Where does the 44 Special fall short compared to the 44 Magnum?

[lrrifleman]

My Smith 36-6 has spoiled me. Because of it, I have developed a fondness for 3" round butt revolvers. I am waiting to pick up my 686+ Deluxe 3", and would love one in 41, but that is not in the cards. However, with my pending Social Security COLA, I could do a new 629 3" on layaway. This is a revolver that would be used for CCW duty.

Having fired full power 357s and 41s before I became disabled, I would be hesitant to fire 44 Magnums weak handed. (The majority of my torso injuries are muscular-skeletal to the left side.) I know that my 41 Magnum plinking rounds are comparable to 44 Specials.

If I were to go with the 629/44Magnum, but went with Specials, what abilities of the revolver would I be giving up?

 

[rollingthunder]

Dirty Harry explains this in one of the movies as I recall. Lol

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[Laketime]

Recoil and muzzel blast for starters. Hunting power would be reduced. But accuracy and the pleasure of shooting low to mderate big bore round would be all yours to enjoy.

 

[rollingthunder]

Dirty Harry explains this in one of the movies as I recall. Lol

YouTube

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[rollingthunder]

Put a big flat nose slug of lead in it and it won't lack for knock down power at low velocity with anything short of grizzly bears.

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[Engineer1911]

Become a reloader, load max 44 special loads in 44 magnum cases, and recoil is very tame. Performance is excellent. 240 grain bullet at 950 fps or 1,250 fps is still a stopper. 950 fps is far more pleasant to shoot.

 

[lrrifleman]

Become a reloader, load max 44 special loads in 44 magnum cases, and recoil is very tame. Performance is excellent. 240 grain bullet at 950 fps or 1,250 fps is still a stopper. 950 fps is far more pleasant to shoot.

Engineer, I have been reloading for over 40 years. About 99% of the centerfire ammo that I have shot since I turned 18 has been my reloads.I enjoy tailoring my ammo to my needs.

 

[gman51]

44 spl Pros versus 44 magnum.
less muzzle blast, way less recoil, way less deafening DB sound, can shoot 100 rounds target shooting practice without hand pains. 44 spl +P hp for a carry round will not let you down for protection. In my opinion the 44 spl +P still will have the pros listed above. Cons...may not be as sufficient as a 44 magnum for stopping a huge bear.

Since I got my 44 special I have put the 38 and 357 revolvers in the safe.
Like Dundee said " you call that a knife.....this is a knife" The 44 spl is no slouch of a gun and fills the purpose for it.

 

[rwsmith]

.44 Special is to Model 29

As the .38 Special is to the L Frame 686.

I've shot specials and magnums out of the 686 and .44 Special are very pleasant to shoot out of the bigger gun.

 

[stansdds]

Where does the 44 Special fall short of the 44 Magnum?
1. Recoil, the 44 Magnum has a lot more of it.
2. Muzzle blast, the 44 Magnum has a lot more of it.
3. Velocity, the 44 Magnum has a lot more of it.
4. Cost per round, the 44 Magnum has a little more it.

Honestly, unless you are expecting to encounter a bear, wild boar, or are using your handgun for hunting, the 44 Special is likely all you will need.

 

[HamHands]

Op, the .44Special and .44Magnum are my 2 favorite all time handgun cartridges/loads! A 255 grain "Keith" bullet running at 975fps will take down anything from Black Bear to any 2 legged threat on the planet with the exact same recoil as a .45acp+P (moderate recoil) from a 40oz 3" barreled M629-6.

The .44Magnum with a 305 grain "Keith" moving @ 1250fps will take down anything in North America, including Sasquatches. The recoil of a .44Mag doesn't bother me especially when using a nice pair of svelte, quality leather, cop-gloves I like to call them. I regularly shoot 100 rounds per session and the impulse just pleasant and less than a .357magnum is to me. I've tried to make .357 my go to round for 20+ years before admitting I just don't shoot it well (it's the only handgun caliber I don't shoot well), and 2 years ago the .44Special/Mag has been my Woods and CCW carry caliber(s) since. I too carry 3" barreled versions because they balance so well, are easy to present upon the draw, and are the most versatile handguns I own.

My new, (new to me) EDC for the suburbs with 200gr Gold Dot Specials. For the woods its the aforementioned 305gr "Keith's" rated @ 1300fps but they consistently push well north of 1,200fps out of this nicely timed, tight chamber throats, and .005 cylinder gap(s)...

 

[junglefighter]

The M69 w/2 3/4 in.bbl.,loaded with 44Spl. is a great CCW revolver and will carry just as easy as a 686 and is a pleasure to shoot.I have now changed to 44Spl./44Mag. in place of 38/357.

 

[shocker]

If you are shooting 44 special only, consider the Model 69 2.75". L frame portability if you can make do with 5 shot capacity.

 

[ExRanger714]

Possibly your first, but definitely your follow-up shots, will probably be more accurate with lower pressure ammo and well placed lower velocity shots will likely prove more effective than scattered spray-n-pray howitzer holes. YMMV

 

[gwpercle]

You would be giving up about 400 fps and a lot of recoil.
A 44 cal. 250 grain cast SWC @ 800 to 825 fps is nothing to sneeze at.
The 44 special is known for it's accuracy...and as we all know , only hits count . Me thinks a Hit with a 44 Special beats a Miss with a 44 Magnum seven ways to Sunday !
Gary

 

[TomkinsSP]

If you are shooting 44 special only, consider the Model 69 2.75". L frame portability if you can make do with 5 shot capacity.

1. My research indicates attacks by "19 shopping center ninjas" are rather rare.

2. If you pissed off both the Jets and the Sharks, retreat seems a better option than figjting.

3. If you missed 5 times, the likelihood of shot six being a hit is minimal.

4. If you hit the Bear 5 times with a .44, and it's still after you, it must be a radioactive, mutant, zombie bear from outer space. Maybe try some Brazillian ju-jit-su?

 

[bigggbbruce]

If I were to go with the 629/44Magnum, but went with Specials, what abilities of the revolver would I be giving up?

Engineer, I have been reloading for over 40 years. About 99% of the centerfire ammo that I have shot since I turned 18 has been my reloads.I enjoy tailoring my ammo to my needs.

I think that ends the discussion. Buy a 44Magnum firearm and load to your preference.

 

[jimmyj]

Fondness for round butt, three inch revolvers:

Consider a Charter Arms .44spl Bulldog with a three inch barrel.
Less weight for CCW compared to a S&W Model 29 plus less cost.

My CA .44 is a older model three inch barrel with the exposed ejector rod. I load a 240 grain LSWC with 5 grains Unique.

 

[HamHands]

The M69 w/2 3/4 in.bbl.,loaded with 44Spl. is a great CCW revolver and will carry just as easy as a 686 and is a pleasure to shoot.I have now changed to 44Spl./44Mag. in place of 38/357.

I've gotta replace an M629-6 "Talo" that I sold to my brother to keep the safe inventory number a nice even number. It will be with an M69, 2 3/4" barrel when I can locate one locally!

I still love .38Special with my 1 7/8" J frames and 2" Colt; it's an effective caliber with the right projectile. When a bit more pop are the +P loadings that I have zero problems controlling in my M36's and do carry them at times with the +P's depending on what I'm doing. As to .357, great caliber, sure footed man stopper, venerable, etc... But its the only handgun caliber I don't shoot well and in 20 years I cannot put my finger as to the reason as I'm a darned good shot with .38Special, 9mm, 40cal, .45ACP, .45Super, .44Special, & .44Magnums. I too have swapped over fully to .44Special/Mags for my Woods-Gun and CCW piece for cruising and walking around the Suburbs of North Atlanta. Sometimes the answer really is: Just Because...

 

[HamHands]

You would be giving up about 400 fps and a lot of recoil.
A 44 cal. 250 grain cast SWC @ 800 to 825 fps is nothing to sneeze at.
The 44 special is known for it's accuracy...and as we all know , only hits count . Me thinks a Hit with a 44 Special beats a Miss with a 44 Magnum seven ways to Sunday !
Gary

Both the .44Special and .44Magnum are highly & inherently accurate calibers. You can do just about the same accuracy wise with either caliber/loading if I steadily let the hammer fall without flinching/anticipating recoil. I certainly favor the heavy for caliber loadings.

Like you said in so many words... a good .44Special, 250grain "Keith" at 825fps... I agree is a devastating projectile upon both bone and soft tissue with the recoil of a .45acp.

My favorite .44Special load is a 255 grain Keith from Underwood Ammo that is rated at 1,000fps but chrono's to be pushing about 935fps out of my 3" M29 and M629. My brother and I recently got a couple used progressive presses with all the fixin's and are getting ready to try and duplicate both the above .44Special load and my 2nd favorite load, Underwoods 305 grain .44Mag "Keith" rated at 1300fps but again, pushes a solid/respectable 1,225fps there-about from my guns.

Matt's Bullets has all the great "Keith" style bullets in just about every desirable weight one could want.

OP, I believe I read you've been reloading for a long time. .44Mag/Special make up about 80% of my handgun training/shooting at the club because the caliber is just that great and addicting. I know of no other more versatile handgun caliber! YMMV...