Herters .44 mag

[Weatherman68]

Hi everyone.  I am relatively new to the fourm so I may be asking something that has already been discussed but here it goes anyway.

Last year I purchased a Herters .44 mag revolver.  For the most part it's in good shape although the finish could be redone.  One day I hope to travel to Alaska to hunt and plan to take this as a backup.  Anyone have any experience with these and is a 44 suitable if I get into trouble with a bear or other very large creature?

Thanks.

[Lloyd Smale]

they were good well built guns. If im not mistaken jp sauer of germany made them.

[Mikey]

Weatherman68:  The Herter's revolvers were strong and well built and should be able to handle any 44 magnum load.  In respect to its age I would avoid the continual use of the really heavy monster loads available from some of the commercial ammo makers although you can and should have your revolver checked by a cometent gunsmith.  Please remember that when these things were made, and for a number of years afterward, the heaviest 44 mag loads you could obtain were those handloaded by your own self in the 240-250 gn weight.  I don't believe anyone had experimented or developed some of the heavier 300 gn or better slugs that are now available when these revolvers were more widely available.  I would think a good 240-280 or even 300 gn slug in the 44 mag power levels should do ya fine.  JMTCW.  Mikey.

[Bitterroot Bob]

Howdy,
If I recall the Herter's revolver was a really nicely finished gun that was smooth all around. I drooled over one at a small shop near Stevensville, MT some 30 odd years ago. The quality showed and the action had no play or wiggle to it. Very solid gun. You have a real sleeper.
Back-up for bears in Alaska? I'd figure out a way to keep my real gun with me and try not to involve myself in a situation where a little .44 Magnum was going to have to save my life. It might kill a brown bear, but he'd probably die while he was choking on your hat.

Bitterroot

[Ak.Hiker]

As a kid me and my friends spent many an hour reading thru the Herters catalog and looking at all of the stuff we could not afford. The 44 magnum is very popular with Alaskans for field protection. I would avoid any of the heavy weight loads in the Herters 44. The 240 soft points are good standard loads and for most uses will take care of what needs to be done with a 44. When you come to Alaska switch out the soft points for the Buffalo Bore 255 grain low recoil hard cast Keith loads. This load is designed for the Smith 329 and would be a very good choice for bear protection in your gun. Plenty of penetration with out all of the recoil of the 300 grain loadings. Enjoy your new gun. 

[wncchester]

The old Herter's mag revolvers were made by Hawes, of Germany.  Looked kind of gawky but were strong and reliable handguns.

[Lloyd Smale]

I believe the Hawes guns were made my jb sauer too. The 22 i had was anyway.

[wncchester]

That is certainly possible.  And interesting too.

[Weatherman68]

Have to agree with the fact that these guns are not proportioned aesthetically like the Ruger  single actions.  Figure that as long as it gets the job done I'm ok.  Years ago I had a 22 22mag made by Hawes.  According to the folks at Numrich gun parts the Herter was made by them.  Seems that the early models were .41 mag but were later made availablel in the .44. 

[Blackhawk44]

The centerfire Herter PowerMags were made by J P Sauer & Son.  Herter's were available in .357, .44 and .401 Herter PowerMag, never a .41.  After Herters ceased firearms sale, Hawes took over importation of the line with the exception of the .401.  I do not remember a Hawes .41, but would not rule it out.   

[Dand]

Weatherman,  given that in the last several years, several Alaskan Brown bears have been stopped by 44 mag revolvers I will say YES your Herters could do the job in Alaska.  Last fall I posted in the  GB Alaska forum an account of a guy stopping a good size brown with 1 shot of a 44 mag - Some sort of Corbon load in the 280 gr range.  Everything went right for the shooter and he must have hit the spinal cord.  If everything goes wrong, even a 458 mag rifle might not stop a bear in time. If you like the gun and can shoot it reasonably well it would be good to bring to AK.  Likelihood that you'll need it is really low.  The rates of bear attack are greatly exaggerated.

HTH