concealed .44 special

T

texas07

New member
So everytime I go to the gunshop I leave with a new itch in my britches...
This time its for a .44 special. Those of you who concealed carry one of these fellas, spare me no details please.
Let's here about your gun, the load you choose, how you carry, how you like it....gimme all the gory stuff.

Thanks
 
I carried a Charter .44s back in the late '70s. The problem was spare ammo. I really wish there were speed strips in .44. Speed loaders are bulky, loose ammo is a no no. The best compromise for me was the "ammo wallet". Not fast but ammo was always there. My loads of choice were the SilverTip followed by Glasers. They still are for the Charters. I set up the cylinder with the first 2 shots as Glasers followed by the STs. The holster setup was an Alessi Hideout IWB under a stiff generic 1.5" belt.
 
296

S&W 296 carried crossdraw in a Hume JIT, under a flowered shirt worn open, or with bottom buton buttoned.

PS--this backs up a 45 Commander carried IWB.

Perfect driving position for a right hander.
 
Not a dedicated special, but a shortened 44 mag redhawk:
http://www.imageseek.com/hbeleather/gallery/customer/Black44

This gun and rig was custom made for a buddy of mine, and it shoots well. As far as ammo goes, he usually carries a 44 special load from the hunting shack that runs a 245 kieth type semi wadcutter load around 950fps(He lives out in the sticks). But when going into town it's stoked with a handloaded speer 210 grain half-jacket hollow points running around 1000fps.
 
Casual carry. Drop gun into pocket when going out at nite. Baggy shorts and loose shirt or T-shirt. First up is RCDS speciality ammo. the next 4 are 200 gr wadcutters. Since this is from a Taurus snubby I'm not sure common HP ammo is going to do much for me - thus the wadcutters.

In a non-CCW state, holsters make me nervous that there will be intent implied.
 
If you can find one - a Rossi 720 .44 special. Comes with a 3" barrel and carries 5 of the big ones. Good little gun and you can find them used for less than $300.

Disappears in a cheap IWB holster under a shirt.

CANIS
 
I carried a Charter .44s back in the late '70s. The problem was spare ammo. I really wish there were speed strips in .44. Speed loaders are bulky, loose ammo is a no no. The best compromise for me was the "ammo wallet".
Click to expand...

Yep, yep! I had this identical setup... a Bulldog and an Ammo Wallet. The ammo wallet was just too... clunky and awkward for me, though. The Bulldog itself is a heck of a piece, though. I got mine pretty much when they first came out and it was considered a real thumper. Only ammo available was lead round nose... no biggie, though. A 250 grain, .44 cal lead slug at 750 fps is a fairly serious proposition.

I carried it in an inexpensive Bianchi IWB holster. I still have that revolver, and still have a warm spot in my heart for it. Very reliable and shockingly accurate. Recoil is stiff but by no means overwhelming.

Big bores make me all warm and fuzzy inside. Hope this helped!

StrikeEagle
 
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CA Bulldog. 180g lead WC's. Spare 240g SWC's in a speedloader. Pocket, bellyband.

I remember someone describing homemade speedstrips for it. An old piece of gardenhose with tire innertube epoxyed to it. Holes in innertube cut by a sharpened 44 case (inside chamfered till sharp) and tapped through the rubber. Just slip the rims into the rubber holes. I think I'll try that.
 
S&W 296 in a Wilderness Safepacker. One speedloader. Gun and speedloader both have the Corbon .44 Special load in them. Been carrying it just that way for a couple of years now. Did put some bigger wood grips on the 296 which helped with control.

I do have two of the Rossi 720's as well. Much heavier than a 296 but nice little guns. I got both variations, one with adjustable sights and the other with fixed and DAO.

Gregg
 
I am amazed at the bulldog comments

There are so many negative comments on the bulldogs unless you hear the comments from people that own them (myself included, have had two) then there very positive.
I carry nothing but silvertips, A state poliece balistic tech borrwd mine when the gun came out and tested silver tips, got a little over 850fps out of the charter and every one when fired through heavy cloth into water opened up, the minimum diameter was .73 inch.
For a cheep gun he was impressed, enough to carry one as a back up.
I carry mine in a cheep soft leather in the pants holster, for get who made it but origional was made for a colt, over time has streched to fit very well.
Unless you think that I am cheep and thats the reasion I carry a charter. I also have several Kimbers and glocks, but for size and punch the charter and 44sp is very hard to beat.
 
If you can find one - a Rossi 720 .44 special. Comes with a 3" barrel and carries 5 of the big ones. Good little gun and you can find them used for less than $300.
Click to expand...

Found one in a local shop. He had it displayed in with the Jennings and Ravens.

$225 plus tax. DA is crisp and the SA is a VERY light. If you cock the hammer on it you had better mean to fire it. Or have a place you can ease the hammer back.
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Taurus 445. I have a two-inch blue, and it's a very nice gun. The cheapest ammo around here is the CCI Blazer 200gr GDHP from Academy Sports, for around $13/50. With this round, it's a peppy little blaster. If your trousers are loose, it can be carried in the front pocket; you will need a good belt, though.

Sadly, they are not in production. There should still be some around, though.
 
My cousin carried a CA bulldog as backup, while he was a Deputy Sheriff,
Once in a while on rural patrols they would encounter skunks crossing the road.
For those of you who do not know, skunks are tough little buggers and could soak up .38s, and keep motoring.
His partners were amazed at the .44, it would stop them in their tracks, with one hit.
 
mdl 24 smith

I carry a N frame mdl 24 w/3" barrel, stoked with buffalo bore loads. key word is carry, not practice. I can carry it on my hip, or where ever I choose, and it disapears. I have owned older Charters, and their not bad. but when you carry a smith with custom grips, and good loads, you are very close to Nirvana. 'nuff said.
 
Smith & Wesson all the way ...

a 624 3-incher in S&W pancake or a 696 carried "Mexican" IWB, both with Cor-Bombs. :rolleyes:
 
ive got a 696 and its a real sweet carry gun i just picked up one of the rossi copys too and well its not as accurate its been a real reliable gun ive probably got 1000 rounds through it and its never missed a beat and has got a smoother action then the smith.
 
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