44 Spl is a great cartridge, especially if you load your own. The factory offerings are better than the past but still somewhat limited. The stainless short barreled guns (S&W, Taurus, Rossi) are too heavy for regular pocket carry IMO but great on a belt. I carry my S&W 296 in a Mika pocket holster in my coat and occasionally cargo pants. It's the size, not the weight that limits it in a pocket. 44 Spl offers limitless possibilities for reloading and is at the top of my list for shooting fun.
Any 44 Special Fans Out There? Need Advice...
- Thread starter HarrishMasher
- Start date
MJFlores
Member
I like .44 Magnum loaded to .44 Special velocities...best of both worlds.
Always been a 44 Special fan.
Being a target shooter, accuracy is important.
Forget factory loads.
Beware that many S&Ws 44s. have oversized chamber mouths.
My three 624s all measure .433".
The 696-1, most accurate of all measures .430".
Had a Taurus 441 that I foolishly sold off. It was also tight and accurate.
A few others, including a 21-4 and a Colt SAA failed totally and were quickly traded off.
Being a target shooter, accuracy is important.
Forget factory loads.
Beware that many S&Ws 44s. have oversized chamber mouths.
My three 624s all measure .433".
The 696-1, most accurate of all measures .430".
Had a Taurus 441 that I foolishly sold off. It was also tight and accurate.
A few others, including a 21-4 and a Colt SAA failed totally and were quickly traded off.
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cmort666
Member
I have a couple of Smith 29-2s, a 4" and a 6".
I shoot almost nothing but .44 Specials.
With .44 Specials the recoil is on a par with .38 Special wadcutters out of a Smith 14, even with 200gr. Gold Dot defensive loads.
Here are a couple of pictures of the 4".
I shoot almost nothing but .44 Specials.
With .44 Specials the recoil is on a par with .38 Special wadcutters out of a Smith 14, even with 200gr. Gold Dot defensive loads.
Here are a couple of pictures of the 4".
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Backlighting
Member
Had a Charter Arms .44 Bulldog/ Great gun. Only sold it because ammo was too expensive & I don't re-load.
at_liberty
Member
That usually rules out being able to concealed carry the gun. It needs to be lighter and more compact to be a useful 44 Special, typically 5-shot. The magnum thing is a whole different gun IMO.
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I like the 44 Spec. and have carried it on occasion. I have the 24-3, 3" RB, on which I have re[laced the grips with my own creation. These were Rd to Sq conversion grips with finger grooves. I shortened them about a 1/4" and sanded out the finger grooves. They are rounded and smooth and thinner than the bulky combat grips that come on the gun.
S&W Envy
Member
First of all thanks to the OP for asking the original question because the replies have been very interesting. Especially eb07's link to the desert's edge...absolutely the most informative review I've read in a long time. I concur with WATCHDOG with regard to the Charter Arms Bulldog. The 3" barreled guns are fantastic and as long as you steer clear of the CHARCO stuff you will love your Bulldog.
Good luck!
Good luck!
bananaman
Member
I am a FAN! Just not an OWNER!!! Bob
Grayfox
US Veteran
I'm a big fan of the .44 Special and own several. I recently picked up a 696 no dash and have fallen it love with it. 
Its very easy to shoot and wonderfully accurate.
I bought it with the intent to use it as my new camp/trail gun. However, I was concerned that the size and weight might be a problem. So just to test it out, I got myself a good holster and started wearing it on my daily three mile walk and sometimes all day long. Turns out my concerns were completely unfounded. In a proper holster the gun carries like a dream and is easily concealed under a slightly oversize T-shirt. I've got myself a winner!
As to the debate of if the .44 Special has any real advantage over the .38, my opinion has always been that bigger holes are better.
Its very easy to shoot and wonderfully accurate.
I bought it with the intent to use it as my new camp/trail gun. However, I was concerned that the size and weight might be a problem. So just to test it out, I got myself a good holster and started wearing it on my daily three mile walk and sometimes all day long. Turns out my concerns were completely unfounded. In a proper holster the gun carries like a dream and is easily concealed under a slightly oversize T-shirt. I've got myself a winner!
As to the debate of if the .44 Special has any real advantage over the .38, my opinion has always been that bigger holes are better.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
I'm also an owner, and a fan of the Rossi Model 720c. I've seen photos of a 720 wearing a set of Hogue rubber grips. When I asked, the owner said it was actually a set of grips made for a S&W J-frame and required only minimal modification to make them fit the Rossi. Though no longer manufactured, you can still find them for sale occasionally. As I recall, I gave $200.00 plus an old H&R .22lr revolver for mine about 4 or 5 years ago. One warning I've seen frequently is not to dry fire the Rossi - I believe it's supposed to be very bad on the hammer.
Regards,
Dave
Regards,
Dave
Attachments
.44 Spl's?
I love all of mine, even the one that wants to be a S&W but doesn't have as good of a action.
I love all of mine, even the one that wants to be a S&W but doesn't have as good of a action.
.44 special? Are you kidding. See my post on the 24-3 and an old post on the .44 HE second model. Possibly the best self defense round for in house work, outside a properly loaded shotgun. Consider over penetration and energy on target. H Richard, thank you for the whole story on those grips. Very nice.
Kilibreaux
Member
I'm not sure you're correct in assuming these forum members would not ask for burning at the stake for he Heresy of pointing out that S&W doesn't actually OFFER FOR SALE a revolver to compete directly with the Charter Arms Bulldog.
But you ARE thinking correctly that the 19.6 ounce Charter Arms .44 Special Bulldog is the "right answer" for anyone who thinks the .44 Special brings more to the table than the average J-frame.
The REASON Charter Arms is still around pumping out .44 special "Bulldog" revolvers is because NOBODY has put forth a competitor capable of drawing away customers.
Who doesn't "like" the .44 Special? EVERYONE LOVES the .44 Special, yet they are reluctant to drop huge amounts of cash on a dedicated .44 Special when they could have a .44 Magnum instead! The problem is that S&W does not make anything to compete with the CA offering.
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I have two Charter Arms Bulldogs, but would LOVE to see S&W or even Ruger come out with an nice double action 44 special.
To the original poster, I fired a 357 magnum indoors at night. I don't remember the flash, but my ears rang for the rest of the night and I was worried I'd done (and maybe did) permanent damage to my hearing. That's the primary reason I keep a 44 special as a bedside gun now.
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sheep.dog
Member
I love the .44 special, but as others have said it is a handloaders cartridge. If I didn't reload i would not do much shooting with the special. Factory ammo is tough to find, expensive and anything other than defense loads can be anemic.
That being said it doesn't take too much to start reloading and once your up and running the sky is the limit.
I'm a proponent of the old skeeter load of 7.5gr Unique under a Keith 240/250 bullet.
I do think the CA bulldog could be a good choice but remember its not overbuilt and can't take the abuse of the heavy handloads or factory loads from Buffalo Bore etc.
If you've got plenty of cash to throw at the project Gary Reeder, Dave Clements and many other custom smiths can rechamber the GP100 and a handful of S&Ws to .44 special.
That being said it doesn't take too much to start reloading and once your up and running the sky is the limit.
I'm a proponent of the old skeeter load of 7.5gr Unique under a Keith 240/250 bullet.
I do think the CA bulldog could be a good choice but remember its not overbuilt and can't take the abuse of the heavy handloads or factory loads from Buffalo Bore etc.
If you've got plenty of cash to throw at the project Gary Reeder, Dave Clements and many other custom smiths can rechamber the GP100 and a handful of S&Ws to .44 special.
OP
HarrishMasher
Member
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What gun would they say S&W makes that is dimensionally similar, similar in weight and capacity to the CA Bulldog? The only thing that comes to mind is a 396 Night Guard. But S&W only made that gun for 3 or 4 years and it hasn't been offered in some time. They probably only made a few thousand of them as well. Not to mention it was over three times the price.
Maybe the 396SC Mountain Lite? Pretty different dimensionally.
It would be very hard to argue these two offerings are similar enough to the CA.
Any other ones I am missing?
at_liberty
Member
The issue is whether they would carry a 44 Special. Probably fair to say that most would not carry the typical 44 Magnum. If cut to 5 rounds, smaller frames are possible as well as reduced bulk and weight. "A 44 Magnum instead" is just not a solution here.
Tom_R
Member
I saw a .44spcl S&W NightGuard at my LGS for like $650 the other day.
It looked in good shape. It has been carried and shot, but looked good.
Are these hard to find?
Not really my thing, but some people seem to swear by them.
It looked in good shape. It has been carried and shot, but looked good.
Are these hard to find?
Not really my thing, but some people seem to swear by them.
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