Author Topic: .44 Spl versus 44 Mag (Read 1870 times)

HuntingGuy · « **on:** October 30, 2006, 04:43:21 PM »

So I'm getting ready to buy a custom revolver for deer hunting. I've got it narrowed down to the .44 -- What are the differences between the 44 Mag and 44 Special?

Thanks!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2006, 11:44:08 PM »

200-400fps

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2006, 12:45:09 AM »

The magnum is more versatile. Factory ammo is available for hunting in the magnum. Unless you're ready to spend a lot of money for ammo, 44 special ammo is typically 750fps round nose bullet stuff. There isn't much, if any, difference in gun weight or size for most guns you'd typically hunt with. Available guns in just 44 special are very limited.

How did 44 special get on your radar screen as a candidate for this application?

oso45-70 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2006, 12:50:37 AM »

HuntingGuy

Buy a 44 mag and shoot what ever you choose, 44spl or 44 Mag.....Joe......

jpsmith1 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2006, 01:36:27 AM »

Get the Magnum and practice with Specials. Just like .38 Spl and .357 magnum, the special round is the older and milder round. It will take deer, for sure, but I'd take the magnum for the added insurance. Everything is the same except for the cases. Magnum rounds will not chamber in a special, but the opposite isn't true.

Broom Rider · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2006, 02:10:09 AM »

I have both but when I go hunting I take a 44 Magnum........my father prefers to use his 44 Special.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:06:40 AM »

Quote

How did 44 special get on your radar screen as a candidate for this application?

I've heard 3 or 4 guys say they swear by hunting deer with the 44 special.. Which raised the question "Well, what's so special bout it?"

Thanks for the replies

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:23:33 AM »

The 44 special can be made into a good deer round, but it requires handloading and good bullet selection. Elmer Keith really put it on the map as an effective cartridge when he loaded 44 specials hot in large frame revolvers before the 44 magnum was developed.

Today it's more of an enthusiast's round with some really nice guns made for it, but they are specialty guns.

In a sense it is similar to the 45 Long Colt that is popular for hunting among some people. It is a handloader's cartridge for hunters who wish to use it because most factory ammo for it is comparable to the 44 special in velocity and bullet design. Users of this 45 use guns like the Rugers, which can handle higher than SAAMI standard pressures for the cartridge. Some load it so that it is comparable to the 44 magnum in velocity and killing power.

I think if you look carefully at the options you have for 44 special vs. 44 magnum, you will probably pick the magnum.

44 Man · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2006, 11:19:29 AM »

Questor put it very well. I love the .44 special, but it IS a handloader's cartridge. Load it with a 240 gr cast swc and move it around 900/950 fps and it is a wonderful cartridge! Do anything you ask of it. If you buy a .44 mag, you will always feel the need to carry full power ammo in it. I don't know why, but that is the way it happens with me. If you are carrying a .44 spl, then you are content with a power level that is 'enough'. It just feels more relaxed that way. Can't explain it, it's kind of like that 'Harley' thing. They ain't the biggest or the fastest, but they just have that relaxed competent way to them. Enough power is enough. The .44 spl is 'enough' in a relaxed, competent way. It makes a great 'woods companion'. 44 Man

Questor · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2006, 11:48:43 AM »

44Man:

I too like hot-loaded 44 specials. But my approach to it is to load 1000fps loads with Keith bullets in my 629 using 44magnum cases. It's a really sweet shooting gun with those. I just have to be careful of what bullets I use so as to avoid fouling. It's a lot of fun to shoot, and is really good for 100 yard target shooting. I've used it in silhouette shooting and it's fine for that.

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2006, 12:47:34 PM »

I like the 44 sp, and load it with 240 hard cast bullets, getting out around 950-1000. I will try it on deer this season using a Redhawk 5.5" 44 mag/iron sights. If a quality mfgr. would make a 44 sp in a 4" barrel, well for me it would be a ideal in the field carry gun. Nothing wrong with the 44 mag, just like to be differnt.
Jim

Broom Rider · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:25:15 PM »

How about a USFA in 44 special with a 4 & 3/4" barrel?
Here's a 5.5" flat top target USFA in 44 special.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2006, 11:32:40 PM »

another beauty Joni!!!

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2006, 03:52:00 AM »

Quote

How about a USFA in 44 special with a 4 & 3/4" barrel?
Here's a 5.5" flat top target USFA in 44 special.

Your husband is a very lucky man to have a wife with such a passion for fine revolvers

Questor · « **Reply #14 on:** November 01, 2006, 04:40:15 AM »

Broom Rider:

That is my idea of what a 44 special ought to be. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Broom Rider · « **Reply #15 on:** November 01, 2006, 12:21:13 PM »

What husband !! ??............yuk........been there done that.............
I gave this gun to my father a couple years ago for his birthday.

EdK · « **Reply #16 on:** November 02, 2006, 02:39:24 AM »

Interesting that you've "narrowed" your choice down to between 44 special/mag. There's really a big difference between the two.

Most that hunt with the special ascribe to the Keith philosophy and those loads are pushing 44 mag territory. There's a good argument for that level of power and really that's what I bought my S&W mountain gun for: 44 mags loadeda little on the light side with 240-250 cast at 1100-1150FPS or so. Sometiing like a Freedom Arms mod 97 should be good for this level 44 special loads

If you are really talking the by the book 44 special loads, those will only be running 750-800fps with a 240-250 cast slug. You can possibly push a little faster depending upon the gun you decide upon. Although you can hunt with these loads I'd prefer to step up in caliber to 45 Colt if I planned on purchasing a Colt or clone specifically for hunting and loading to standard pressures.

Questor · « **Reply #17 on:** November 02, 2006, 03:51:01 AM »

I don't think I'd hunt with 750-800fps 44 special loads. They are very weak, even on small game. The extra velocity of the magnums makes a huge difference in performance.

44 Man · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2006, 08:00:19 AM »

The .44 spl can easily (and safely) be loaded into the 900/1000. The old timers used to get 1200 fps from them but there is no reason to push them like that anymore. If you need that much, use a .44 mag. The same can be said of the .45 colt. Factory loads are weak but they can easily and safely be loaded to almost 1000 fps. At 950 fps a .44 spl or .45 colt will do any thing you ask of it within reason. 44 Man

EdK · « **Reply #19 on:** November 02, 2006, 10:31:40 AM »

Quote from: 44 Man on November 02, 2006, 08:00:19 AM

The .44 spl can easily (and safely) be loaded into the 900/1000.

I haven't seen any published data from a reputable powder manufactuer that supports this - even though I agree with you that many people likely do it all of the time (safely too). I don't know whether the original poster is an experienced reloader or if he even reloads at all but if he was very experienced I doubt he would be asking about the difference between a special and mag. I wouldn't recommend a new handgun hunter (and possibly new reloader) get into a caliber that required experimentation and did not have pressure tested data to support the level of loads needed to get the job done.

Again, not to say it can't be done safely but just my .02 cents suggesting a 44 mag first and maybe the special a little later on.

Flash · « **Reply #20 on:** November 02, 2006, 03:58:34 PM »

Quote from: Broom Rider on November 01, 2006, 12:21:13 PM

What husband !! ??............yuk........been there done that.............
I gave this gun to my father a couple years ago for his birthday.

Now now, you are among many husbands here and they make fine companions. You have to remember how to lure every male creature on the planet to their deaths.......with a female!! The door swings both ways.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #21 on:** November 03, 2006, 01:21:16 AM »

Quote from: 44 Man on October 31, 2006, 11:19:29 AM

Questor put it very well. I love the .44 special, but it IS a handloader's cartridge. Load it with a 240 gr cast swc and move it around 900/950 fps and it is a wonderful cartridge! Do anything you ask of it. If you buy a .44 mag, you will always feel the need to carry full power ammo in it. I don't know why, but that is the way it happens with me. If you are carrying a .44 spl, then you are content with a power level that is 'enough'. It just feels more relaxed that way. Can't explain it, it's kind of like that 'Harley' thing. They ain't the biggest or the fastest, but they just have that relaxed competent way to them. Enough power is enough. The .44 spl is 'enough' in a relaxed, competent way. It makes a great 'woods companion'. 44 Man

44 Man some of us are very content with using cartridges in our 44 mags that run 900 to 1000 fps... yep me is one of them

44 Man · « **Reply #22 on:** November 03, 2006, 04:47:32 AM »

Montanan. I guess that is one of my shortcomings. If it says 'Magnum' on the side, I feel I need to load it with something in that range when I am carrying it. My 5" Ruger .44 mag usually gets carried with 320 gr cast bullets at 1180 fps. Not crazy, but serious none the less. When it says 44 spl or 45 colt, I am very content with 900 fps. (but I still don't want 750 or 800!) Just me I guess, but then I hardly carry a 'Mag' in the woods unless at deer season so that may explain part of it. At all other times it is a SAA or clone or a 1911. 44 Man

Questor · « **Reply #23 on:** November 03, 2006, 05:14:00 AM »

Broom Rider:

I've got a question about the USFA gun that is pictured above: Is that a customized gun? Was it expensive to customize?

Broom Rider · « **Reply #24 on:** November 04, 2006, 08:56:59 AM »

No, not custom. It was ordereed as a 5.5" flat top target in 44 special with one piece deluxe wood grip and the finish is just one of the options available. It could be duplicated by anyone that wanted to order one.

DWTim · « **Reply #25 on:** November 04, 2006, 10:49:04 AM »

Quote from: EdK on November 02, 2006, 10:31:40 AM

Quote from: 44 Man on November 02, 2006, 08:00:19 AM
The .44 spl can easily (and safely) be loaded into the 900/1000.

I haven't seen any published data from a reputable powder manufactuer that supports this - even though I agree with you that many people likely do it all of the time (safely too).

I have! The caveat is that it has to be lead bullets.

2 dogs · « **Reply #26 on:** November 04, 2006, 03:39:47 PM »

Broom Rider, I think I am in love.....thats a gorgeous sixgun!

Broom Rider · « **Reply #27 on:** November 05, 2006, 06:18:58 AM »

Thanks.........but it is my fathers gun.

http://www.usfirearms.com/

EdK · « **Reply #28 on:** November 05, 2006, 04:11:20 PM »

Quote from: DWTim on November 04, 2006, 10:49:04 AM

Quote from: EdK on November 02, 2006, 10:31:40 AM
Quote from: 44 Man on November 02, 2006, 08:00:19 AM
The .44 spl can easily (and safely) be loaded into the 900/1000.

I haven't seen any published data from a reputable powder manufactuer that supports this - even though I agree with you that many people likely do it all of the time (safely too).

I have! The caveat is that it has to be lead bullets.

I did say "I did not believe" but rather "I have not seen". I'd be curious to know who is publishing 1000fps with a 240/250gr lead slug in the 44 special. Are these pressure tested loads within SAAMI limits or something else?

Questor · « **Reply #29 on:** November 06, 2006, 03:35:26 AM »

Thanks Broomrider. I had never heard of that company before. It looks like they've got a good way of doing business. Considering the options and semi-custom nature of the revolvers the prices seem reasonable too.