I don't own a .44 Special handgun,,,

A

aarondhgraham

New member
And I'm suffering from GAS (Gun Acquisition Syndrome) very badly.

A long time ago on a Pacific island far far away,,,
I had a beat-up Charter Arms Bulldog,,,
That old handgun had a big bark.

If any of you good folk have any .44 Special revolvers,,,
Please post a pic and description of your gun(s).

I'ld like to get some ideas for what my next acquisition could be.

Thanks people,,,

Aarond
 
I don't currently own any .44 Special-only guns (just a .44 Magnum) but this is the last one I did own:

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S&W Model 21-4

I have something of a love-hate relationship with the .44 Special. I love the cartridge, I really do, but I'm not so fond of the packages that it comes in. My first .44 was a Taurus 445 snubby. While the gun worked well enough, it was DAO (which I wasn't particularly wild about) and had absolutely horrendous muzzle flip with anything but the lightest of handloads. It was sold to help finance my S&W M66.

The M21 was a much more pleasant gun to shoot, but I never could get past the gun being as large and heavy as it was without being able to shoot .44 Magnums. That gun was sold and part of the money put towards my S&W 629.

Based on past experience, I think that a S&W 696 might be the .44 Special I'd most like, but they are neither common nor cheap. If I happened to find a good deal on a Charter Arms Bulldog or Rossi 720, I might pick it up to use as a glovebox gun.
 
1926 S&W 3rd model. It was probably closer to 95% when I got it but it was made to be used not sit in a safe never to see the light of day or feel the heat of combustion. I hope you serious collectors are pizzin yourselves right about now.:D:D

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1926 S&W 3rd model. It was probably closer to 95% when I got it but it was made to be used not sit in a safe never to see the light of day or feel the heat of combustion. I hope you serious collectors are pizzin yourselves right about now.
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There's absolutely nothing wrong with shooting a gun like that. While I wouldn't try to run Kieth loads through it or use it for a regular IDPA gun, an occasional range trip isn't going to hurt it. As I've said many times before, the only reason I would refrain from shooting any gun I might own would be if the gun were unsafe to fire (in which case I'd be disinclined to continue owning it).
 
G.A.S. is RAMPANT!

Local shop has original Charter for $260+tax.

Been eyeing it for awhile. Almost NIB, some wear on it.
 
Taurus 445.

They're a bit heavier than the Charter Arms, but they absorb recoil better, and are more rugged:


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@ Webley & pendennis, those 21-4s are absolutely stunning!
 
There's absolutely nothing wrong with shooting a gun like that. While I wouldn't try to run Kieth loads through it
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I wouldn't do that but I've posted it on other forums and the serious collectors had a fit because I use it. I won't let any gun be a safe queen no matter what it's worth. If it devalues it like it has this one so be it.
 
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My pair of Taurus (Tauri?) 44 Specials. I wish I could find a S&W for a reasonable price - cest la pool!

All of my N frame Smiths are 44 mags.
 
And of course there is the SA Ruger .44Spec revolvers. Very very nice. Besides my CA Bulldog for CC, I have a Sheriff model (3 1/2" barrel), Blackhawk (5 1/2"), and just recently picked up a Bisley (5 1/2"). These are all on the flattop medium frame.

No pictures, but here is some reading up on them with pictures :) .

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-Sheriff44.htm
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-44Flattop.htm
http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/ross-seyfried-lipseys-ruger-flattop-44-special-bisley-revolvers/
 
this one isn't mine but it's identical.
Rossi 720. It's what the S&W 696 would have been if they'd ever made it on the K-frame. If they had, that's what I would have, but since they didn't, this is the next best thing. My favorite gun to shoot.
 

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Check out the S&W Night Guard series; I believe they make one of those in 44 Special/Magnum. 45 ACP too, which is maybe even a better cartridge due to the available free brass from the pistol shooters.
 
These are all N-frames, listed from oldest to newest:

5" re-blued 1914 First Model 44 Hand Ejector, New Century or the Triple Lock.
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1921 2nd Model 44 Hand Ejector with barrel cut to 5".
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Re-barreled 4th Model 44 Hand Ejector or 1950 Model 44 Target.
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Model 24-3 w/ barrel cut to 5".
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Model 624, cut to ~3.5" and round butted.
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I constantly argue with myself about which is the better revolver cartridge: 44 Special or 45 ACP. On any given day, either one could win. (smile)

Dave
 
Dave, great collection of N frames. As I get a little(sic) along in years my Appreciation for these excellent revolvers grows. I only wish I had forgone one or two K frames and invested in N frames. Oh-well such is life.

As I have been unable to find a 3 1/2" M-27 at a price I will pay, I may have to consider a 44 special.
 
I have something of a love-hate relationship with the .44 Special. I love the cartridge, I really do, but I'm not so fond of the packages that it comes in.
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You are right. .44 Special is better in a gun that is appropriately sized. Which is why you don't shoot .44 Specials in your .44 Magnum N frame and then post about how you don't see why everybody likes them so much? The old large frame .44 Specials (mostly) predate .44 Magnum. They are the guns people like Elmer Keith used to work up the loads which became the .44 Magnum. Here in 2011, if I want that kind of performance, I will use the big Magnum revolver. But for 90% of my shooting, I would rather have the smaller, more handy, lighter gun that can use .44 Special.

In my case, I have several. Used to have two Rossi 720's. One of each model (DA/SA and DAO). I relented and let my gunsmith buy the DAO one from me but the other one is staying here. I normally carry a S&W M296 with the 200 grain DPX load. When Ruger came out with the .44 Special FT, I bought one with the 5.5" barrel. I also acquired a well used .357 OM and had it converted to .44 Special. That one has a 5.1" barrel.

Wow, do I really only have four now? That seems wrong! I may be missing somebody. Otherwise I need to go buy some more! Ruger is making the FT in .44 Special and stainless, I'm sure I need one of those.

Gregg
 
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