Before the .44 mag, the was the Special. Most know that, but before that, there was the Russian.
Without going into a bunch of details that anyone can read on the errornet, the Russian is a fantastic way to make .44 Mags into very fun target/plinking guns. It is about like sticking a 230 grain .45 ACP into the cylinder. Very close ballistics wise, to the point that only nit pickers would bother to start in with the "Well akshully" BS.
A side by side of some 230 grain round nose 45 ACPs and 240 grain round nose 44 Russians:
Compared to Special and Magnum: