44 Spl in Short Barrel?

I have a 696 no dash, thank God. I load a 200 gr LRNFP over 8.0 gr Unique in Starline cases and cci primers. Very stout load but will do anything I need getting done in the field. Very accurate as well and well within safe limits according to the Speer Manual #13 and my own testing.

For defense, I second the 200gr Gold Dot...perfect SD round.

I don't see a need to go with the 240gr slugs.

I'm also experimenting with W231...should burn cleaner than Unique and provide some easier shooting range loads.
 
I like the heavy bullet with 6.5 Unique for a standard load in my light snub. Corbons in the heavier duty pieces.

ca44chop.jpg
 
Several have mentioned shooting .44Spl out of magnums. This versatility is what keeps killing .44spl-only revolvers. I fully agree with DFrame, but overall, there just isn't much of a market for the lighter gun. Also, most people (including casual shooters) equate .44 with MAGNUM!, so the gentler Special just doesn't get the respect and attention. This also means less, more expensive Spl ammo. If you're going to shoot a Spl revolver a lot, you will have to reload.

I have a Taurus 445 and I am not letting it go!
 
The nice thing about the Charter guns is the light weight and small size. I have some snub .44 magnums and they are still BIG guns to carry and conceal. Now that Charter is making the little revolvers in semi-auto cartridge sizes (like the .40 S&W Pitbull), I think they may see their sales increase. Supposedly 9MM and .45ACP are on the way.:cool:
 
I recall Skeeter Skelton's review of the Charter Arms Bulldog when it was introduced, he said his standard 44 Special load of a 240 grain SWC over 7.5 grains of Unique was too powerful, recoil too severe.
 
I got a S&W 296 ti recently. Its the second one I have owned. Its a alloy frame L Frame with titanium cylinder and has an enclosed hammer with a humped back that looks rather like a Bodyguard. The barrel is shrouded and is 2.5" in length. Its an odd duck and wasn't a commercial success. Its not pleasant to shoot with wood grips but I have a grip frome a S&W 500 that will work and reduces the pain for range shooting. I have been carrying it it with Hornady Critical Defense ammo and it shoots this load pretty well and recoil isn't problematic. I use it for carry when hiking or biking in the mountains. I consider it to be a useful defensive arm for two and four legged pests if needed. I too need to find a holster that holds it securely during rigorous activity but also conceals it when in town. I have seen a Simply Rugged pancake type holster that looks promising. It is a good bit lighter than the 696 and that matters in a "carry a lot" revolver and I shoot it better than I do with an old CA Bulldog I have had many years...
 
me too

I shot an early Charter .44 Bulldog, the 3" fixed sight model, to ruin by using loads to heavy for the set up. Lost the records, but it was w/ 250 gr Keith bullet and a modest charge of Unique. Not high pressure, but too stout for the platform.

Count me in line for something like a 5-shot K frame in .44 Spl., or the SP series. Seems like I saw and read about custom smiths building 5 shot .44 spl out of Ruger Security -6 frames, but nothing since. The L-frame .44 spl to heavy for my tastes.
 
This is my 445, bought in the mid-'00s. I suppose you could call it 'Late 1st Gen', since it is from the end of the first production run:
th_004-2.jpg

Note the different cylinder latch, roll-mark and barrel shape (compared to Rampant Colt's)
 
Last edited:
The 44 special and 41 magnum Skorpions will also be numbered starting at #001. It will be priced at $1995 on your base gun.
ack2.gif


No need to use Cor-Bons. The .44 Special is more than adequate using 200 grain Gold Dots. It's known for it's slow and big bullet. Making it go faster doesn't really help things.
 
Rampant Colt, are you talking about the area on your gun just above the grip? I wasn't sure if it was the lighting. I have seen other guns with a 'purple' color due to (I presume) a blueing quirk. I've seen it most often on Rugers.
----
Does anyone have a suggestion for a custom grip maker? I'd like some good wood to go on the 445.
 
My 441 has a very slight plum color to the cylinder. I only notice it in bright sunlight. I had a Ruger 77mkII 30.06 rifle that had a really plum/purple reciever. I think it is a heat treat thing
 
I forgot to mention that Rossi made a 720 that was a 5 shot k frame size gun. They made two versions, one with out a hammer and one with (mine has a hammer) and fluted and unfluter cylinders. Makes a nice light weight gun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top