Best .44 Special config.

[SDH]

.44 Specials are very popular at the moment. I've think I've got 7, but have had some of them for 20+ years. None of these pics are new..
T-lock target 1908

2cd Model HE, 1926

1950 Target .44 shipped 4/54

Somebody mention SAA? 1910 rebarreled .44 (the last Colt)

 

[jtcarm]

Since this seems to have turned into a show your .44 spl thread, here's my Model 24. Not a Horton, but a 4" I had custom round-butted.

I just doubled my .44 special horde with a .44 HE II that's been cut to 4" (looks factory) and nickled (which does not look factory.) Pics to come. As you can see by the Model24 pic, I'm a lazy photographer.

I'd trade, well, something significant to have my 6.5" 624 back. That thing shot like a house on fire with 16.5 2400 behind a hard-cast Keith bullet.

That's a nice-looking 624 David. I prefer a post sight picture over a ramp.

I sorta have another 24-3. It was a retirement gift to my late father and belongs to my mother's estate (she's in a nursing home), along with some very nice Ruger collectibles. I could probably buy it from the estate at a reasonable price, but I have no business with an NIB collectible, I'd shoot the heck out of it.

 

[MajorDude]

Like plenty of others, the .44 special is my favorite cartridge. For a shooter, I'd look for a 624. Modern steel, great looks, easy care. The target grips should make it comfortable to shoot for you, and if you handload, you can take it all the way down to powder puffs with decent accuracy. The afore mentioned Skeeter load shoots like a laser beam, but I have bruised my palm with it with the wrong grips! Good hunting finding one though, I haven't seen one for sale for any price in the last two years at any of my usual places. Or any other .44 special for that matter!

 

[JGR_LV]

Let's get this out of the way now; I'm a self-confessed Philistine. If you want collector value, get something with the correct grips, but take them off when you shoot it. Substitute a set of the readily-available rubber grips on your range days and your hands will thank you. The later S&W target grips are beautiful to look at, they fill the hand nicely and will be reasonably comfortable for most people shooting .38 Specials, but they are too wide at the top for most of us. The combination of the wide wooden grip and the trademark hump under the hammer, designed to keep the gun from rolling back in your hand under recoil, is a lot like getting rapped in the web of your thumb, HARD, with a wooden mallet under heavy recoil. It's not my idea of fun. My personal favorite is the Decellerator series from Pachmeyer. If you just can't bear the sight of tacky rubber on your collector gun, look for a set of the old Herrett Shooting Star wood grips. They have a narrower profile at top and bottom, but still look good. I haven't tried the Jerry Miculek grips that the Custom Shop uses on some of the new guns, but Brownell's sells them and lots of people swear by them. Another benefit is that you won't need to worry about damaging a nice set of original grips at the range.

JGR

 

[jtcarm]

I find Hogues way better than Pachmayrs. But old Herrett Shooting Stars? I had a pair on a 19-3 once and would sooner stick my hand in a meat grinder than shoot with those again. Again, Hogue woodies or Miculek.

 

[10-shooter]

Oh, Oh CAN I PLAY TOO? OK.... I know, I know, this forum is for older Smiths.... but hey this is a 44spl as well....

18oz of pure joy to carry... and honestly, to me it is pretty pleasant to shoot... recoil is not bad.

396 Mountain Lite Ti..... (no lock BTW)

Gotta love those 44 spls

 

[jwk]

I have a 624 4" that has been round-butted. I use Pachmyer compacts on it. It also had a melt job (dehorning) done on it. While it won't ever be a collector's dream it is one sweet shooting revolver.

 

[153]

I don't get to shoot it much, but I feel real lucky to have this 24-3,

 

[dewey]

OP, as you can tell by all the replies

how popular .44SPLs are. Reloads from 7.5 grains of Unique for Skeeter's target load to my favorite hunting load of 16.5grains of 2400 under Keith's 250 grain at 1,200 fps for deer loads ( in post-war guns ) the .44SPL CAN do it all !!!!

 

[tipoc]

Some very nice guns here.

tipoc

 

[semperfi71]

Some more. This M696 just got "issued" its load, a 240 grain Hornady semi-wadcutter loaded with HP38 to an average of 760 fps. The fast powder to reduce felt recoil and the soft-swaged bullet to protect the very thin forcing cone. It's still a "rip-snorter".

This 3rd Generation SAA is simply loaded with a 240 grain cast semi-wadcutter with Bullseye to about 800/850 fps for Cowboy Action Shooting and trail riding.

But, there are also .44 Specials "lurking" in other revolver "bodies. This M29-2 will only be loaded with either a jacketed or lead 240 grain bullet (haven't decided yet) to 1,000 fps. Essentially a potent .44 Special

And this "imposter" is a Ruger Vaquero in .44 Magnum, but it is loaded with the Hornady FMJ 240 grain flatnose to 1,000 fps. Again more .44 Special than .44 Magnum...according to ME!

 

[10-shooter]

Man those are nice.... espically that SAA

 

[GLL]

I would also choose a 4" or 6.5" 624 as a first "shooter" .44Special !
This is especially true if I were planning on carrying the gun in the field very much !

Jerry

 

[44_Triple Lock]

Those are all beautiful looking S&W .44 Specials ! Thanks y'all for posting "eye candy" !!!

Thank you S&W for those HE's. Thanks Elmer Keith in gettin' a magnum to be made out of the .44Spl

The 250 Gr. Elmer Keith bullet lets a whole lot of air in & a whole lot of blood out, using .44 Spl or .44 Mag ! For concealed carry, it's a 696 44Spl. Ain't out gunned til ya miss.

 

[STCM(SW)]

OK, everybody posted pic's of there 44's, so here are mine.

 

[jtcarm]

WOW! Where did you get those Roper-style stocks 153?

 

[jtcarm]

OP,
Here ya go, you're not likely to find a better deal than this. And on our forum:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-s...th-wesson-model-24-3-44-special-4-barrel.html

 

[153]

WOW! Where did you get those Roper-style stocks 153?

Those are the "Skeeter Skelton" stocks from Blumagnum. I have Herrett's Ropers on my Model 29 and like the shape on those better .....

 

[Grayfox]

I gotta agree, for a shooter the Model 24-3 are the way to go. They do turn up fairly often on GB. If I didn't already have one, I jump on the 4" for sale here on the forum.

Since we're playing show and tell here.......

I was planning to go to the range today anyway. I think I'll take the 4" out for a spin.

 

[TripleLock]

Well, how about this one? A Triple Lock shipped in 1916 with service sights and gold medallion grips, but now sporting target sights acquired on a return trip to Springfield in 1946 and target stocks from the early 80s.

I think this is either the third or fourth time I've posted this photo, but it's the only Smith & Wesson I own.

TL

 

[44_Triple Lock]

Well, how about this one? A Triple Lock shipped in 1916 with service sights and gold medallion grips, but now sporting target sights acquired on a return trip to Springfield in 1946 and target stocks from the early 80s.

I think this is either the third or fourth time I've posted this photo, but it's the only Smith & Wesson I own.

TL

If time ages a bottle of wine to perfection, posting a photo of your Triple Lock three or four more times wouldn't put a burr under anyones saddle looking at a timeless beauty, at least not mine anyhow.


Has S&W ever been asked or thought about about making a special batch of real honest to goodness new N frame five screw, pinned barrels, counter bored cylinder 44 Spl triple locks with no MIM parts (no drilled and tapped top strap) or silly locks, or would it just bring down the value of the original ones?

To really go out to the end of a tree limb with no net, make it affordably priced to yesteryear prices. just sayin'

 

[ElToro]

heres my .44... triple lock cut down long time ago. accurate and fun to shoot. it came with the pre war magnas as well.

 

[Muley Gil]

"Has S&W ever been asked or thought about about making a special batch of real honest to goodness new N frame five screw, pinned barrels, counter bored cylinder 44 Spl triple locks with no MIM parts (no drilled and tapped top strap) or silly locks, or would it just bring down the value of the original ones?"

.44 Special revolvers didn't have recessed chambers; only Magnums and rimfires.

 

[Keith Brown]

The 624 is probably the most affordable of the .44 specials and they make fine shooters, here is a photo of my favorite 4 inch 624 along with a pic of a pre 24 that I like a bunch.

Keith

 

[ElToro]

"Has S&W ever been asked or thought about about making a special batch of real honest to goodness new N frame five screw, pinned barrels, counter bored cylinder 44 Spl triple locks with no MIM parts (no drilled and tapped top strap) or silly locks, or would it just bring down the value of the original ones?"

.44 Special revolvers didn't have recessed chambers; only Magnums and rimfires.

I'll take one in 5 inches. Target sights

 

[feralmerril]

I also have a triplelock that started out as a fixed sight but was sent back to the factory in 1949 and fitted with target sights.

 

[Twogunnes]

3rd Model. Decent old revolver. Mid 40's production. All matching.

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[44_Triple Lock]

"Has S&W ever been asked or thought about about making a special batch of real honest to goodness new N frame five screw, pinned barrels, counter bored cylinder 44 Spl triple locks with no MIM parts (no drilled and tapped top strap) or silly locks, or would it just bring down the value of the original ones?"

.44 Special revolvers didn't have recessed chambers; only Magnums and rimfires.

Yes sir I understand. Just sayin' it would be great to have recessed chambers included with a newly made run of .44Spl's.

On the 29-3 models the pinned barrels & recessed cylinders were no longer made, just be a nice touch to include them.

 

[Frank46]

My buddy has one of the ruger flat tops in 44 special and darned if it didn't shoot really well. Only thing I didn't like about it was the small grip frame. I've become spoiled by the S&W's. Frank

 

[Muddyboot]

Here is my restored 2nd Model with a 5" barrel. Great shooter, always seems to draw a crowd at the range....