Why Do People Love the 44 Special So??

[Snapping Twig]

^ +1.

Now, if you don't have CCW issues and your collection is limited, it makes sense too. Why limit yourself? One does both, it's a no-brainer.

I did that for over 20 years and it makes sense.

However...

Just like fine wine or cigar or any other thing you work your way into, subtle nuances, differences you wouldn't notice at first, come to the forefront.

The 44Spl in a dedicated 44Spl revolver is sublime. The way they shoot, the accuracy, the balance, all top drawer.

Until you have the disposable income to go for the purpose built Spl. revolver, the Mag. is the one to own.

Add to this, the ability to feed a Spl. Unless you reload or buy expensive stuff, it's not impressive.

Do so however, and it opens up a whole new world.

 

[44specialLH]

I bought a Lew Horton 24-6 today. Bright nickle finish. I would love to shoot it but it is way too pretty and rare. PLus I already have the following guns chambered in 44special that I do shoot: S&W NightGuard 396, Ruger Lipseys edition NewVaquero stainless, Ruger Lipseys edition flat top bisley (sweet, sweet shooter!), Ruger lipseys edition sheriff model 3.75".

 

[one eye joe]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM 44SPECIAL LH. FUNNY HOW THINGS WORK AROUND HERE--IF YA DON'T POST PICTURES, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE JUST LOVE OUR EYE CANDY.......

 

[Tractorshaft]

Because a .38 may expand but a .44 will never shrink

I could give you as others have, the Taylor formula, bullet meplat, kinetic energy ad nauseum...The most simple and elegant of explanations as I once read was....

"A 9MM "May" expand, but a .44 will NEVER shrink...."

To add further exclamation to bigger is better.....

The coy and demure lass looked up at the large pistol on the roughneck's belt and excitedly asked "Gee handsome...why do you carry that big ole .45 on your hip...He slowly replied...because they don't make a .46"

Unknown

 

[Cruiser1]

Model 21-4 (no TR logo), 2 grip choices:

 

[pacificpt]

Interesting thread, am enjoying it very much. Some of the collections shown are absolutely wonderful.

 

[44specialLH]

Thanks for the WARM welcome. I will try to get some pics loaded on here

 

[qrachel]

I like the 44spcl because it's very comfortable to shoot, extremely accurate and makes big holes. I'd love to have a nice a S&W chambered for the 44spcl only. They are tough to find, and I'm considering a Ruger.

Don't think I'd CCW a 44spcl but maybe; my first love in pistols is a great 45 ACP, and I just purchased an Ed Brown Cobra Carry and would like to get a Sig P220 Equinox Carry and get the action/trigger reworked to make it smoooth and crisp at the break, like shattering fine stemmed crystal, snap! I'm also very partial to 38 spcls too.

Anyway, long live the 44spcl . . . great cartridge.

R

 

[gkitch]

Great thread. To me the Special is a handloader's cartridge. I load 240 gr JHPs and 255 grain WFN lead bullets to about 1050 fps in a recently acquired Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8". A wonderful loading. I still shoot some 240 grain @ 770 fps (duplicating the factory loading) but prefer a bit more pizzazz. 200 grain JHPs @ 1150 are also fun. I rarely carry my 629 Classic anymore.

There are several good cartriges out there that have dedicated followings and the 44 Special is probably at the top of the list, with the 41 mag, 10mm, 44WCF, and others right up there with it. ALL of these cartriges must be handloaded to be properly appreciated and affordable. Definitely not mainstream WALMART fodder.

 

[Bellzy]

I love 44spc because this beauty is chambered for it.

 

[Bellzy]

That was interesting, sorry for the double pics

 

[Warren Sear]

I bought a Lew Horton 24-6 today. Bright nickle finish. I would love to shoot it but it is way too pretty and rare...

Bull-oney. Shoot it!!!

 

[625smith]

Well it is hard to add to what has already been posted but I will try. Early in my shooting career I was on a very limited budget. I adopted the attitude who needs a 44 spl when I have a 44 mag or even a 38 spl when I have a 357 mag. Then I shot a 44 spl I think that it was a Taurus. It was very accurate to my surprise. About the same time I realized that if wanted to shoot more that I needed to reload. So I picked up several 44spls and 44 mags. I shoot only 44 mag in my 29 and 629s. I love to shoot the 624s and 696. As mentioned before reloading is a must to fully enjoy the 44 spl.

29 6", 624 6", 629 Classic Hunter, 624 4" 629 Classic DX 6½", 696, 629 Classic PP.



3" 624

 

[Snapping Twig]

Here's a couple images.

696

A pair of 624 no dash's

 

[jmd123]

The .44 Special can be loaded pretty hot...

At least in a modern handgun, ala the S & W 624, you can get the .44 special up to sub-magnum loads, as I would describe them. Elmer Keith's ultimate .44 Special load was a 250 grain bullet at 1200 fps, which he acheived using heavy loads of Hercules (now Alliant Powders) #2400 (up to and maybe over 16 grains). This same reference (The Book of the .44, I don't know the author off the top of my head) also described this as abuse to S & W revolvers of the 1930's era with which Keith was experimenting. These experiments were of course the inspiration for the .44 Magnum.

Well, I own a 4" Model 624 that was made in the 1980s. I have run loads up to 8.5 grains of Unique with 240 grain bullets through this gun, and let me tell you, those loads go off with considerable recoil and muzzle blast! They are accurate once one gets used to them, but my father, who does my reloading (I know, gotta learn!), found that some of the cases had split! They were admittedly hard to eject from the cylinder...but this makes a good bear load, and I have seen them in some of my fly-fishing spots.

I also have a 6" Model 629 which is Magna-Ported, and it is a lot of fun to shoot. But after about 40 rounds or so, I get tired of the "hand-cannon" effect, and the .44 Special is not quite so harsh, but still very effective.

 

[amazingflapjack]

shoot one and then you can make your own determination(?)

 

[at_liberty]

I like the .44 Special round because it shoots very much like a .45 ACP. I like the .44 Special guns, because the 5 shot revolver is about the only way to carry a revolver caliber that starts with a [4] and with manageable weight, size, recoil, and noise. So far, I only carry DA revolvers but own a couple range guns in SA.

 

[dwpmusic]

Here's why I like my .44 Special (attached). Model 629 Classic, 6 1/2 barrel, about 20 years old, completely stock. Have only shot Specials in it...handloads, home cast 240 grain Keith style SWC (Saeco mold), 5 grains of Bullseye. Brass lasts forever. These targets at 16 yards. Most accurate gun I own. Twenty-five rounds in each target

Just been reading some old posts as to why so many people love the .44spl. I have the identical gun you have and shot my first landloads in .44spl in it yesterday. I love it. Want to experiment with different loads.

 

[jwk]

While i own multiple 44 Special revolvers here is my anallysis.

Separate the cartridge from the revolver it is fired in. Revolver feel and balance is subjective and unless carried to an extreme very personal. For instance a lot of you guys love Magna type stocks. I think they are pretty in ivory but HATE the way they feel in my hand. None of my revolvers wear Magnas.

I can't think of anything that you can do with a 44 Special that you can't also do with a 44 Mag. As a handloader you can go mild to wild w a Special. You can go mild to even wilder w the Mag.

The 44 Special is a great cartridge but the 44 Mag is a greater one. I own firearms chambered for both rounds. I admit i really like my 44 Special Ruger Bisley because it is easier to carry than the larger 44 Mag Bisley but that is a gun choice issue not a cartridge issue. There are also smaller carry guns in 44 Special and that is a plus if you are so inclined. They aren't that much smaller than the relatively new snub 44 Mag 5 shooter that S&W is now making.

44 Mag ammo is generally easier to find and often cheaper than 44 Special. While I know of no factory loaded 44 Mag powder puff loads you can load 44 Special factory ammo in the Mag. There isn't a lot of high performance 44 Special factory ammo. If you live in a rural area w limited shopping try finding some without having to order it. The advantage to 44 Special is in high performance guise it is a better defensive carry ammo than 44 Mag because of less recoil. It is a hotly debated topic but I believe in factory ammo for carry. Keep in mind though you can carry Specials in your 44 Mag revolver.

While the Special is more pleasant to shoot if you handload you can load low recoil 44 Mags. If you don't handload you can shoot factory 44 Specials in your magnum revolver.

Unless there is a particular revolver that is just perfect for YOU that you can't get in a 44 Mag there are really only two reasons to pick a 44 Special over the 44 Mag:
1. Because you want one; and
2. Because I got one (or 7) and you don't.
Yes I deliberately left out collecting. There are no Triple Lock 44 Mags. I'm a shooter not a collector. I'll buy a bargain on a collectible gun but it is almost universally trading stock for me. No slam against collecting for collecting's sake just not my cup of tea. I've got one and you don't is also human nature running the whole spectrum of human toys from the sandbox as children to the grave. Unless carried to hurtful extremes it is certainly an acceptable reason to own something.

Looking at apples to apples and comparing a 624 4 inch barrel w a 44 Mag Mountain Gun:
1. The 624 is more collectible because it was a limited run:
2. The 624 has a square butt which is a plus to some but I had my 624 roundbutted bc I prefer round butt grip frames;
3. The MG shoots a more versatile cartridge.
Other than the grip frame I'd bet if you pulled the trigger blindfolded using the same ammo you couldn't tell the two apart. The difference would be a 44 Mag won't fit in the 624. If I could only have one between the two revolvers and collecting / resale value wasn't in the picture I'd always take the MG over the 624. Compare a 629 to the 624 and the choice is tougher because of how the 624 balances. The flip side is w the heavier barrel I can get off aimed subsequent shots faster w the 629.

Again I have 44 Special revolvers and like them a lot. That doesn't make them better than my 44 Mag revolvers. They are both useful tools but for most people, collectability aside there really isn't an advantage for the 44 Special unless there is a specific handgun chambered in the Special that you can't get in 44 Mag. Admittedly that can make a difference but that is gun choice not cartridge choice. For a guy who is only going to have a few handguns I recommend the 44 Mag in most cases over the 44 Special. For the guy w a safe full of handguns the choice depends on preference.

 

[model3sw]

The .44 Magnum is just a bit too hard to handle but the glory being, the .44 Magnum shoots .44 Specials In fact, most .44 Target shooters prefer a .44 light special in that .44 Magnum because it is a joy to shoot. I'm a fairly big and strong guy yet I'm not embarrassed to say that after about 15 round of .44 Magnums downrange, I'm done ... my nerves wincing in anticipation of the bone-rattling force of the .44 Magnum.

With the introduction of the .44 Magnum the .44 Special revolvers took a backslide in popularity. All those Dirty Harry movies sure helped do that.

To me the .44 Specials, especially the pre-war .44 Special N frames are just sweet. It is only recently the value on those old .44 Special S&Ws started to rise to a respectable price and are still rather affordable.

Mark my words, in the next few years, they will be as coveted by collectors and shooters, alike, as much as the pre-29 .44 Magnums.

Think of it .. NOW, .44 magnums are all over the place and newer productions just keep going, and going. Surely no shortage what so ever unless you want some of the pre-29s. Now even the Model 29, 629 ( no dash ) are climbing in value as there are more people that want them then there were made. 29-1 are scarce for short production numbers but 29-2s are plentiful and up till about 5 years ago, was tough to sell a NIB 29-2 (in the wood box) for more than $700. Now, depending on barrel length and finish, go for an average of $1200 and I see some sell even higher. A beat 8" nickel 29-2 sold at the last Lakeland show for $1100 (no box just a beat gun). The purchased came to my table with it to brag on what a great deal he just got on a beat 29-2. I'm lost there.

It is only recently the vintage .44 Special revolvers have a resurgence in popularity for all the correct reasons.

In the coming years, watch the vintage .44 Specials and the .41 Magnums are going to be rediscovered. Both are fantastic rounds and high quality revovlers yet all were overstepped by the dirty Harry .44 Magnum in years past.

Get 'em while you can still afford 'em, I think.