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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
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What is the good, bad, and ugly on the .44 Special from those who have used it?
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2004
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No bad as far as I can see. 240 grain hard cast and 7.5 grains of Unique. Can't see that getting any better.
I own 2 now and am looking for a Ruger.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13 |
What is the good, bad, and ugly on the .44 Special from those who have used it? Good is 250gr bullets work on everything from deer to bunnies when loaded around 850fps and are a joy to shoot. And I wouldn't want to catch a 200gr. XTP with my sternum either. 200gr. Wadcutters are my current favoritest and loaded around 800fps. There is no bad. There is no ugly. Be sure a .45 ACP wouldn't suit your needs just as easily though. Dave
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,884
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2001
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Can't say anything bad, it's a great round and even better when it comes as a Second Generation Colt SAA
"The older I get, the better I was"
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Joined: May 2014
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2014
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I really like the 44 Special. Nothing bad, except I'd like to see S&W make more double action revolvers again.
Revolvers don't throw cases all over. You'll never regret buying a 44 Special.
But mine is a replica. Still like it though.
I like it 100% better than my custom 1911
Last edited by Bugger; 08/29/16.
I prefer classic. Semper Fi I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2006
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I like it just fine. This from a 4.5 Inch Cimarron. Yes, it was only 10 yards... but in my defense, it was only one handed.
"It's a source of great pride, that when I google my name, I find book titles and not mug shots." Daniel C. Chamberlain
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,524
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
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Top shelf revolver cartridge for sure. If it were my go-to handgun round, I'd have a Bulldog, a 4 3/4" SAA and feel pretty well dressed for any occasion.
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,201 |
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.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
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Is there any down side to firing a 44 special case in a 44 mag chamber? Or are you better off just loading 44mag brass down to Spc velocity?
“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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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. I've had a couple of good Tauruses and I actually regret trading a Public Defender I shaved for ACP in moon clips. If you got a good one, don't worry about what anybody else thinks of it. Hell I had a run of getting bad Rugers, too.
Last edited by SargeMO; 08/29/16.
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,201
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,201 |
If you use .44 Special cases in a .44 Magnum cylinder, you get powder residue build up in the front of the chamber and cleaning it out may take a little more effort. I am generally a "course of least resistance" sort of guy, so I decided that I'd build my .44 Special level loads for the S&W 329PD in .44 Magnum cases and make less work for myself in the long run.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,107
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,107 |
I have a new to me (looks like hardly used) S&W 624, that I have yet to shoot. I forgot that I had no large pistol primers and waited until I went to a large town that would have them. Bought some and some loaded ammo. Rain has me so far behind on yard work, I can't seem to get away. miles
Look out for number 1, don't step in number 2.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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If one reloads it is one of the best revolver rounds made...cast and/or jacketed bullets from 165 to 250+ grains can be found. Not sure if I have ever heard of someone loading bullets heavier than that in a Special but it could probably be done....
Before I was a .41 Shooter I had six .44 Specials...three 24-1s and three 624s...they were great shooters.
Bob
If you can not deal with reality, reality will deal with you....
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
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I shoot mostly .44 spl. brass in my .44 mags. Also have a .44 spl. In a Ruger. Probably my favorite pistol round.
Molon Labe
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,201 |
I'm a S&W 624 fan, have had them in 4", 5", and 6.5". The 5" is a 6.5" that I sent to Ahlman's in Morristown, MN, to be shortened as a mate to my 5" 27. The 4" 624 might be the first/original Mountain Gun N-frame format.
If I didn't already have a 625 MG, I'd probably look for a 4" 624.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692 |
Thanks for the input folks.
The gun in question is a like new Taurus Model 431 with a four inch barrel.
I am looking forward to shooting this one and see how it does.
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
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I had a Taurus 441 with a 3" and adjustable sights that was a good shooter, I'd expect the 4" version to be equally good. I had Ahlman's in Morristown, MN, tune it and ream the forcing cone before I ever shot it.
I've long thought that a K-frame 5-shoot .44 Special that was a mirror image of a 4" S&W 66 would be worth owning.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Is there any down side to firing a 44 special case in a 44 mag chamber? Or are you better off just loading 44mag brass down to Spc velocity?
Works fine either way IME. I've always taken care to clean the chambers thoroughly when shooting Specials in a Magnum, but really I think it would take a lot of .44 Sp to cause a problem in the Mag chamber.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad." ---------------------------------------------- "Jimmy, some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic, But I had a good life all the way." (Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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My first carry gun was a Charter Arms Target Bulldog. I loved it and kick myself every time I think about selling it.
BTW that was years before concealed carry was legal but I worked alone in a real tough neighbourhood and carried the bank bag home every night. There were bullet holes all over that shop but I never had any problems when I worked there.
The first time I shot myself in the head...
Meniere's Sucks Big Time!!!
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I had a Taurus 441 with a 3" and adjustable sights that was a good shooter, I'd expect the 4" version to be equally good. I had Ahlman's in Morristown, MN, tune it and ream the forcing cone before I ever shot it. I still do in the 3" very nice guns.
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
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