44 magnum VS 44 special

44 magnum VS 44 special

  • 44 magnum

    Votes: 34 37.4%

  • 44 special

    Votes: 57 62.6%
  • Total voters
    91
  • Poll closed .
Out of the only .44 i have ever shot, which was a 4" barreled .44, I would probably want to carry .44 specials in it unless I did hand loading.

For personal defense/home protection. If I loaded by hand I would want light .44 magnum loads, but as strong as I could comfortably shoot them. The factory .44 ammo I shot was just too much for me. It isn't so much that I am scared to shoot it, but I feel like I could put 6 .44 specials Into a target before I could put a couple .44 magnums into a target accurately. I feel like I would be deaf if I shot a .44 magnum inside a house, .44 special would be loud but not nearly as bad.

If I were to go deer hunting with a .44 magnum, which is probably the only real reason I would ever want one. I would be hunting with .44 magnum.
 
My S&W Model 29-5 is for self defense. If I ever have to use it it outside of a gun range will be shoot to kill. I have Federal 240 grain Hydra-Shok JHP MAGNUM rounds available

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Try a "double tap", with a .44 Magnum and it becomes apparent why the .44 Special is better suited for the role of self-defense.
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Actually my splits are so close they are not worth worrying about. I was shooting 240 grain LSWC's over 10 grain of TG.
 
My 4" S&W 629 does double duty as a nightstand gun and cold weather CCW and stays loaded with Remington factory .44 Magnum 240gr SJHP. Back when I had guns chambered for .44 Special only, they were loaded with either Winchester factory 200gr Silvertip or Federal factory 200gr LSWCHP, but if I ever get another .44 Spl-only revolver I'll probably go with Blazer 200gr Gold Dots, Cor-Bon 200gr DPX, or Hornady 165gr Critical Defense.
 
Both. Bedside is 44 S&W Mt gun loaded with Rem 180 sjhp at 1250 fps.

sometimes carry is 44 special with speer 200 gdhp at 850 fps from taurus ul.

Alternatives is 3 in 44 special with 200 gd at 900 fps, or 180 xtp at 1000 fps, or 44 mag 200 gdhp at 1070 fps.
 
.44 Special, 4 5/8" Ruger FT BH with 215 gr LSWC @ appx 100 FPS. That's my "do all" load, HD, SD, varmint, vermin, small game, tin cans and anything else that needs shootin'. When intentionally pursuing deer, pigs, etc I carry a 240 gr Keith @ appx 1000 FPS. Wouldn't be afraid to wind up a 240 gr slug to just short of 1200 FPS in that gun if the need ever arose. (I recently read that 240 @ 1200 was Uncle Elmers original intention for the .44 Mag, can anyone confirm that?)

Had a Taurus .44 Spl, 4 inch brl w/ adjustable sights. Very nice gun, should have never traded it.

Have taken a lot of deer with the Mag, but have come to realize that for anything around here it just ain't needed. Might as well have a trimmer , handier gun and use it more.
 
.44 Special, 4 5/8" Ruger FT BH with 215 gr LSWC @ appx 100 FPS.
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My o' BB gun did better than 100fps ;) . You probably meant 1000fps! The o' Skeeter load does it for me with 240g SWCs.
 
It's tough to beat the old Skeeter load for general purpose use!


I recently read that 240 @ 1200 was Uncle Elmers original intention for the .44 Mag, can anyone confirm that?
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All Keith really wanted was for them to legitimize his 1200fps .44Spl load. What we got was the .44Mag and nearly 1500fps.
 
44 spl self defense load

In my Ruger flat top, I use a Starline case, WLP, 12.5 gr. of Blue Dot, with a Hornady 200 gr. xtp.
USMC Vet
 
Following the advice of the CC Instructors I don't use my reloads. My Mountain Gun (One of the first 3000 made in the 1980s) is loaded with 4 Winchester 210 grain Silvertips first and the last two are Black Talons. I have a set of Crimson Trace grips on it that work extremely well. It fits in my jeans, coat pocket, in the truck and on the night stand.
 
My o' BB gun did better than 100fps . You probably meant 1000fps!
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I give 'er a couple extra pumps afore I go huntin. ;)


All Keith really wanted was for them to legitimize his 1200fps .44Spl load. What we got was the .44Mag and nearly 1500fps.
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Thanks newfrontier45. I really gotta get them books.
 
Couldn't answer because it depends. In house I like 44 spcl and outside the house I like 44 mag both using LSWC Kieth style bullets.

Normal carry gun is .357 and same thing applies. In house as my night stand gun it is 38 spcl and for outside duty it is .357 both using 158 gr LSWC bullets.
 
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