I have been having this debate with myself for a while now and decided to get some help from members here. I have a model 24 with a 3-inch barrel (.44 special of course). I was wondering if the .44 special is powerful enough to be relied on as a "outdoor" gun for protection against predators. I suppose a bear would be the worse case scenario. I was thinking of getting a 25-5 or 29 for that role but was wondering if i'm overthinking this. Practically speaking, is the .44 special loaded with 200-240 grain bullets "big" enough for the outdoor protection role? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Jeff
Practical ballistics question
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I have been having this debate with myself for a while now and decided to get some help from members here. I have a model 24 with a 3-inch barrel (.44 special of course). I was wondering if the .44 special is powerful enough to be relied on as a "outdoor" gun for protection against predators. I suppose a bear would be the worse case scenario. I was thinking of getting a 25-5 or 29 for that role but was wondering if i'm overthinking this. Practically speaking, is the .44 special loaded with 200-240 grain bullets "big" enough for the outdoor protection role? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Jeff
GatorFarmer
Member
What sorts of four legged beasties prowl about where you live or where you plan on going? That'd really be the defining factor I'd think. If you planned to go to Alaska for example, or bears/man eating pigs/Sasquatch got rather large in your area, then you might want more gun. If the bears aren't too big, the mountain lions rare, and the man eating hogs small, then I'd think a decent .44 special would do for a great many creatures.
Spotteddog
Member
The likely hood of contacting anything but a black bear or cougar in California is slim to none, IMHO.
With proper loads a .44 Special is far superior to a .45 ACP for your described needs. Again, IMHO. A Model 29 with honest to God .44 Magnums in it, is far superior to either of the others. I'd stay with a 240 grain + weight in either the .44 Special or Magnum, BUT in a non hollow point hard cast semi wad cutter. Again, JOMO?
With proper loads a .44 Special is far superior to a .45 ACP for your described needs. Again, IMHO. A Model 29 with honest to God .44 Magnums in it, is far superior to either of the others. I'd stay with a 240 grain + weight in either the .44 Special or Magnum, BUT in a non hollow point hard cast semi wad cutter. Again, JOMO?
In California, the biggest threat (besides two legged creatures) would be a black bear. I would feel confident that the special would take a mountain lion (or am I wrong about that?). Maybe this will get me to buy a new toy. Thanks.
Erich
Member
A .38 Special would be fine for a mountain lion - they're thin-skinned cats. The challenge with an attacking mountain lion is more likely to be knowing that you're being attacked and getting the gun out in time for it to be useful. Of course, it's unlikely to attack a grown man, but if a child attached to your party wanders off and is attacked, your .44 Special would settle its hash right now (assuming adequate shot placement, which isn't really the gun's problem
).
You don't need a new toy (though you very well might deserve one!
) - spend your money on practice ammo for your present gun and consider yourself well-armed.
You don't need a new toy (though you very well might deserve one!
Andy Taylor
Member
If you don't roll your own, I would recommend these.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ind...=product_detail&p=88
Your .44 Special will do you just fine.
Contact me if you wish to sell/trade it off. I've been looking for one and they are hard to come by here in CA.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ind...=product_detail&p=88
Your .44 Special will do you just fine.
Contact me if you wish to sell/trade it off. I've been looking for one and they are hard to come by here in CA.
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