.44 Special Ammo

D

Dalpatine

New member
I have been looking around the local gun shops in the area where I live and I can't seem to find an .44 Special ammo. I am going to buy some online but would like some insight into which brand and type of .44 special ammo you all suggest based on how clean it is, and how it shoots. I will be shooting it from a .629 so let me know what you suggest. Thanks!
 
.44 Special ammo isn't particularly common simply because the round isn't that popular.

The variety is limited, and it generally tends to be darned pricey.

Your best bet, if you wish to shoot more than a few boxes, is to reload for it.

If you don't want to get into that, consider CCI Blazer's hollow point ammo. It's exceptionally accurate out of my Model 24-3.
 
On the lower-cost end, I like the Bitterroot Valley 240 gr. JHP's rated at 810 fps which I got delivered from cheaperthandirt.com... 100% reliable and consistent so far. On the higher-cost end, I also shoot Hornady 180 gr. XTP's rated at 1000 fps which come from my LGS.
 
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+1 on the CCI Blazer. Relatively inexpensive, accurate from my Charter Bulldog Pug---original charter arms, and the hollow point works. On the down side, it has an aluminum case so it is not reloadable.
 
If people see 44 spl ammo they should buy a box or two. It will help demonstrate to store owners and ammo manufacturers that there's a demand for it, and everybody wins.
 
The round is gaining/has gained new popularity and respectibility...but it's a slow and sometimes painful process to change establisjed retail biases, and they need support in the way of a shove. I've been in a local store in Phoenix when two other gents in front of me have asked (with a "no" response) just as I was about to do the same. Admittedly a random sampling that may have not been representative of that store's typical day or hour, but I would think indicative of something (requests wise).
In the meantime, other than what the gent said about reloading, www.georgia-arms.com is real good warm-but-not-too-hot in LRNFP (if I recall construction correctly) and JHP--both 200 gr, using new brass - also IIRC (I haven't bought in awhile) - and even after shipping about what would expect to pay for reasonably-priced large bore off the shelf.

+1 - buy some locally occasionally when you do find it--even if not exactly what you wanted--to give it that support, as one poster suggested. Great round that deserves more retail (and buying/shooting public) respect. Can't be beat as a revolver SD and general trompin' round.
 
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For the price of about 6 boxes of factory 44 you can get one of these.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=525658

For the price of 2 boxes of factory 44 you can get 500 of these.

http://www.pennbullets.com/44/44200rnfpbb.html

Some powder like Win 231 and primers and empty cases and you won’t be going to the over price stores that never carry what you need.
I do believe in supporting gun stores but when I see a box of 25 factory 44 special carry rounds (don’t remember what they were) selling for 28$ these same gun stores can kiss,,,,, well you know.
 
Ozzie, as a long time RL-550B owner (yes, I've drunk the blue kool-aide) I totally agree with the intent of your post.

EXCEPT:

I'd still like to hear what people use and like in factory ammo since that is what I plan to use for defense loads in my S&W 329PD.

Thanks,
 
I have a box or two of Winchester .44 Spl Silvertip hollowpoints around here that I would/could use if I wanted/needed to. Personally, I have always liked the Silvertip ammo since my .38 spl snubby would NOT send 148 gr hollow-base Winchester factory wadcutters through some heavy corregated sheet metal I was shooting at from about 7 yards away, but my old .380 AMT Backup using the 90 gr Winchester Silvertips easily punched a big hole through the same material from the same distance. That was pretty good evidence to me that Silvertip ammo would likely do some good penetrating. Unfortunately, I believe that ammo is no longer manufactured. Cheaper than Dirt says it's no longer available, and MidwayUSA says it's out of stock and no more is expected to be shipped. I'm glad I bought at least a couple boxes or so.
 
Uses; .44spl rounds...

Here is yet another member post with only part of the information.
It would help to know the intended use(s) of the .44 ammunition.
Is it defense? Target use? Carry? Etc...
Good .44spl factory loads, in my opinion, include Buffalo Bore, Speer Gold Dot, Corbon & PMC-Starfire.
The 200gr JHP is a great carry round. The Glaser Safety Slug or the Magsafe load could work very well for home protection.
The Starfire round is highly rated but I'm not sure if it's still for sale. Some retail websites may have it.

Take care & stay safe;
Clyde
www.shopcorbon.com www.natchezss.com
 
+1 on the CCI Blazer. Relatively inexpensive, accurate from my Charter Bulldog Pug---original charter arms, and the hollow point works. On the down side, it has an aluminum case so it is not reloadable.
Click to expand...

Is the CCI Blazer good for self-defense or is it a training-round only?

thanks,
 
For range ammo, I've used Magtech 240grn LFP, Winchester 246grn LRN, and Winchester "Cowboy Action" 240grn LFP with satisfaction. As far as self-defense ammo in .44 Special, I like Federal 200grn LSWCHP, Winchester 200grn Silver Tips, and Speer Gold Dots (either the brass-cased Speer stuff or the aluminum-cased Blazer). As was said before, if you want to do a lot of shooting with .44 Special for anything less than a small fortune, you really need to look into handloading.
 
That would depend on if you had a target or a bad guy in front of you...
Click to expand...

Where's the dang gum "smart a$$ ignore button???? :D


It is good for both!!!

And yes I do reload. Too many kids so have to keep the cost down.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I'll reload to, but in .44 mag, but not for defense. I plan to use factory .44 special for that. .44 mag will be for practice (downloaded) and for hogs (uploaded).

Thanks,
 
Winchester .44 Spl Silvertip is the only thing I carry. From S&W 21, 24 and 29a Bulldog and a Taurus 445.
Back in the 80’s a good friend that was one of the Indiana state poliece ballistic techs tested Silvertips out of my Charter arms bulldog. Fired them through winter clothing and into water.
He fired 10 rounds and every one opened to more than 0.75 inches and weight retention was well over >90%. Expansion was most impressive.
Here are photos of them


http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229398&highlight=44+silvertips

An article on Corbon .44 Special 200-gr. DPX


http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 44 Special DPX Report.htm
 
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