best non jhp load for self defence in 44 special

agent00,
No hollow points means you're going to be using much the same style of ammunition as David Berkowitz,aka the Son of Sam used 29 years ago.
FWIW, the .44spl (I assume in his case it was the 246 gr round nose lead), had absolutly dismal performace.
13 shot - 6 killed - of the 6 killed (IIRC) only 2 or 3 were instantly put down.
(23%?)
I've brought this up before, and it was poo-pooed as the "Actions of a head case", and dismissed at that. I can't disagree more.
As disgusting as it is,,,it's real life data,,not some labratory - ideal condition - gel test.

Take way decent ammunition style, and the .44spl is little better than a .25 or a .32 or a .38.

Up the velocity and/or use better designed ammunition and it's a different story.
 
IMHO, using a LSWC will give you better performance than standard .45 auto FMJ (hardball). Lots of knowledgeable folks like hardball for SD, so it looks to me like your doing OK. :)

I would not worry about over penetration - it's a factor, but as long as your defending your home, your probably OK. All the homes I lived in and visited in Germany were much better built than American homes.

The old 246 round nose was both slow and had poor bullets (RNL sucks). In any use of a handgun, shot placement is key. IME, handguns are much closer to arrows than they are to rifles - no shock power, just blood loss. Lots of discussion on stopping power in the archives. :)
 
ok, thx again for your answers.

ps: would there be a great difference between semi wadcutter and lead hp rounds in terminal performance
 
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ps: would there be a great difference between semi wadcutter and lead hp rounds in terminal performance
Click to expand...

Depends on what's most important to you. A 200gr LSWC-HP may expand, but it wasn't long on sectional density to begin with. A 255gr LSWC from Buffalo Bore, on the other hand, will punch a .429" hole clean through an assailant, no matter what angle it hits from, but will not expand.
 
Remember to watch what is behind your intended target because a
44 special semiwadcutter has a lot of "Durchgriff". Hope it's winter and they are wearing heavy clothes if you ever have to use it! :eek:
 
thx for your answer. And I hope that I've never to use my gun for sd. But would there also be non jhp load with less risk of overpenetration? What about the effiency of flat nose coboy ammo? would they offer also good results without the risk over overpenetration?
 
Remember to watch what is behind your intended target because a
44 special semiwadcutter has a lot of "Durchgriff". Hope it's winter and they are wearing heavy clothes if you ever have to use it!
Click to expand...

When it is loaded in it's hunting configurations yes, in factory loadings there is not enough velocity.


Agent00,

Keep in mind that Any bullet (JHP or SWC) with enough velocity behind it will go through a person. Pushing a 240 to 250 grain SWC at around 850-900fps will not cause undue concern for overpenetration. If you are a speed junkie and want to pump it up to the 1,100 - 1,200fps range then yes you have to worry about overpenetration. The Buffalo Bore load (255 SWC @ 1000fps) that Tamara pointed out is intended for hunting not SD. While it would suffice, yes overpentration could be a concern. Keep in mind that there are schools of judgement that believe two bleeding holes are better than one. I would push you more toward the loads I pointed out originally that are only going 850 to 900fps with 240 to 250 grain SWC's. Clint Smith, a noted self defense firearms instructor, worked with Black Hills to develop their 250 grain SWC @ 850fps for the Model 21 Thunder Ranch Edition .44 Special pistol. I find it interesting that he would pick a SWC bullet when he has the ability to use any JHP on the market. Many people in today's world feel that SWC bullets are old fashioned and poor performers in a world of high speed hollow point bullets, but when you can't use those hollow points, the old tried and true SWC bullet is truly your best option.

Good luck and have a great day.

.44mag
 
Corbon is planning to bring out a DPX load for the 44 Spl. This is an all-copper hollow point bullet (hence, not JHP) which, at least in the other calibers currently available for testing, has been demonstrated to expand through most media across a wide velocity range. They'll probably be pricey, but might suit your SD needs once they come out.
 
thx for your answers. And penetration power is nothing bad, but its very dagnerous for inconcent bystanders in an sd sutuation. But I think a wadcutter bullet would be good sd bullet. I would only have to watch inocent bystanders. And this dpx bullet sounds interesting.

ps: the main purpose for my gun will by fun target shooting, but somehow I am intersted in handgun hunting too. I asume a semi-wadcutter bullet would be a good hunting and sd load.
 
Agent00,

I think you are on the right track. Let me ask you a few questions if you don’t mind.

Have you decided upon what gun and caliber you wish to get?
Are you going to reload ammunition?
What type of animals will you be hunting?

If you can answer these questions, I can give you some idea what exact loads would suit both your needs. Thanks.

.44mag
 
I will buy an smith&wesson model 396 in 44 special, but I would be also intersted in an 44 magnum revolver, but I am a newie in bog bore sixguns. I have only experience in using an 9 mm semi-auto pistol.

And yes, I would be intersted in learning reloading. And I would like to hunt deer.
 
Agent00,

If your only interest was to carry concealed then the 396 would not be a bad choice. But with hunting, a 3 1/8" barrel in .44 Special would not be preferable. A 4" gun is a good comprimise between concealed carry, target shooting, and hunting. I would steer you towards a .44 Magnum so that you can shoot .44 Specials or .44 Magnums. This will allow you the choice when carrying for defense to use the less powerful .44 Specials. Smith and Wesson sells a few pistols I would point you towards. I have listed them below with personal experience from each.

329PD - SKU: 163414
4" Scandium .44 Magnum
This is a very light weight gun for .44 magnum with heavy recoil from even the lightest .44 magnum loads and hard to control by a novice big bore shooter.

629 - SKU: 163603
4" Stainless or Blued .44 Magnum
Very reliable, will allow you to shoot the heaviest factory loads without issue. Recoil is managable with all factory loads.

.44 Mountain Gun - No longer made, still available used.
4" Stainless Tapered Barrel (Very Similar to the 396, but slightly larger)
Very reliable, will allow you to shoot heavy factory loads without issue. Recoil is increased as this gun weighs less than the 629.

All three of these pistols are accurate and concealable without too much trouble. Definately not light clothing CCW pistols. You will also be able to shoot .44 special in all three of these pistols for Self Defense.

I gotta run, but will post some loading data later.

.44mag
 
Re. loading data.

I've been handloading the .44 Remington Magnum for close to 3 decades.

What won't fall to 17.5 gr of Hercules (now Alliant) 2400 under a 240 cast lead semi wadcutter, will go down if you bump that charge up to max (~ 22 grains of 2400) using a standard large pistol primer (not magnum primers)

17.5 gr of 2400 is stout (compared to most .44spl loads), but not anywhere near unpleasant.

"On paper" meaning not actually chronoed, that 17.5 gr load should deliver between 900 fps (from a 4" Revolver) to just over 1100 fps (from my 18" Winchester Trapper)
 
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