Understanding the .44 Special obsession

[netfotoj]

I've been reading John Taffin, Duke Venturino and Clint Smith writing about their ".44 Special obsession" and now I understand it a bit better.

I bought a Model 21-4 a month or so ago, NIB for $425, because it just looked like too good a deal to pass up. A real beauty with those Rosewood grips. Dealer said he got it from an estate sale and it had never been fired.

My only complaint after firing her was she bit just a bit into the web of my hand, so I got online and found some Hogue Decelerator grips for the Model 29. I figured if they were designed to handle .44 Magnums, .44 Special should be a walk in the park. Shot her with the Hogue grips today and she's now a pussycat.

What a great pistol. If I could, I'd personally thank Clint Smith for convincing S&W to bring the Model 21 back out of retirement with his Thunder Ranch Revolver series.

As you can see, I got a Bianchi holster for her, four speedloaders and a couple of speedloader pouches. I also stocked up on .44 Special range ammo at a gun show with 500 rds. of 240 gr. flat-nose and SWCs, plus got some quite snappy 200 gr. HPs from Georgia Arms, so I'm good to go. I see happy days of pistol shooting ahead.

 

[netfotoj]

I've been reading John Taffin, Duke Venturino and Clint Smith writing about their ".44 Special obsession" and now I understand it a bit better.

I bought a Model 21-4 a month or so ago, NIB for $425, because it just looked like too good a deal to pass up. A real beauty with those Rosewood grips. Dealer said he got it from an estate sale and it had never been fired.

My only complaint after firing her was she bit just a bit into the web of my hand, so I got online and found some Hogue Decelerator grips for the Model 29. I figured if they were designed to handle .44 Magnums, .44 Special should be a walk in the park. Shot her with the Hogue grips today and she's now a pussycat.

What a great pistol. If I could, I'd personally thank Clint Smith for convincing S&W to bring the Model 21 back out of retirement with his Thunder Ranch Revolver series.

As you can see, I got a Bianchi holster for her, four speedloaders and a couple of speedloader pouches. I also stocked up on .44 Special range ammo at a gun show with 500 rds. of 240 gr. flat-nose and SWCs, plus got some quite snappy 200 gr. HPs from Georgia Arms, so I'm good to go. I see happy days of pistol shooting ahead.

 

[netfotoj]

My bad, they are Pachmayr grips. I've got CRS disease, Can't Remember Squat.

 

[Lee Barner]

j, welcome to the "club". now that you are hooked, you "must" have a target version, either a pre 24 or 24-3, a 3", 4" and 6.5". then a 696. the list goes on. mortage your house and fulfill your dreams. thanks for sharing. lee

 

[bettis1]

Originally posted by scott williams:
funny, houge is making grips now that look just like pachmayr's

That's OK netfotoj, I felt pretty sure that Hogue wouldn't make knockoffs of Pachmayr...but didn't know whether houge would or not.

Bob

 

[Lenshappy]

Nice pistols gents... on my "list". Thanks very much for sharing!~!

 

[wheelgun1958]

Skeeter forgive me, for I have sinned. I have strayed and thoughtlessly purchased a Taurus 445 Total Titanium. I was tempted by this 44 special and did not seek counsel. This is not the first time I have been with a Taurus.

 

[okie john]

The key to understanding the 44 Special obsession is to buy a 44 Magnum.


Okie John

 

[starbuck]

I must admit that I like my 296.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, nice rig. I hear ya about those grips, though. A buddy's 325PD has the same grips, and they don't suit my hand at all--it's downright painful to shoot with them.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[sabre]

The 44 Special is useful, accurate, interesting and fun. If thats obsession, so be it

The 21-4's sure look good; I'm going to have to pick one up sometime soon. I actually went to buy one once and walked out of the store with a 22-4 instead. Another good gun for another thread

Use whatever grips work for you; there is no best grip for all shooters. That said, those Eagle Heritage on Scott's 21-4 look mighty fine.

And oh yeah, the stags on starbuck's 296 look good, but my hand hurts just thinking about shooting that puppy

Bill

 

[dsf]

A new 21 for $425.00 - that's a great, great find. I paid a bit more (ouch), fitted a Tyler T - Grip and a set of old diamond service grips (took some work with an epoxy insert to match up the round butt. A plastic plug in the lock hole and it looks pretty retro.

 

[alde]

Did somebody say 44 Special?

 

[Culina]

.44 Specials are just plain nice, more so if you handload.

 

[estacado]

I have owned 5 of them now only 3. The M24 4" I let go had a tool mark in the barrel and leaded
badly. The Colt SAA went during a divorce. I now have a M21 4"; M624 4"; and a M24 6 1/2".
To replace the Short M24 I just got a new M29-10 with the 4" barrel. Elmer Keith, Skeeter Skelton, John Taffin and others sang the praises of the 44 Spcl long and hard. Needless to say, they are fun to shoot, kick less than the 44 Magnum; easier to carry and short of a close cuddle with a Grizzly will do 95% of what any of us require. The Keith loads were hard kickers before our current Heavy Bullet and 1/2" bore diameter diameter craze. A 100 year old cartridge that is well balanced, accurate, and comes in some really neat packages leaves little for us to want for. Sorry no pictures, my M21 and the new M29 are out of the Classic series and have helped me scratch the 44 itch again.

Estacado

 

[Majic1]

It's funny how folks don't understand how anyone could have a fondness for the .44 but yet there are gazillions out there that believe the .357 is the only caliber the handgun world needs.

 

[44splfan]

love that 44 spl!
I grew up reading Skeeter and Keith in the gun rags, and I'm sure it was the "legend" of the 44 spl that they ingrained on my youthful mind.

I started to handload shotgun shells, and my dad suggested I try to handload a lighter 44 mag load for us to target shoot. I used Skeeters load of 7.5 grns Unique & a 240 grn LSWC. It shot great, and I started to collect other guns.

My Colt New Frontier 7.5" was a great gun, as was a model 24. Both are gone now after marriage & children.

Today my SAA Colt and 624 still feed the need!

[/IMG]

 

[44splfan]

let's try that again....

 

[Raider]

I appreciate the .44spls too and have a few. My favorite is a blued 24 with 4" barrel. Its a little worn but I bought it that way and it goes with me whenever I go to the country.

 

[ldp4570]

MMMMMMMMMMMM! 44SPL. Just to much fun!!!!!!

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