame design evolved into the current Tracker. While most Taurus .44 Specials have been fixed sight snub noses they made adjustable sighted 5 shot 4" and 6 1/2" .44 Specials. Both snub nose and long barrel Tracker .44 Specials were made in "Total Titanium." That's not literally the case but it was the model name. Their frames and barrel shrouds were titanium.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Been there, done that

The Night Guard's top strap was milled the same as adjustable sighted guns so its fixed sight could be swapped for an adjustable.

Correct, it's an easy swap, however the front sight usually needs to be changed as the Trijicon dot sight is too short (.185"H), doesn't work with the square notch adjustable blade well, & typically is dead (7-9yrs old) by now anyway, so plan on a ramp front sight replacement of appropriate height to match the rear's blade height.

.
Night Guard, M325 - 45 ACP

(-01a)

.

Night Guard, M357NG - adjustable sights & Pac grips

(-01b)

.

 

[wood714]

696

 

[Capt. F.]

Although not a Smith, you want want to look around for a Rossi Model 720. They show up from time to time on the various gun sites. Bought mine 3 years ago for $300.
They're a 5 shot 3" barrel, conceal well in a pancake holster and mine is a top shooter of my 5 Specials.
Don't feel the least bit hampered by five shots 'cause if it needs shootin' more than five times with the "Skeeter" load I'm obviously carrying the wrong gun. My 624 for comparison.

 

[k22fan]

I wish that I'd bought one of the Rossi Model 720s back in the 1980s just after they were discontinued. They were closed out for $180 in Shotgun News ads. A friend put over 5,000 rounds (by primer count) through his without a problem. He nearly always used enough Red Dot to keep the velocity above 700 fps out of the short barrel. That's roughly equivalent to the old common factory load.

 

[gunsnrovers]

Model 24-3 factory 3 inch is a great carry gun.

One of the many gun selling regrets I have is selling my Lew Horton 24-3 3"

 

[ImDrRich]

.44 special

I recently bought a Model 629-6 and have never regretted it. It has a 3 inch barrel and with the right grips and holster it is completely concealable, even for an N frame.

As another poster said, the 629 also gives you the option of .44 magnum should you want to should that caliber, too. I don't find it as punishing as others do - even in the 3 inch.

Let us know what you do!

Rich

 

[Gunnut1952]

First thank you for all of the replies.

I really like the 24-3 with 3 inch barrel that is a very nice revolver. The 696 also is a very nice one. The S&W MDL 69 looks good. I did not consider Taurus revolvers so will have to look into them too. Problem is I would like to have one of each.
Being that this will be a carry gun weight is a big factor in my selection. I'm not recoil shy so that helps when using a lighter revolver.

I'm on my way out the door to go look at what is available at the gun shop's so that I can put my hands on a few to see what I like and what feels good in my hand. MC

 

[Capt. F.]

I wish that I'd bought one of the Rossi Model 720s back in the 1980s just after they were discontinued. They were closed out for $180 in Shotgun News ads. A friend put over 5,000 rounds (by primer count) through his without a problem. He nearly always used enough Red Dot to keep the velocity above 700 fps out of the short barrel. That's roughly equivalent to the old common factory load.

Mine will outshoot my 24-3 6 1/2" any day of the week with the same loads.
I alternate between it and my Model 66 2 1/2" as my CC guns.

 

[petemacmahon]

First thank you for all of the replies.

The 696 also is a very nice one. MC

That is my suggestion, find a good used 696. I have one that Teddy Jacobson turned DAO and I can carry IWB with a Milt Sparks Executives Companion holster.

It's killed a whitetail doe and several groundhogs/woodchucks over the years. It's deadly accurate, even DAO.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I concur that an excellent choice is an N-frame .44 with a 3" barrel for carry and self defense. While I have a number of .44 mag revolvers, my preference is the .44 Special. Way easier on the hand, and with the proper loads, plenty effective.

I see that the 24-3 has a number people of liking it. I do also, but to have the same gun in stainless steel is a real boon.

I was lucky enough to find a 624-3 with a 3" barrel, and love it. It also was a Lew Horton special. I equipped mine with Ahrends finger-groove concealment stocks, which really help with control and don't "print" under clothing much at all. The 624-3 3" is only available second-hand, but if you cruise the gun shows and internet auctions, they will turn up now and then.

John

 

[glenncal1]

I ditto the suggestion for the Model 69. I just got a 4" and it is a sweetheart with .44sp ammo. As an L frame not quite as bulky as an N frame and I like the no-lug barrel. There are some speedloaders out there but I guess they are a little pricey.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I wish that I'd bought one of the Rossi Model 720s back in the 1980s just after they were discontinued. They were closed out for $180 in Shotgun News ads. A friend put over 5,000 rounds (by primer count) through his without a problem. He nearly always used enough Red Dot to keep the velocity above 700 fps out of the short barrel. That's roughly equivalent to the old common factory load.

I bought a 720 when they first came out(unfluted cyl)....its still humming along..........

 

[Shark Bait]

Here's a couple of my favorites, a 24-3 and a 624-3, both Lew Horton, and both fit in the BLW-624 holster very nicely. It is probably my favorite holster that I own.

I carry my 69 more often. I won't be as concerned if I have to use it and it goes into an evidence room for a while. Shown below in a MTR Askins style holster.

 

[StakeOut]

If it's a 44cal revolver you want then look no further than the Stainless Steel 5 shot L frame Model 69 in 2 2/4" barrel length.

About $683 is the lowest price for NIB?

44cal Magnum and 44 Special ammo is expensive if you don't reload.

 

[Watchdog]

Been looking at Ruger GP100 and the Charter Arms in .44 Special. The Ruger is heavy but I like the 3.00" barrel. The Charter Arms is lite but then you have considerable more recoil. I hear from some folks that the Bulldog isn't made well but from what I've been watching on videos folks like them. Thanks MC.

I love S&W revolvers (the older ones), but if I were you, I'd take a look at the new Charter Arms Boomer in .44 Special. Stainless steel with a ported 2-inch barrel and a 5-shot cylinder. DAO only, of course.

The Boomer also comes with an alloy frame with a black nitride finish, but I'd pass on that. I don't like alloy frames in revolvers.

 

[Gunnut1952]

I should never have looked at the 24-3 now I want one but as one of you said " be prepared for sticker shock".

I looked at the Charter Arms Bulldog today and I liked it but I'm not buying anything until I'm sure what I want. The store did not have any other .44 Specials. They did have the Ruger GP100 in .44 special but it is bigger than I would like

I'm also liking the Rossi mdl 720 so I'll be searching for one of those too. Need to do some looking at the S&W 696, 629 and the 624-3 are nice revolvers.

Our local gun show is coming up in October and it is usually the biggest show of the year maybe I will find one of the above mentioned models there.

 

[Topsarge]

I have the CA Bull Dog. It's a good carry and conceals well. It does kick a little more but it's light. I also have a 629 3" and a 69 2.75" that I carry with Gold Dot 200 gr .44 special ammo. Very sweet shooters with light loads. I use the same loads in the CA. The other two you have more ammo choices.

 

[Blademan]

One of the many gun selling regrets I have is selling my Lew Horton 24-3 3"

I still have one I bought many years ago in the safe. Original box, paperwork, cleaning kit etc............... I have never shot the gun. Planned on carrying it. Bought leather, speed loaders, and ammo. Just never could bring myself to shoot it.

 

[Topsarge]

I concur that an excellent choice is an N-frame .44 with a 3" barrel for carry and self defense. While I have a number of .44 mag revolvers, my preference is the .44 Special. Way easier on the hand, and with the proper loads, plenty effective.

I see that the 24-3 has a number people of liking it. I do also, but to have the same gun in stainless steel is a real boon.

I was lucky enough to find a 624-3 with a 3" barrel, and love it. It also was a Lew Horton special. I equipped mine with Ahrends finger-groove concealment stocks, which really help with control and don't "print" under clothing much at all. The 624-3 3" is only available second-hand, but if you cruise the gun shows and internet auctions, they will turn up now and then.

John

I agree on the 24. I have a Lew Horton 24-3 3" but it stays mostly in my safe. I bought the 3" 629 Talo to go in its place in my edc rotation. If you can find a 24 3" it would be a great choice.