624 .44 special

[billydixon]

Howdy I bought a 624 a long time ago and now I want to carry it. I live on top of a mountain were there r bears and other critters. I saw some nice loads in Handloader Magazine. I've seen the .44 special case and the .44 magnum case cut down the middle. They look to have the same thickness. Could I load them up close to .44 magnum loads. I've got a 629 I bought in the early 80's pinned barrel and reccesed cylinder. I also had it magnum ported which really makes it fun to shoot. I also have Ruger Redhawk .44 mag. I bought about the same time I've shot extremely heavy loads out of but don't enjoy caring it very far. I carried the 629 in Alaska for about a year.
Thanks
BD

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Hey there, its not really a matter of case strength its a matter of case capacity and pressure. A .44 Special case loaded with a near .44 Mag load will have reduced case capacity and will have increased pressure, perhaps dangerously so. That is why the .44 Mag was developed in the first place. You can safely load a .44 Special with a 250gr E. K. SWC to 1000fps, this load will handle any critter in the lower 48. Check back issues of Handloader for Brian Pearce's articles on the .44Specials.

 

[kaaskop49]

Hi BillyDixon! If there are bears and other critters on your mountain, maybe you should reconsider and carry the .44Mag Redhawk.

 

[murphydog]

If you only had the 624, you could work up a heavy .44 Special load that may get you close-ish to a .44 Magnum. Since you have two .44 Magnums, however, personally I'd opt for one of those in the most comfortable holster you can find. Can't think of a defensive situation with an angry carnivore when I'd wish for less power out of my handgun.

 

[MikeyB]

Personally I wouldn't push a .44 Special if I had .44 Magnums available.

But since I don't have a .44 Mag I push my Specials to 950 FPS with 240gr LSWC.

 

[FloridaFlier]

The 624 is n N-frame. Basically the same as the 629. But, same frame dimensions does not equate to same strength. If you feel like you need more than a .44 Special, then carry the Magnum, rather than load the .44 Special hotter than you should. Even if it holds together, you could still be stressing it more than you should. That 624 is a beautiful gun, don't damage it by trying to turn it into a .44 Magnum.

 

[C17]

You could get a 625 ACP and have Clark Customs do the 460 Rowland conversion. Then you can shoot 460 Rowland while having the option for 45. 460 Rowland if loaded correctly can produce 1500 fps and 900 ft/lb energy from a 4 inch barrel with a 230g bullet. On par with a 44 mag. I think they created the ctg for critters anyways.

 

[billydixon]

Thanks for the feed. I found a load in Handloader Mag Dec-Jan 2010 of 17 gr of 2400 with a 250 swc KT.

 

[MikeyB]

Whoa, 17gr of 2400 is a very stout load for a .44 Special.

I use 14gr of Hercules 2400, magnum primers, 240gr LSWC, 950FPS.

 

[billydixon]

When I turned 21 I was living in Colorado Springs and I wanted a Colt SAA .45LC. I found one after about 3 months of looking. I started to reload a year later. I am a follower of Elmer Keith. My favorite load was 10 grs of Unique with a 250 SWC. I retired that pistol when I bought the 629. It's still tite. I have to carry snake loads the first 2 chambers because we have copperheads and eastern rattlers. I grew up in west Texas and I killed a lot of rattlers there.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

You might find a cross draw rig makes a heavy piece carry better. It does with my 500. I really doubt a 624 is up to a steadt diet of hot Keith loads. JMHO. In Elmers' day, if it blew up you just went and got another. In todays world, not so easy. If you feel the need for a 44MAg, I would just get one. Or even two. I have had 3 624's and still went with the mag when I felt the need.

 

[BigBill]

When I was at my camp in vt on vacation with the family not to alert them of any danger I carried my ruger police service six snubbed in 357mag with some stout magnum loads since we're in the heart of bear country. For close up and personal work I trust the 357mag, well before he hand to claw combat anyhoo. There was a bear killed in a shed with a 410 shotgun. During hunting season its my 44mag as my protection while using the privy. My brother had yotes at the privy door one time.

But with your choices I'd go with the 44mag for sure.

 

[qrachel]

Seems like the 44mag really is the all round answer here. I'm interested in the 44spcl too and hope to get one, but I bought a 629 5" recently and am just learning to become friends with in.

R

 

[tgmr05]

As others have mentioned, you can handload the 44 special a little hotter, but you cannot magnumize it - if that is a word -... You can also buy some heavy, hot 44 specials, if you want to spend some money... You have the 629, and have carried it, so it seems to be the best option.

Or, you could also try to find a 629 mountain gun, which is basically a factory magnumized 624..... The best of both worlds.

 

[Coastie762]

Grachel, you'll love the 629 5". I have one that I purchased new in 1994 when I was stationed in Kodiak. Wonderful to pack and very accurate.

If you handload it is very easy to to create mid-level loads that provide plenty of power for most purposes.

Billydixon, there is a lot of load data for the .44 Special that provides sufficient power without exceeding the cartridges pressure limits. I've been using a lot of Power Pistol lately. Alliant lists a max load of 8.0 grains of PP with a 240 grain cast lead SWC. I recently tested that load in my 6" and 3" 24-3s. The load averaged 942 FPS from the 6" and 868 FPS from my 3" with good accuracy. Meters well in my Dillons as well.

 

[BillyMagg]

Seems like the 44mag really is the all round answer here. I'm interested in the 44spcl too and hope to get one, but I bought a 629 5" recently and am just learning to become friends with in.

R

Yes, I think you should start a thread about your 5" 629, I am anxious to see how that goes for you, as I recommended earlier, I would start out with some 44 Specials to get a feel for your 629. For your initial forays I would recommend a Chapman modified Weaver stance at 7 to 10 yards as you work on that firm right hand grip pushing the gun forward and the left hand cupping the right hand applying tension toward the rear, ask your shooting instructor. I have found the Chapman/Weaver gives you some shock absorption with the bent elbow, while the firm forward push will keep that bad boy a safe distance from your pearly whites.
7-10 yrds so you can see where you are hitting immediately and make adjustments accordingly, then gradually increase your distance as you begin to get comfortable with your new Toy! Billy Magg

 

[qrachel]

Romancing the Magnum

Grachel, you'll love the 625 5". I have one that I purchased new in 1994 when I was stationed in Kodiak. Wonderful to pack and very accurate.

Dear Coastal: I'm sure you are right! I'm slowly (well, some think I'm crazy now and quickly building an armory) creating a revolver and a Sig Equinox collection. Love them both.

Thanks for the friendly comment . . . happy shooting,

R

 

[billydixon]

I just tried another load with a box of Sierra 180JHP the box must of been a few years old because the price was $8.99/100. I tried 15 gr of 2400 and had mild recoil. I enjoy the 624 to carry. I carried my 629 when I lived in Alaska for a year. I fished down on the Kenai with bears less than 75 yards away. Never had to pull it.