Finally Found a that Special 44

th
This revolver shoots 44 special, is compact, made by Rossi and currently available.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518736
 
hmmm... I'm not good with their model numbers... 396 I think... & yes, they've been discontinued for several years...

they did a remake ( kinda ) with the Nite Guard
 
hmmm... I'm not good with their model numbers... 396 I think... & yes, they've been discontinued for several years...
Click to expand...

That number shows up as the nightguard. Was the airlight a K or L Frame, or was it an N Frame ... i.e., was it smaller than the 329PD .44mag?
 
it's a 5 shot L frame...

here's one ( a non nite guard ) for many times what I paid for mine...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=465763284

I'm not sure if this is newer ( I suspect it is ) or older, but some of the stamping is different, & mine does not wear the bullet weight warning on the other side of the barrel... this one looks to have the lock removed, with a plug added, mine still has the lock... I should get around to doing the same, & removing it & adding a plug, as I do like to carry mine... it's super light weight to carry
 
Last edited:
Looks like a winner to me ... I'm surprised they discontinued it. It looks a lot like my 360sc .357mag scandium/titanium gun, only scaled up (a good bit) to accommodate the larger diameter rounds.
 
I'm guessing it has very limited life, with the paper thin forcing cone... I should buy a stainless ( 696??? ) for range practice, so I can limit the light weight to cylinder full every so often...

I was also able to find a custom machined billet speed loader for it... with the Gold Dots pictured, I never feel under gunned with that on my belt...
 
It is a very fun caliber to shoot. :)

720's don't show up very often, but you will see them every once in a while on Gunbroker. I paid around $350. I think they're usually more than that, maybe more like $400-$450.

I think the magnums were a special run, maybe for Academy. Apparently quite a few people had problems with them.
 
Last edited:
FWIW, I have fired the new S&W mod. 69 and find it to be a wonderful revolver. Only a 5 Shot, due to the smaller frame (L-Frame) however that's what makes it such a great size and easier to carry.

Loaded with 44special, it is easy to handle, accurate, great trigger...mI can't recommend it enough. If you're looking for a brand new gun.... I say go for it.

Good luck with whatever you decide!
 
I was also able to find a custom machined billet speed loader for it...
Click to expand...

Where did you find it? I've bought several speedloaders, and they don't do a very good job of holding the rounds parallel.

I've had a M69 since last spring, and like it a LOT ... I carry it (in an under-the-shirt shoulder holster) when the bears are awake ... otherwise, my 10mm Kimber 1911.
 
I bought it at the annual shooters round up at Ahlmans in Morristown MN...

I think Acme ammo had a display of CNC machined billet "stuff" they had some speed loaders there, & happened to have a 5 shot 44, that fit my gun nice ( I should have bought 2 or 3 )

I think this is the one... but I'm not 100% as they don't list the guns it fits on the website, when I click just the speed loader... however when you click one of the others ( blocks plus speed loaders ) it does list the models they fit, including the Charter Arms, the S&W, & the Judge

http://www.acmebullet.com/gun-maintanance/44-45-Colt-Speed-loaders-reloading/J5-44/45-Speed-Loader-reloading-5-Star-Firearms
 
Last edited:
The second speedloader I bought for my Model 69 is the .44/.45 one listed on that website. I think the problem with those (and with the more common HKS .44 speedloader) is that the holes are made wide in order to allow them to be used with .45's, and that allows the excess "wiggle-room" that causes the cartridges to not be held parallel to each other. At first, I thought that the ".44mag" one on that webpage would perhaps have smaller holes (and maybe it does), but it is a 6-shot.
 
I can see that... I'm the same way with shell holders... often the makers will make them ( or label them ) for several calibers, & I hate when they are sloppy on the base of the case...

I haven't noticed any issues with slower feeding or ??? with the 396... but agree that a tighter fit would be nice...
 
I haven't noticed any issues with slower feeding or ??? with the 396... but agree that a tighter fit would be nice...
Click to expand...

What happens on mine, is that if I try to "stab" the holes when the gun is held approximately vertically, the bullets are in a smaller circle than the holes in the cylinder (the cartridges are all angled inward). I can lessen the problem a bit by holding the gun just a bit below horizontal. The bullets still don't line up with the holes, but it's slightly better, and I can "giggle" the speedloader and get them in OK, just not as fast as I'd like. The HKS speedloader for .38sp/.357 that I use for my 360sc holds the cartridges almost perfectly aligned with the holes, and it is much faster (and I think the reason that the .38sp/.357 loader is tighter is that they're not trying to make it accommodate anything larger).
 
I don't really notice mine as being uncomfortable to shoot... ( to me it's no worse than normal 357 magnums out of a steel J frame snubbie )... it only gets shot on a limited basis, because of the thin forcing cone, & my worry that it likely can't handle as many rounds as a "heavier" gun... because of this, I mostly shoot the Gold Dots through it, which are lighter weight, than my other 44 Special rounds ( & way more expensive :o ) if I was sure I'd get as many rounds out of it, as I would a heavier gun, I'd be shooting mine all the time, with cheaper practice ammo :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top