How powerful is a .44 special?

[kmittleman]

Hi Guys,
 
I've been reading some interesting threads here on the .44 special. And I checked a nice Ruger BH Flattop the other day - felt great in my hand. My question is, what's the biggest game it can take? I already have dies for .44 mag / .44 special, so the idea is intriguing.
-Kevin
 

[spacer]

I'd treat it about like a .45acp.
With a decent loading and good shot placement, a great SD/HD round. As for hunting... I suppose thinner skinned medium game shouldn't be a problem at shorter ranges. I don't consider my .44 magnum more than a 100yd gun, maybe just a bit more with my rifle than the Super Blackhawk. I'd keep anything meant to fall to .44 special a bit closer. Even if the Ruger isn't a magnum, I'd figure it's still up to taking a +p load... I'd still check to be sure though.

[Mikey]

kmittleman:  spacer is right on line withhis statements.  I would use the 44 spl the same way I use a 45 acp, with a cast wide flat nosed bullet at between 900-1,00'/sec.  My 45 acp loads use a 238 gn cast swc slug at near 900'/sec and they will penetrate t&t a Whitetail's chest at 50 yds.  With the Ruger you should be able to bump it up a bit without problem as they are strong revolvers.  HTH and good luck.

[Lloyd Smale]

if you take the load most will shoot in one that handload say a 250 cast swc at about a 1000 fps which by the way can be improved on a bit in that flat topped ruger. But as is that load will kill better then about any 357 load and in my experience is about equal to a full power 41 mag load using a cast bullet. If theres any differnce i sure cant tell. the 44 at that level with a 250 grain bullet will give about equal penetration to a 220 grain 41 bullet at say 1200 fps. the differnce is that the 44 has a slightly bigger bullet and the 41 is slight faster so wound channels are about a wash. Ive killed deer, black bear and pigs with the 44 special using that exact load and never found it lacking in any way. Now if your comparing factory 44 specials to the 357 its a diffent story as theres not much in good 44 spec factory ammo out there other then buffalo bore, grizzly ammo, and corebond and there all high dollar stuff. By the way id put it a step up on the 45acp too. the acp with 230s-240s is realisiticaly a 800 fps round. Maybe a bit more but you have to step up to bigger springs ect. Most bullet designs are poor for hunting (although if you look you can find a few good ones) the 44 special tacks an honest 200 fps and 20 more grains of bullet onto that and does it with bullets designed for hunting and bullets with a better sectional density that will penetrate much better. Now im not saying a 45acp cant be used to hunt deer. Ive done it myself but its just not in the same league as the 44 spec.

[Graybeard]

Factory 44 special ammo is quite weak and is properly compared to the 45 acp as it delivers about the same velocity with similar weight bullets. But properly handloaded the 44 special is in a whole nother class than the acp.

In my Ruger flat top with Bisley grip I try to target my loads for about 950-1000 fps just because it's not a 44 magnum and I have several magnums if I want more than that. You can however easily enough push a 250 Keith bullet to 1200 fps in the gun and that is by the way what Elmer Keith was doing and is all he tried to talk the manufacturers into producing that ended in the development of the 44 magnum. These days not many factory loads in the magnum do much better than that anyway.

There is nothing in North America that a 250 grain Keith bullet at 1200 fps will not kill effectively. If going after brown/grizzly bears you might want more or have someone you really trust backing you up. But for the rest it's plenty.

I load my 44 special and 45 Colts to the same basic level that being 950-1000 fps with 250-270 grain bullets. I will never hunt anything that's not adequate for.

[Larry Gibson]

There is a considerable terminal difference between the same bullet at 1000 fps and at 1400+ fps.  That is the basic difference between  modern .44 SPL revolvers and .44 Magnum handguns of 5 1/2 - 7 1/2" barrel lengths used for hunting. The same "game" can be taken with both.  The 44 SPL is just restricted to a much shorter range is all and even at the shorter ranges the .44 Magnum obviously has the advantage.
 
One is hardpressed to readily find factory .44 SPL that meets the 1000 fps velocity and is suitable for hunting larger game.  The .44 Magnum is readily avalable with 240+ gr loads that will do the 1400+ fps out of 6 - 7 1/2" barreled revolvers (Hornady's 240 XTP does it handily).  I like the .44 Special and shoot lots of .44 Special loads.  I've also owned a couple .44 SPLs and have killed several deerand a couple pigs with them.  The .44 SPL works fine with correct loads but just know it is not a .44 Magnum and understand the .44 SPLs limitations when hunting game with it.
 
Larry Gibson

[Mike in Virginia]

The Special, if loaded to it's old time specs, or loaded to its full potential, far exceeds anything you can do with a .45acp.  It's silly to compare the two unless you think only in terms of the sissy production loads currently available.  I would not take a .45acp deer hunting, but I'd not hesitate to take a .44 Special.  It certainly is not, nor can never be a .44 Magnum or a  properly loaded 45LC, but it's plenty potent for hunting, where the acp even in +P is most definitely not a hunting cartridge.