Understanding the .44 Special obsession
- Thread starter netfotoj
- Start date
Favorite piece.
G
Guest
There is no cure for the .44 especial addiction, just relax and enjoy it..........
Magnum.35744
Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2007
- Messages
- 18
- Reaction score
- 0
Beautiful gun and holster set you have there
Nframe_is_no1
Member
Here's my latest (see other thread) model 21-4 in nickle!
Grayfox
US Veteran
I'd always heard what a great round the .44 Special was when I traded for a 4" 24-3 some years ago. It was love at first shot.
Since then I've added two more 24-3s and, while not pictured, I also have a shooter grade 5" 2nd Model .44 HE that lettered as going to the Joplin, Mo Police Dept in 1924.
Since then I've added two more 24-3s and, while not pictured, I also have a shooter grade 5" 2nd Model .44 HE that lettered as going to the Joplin, Mo Police Dept in 1924.
OP
netfotoj
Member
Thanks for all the kind replies. I had no idea how widespread the ".44 Special Obsession" had spread. I guess I shoulda known, since as noted Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton were preaching the Gospel of .44 Special long before the current evangelists, John Taffin, Duke Venturino and Clint Smith came on the scene and took up the pulpit. Here's how I came to join the "believers."
I had my eye on a pair of .44 Special Smith & Wesson revolvers I'd seen in a gun shop, so I went to try to decide which one to get. First choice was a S&W 396 Airlite SC Mountain Lite .44 Special: Scandium frame, Titanium cylinder, chrome-lined 2.5" barrel, Hogue Bantam grips, Hi-Viz front sight, adjustable rear sight, 5-shooter, light as a feather. What's not to like?
Took her out to the gun shop range. Fifteen rounds of 200 gr. Remington and Ultramax full-house .44 Special gave me all the answer I needed. My left hand started to sting about the third round. Good thing I'm ambiguous. Switched over to the right for the second five, then back to the left for the third five. Enuff! Now I know why one gun magazine writer called this Mountain Lite the "Mountain Bite!"
Plus the sights were way off. Shooting high and to the right several inches. I guess I know why the previous owner never got it zeroed in. Back to the gun shop and Plan B.
Or maybe it was Plan A all along and I just had to get over my infatuation with ultra-lite.
S&W Model 21-4, 4" barrel, blue steel with Rosewood grips for $450.
I had looked at this beast earlier and the price was so low I figured it was used. But when I asked about shooting it, the shop owner said it was new and unfired and he had picked it up at an estate sale recently. I didn't argue with him. After a very brief haggle, I forked over $425 and walked out of there quick before he could change his mind. Davidson's price? I checked: $750+!!!
I may get arrested for robbery, but at least for now, she's mine.
As I noted earlier, she bit just a bit when I shot her so I found the set of Pachmayr grips and now she's a genuine pleasure to shoot, even with those snappy 200-gr. JHPs I got from Georgia Ammo.
I thought I might be shooting only light Cowboy loads when I bought my first .44 Special, and if it had been that 396 ultra-light, maybe so. But the 21-4 can handle all the full-house loads I've tried so far, up to 240-gr., with all ease.
I had my eye on a pair of .44 Special Smith & Wesson revolvers I'd seen in a gun shop, so I went to try to decide which one to get. First choice was a S&W 396 Airlite SC Mountain Lite .44 Special: Scandium frame, Titanium cylinder, chrome-lined 2.5" barrel, Hogue Bantam grips, Hi-Viz front sight, adjustable rear sight, 5-shooter, light as a feather. What's not to like?
Took her out to the gun shop range. Fifteen rounds of 200 gr. Remington and Ultramax full-house .44 Special gave me all the answer I needed. My left hand started to sting about the third round. Good thing I'm ambiguous. Switched over to the right for the second five, then back to the left for the third five. Enuff! Now I know why one gun magazine writer called this Mountain Lite the "Mountain Bite!"
Plus the sights were way off. Shooting high and to the right several inches. I guess I know why the previous owner never got it zeroed in. Back to the gun shop and Plan B.
Or maybe it was Plan A all along and I just had to get over my infatuation with ultra-lite.
S&W Model 21-4, 4" barrel, blue steel with Rosewood grips for $450.
I had looked at this beast earlier and the price was so low I figured it was used. But when I asked about shooting it, the shop owner said it was new and unfired and he had picked it up at an estate sale recently. I didn't argue with him. After a very brief haggle, I forked over $425 and walked out of there quick before he could change his mind. Davidson's price? I checked: $750+!!!
I may get arrested for robbery, but at least for now, she's mine.
As I noted earlier, she bit just a bit when I shot her so I found the set of Pachmayr grips and now she's a genuine pleasure to shoot, even with those snappy 200-gr. JHPs I got from Georgia Ammo.
I thought I might be shooting only light Cowboy loads when I bought my first .44 Special, and if it had been that 396 ultra-light, maybe so. But the 21-4 can handle all the full-house loads I've tried so far, up to 240-gr., with all ease.
mm6mm6
Member
I have two AWA Peacekeepers and two Colt SAA's in .44 special. But my S&W 624 is my pride and joy:
bk43
Member
Next time you get the urge to look at .44 Specials, and it will happen, see if you can get your hands on a Lew Horton 24-6. Trust me, you'll buy one!
Bob
Netfotoj,
What were they asking for the 396? Is it still around? Please email me if it is and you don't mind sharing the shop location. I'd like to get one of those again.
[email protected]
What were they asking for the 396? Is it still around? Please email me if it is and you don't mind sharing the shop location. I'd like to get one of those again.
[email protected]
Majic1
Member
First time I have ever heard of anyone complaining about the recoil of a .44 spl in a steel revolver and had to put Goodyears on it. It's such a pussycat that it's barely more noticable than a .38 spl.
OP
netfotoj
Member
It wasn't bad, just not 100% comfortable and I was fine with it until I ran across this note.
I found the following in a Guns magazine article on his new S&W Model 21-4 .44 Special Thunder Ranch Revolver, written by Duke Venturino in 2005:
"And last, I don't like the round butt either. With the first 100 rounds fired, the factory grips wore a hole in the web of my shooting hand. But there's an easy remedy. I called my friend Raj at Eagle Grips and had him send me a set of his new walnut Heritage grips, which are patterned after the old S&W "coke bottle" shaped grips of the 1950s. They can be had to fit a round butt S&W N-frame and instantly convert it to a square butt. Mine now make the new TR .44 an exceedingly comfortable handgun to shoot."
I figured if Big Duke could get a new set of grips without caring if somebody called him a wimp, I could too. I love my new Pachmayr grips.
I've never shot a 396 (18 ounces?) but I have shot a Charter Arms Bulldog (21 oz for modern one, I swear the older ones are lighter). While the Bulldog kicked a little with Speer Gold Dots, it was very accurate. I was kinda funny, I pulled out my 696 to show him my recent "deal" and he went to the truck and got the Charter 44!! Great minds think alike I guess.
Anyway, it is an obsession. When I take the magnum when my wife is going with me, I take some specials usually in case she wants to shoot it.
I have to read all the 44 Special threads, others I can just skip.
Welcome to the addiction.
Anyway, it is an obsession. When I take the magnum when my wife is going with me, I take some specials usually in case she wants to shoot it.
I have to read all the 44 Special threads, others I can just skip.
Welcome to the addiction.
OP
netfotoj
Member
I'm thinking the Charter Arms Bulldog will be my next .44 Special. I had planned to get one before I got the Model 21-4, but I ran across it first. As I said earlier, the Model 396 seemed like a great pistol until I shot it. Just too light.
And Charter Arms also makes a .22 magnum that I'd like to have. Any other forum members got anything good or bad to say about the Bulldog or the Pathfinder model in .22 magnum?
And Charter Arms also makes a .22 magnum that I'd like to have. Any other forum members got anything good or bad to say about the Bulldog or the Pathfinder model in .22 magnum?
I now have 3 Bulldogs that I got to compliment my S&W's. I have never had any problems with them and several of my friends also keep them around in their trucks, camping, etc.. The quality is not Smith but Smith does not make a J frame size .44 special.
I've heard the Bulldogs can't handle some of the heavier loads, like Buffalo Bore. That's the only issue from what I understand.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#44spl
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#44spl
Similar threads
- Locked
