Why so many .44 mag/special recomendations?

Dman23
Member

Join Date: January 27, 2013
Posts: 31

Why so many .44 mag/special recomendations?
That poll is good though. Wouldnt think by comments i see on threads it was that lopsided. Maybe 44 guys just post more? Lol
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After watching this thread develop you could be right there... all the usual suspects. LOL!
 
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I'll never recommend a certain caliber over another to anyone....that being said I own S&W N frame revolvers in .357 magnum , .44 special (624) , and .44 magnum ! I'd love to add a .45 colt , .327 magnum ,.41 magnum , and then some ! Maybe even one hand cannon in .460 or .500 magnum but I surely wouldn't recommend it to anyone else ! :)
 
well its recommended because you cna do more things with it. for example all the big writers tell me that i can use a 4 inch barrelled 44 mag for elk out to 70 yards. cant do that with an 8 inch barreled 357..
 
In 1975 I bought a CA Bulldog. In the whole tristate area, I found one box of RP 246gr RNL .44 Special ammo. It was then I bought a Classic Lee Loader for .44 and a hard rubber hammer. I reloaded that box of brass about a dozen times before finally having to buy some new reloadable brass. It was a great gateway to handloading for me.
 
I love my S&W 629. I especially love loading and shooting non magnum or light magnum loads. Full power 357's from an L frame do not seem to be anywhere in the same world as full power 44's from an N frame.
 
Truth is we are all paid agents of the reloading equipment and supply companies, paid for each post mentioning ".44 Special".
 
In answer to the OP's question, I suspect the reason he has the impression he does has a number of causes.

First of all there are a great many hand gunners who just prefer their calibers start with a "4". Within that crowd of revolver fans are the ones who like a lot of power like the 44 Mag promoters. They think Elmer Keith was the world's expert on handgunning in general and revolver shooting in particular. Another bunch of the "caliber starts with a 4" crowd are part of that peculiar sub-set of hand gunners who are devoted to the 44 Special. They seriously believe their cartridge of choice does everything better than everything else...and you aren't going to convince them other wise. Best to just smile and nod you head in agreement.

Of course there's a whole other "caliber starts with 4" group who also believe that a handgun caliber should end in "5", but that's another story altogether.(smile)

Dave
 
DaveT sums it all up very well.

And it won't be long before there will be fanatics who can't stand any handgun caliber that doesn't start with a "5" while snickering at their "4" brethren.
 
You don't need an airweight gun for home defense nor a 629 for carry use. A J frame 357 is harder to follow up shoot than an 629 44 mag in my hands, (given both with full power loads.)

I always suggest both.
 
You can't really do any appreciable amount of shooting with any centerfire that is not a 9mm or .38Spl without handloading. This is especially true of the big bores in general and the .44Spl in particular.


I agree with the OP, it's overrated.
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If anything is overrated, it's the .357. Properly handloaded, the .44Spl can do everything the .357 can do and do it better. And without making your ears bleed. The .357 needs velocity to be effective, the .44Spl does not.
 
If anything is overrated, it's the .357. Properly handloaded, the .44Spl can do everything the .357 can do and do it better. And without making your ears bleed. The .357 needs velocity to be effective, the .44Spl does not.
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I'm glad someone else shares my sentiment. After owning a couple .357s I really have no desire to own another, both were sold by the way. Give me a .44 or .45 Colt any day over the .357.
 
I only own three .357's and two of them are destined to become something more useful. On the table are conversions to .44Spl, .45ACP or .38-40.
 
agree with the OP, it's overrated. 44 mags kick too much
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All due respect to both posters, but that's like saying 'that car goes too fast'. Huge fan of .44 mag here, which I use for woods carry. I own three revolvers of various .44 mag configurations and they are all great to shoot.

My hunting loads (10.9gr Unique pushing a 240jsp) are what some die-hards would consider moderate to light, but have accounted for several definitive kills on whitetails. I use the same loads for woods carry, deer hunting, and backup when bowhunting bears.

You can shoot them all day, still have magnum power, and not chew the webbing of your hand up at all.

Caliber wars suck. So let me just say very tactfully and with a great deal of respect that it's simply the greatest caliber ever. Heh.
 
I agree with the OP, it's overrated. 44 mags kick too much and 44 specials are too anemic as factory loaded.

Would you also say that the 45 ACP is to anemic?
There are factory loads like the Winchester silver tip at 220 GR that hit 900FPS out of a 4 inch. There’s Buffalo bore 180’s that hit 1500 for 550 FT pounds and 255 Gr semi Keith that hit 1000 for 560 foot pounds and there are a lot more like it. These are in the same class or above 45 ACP which is not something I would call anemic. I wouldn’t shoot these in a bulldog but in an N frame no problem.
The reason you see anemic 44’s is that every one that shoots 44 specials picks them up and leaves all the low pressure spelled cowboy loads behind. Also remember the low pressure is built for all the old black powder 44’s built years ago. This is also true for 45 colts.
But to say that the 44 special is anemic is a comment with no facts behind it.
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=17
 
originally posted by bird_dog:

Caliber wars suck.
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Yes they do. Hang around these types of forums and you hear all kinds of justifications for choosing one caliber over another. The truth is, they are all just justifications, by those trying to qualify their own choice to others. Truth is, one only needs to justify that choice to themselves, even if the reason is they just like the name of the caliber. Funny how so many get bent outta shape if others do not feel the same way. Funny how there has to be some fault with choices other than our own. I always figure those that are most adamant about their choice are the one's most insecure with it.
 
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