.44 Magnum

[BigG]

I've got a blue Model 29 and a LAR Grizzly in 44 Magnum. It's the most useful big handgun cartridge, imho. The LAR throws the empties clear into the next county so it's not necessarily a reloader's dream but the ammo is cheap compared to the similar-sized big handgun cartridges and also available. I've more than one time packed my stuff for a trip somewhere and forgot the ammo. Any hardware store/Wal-Mart will have 44 Magnum. Try finding 476 Super Whatsis, or even 41 Magnum in the boondocks.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

NC---

I also have the 629 Classic 5"-----I didn't care for the Hogue grip on it(not that I have anything against Hogue's----I have them on several other guns---just didn't happen to like this one)--and replaced it with a Pachmayr(sp?)----and I'm quite pleased with my Smith now.

We can get cheaper(Blazer, UMC, etc...) .44's around here for like $15 for a box of 50--retail.

 

[g_gunter]

S&W .44 Rules

I believe that everyone who likes the .44 mag should have at least one S&W 29/629. I've got my BFR in .45 Colt and will get other big bores but if I had to have just one big bore it would have to be my 629-3. I just love the balance and trigger of the N-Frame .44.

g_gunter

 

[BluesBear]

Brady, Welcome Aboard!â„¢

Always good to meet another member of B.B.B.B.B.*






*the Big Boys who shoot Big Bores Brotherhoodâ„¢

 

[Brady]

Thanx BluesBear ! I appreciate the welcome and I hope I can add to this site.

For revolvers,2 years ago I purchased a Freedom Arms Premier grade 454 with a 71/2 inch barrel. And about 2 months ago bought a BFR 500 S&W
Magnum. Both of these are a joy to shoot. I like the free wheeling cylinder on the BFR and with my stature it balances well for me. As for the Smith 500 it just felt too forward heavy,but thats me. I'm sure its a fine gun as well. I also prefer single actions.
As far as the 454,wow what quality ! I also find it very accurate with any load.

I just have to get my lazy butt up and do some serious reloading.

But again,thanx for the welcome

Brady

 

[Brady]

I also agree with BigG as far as availability with the 44's. Its like .22s,30-30s,30-06 and 12 gauge shells.

I love my 44s. I shot one of my old Rugers barrel out,well I should correctly say the forcing cone has a crack in it and I don't shoot that one anymore. One of my 44s has maybe 2 cylinders shot thru it so it is virtually brand new and another one I have is also mint I think the serial numbers are 10xxx.

My Smiths are ok,but prefer SA. When I'm out riding a lot of times I pack the 4 inch as it is handy and also accurate. However,I realize they aren't as strong as my Rugers,so I should use lighter bullets.

Brady

 

[LAH]

Welcome Brady.

 

[Odessa]

Here is my M629-3, its a Square Butt 5" Classic. I put a higher (.300) Weigand patridge plain front blade on mine (I shoot 300 grain bullets and needed more blade height). I also replaced those checkered S&W grips (ouch!) with some wood Hogue Mono-grips - much better handling now. My gunsmith mated the classic barrel to my square butt frame to give me a distinctive firearm. It is accurate. Odessa

 

[Mannlicher]

I carry my 629 Mountain Gun often, in the CCW role. Darn near a perfect revolver for this use. I use good leather, holster and belt, and right now, I am carrying the CorBon 165 grain JHP.

 

[AZGlock21]

I am about to buy my first .44 mag. I am looking at a Ruger Bisley .44 in 7 1/2" barrel Blued with adjustable sights. Anyone have one or opinions on one?...Thanks

 

[Brady]

The Bisley is a good choice. Any Ruger is a good buy also. You will love shootin' the .44 and I suggest reloading if you don't already.

I for one do not have any Bisleys,but do have 4 Super B-Hawks and they shoot well. I like the way they roll in your hand,at least for me. I also have 3 Smith .44's and don't really care for them as much. I should get a digital camera so I can post them.

Good luck with your purchase !

Brady from Arizona

 

[Brady]

Odessa- nice pic !

Yeah I don't really care for those grips as well,as the checkering seems to be unecessary. I put a pair of smooth cherry wood with finger grooves on my 4inch and love it.

I however would like to say that most rubber grips are not designed well.What I mean is that the cushion should be on the backstrap or where your webbing of your hand is,not so much on the sides. So I don't really care for Hogues or the others. Oh well !

My new BFR seems to be ok in that department.......................


Brady

 

[dairycreek]

I have two 44 mag. revolvers and.............

for me they are the ideal combination. They are the 3" S&W Trail Boss 629 and the 5.5" Ruger Redhawk. The 3" Trail Boss is just perfect for that which its name implies. Great gun for roaming the woods and hills of western Oregon. The Redhawk is a great hunting gun and will take all that ammo that is labeled "Ruger Only" as well as the milder, less expensive loads. Great combination for me. Good shooting

 

[AZGlock21]

Thanks Brady.. I think I will be picking one up. I definetly plan on reloading for it. Pics would be great.

 

[444]

I really like the .45 Colt cartridge. It is very versitile and has a lot going for it.
However, I like the .44 Mag. Better. It just seems to me that every .44 Mag revolver I have owned was very accurate and pretty much any load I tried in them was very accurate. Maybe I have just been lucky.
I own a number of .44 Mags: S&W Model 629 3", S&W Model 29 4", Ruger Super Blackhawk stainless 7 1/2", and a Herters Single Six with ? 6" barrel ? .
The first one I bought was the Super Blackhawk. Great shooter. Of course it can handle any loads you dream up. Big enough to soak up the recoil of those big loads and a nice long sight radius which makes good groups the norm. The second one I bought was the 4" Model 29 (as a side note, I always considered the SBH and the Model 29 to be required for any serious colletcion of guns). I bought it with the intention of using it for a belt gun while deer hunting. But, it shot loose (it was used when I bought it). I sent it away to Jack Weigand who worked his magic with it. It is now SUPER accurate and looks beautiful. Since getting it back, I have never fired another .44 Mag load out of it. It gets a steady diet of a 240 grain bullet over 15 grain of 2400 in a .44 Special case. I have a few targets saved with six shots making one hole at 25 yards. I also decided that this gun was too good looking to carry, so I bought the 629 3". It shoots very good and carries nicely in an El Paso Saddlery Threepersons rig. The Herters was an impulse buy. As a child, I spent many hours reading the Herters catalog that my dad had. I spotted it in the display case, briefly checked it out, forked over $175 for it, and went to shoot it. I have only fired the above mentioned .44 Special load in it, and it performs very well. Very good accuracy, nice trigger. I have no use for it, but I figured I couldn't pass it up for $175.
If I was picking out one .44 revolver, I think I would have to go with the SBH even though it is a royal pain to carry on the belt. But, I carried it that way over many miles and many adventures. It just has everything going for it except compactness.

 

[AZGlock21]

444..So do you really like the .44 special. I read another artice today about the S&W Thunder Ranch Special .44 special and I have to admit I am intrigued by it. Any thoughts?

 

[444]

Well, I don't own any guns that are actually chambered in .44 Special. All mine are .44 Magnums.
I load my lighter loads in .44 Special cases so there in no danger of a mix up. Of course there is no real danger, since again, all my guns are .44 Mags, but it gives me an easy way to tell at a glance whether this is a hot load or a target load.
As far as the .44 Special cartridge itself, I think it is a dandy cartridge. Plenty big enough for anything the average guy is going to do with a revovler: defense or hunting medium size game animals. I wouldn't feel undergunned using it on elk at short range. That .44 Special load I use would be plenty for deer or man. If you like the gun, go for it.

 

[patentnonsense]

Hi Crawler - get writing!!

That said, I think .44 is just a wonderful cartridge - I've got a 629 with the 8" barrel, which is nice for showoff accuracy but takes two hands to draw - I want to get a 6" or 4". I've got a Desert Eagle in .44, which is just a fun gun - I've reluctantly concluded that it's not reliable enough to bet one's life on. I've got a cute little derringer in .44M - it's not fun to shoot, but I load the first barrel with .44S. And I've got a cheap little Rossi carbine in .44 - accurate as can be, and I've taken one hog with it.

When I got the 629 I got a dozen or so grips and tried them all - I like the Pachmeyer presentation grips (the old fat ones). It really does make an all-day shooter out of the 629.

I did my CCW qualification with the Desert Eagle - got some odd looks, but it was the auto I was most comfortable with at the time. I let the other guys shoot first though!

There's something to be said for just plain loud too - the best thing about .45 is Mr. Casull...

 

[patentnonsense]

A nice antiflinching drill, BTW, is load 2 .44M, 2 .44S, and 2 fired brass, and spin the cylinder after every shot. I guess you could do the same with .454 and .45 too.

 

[AZGlock21]

Pretty dang good idea!!! Thanks

 

[Brady]

As far as recoil goes,spinning the cylinder with the different loads and the spent cases etc.,is fine if you want to see if you're flinching or someone else. But,if you want to get rid of any flinching,reload with mild loads until you know your gun well and then slowly work up to stiffer loads and then stay at that plateau for some time. Then when you think you've got these loads down,then start with full house loads.
I only shoot full house loads period. I figure if I'm going to practice for hunting,why would I use milder loads. As far as recoil goes,my theory is this. After you pull the trigger,2 things happen,1)a loud noise and 2) your gun pushes your hand and arm back. Well,if you're practicing,you'll usually have some ear protection,so the noise shouldn't be a problem. Have someone push your arm & hand back as fast as you can and their is your so-called recoil. We all know its all in our heads. I never think of recoil and love to shoot the biggest. Don't ask me why !............Any way,these are my thoughts on the recoil issue.

Anyone care to comment ?

Brady

 

[io333]

I've been thinking long and hard about picking up a .44 or a .45 revolver one of these days, but I am having a very difficult time deciding. One thing that is pushing me in the direction of the .45 is that from what I can figure, for the same energy downrange loads, the .45 will be somewhat quieter since it operates at lower pressures. I don't know for sure whether this is true or not, but should I ever touch off a round without hearing protection, I want to lose as little hearing as possible.

 

[Jim March]

Nightcrawler,

Maybe what you should ask yourself is "do I want to start reloading?"

And if the answer is "yes", then as long as you've already got good 45LC guns I think the answer is to stick with that.

More case volume means less pressure for the same results. Easier on you, easier on the gun. Late-model S&W N-frame 45LCs can shoot 250grainers @ 1,000fps no problem...Bufallo Bore is rumored to be working on such a critter as it would also maximize what the modern SAA and clones (USFA, Ubertis, etc) can do. The extra case capacity gives you a bit of safety when newbie reloading harder to pressure spike, although NOT impossible!)

Another reason I'd stay with the old LC: go check the specs on the Speer 250grain Gold Dot JHP at around 875fps from a 4" tube. It's a "giant cavity" hollowpoint and just maybe the most kick-butt personal defense load for handguns ever, period, and still be controllable. The 44Mag "lite" equivelents involve 200grain JHPs at 1,000 - 1,100 which...I don't think is as good.

Between that 250 Gold Dot (sold as a loading component), various hardcasts and the Hornady XTPs from 225 to 300gr. for hunting JHPs PLUS all the projectiles from the 45ACP world, your projectile selection is superb when handloading.

If you're NOT handloading, the 45LC is going to be a pain.

 

[BluesBear]

do you really like the .44 special.

Personally I love the .44 Special.

I carry .44 special loads in my 3" Model 29. They feel like .38 specials.

For thise times when it's difficult to conceal the N-frame I cary a 2" five shot Taurus. It's a perfect fit in a K-frame holster. EVen though I prefer wood grips the rubber one's supplied by Taurus work really well. I have no recoill problems with any factory load.

 

[LAH]

I'm with Jim on this one. I love the 44 but if I had a 45 and had the choice between another sixgun and to start reloading, I'd go with stuffing brass.