Dedicated to the ".44 SPECIAL"

B

BusGunner007

New member
Help me understand exactly what makes the .44 Special so "special".
I've seen a lot of .44 Special stuff on the Forum, but not a Topic dedicated to it's "Specialness"... :D
So, tell us about the cartridge and guns and WHY you'd choose them over something else!

What's the reason for having the .44 instead of a .357 with 6-shots? or a smaller .357 with 5-shots?
If you carry a bigger revolver, why not the .44 Magnum with 6-shots?
:)
 
Elmer Kieth's .44 Special loads are pretty slick. That being said, I think the .44 Special is much better for Self Defence than the .44 magnum. Even if the only reason for that is the ammount of control on the magnum.
 
Not all 44 Specials are "special". Only SMITH & WESSON wheelguns in that caliber are special. It's their very own big bore chambering. :)
 
So many people today have magnumitis and most of the time it's really not needed. They punish themselves shooting the magnums with loads that are getting more powerful and platforms that are getting smaller and lighter. The "Specials" (both the .38 and the .44) will get most of the same jobs done with less stress on the platforms and the shooters.
Why carry a .44sp over a .357mag? Just like the .45acp, a big slow bullet can also do considerable damage. As they say, "if you don't know what I'm talking about then I can't explain it". Give one a try one day and see for yourself.
 
Another advantage of "big bores" like the .44 Special is that they don't need bullets that expand. Usually it isn't moving fast enough to reliably expand a JHP, however a semi-wadcutter can do enormous damage by making large holes.
 
But to answer the Q. I have no answer. It's the same feeling of elation one gets when shooting 45LC. Something about launching big, heavy bullets from tall, fat cases.

Can you spot the 44 Special in this picture?

274061.JPG
 
I think what keeps people away from specials is that they cost more than the .44 mags, even the brass costs more.
 
I have (4) .44's. Alright, one of them is a 44-40. The other three are all .44 magnums. Ninety nine percent of what passes through them is .44 spec. Quantrill
 
The .44 Special is considered by most everyone to be a reliable manstopper in the self defense category with standard loads, and can be bumped up to a deer hunting round in a strong revolver.

Here is an article on the Charter Arms Bulldog, which is one of the revolvers currently chambered for the .44 Special. The Charter Arms offering is "scaled" to close to .38 Special size, with a cartridge giving performance matching or exceeding a .45 ACP or .357. Begin Flames now:-)

http://www.gunblast.com/Bulldog_Pug.htm

My father was a big fan of Colt Single Actions in .44 Specials, owning several.
 
Special because

1. They are kinda rare. It's S & W's bastard child and there aren't many guns actually chambered for it.
2. Accurate.
3. Effective self defence round. Big heavy bullet at moderate velocity.
4. Capable of magnum performance. Keith did all the legwork for the intro of the .44 mag using a 250 gr semi wadcutter and lots of 2400 powder.
5. Dimensionally friendly to compact revolver frames.

I've wanted one for years, but haven't taken the plunge. Kalifornia's assinine drop safety test derailed my attempts to get a Taurus 455 two years ago.
Still kicking myself for not buying a 624 in 1988 when I had a chance.
 
I have 2 N frame smiths a charter buldog,

For me its the purfect round, plenty of power, good sized bullets and easy to controle in an N frame.
The Charter does let you know when it go's off, but its more of a punch than a kick like a small mag.
I do dissagree with one thread that said that hollow points dont work very well.
I purchased one of the frist bull dogs back in the early 80 and have a very good friend thats on the indiana state poliece force. He is there balistic expert. About the same time Winchester Silver tips came out and he ask me if he could borrow the gun to get some fired rounds. I said ok as long as he would give me some and give me his comments.
He fired 20 rounds in to there water tank and I still have the 5 fired bullets he gave me.
A 44 bullet is .429 inches in dia. The smallest opened up to .64 inches and the largest was .76 inches. What impressed him most at the time was that it diddnt matter what was between the gun and the water they seemd to work reliabily each and every time.
He shot several through a piece of leather coat with a heavy sweater and blue jean materal and they all worked well. He also said that some 9mm bullets going through the same ammount of crap would fill up with cloth and do nothing more than a hard ball would.
Winchester Silver tips is what I carry in all 44 sp and mags i own.
 
My Charter Arms Bulldog has those special bullets that will work in my 44 Mags, but I cant accidently slip a magnum into the Bulldog.

Nobody asks for any of my 44 special brass.

People give me their 44 special brass, all once fired for some reason. :cool:

If I want 38/357 performance I can download.

And...

The Charter Arms offering is "scaled" to close to .38 Special size, with a cartridge giving performance matching or exceeding a .45 ACP or .357. Begin Flames now:-)
Click to expand...

It carries like a J frame, hits like an O frame.

Whats not special about that? :D
 
I love my .44 Special!!!!

I own a stainless Rossi Model 720 .44 Special - 5 shot.

The reasons I like it:

1) It carries well on my belt in a high rise holster designed for a .38 special.
2) The controlability of the round when firing it.
3) At 3inches of barrel it is very concealable.
4) Looking at the business end of a .44 hollow point through a .44 special barrel would make me run!
5) I only need 1 round to do the job correctly. The other 4 are if he has friends.
6) And finally, It's a .44 Special thing...You would not understand.

RW3
 
I'm glad I asked about this.
My FIRST gun was a Charter Arms Undercover Bulldog 3" blued .38 Special
( it says all of that on the box! ).
My Mom gave it to me. I still have it.
I foolishly tried to take it apart after reading an article in a 'gunzine' and sent it back to Charter Arms. They put it back together, test fired it, and sent a couple of pistol rugs, stickers, etc. Nice people.
It's always worked and has never fallen apart or bound up.

When I had my FFL, I took in a Ruger SP-101 .357 in trade for a Charter Arms .44 Bulldog Pug. The guy wanted a bigger bullet for his 'fishin' pistol'.
Good trade, IMO.
I eventually got rid of the Ruger by giving it away as a birthday present for a buddy of mine. :D
I replaced the SP with a Security-Six snubnose.

Maybe someday I'll add to the revolver collection by giving the .38 a companion in a .44 Bulldog.
At least I have some great answers to my questions, and I have some research to do on the internet for a Charter Arms .44 Bulldog.
:)
 
For SD purposes, the .44 Mag is too powerful. While there may be merit in a large exit wound, the fact is that energy is wasted, and there is the risk of injury to persons beyond the target. For hunting or defence against BIG, toothy critters, the Maggie is prime, though.

With the Magnum, there is also the problem of control. Unless the gun is heavy or the shooter fairly strong, followup shots are relatively show. This is why many carry Specials in their Magnum guns. The kick also makes the Magnum unpleasant to shoot for many.

I have a Taurus 445, 2" blue. For a good thump in a compact package, it's great. Also, I can carry a much larger shot load than with the .38/.357.
 
Think of it as a .38 Special on steriods. :rolleyes: Controlable, reliable stopping power that makes a real big hole! :D Not to mention that its incredibly accurate and down right fun to shoot without beating the crap out of you.
I have to agree with SnWnMe, The .44 Special is at its best in its original home. The S&W N-frame. ;)
 
240 grain SWC hognose,8 grains of Unique in N frames. Approx.1150 fps. Same bullet, 7.0 grains Unique in Charter or Taurus. Approx 1000fps. Puts them down and in the ground. Safe in my weapons. BEWARE- May not be safe in your weapons!
 
I bought a S&W M696 when they first came out. For some reason they weren't very popular. Now I read many posts where people want them. Mine isn't going anywhere. I like it very much, thank you.

I would love to see Smith & Wesson make a 5" L-Frame without all the bling-bling. Have no doubt it would sell very well. Even better would be to bring back the Model 24. Forget nostalgia, the .44 Special is a great cartridge!
 
Unfortunately the 44 Special was always underloaded to about 750 fps but even at that it's fairly effective. When you load it to 900-1000 fps with a SWC or SWCHP it really becomes a performer. Get some woodchucks and try it out !!
 
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