Crazy88Fingers
New member
BarryLee, you might be interested in a 696. But they're no longer made, as far as I know. And used ones sure ain't cheap.
44 spl guys
- Thread starter coop2564
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g.willikers
New member
There is something quite special about the .44 Special.
'Specially in the accuracy.
'Specially in the accuracy.
If you don't see it, they probably don't make it. The 21-4 I've got was made in the early 2000's I've been told, but they were a limited production run. They did make some non "Thunder Ranch" models, but I have no idea how many.
I don't know that I'd call them "carry guns" really. They're full sized "N" frame guns. The tapered barrel makes them a little lighter than a Model 29 with the same length barrel, but not much. The TR editions at least, came with smooth, round butt grips that were better for carry than the Hogues I've got on mine, but they slipped under recoil in my hand so I took them off.
If you can and want to conceal a full sized "N" frame gun, it's a good choice, but they're big, and heavy (on the plus side, they're six shots). Being big and heavy, they should hold up well. If you try to turn them into a 44 magnum, don't. Go ahead and get a 44 magnum. They are not inexpensive either.
If I wanted a 44 Special for carry, I think I'd try to find a Charter Arms.
I don't know that I'd call them "carry guns" really. They're full sized "N" frame guns. The tapered barrel makes them a little lighter than a Model 29 with the same length barrel, but not much. The TR editions at least, came with smooth, round butt grips that were better for carry than the Hogues I've got on mine, but they slipped under recoil in my hand so I took them off.
If you can and want to conceal a full sized "N" frame gun, it's a good choice, but they're big, and heavy (on the plus side, they're six shots). Being big and heavy, they should hold up well. If you try to turn them into a 44 magnum, don't. Go ahead and get a 44 magnum. They are not inexpensive either.
If I wanted a 44 Special for carry, I think I'd try to find a Charter Arms.
I own half dozen Smith N frames, two Rugers and two snub nose guns in 44 SP. In a large frame like the N it’s like shooting a 38 but you have the energy of a 45 ACP. My one Smith is the most accurate gun that I have ever owned.
But I would say the main reason I am fan of the special is that it’s an extremely easy round to reload and get unbelievable accuracy with. It’s also very easy on the cases, I have some federal that have been reloaded more than 15 times and still hold the primers and shoot very well.
The other reason is that when I got into guns seriously back in the late 70’s I started looking for a small powerful revolver. I found a used beat up Charter arms bulldog. Everyone I shot with had 44 Mags, 45 ACP, 357’s 9mm, but no one carried a 44 special. I always have gone my own way and started my collection of 44’s. At the time no one other than charter made something in the 44 special so I had a gun made. I worked in a gun store at the time and picked up a lightly used S&W 28.
A good friend and very good gun smith turned the 28 into a 44 special. I ended up putting a good sum into building it,,, but if someone right now offered me 2K$ for it I would laugh in their face. I carried that gun daily for over 15 years and have shot over 5000 rounds probably more. It’s what turned me into a 44 special fan,,,, probably NUT would be more accurate.
The attached photos are my two favorite specials, the one is the modified 28 and the other is what my friend calls my “Thunder Chicken”
But I would say the main reason I am fan of the special is that it’s an extremely easy round to reload and get unbelievable accuracy with. It’s also very easy on the cases, I have some federal that have been reloaded more than 15 times and still hold the primers and shoot very well.
The other reason is that when I got into guns seriously back in the late 70’s I started looking for a small powerful revolver. I found a used beat up Charter arms bulldog. Everyone I shot with had 44 Mags, 45 ACP, 357’s 9mm, but no one carried a 44 special. I always have gone my own way and started my collection of 44’s. At the time no one other than charter made something in the 44 special so I had a gun made. I worked in a gun store at the time and picked up a lightly used S&W 28.
A good friend and very good gun smith turned the 28 into a 44 special. I ended up putting a good sum into building it,,, but if someone right now offered me 2K$ for it I would laugh in their face. I carried that gun daily for over 15 years and have shot over 5000 rounds probably more. It’s what turned me into a 44 special fan,,,, probably NUT would be more accurate.
The attached photos are my two favorite specials, the one is the modified 28 and the other is what my friend calls my “Thunder Chicken”
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hellomcfly
Inactive
S&W 624
I have a S&W 624 and it is a lot of fun to shoot. I wish the .44 spl was a more popular and cheaper round. The 624 is accurate and the felt recoil is not bad at all, very comfortable to shoot. Everyone who has tried mine out has been an instant fan. I think it would be a great caliber for anybody who reloads, but it can be pricey if buying factory loads.
I have a S&W 624 and it is a lot of fun to shoot. I wish the .44 spl was a more popular and cheaper round. The 624 is accurate and the felt recoil is not bad at all, very comfortable to shoot. Everyone who has tried mine out has been an instant fan. I think it would be a great caliber for anybody who reloads, but it can be pricey if buying factory loads.
Okay I got the bulldog, shot it today at range. Used blazer and critical defense. Blazer was dead on with sights, hornady was not it was about 3" low. It shot very well with both, I liked the blazer since it was dead on. At 15yds with sights i would miss the 6" circle sometimes, but with laser it was awesome. Don't think I missed the 6" any at 15 and few at 25yds using laser. Gun was flawless and handled well. SA trigger was awesome, DA a little rough and high weight. My pug was same at first but smoothed up in time as I believe this one will. I'm happy with gun and round. I put 120 rds thru it.
Cool! I know I like mine.
I was out shooting my CC Bulldog today for its 'monthly' outing. Was smacking the steel out to 77 yards (no laser here) with 200g bullets. Nice little.44Spec gun. All handloads. Also had my .44Spec New Vaquero Sheriff out today shooting the skeeter load... and of course a .45 Colt revolver was unlimbered as well.
I was out shooting my CC Bulldog today for its 'monthly' outing. Was smacking the steel out to 77 yards (no laser here) with 200g bullets. Nice little.44Spec gun. All handloads. Also had my .44Spec New Vaquero Sheriff out today shooting the skeeter load... and of course a .45 Colt revolver was unlimbered as well.
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I shoot 185 grain Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 Special in my S&W 329PC. The round is about 1150 fps, which is not subsonic, but close. This is about the upper level I am comfortable with shooting this light weight revolver. I reload for equivalent ballistics using 200 grain GDHP bullets and am content. I figure that this combination gives the ballistics of a serious .357 magnum, with a bigger diameter bullet.
TexasJustice7
New member
My CA 44 Spl Bulldog is an older one, with a 3" barrel, which CA does not make any more. It is my primary carry weapon because I can't find any other handgun that packs the power of the 44 Spl in a handgun no bigger except for the cylinder than a J frame. Thats why I like it. Holding only five rounds, I carry 3 speedloaders, and a backup S&W 38 Spl airweight.
I have considered the CA .44spl but all of the new ones I have handled seemed like poorly made Chinese copies 
so I wound up with one of these,
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=21729&d=1166241593
so I wound up with one of these,
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=21729&d=1166241593
Had my M21-4 Thunder Ranch tuned by a good gunsmith to 8.3 lb. Smooth and reliable. Installed XS Standard Dot sights (easily pinned in), and had the rear notch widened, since my eyes aren't as good as they used to be. They make for a fast sight picture in different types of light. Installed CT laser grips
.
I'm not worried about the modifications "detracting" from the gun, the TR logo doesn't bother me, and I don't whine about the dang internal lock.
Gun is very accurate and was well sighted out of the box. So is the XS sight, which is well designed for this gun.
Ammo selection isn't great, but CorBon has had a JHP for some time, and DPX has been available for a while now. DPX is my hands down choice for SD ammo in this caliber and some others, as well.
Nice combat gun, even if I don't carry it. I'm a semi-auto SIG kind of guy, but I still like good revolvers. I even feel a little guilty that it's a bit of a safe queen.
I'm not as good at pics as most of you guys, some of your pics are great and they make me jealous, but I don't worry about that either.
. I'm not worried about the modifications "detracting" from the gun, the TR logo doesn't bother me, and I don't whine about the dang internal lock.
Gun is very accurate and was well sighted out of the box. So is the XS sight, which is well designed for this gun.
Ammo selection isn't great, but CorBon has had a JHP for some time, and DPX has been available for a while now. DPX is my hands down choice for SD ammo in this caliber and some others, as well.
Nice combat gun, even if I don't carry it. I'm a semi-auto SIG kind of guy, but I still like good revolvers. I even feel a little guilty that it's a bit of a safe queen.
I'm not as good at pics as most of you guys, some of your pics are great and they make me jealous, but I don't worry about that either.
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.44 Special is a cartridge that has always interested me and I've owned a couple of guns chambered for it, but unfortunately it just hasn't worked out.
The first .44 Spl I owned was a DAO Taurus 445. I bought the gun to be a compact CC revolver and, while it carried nicely, shooting it was another matter. For one thing, the combination of heavy bullets, 2" barrel, and small grips made controlling the little beast challenging enough that the thumb of my shooting hand would be bleeding after 50 rounds. It wasn't the recoil so much as it was the nasty muzzle flip of 200+gr bullets (by comparison, I can control a Ruger LCR .357 Magnum loaded with Federal 158gr JSP much easier than I could the Taurus 445). The second issue was that the sights were regulated for standard 246gr bullets, but nearly all hollowpoint .44 Spl loadings are 200gr or lighter. That gun was eventually sold in order to finance the purchase of my S&W M66 snub which replaced it in my carry rotation.
The second .44 Spl I owned was a very nice nickel S&W M21-4 (non-TR model). Having given up on the concept of a small .44 Special, I bought this to use with heavy .44 Spl handloads which could approach lighter .44 Magnums while saving the really heavy stuff for my Ruger Redhawk. Two problems with this idea quickly surfaced however: While the gun was more than able to handle my heavy handloads (200gr Hornady XTP over 17.5gr 2400), the 37.5oz weight of it made controlling them another matter. Also, the load which I found the most useful while still being controllable (245gr LSWC over 9.5gr Unique) would not shoot to the sights as this particular revolver had its sights regulated for 200gr bullets since that's the most popular weight for .44 Spl hollowpoints. While I did like the M21 better than the Taurus, it too was eventually sold along with my Ruger Redhawk in order to finance my 629-6 which fits my needs much better.
Even after all of this, I still sometimes yearn for a .44 Special. I'm beginning to think that a medium-frame, all-steel revolver with about a 3" barrel might be the best platform for the cartridge. The S&W 696 fits this description almost perfectly, but unfortunately finding a nice example, much less affording one, is rather problematic for me.
If I came across one at the right price and I happened to have the extra money available, I would be very tempted by a Charter Arms Bulldog or Rossi 720 to use as a "glove box gun". Unfortunately there always seems to be something else which demands my time, attention, and money.
Here's a pic of the M21-4 that I had with a set of Houge Rosewood Laminate grips.
The first .44 Spl I owned was a DAO Taurus 445. I bought the gun to be a compact CC revolver and, while it carried nicely, shooting it was another matter. For one thing, the combination of heavy bullets, 2" barrel, and small grips made controlling the little beast challenging enough that the thumb of my shooting hand would be bleeding after 50 rounds. It wasn't the recoil so much as it was the nasty muzzle flip of 200+gr bullets (by comparison, I can control a Ruger LCR .357 Magnum loaded with Federal 158gr JSP much easier than I could the Taurus 445). The second issue was that the sights were regulated for standard 246gr bullets, but nearly all hollowpoint .44 Spl loadings are 200gr or lighter. That gun was eventually sold in order to finance the purchase of my S&W M66 snub which replaced it in my carry rotation.
The second .44 Spl I owned was a very nice nickel S&W M21-4 (non-TR model). Having given up on the concept of a small .44 Special, I bought this to use with heavy .44 Spl handloads which could approach lighter .44 Magnums while saving the really heavy stuff for my Ruger Redhawk. Two problems with this idea quickly surfaced however: While the gun was more than able to handle my heavy handloads (200gr Hornady XTP over 17.5gr 2400), the 37.5oz weight of it made controlling them another matter. Also, the load which I found the most useful while still being controllable (245gr LSWC over 9.5gr Unique) would not shoot to the sights as this particular revolver had its sights regulated for 200gr bullets since that's the most popular weight for .44 Spl hollowpoints. While I did like the M21 better than the Taurus, it too was eventually sold along with my Ruger Redhawk in order to finance my 629-6 which fits my needs much better.
Even after all of this, I still sometimes yearn for a .44 Special. I'm beginning to think that a medium-frame, all-steel revolver with about a 3" barrel might be the best platform for the cartridge. The S&W 696 fits this description almost perfectly, but unfortunately finding a nice example, much less affording one, is rather problematic for me.
If I came across one at the right price and I happened to have the extra money available, I would be very tempted by a Charter Arms Bulldog or Rossi 720 to use as a "glove box gun". Unfortunately there always seems to be something else which demands my time, attention, and money.
Here's a pic of the M21-4 that I had with a set of Houge Rosewood Laminate grips.
There is a lot of history behind the 44 Special cartridge. When I think of it I just naturally think of Smith & Wesson N-frames. The very first 44 Special was an N-frame...and the first N-frame was a 44 Special.
This is a re-blued 5" 1st Model 44 Hand Ejector, more commonly called the Triple Lock.
About 1915 the British convinced S&W to drop the third lock and the shrouded ejector rod (something for which I will never forgive the Brits) and the 2nd Model 44 Hand Ejector was born...also a 44 Special in case you aren't paying attention.
This 2nd Model has seen a hard life but it still shoots, a good bit better than it looks.
I don't have a 3rd Model, which dates from 1926, but in 1950 S&W changed their N-frames to a shorter action and called them the Model of 1950, although die-hards referred to the new guns as 4th Model Hand Ejectors. This example is either a Model of 1950 44 Target, or a 4th Model 44 Hand Ejector Target. The "target" refers to the adjustable rear sight.
This particular gun was rescued after some home gun smithing. The original barrel was un-salvageable so it was re-barreled with a later barrel that was cut down to 4".
For a brief period in the 1980s S&W brought back the N-frame 44 Special.
This is a Model 24-3 with a 5" barrel. No, it is an original barrel length, rather a 6.5" barreled gun someone cut to 5"
The last of the N-frame 44 Specials was the 624, a stainless version offered in 4" and 6.5" lengths, with Lou Horton adding a 3" round butt. All these were duplicates of the offerings of the earlier mentioned 24-3.
This gun started life as a 4" 624 but for some reason approximately 1/2" was chopped off the barrel, sight ramp and front sight, making it a 3.5" 624. At the same time they cut the butt to a round butt K-frame configuration. Not at all original, it is none the less a delightful 44 Special to wear on the belt for a walk in the mountains or deserts.
I'm still looking for a 3rd Model 44 Hand Ejector and if I ever come across a 696 L-frame I can afford I will add that to the 44 Specials in the safe.
Dave
This is a re-blued 5" 1st Model 44 Hand Ejector, more commonly called the Triple Lock.
About 1915 the British convinced S&W to drop the third lock and the shrouded ejector rod (something for which I will never forgive the Brits) and the 2nd Model 44 Hand Ejector was born...also a 44 Special in case you aren't paying attention.
This 2nd Model has seen a hard life but it still shoots, a good bit better than it looks.
I don't have a 3rd Model, which dates from 1926, but in 1950 S&W changed their N-frames to a shorter action and called them the Model of 1950, although die-hards referred to the new guns as 4th Model Hand Ejectors. This example is either a Model of 1950 44 Target, or a 4th Model 44 Hand Ejector Target. The "target" refers to the adjustable rear sight.
This particular gun was rescued after some home gun smithing. The original barrel was un-salvageable so it was re-barreled with a later barrel that was cut down to 4".
For a brief period in the 1980s S&W brought back the N-frame 44 Special.
This is a Model 24-3 with a 5" barrel. No, it is an original barrel length, rather a 6.5" barreled gun someone cut to 5"
The last of the N-frame 44 Specials was the 624, a stainless version offered in 4" and 6.5" lengths, with Lou Horton adding a 3" round butt. All these were duplicates of the offerings of the earlier mentioned 24-3.
This gun started life as a 4" 624 but for some reason approximately 1/2" was chopped off the barrel, sight ramp and front sight, making it a 3.5" 624. At the same time they cut the butt to a round butt K-frame configuration. Not at all original, it is none the less a delightful 44 Special to wear on the belt for a walk in the mountains or deserts.
I'm still looking for a 3rd Model 44 Hand Ejector and if I ever come across a 696 L-frame I can afford I will add that to the 44 Specials in the safe.
Dave