I probably carry a Rossi 720 on my belt more than any other single handgun. The living creatures that I'm most liable to shoot with it are rattlesnakes and the CCI shot cartridges work well in it. I usually carry it with 3 hard cast 240 grain semi-wadcutters and 2 CCI snake shot cartridges. I know that a lot of people look down on the Brazilian Rossi and Taurus guns, but the Rossi 515/518/720 series have always treated me well and if it gets dropped on the ground, it isn't as painful as it would be if I'd dropped a S&W or Colt.
My, so far, favorite .44 Special is the S&W 329PD using .44 Magnum brass loaded to .44 Special speeds.
I think of the .44 Special as being the same, more or less, as the .45 Long Colt, but with the disadvantage of having, generally, fewer firearms options and more expensive factory ammo. I guess that you could say the same about the .44 Special and .45 Auto-Rim, but both would be at a disadvantage to the .45 Long Colt.
