Why no beefed up .44 Mag load?

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Pond James Pond

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They took the .44 Spl up to the .44 Rem mag.

Similarly they took the .45 Colt up to .454 Casull, but then up again to .460 S&W.

So why have they not made another jump up in the .429 caliber cartridges, seeing as big-bore seems de-rigueur these days?

I'm just curious:
I am not looking to replace my .44Mag. I just want to know if there is a reason.
 
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I can hear it now; Some think the .44 magnum is so powerful it will blow your hand completely off your wrist. :confused:
 
I don't know why. The pressures are high enough as is. There was a 357 Maximum in the 80's, and I heard it was a throat burner. Whatever its problems, it did not last long.

I don't need more power than a 44 Magnum in a pistol. Handcannons are for those who want them: I decided that they were too much fun for me. If I think I need more power I will get it in a rifle.
 
Instead of wildcatting a cartridge, just buy a new 50 cal S&W. I've got to say, that the 44 mag would never had been popular if it wasn't for Dirty Harry, and I believe S&W credited the movie for the majority of it's sales. The Auto-Mag was shown by Inspector Callahan not too long after. People would have been carrying harpoons, if they could strap them to their hip, to copy Harry.

I'd rather stick to my 9mm, as far as faster firing and aiming.
 
Once again, guys.
This was just a question of curiosity, not necessity.

I noticed that the .45 caliber had undergone 2 stages of increase, and wondered my the .429 had ostensibly only had one.

For the record, I am happy with my .44...
 
The .429 started off as the .44 S&W Russian then went to the .44 Special and from there to the .44 Magnum. We have seen two increases in size and power for the .429.
 
The .429 started off as the .44 S&W Russian then went to the .44 Special and from there to the .44 Magnum. We have seen two increases in size and power for the .429.
Click to expand...

We have an answer folks!
Whilst it is very interesting hearing about other .44 cal cartridges, it seems the basis for my initial post was a false one.

I'm still interested to learn about other loadings, but I guess this does address my initial query!!
 
I forgot to add the .454 Casull and the .460 S&W Mag. to my post earlier. The .44 mag is the largest cartridge of that bullet diameter (.429), that I see in production without wildcatting, and the diameter steps up from there (.44 Colt being the largest at .443), The closer one to match would be in .45 caliber, and power wise, the .454 Casull, which is a daemon. However, the .460 S&W Magnum, which is really .454, is even more powerful.

.44 Rem. Mag.: 340 gr (22 g) LFN +P+, 1,325 ft/s, 1,533 ft·lbf

.454 Casull: 335 gr (22 g) WFNGC HC, 1,600 ft/s, 1,904 ft·lbf (Closest match)

.460 S&W Mag.: 360 gr (23 g) LLFN, 1,900 ft/s, 2,885 ft·lbf
 
Maybe because there isn't much practical point to a more powerful .44 than the mag. As such, the only people who would be interested in one are just ones who want the biggest handgun possible. And well, the .44 mag isn't the biggest by far anymore so all the power junkie's interests have just moved on to other bigger calibers to play with.

If you're gonna create a ridiculously powerful revolver cartridge, no sense starting with a .44. might as well start with what's already the biggest like a 480 or 500

Basically, no practical market for a more powerfull .44 magnum, and no "just for fun" market for a more powerful .44 magnum.
 
I think it has pretty much been discussed well enuff and the OP got the info he needs... Thusly we can call this closed...

Anyone wanna discuss the calibers of the uber magnum ilk... feel free to restart one...

Brent
 
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