44Magnum The Most Versatile Handgun Caliber

[grter]

Even though I havn't yet mastered the .44 magnum, when I do I can see it as being my favorite. I see the .44 magnum as a hunter's gun.

For self defence I would not want anything thing hotter than a low power .357 but would lean toward .38 special ,9mm, or 45 caliber (not hot loaded .45s)

I think hot loads, unless being used to penetrate a barrier are not as good for SD.

The extra recoil makes target reaquisition more timely and difficult not to mention huge muzzle flash and a blast loud enough to impair your ears for good after one SD encounter. That is comming out of a full size gun appropriate for the round in a short barreled snub it is much worse from what I have read.

If you are in a crowded area those powerful bullets which are way way too much overkill when it comes to disabling a human will have well enough enery left to kill or injure inocent bystanders in the area or even through the walls of their own house.

That is my opinion but it is from an urban (city, highly populated area) point of view.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Getting no where fast.

These threads always crack me up a bit..... and I participate anyway.

Let's throw a monkey wrench in and make a statement like


THE 480 RUGER IS FAR AND AWAY THE MOST VERSATILE REVOLVER CARTRIDGE!!!!!!

 

[Ed Ames]

Yes, but their needs and those of concealed carriers, sky marshals, and detectives do make up a substantial part of the spectrum, and if a handgun cannot reasonably meet the needs of any of those, I do not see how it can be said to be "versatile".

Part of the problem is the existence of the semi-auto renders the question somewhat moot. However...

Could sky marshals, detectives, patrol officers, and so on carry revolvers? Absolutely. The choice has been made to not carry them though.

In an alternate universe where the decision went the other way and they do carry revolvers, could a .44 magnum cartridge be loaded to be an effective round for them? Absolutely. It would be larger than it absolutely needs to be though. Those users could have their needs met with a cartridge half an inch or more shorter than the magnum.

Since it can also be loaded to suit the needs of hunters, ursaphobes, and people that want to shoot targets in their basement (using wax or hot melt glue bullets), it is very versatile. If the alternative (e.g. a 7.65 nagant) cannot serve all of those needs, it is more versatile than the alternative.

... The ability to vary the loads is one thing, but the ability to carry the gun comfortably all day (possibly concealed), hold sufficient capacity, and get, say, six shots into two moving targets in four tenths of a second are much more important in some applications. Large, rimmed cartridges are not a very good choice for those uses.

That's platform versatility and I'm inclined to agree with you. There is never a great one size fits all ANYTHING. The question, then, is, "If I had to pick something as my one-size-fits-all, what would it be?"

In my case my answer was not .44 magnum. It was also not a semi-auto. My own answer was (as I mentioned before) .454 casull. I have a lever carbine and a snub nosed revolver chambered for the .454. Between the two of them I can fire 6 or 11 260gr bullets at 1400ish or 2000ish FPS, and I can fire plinking ammo at 800fps, and that means I can cover everything from small game to large, from recreational shooting to any kind of self defense, with one cartridge. Versatile.

Is that what I have in my pocket right this second? No.

 

[TennJed]

It is funny seeing grown men argue over the world "versatile". It all depends on what you consider versatile.

I got a box of 22lr that I can shoot in revolvers (big and very small), semi auto (big and very small), rifles (bolt actions, semi autos, lever action).

That my friends is versatility

 

[GP100man]

I knew it was a big can of worms opened when I saw it !!!!

 

[CraigC]

THE 480 RUGER IS FAR AND AWAY THE MOST VERSATILE REVOLVER CARTRIDGE!!!!!!

Ok, you win!

Craig C. IT is you who need to take another look at the notes.

If you say so, I only have half of Keith's work on my desk and the other half on the bookshelf to my left. Along with countless other sources.

There are so many varying sources to include the Limbaugh Papers it is ridiculous.

The fact that you can't spell Linebaugh, think Dick Casull's work had nothing to do with the .45Colt and offer a Wikipedia article as a credible source tells me exactly what we're dealing with. Take notice, everybody else is saying Phil Sharpe on the .357Mag, with Doug Wesson getting an honorable mention. Like I said, do your homework because rest assured, I have done mine.

 

[Eb1]

Let's see that white handled .44 one more time, CriagC. I can't get enough of that revolver.

 

[Jaymo]

I was going to weigh in, but what I'd say would probably result in another infraction or warning.
Suffice it to say, I like both, but wouldn't dream of going after 500+ pound GA feral hogs armed with nothing more than a .357.
For self defense, a 125 grain .357, loaded to the gills, is a fantastic SD load, that also just happens to have an ear shattering blast and is hard on forcing cones.
I can get equal or better performance from a .44 or .45 caliber with a LOT less blast and flash, due to the fact that it doesn't have to be loaded so damned hot.

The .357 is a fine round, but it simply can NOT take the really big game that the .44/.45 can.
It's like comparing the .223 to the .30-06.

Thank God we're not limited to one round.
If we were, the .357 would not be the one I'd chose. Not if I included deer/bear/hog hunting with it.

I say, we should sell all of our pistols and just buy a .32 S&W Long.
After all, it's fantastically accurate and accuracy is final.
Besides, Buffalo Bore loads self defense ammo for it, now.

 

[Eb1]

Here,here!

I just started loading my 32 H&R Magnum with 32 S&W Long because my wife can handle them better. They are half jacket HP bullets, and I don't see anything wrong with her confidence being high with a gun she feels comfortable shooting. It is very accurate. More accurate out of my J Frame than the 32 H&R Mags I have at the moment.

 

[Valkman]

I'm not going to read 5 pages of this pissing match but I will comment on something the OP said, something like "The 44Mag isn't a caliber you think of to go plinking at the range" but that's EXACTLY what I do. I load my own, don't load 'em too hot and my S&W 629 is just a joy to shoot. The last several trips to the range I've taken it and shot way more than the XD45 I also took. Just a fun and very versatile cartridge. Oops I said versatile!

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by TennJedd: It is funny seeing grown men argue over the world "versatile". It all depends on what you consider versatile.

You nailed it.

A couple of people were addressing versatility on the loading bench.

If the discussion is one of how powerful one can load the round and how well can it perform with lesser loads, the .454 Casull is very versatile, and so is the .44 Magnum. Similarly, back in the day, one could explain why a .22-250 was more "versatile" in that regard than a .220 Swift.

However, one will find that 9 mm Parabellum cartridges can be used in everything from pocket pistols that are so tiny that they are difficult for most of us to shoot well to large capacity handguns that are difficult to conceal under business attire. From that standpoint, it is more versatile than a .45 Colt or anything bigger.

I'm not yet to the point where I refer to a Colt Cobra or New Service revolver or a Colt Woodsman as a "platform". We speak of platforms in the IT world, and weapon systems folks now often refer to weapons carriers as "platforms." I will go along with today's crowd and refer to the F/A-18 E plane as a "platform" (it started off as a "weapon system"), but I've never heard anyone refer to the 20 mm gun inside as such.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Ok already I changed platform

I think for the most part this discussion has been very reasonable and I appreciate it and hope others learn just as much from it. But keep in mind the criteria I used (my experience real life situations I have been in) of why I chose the 44magnum. I would not take a 9mm on a hog hunting trip as a backup weapon, but I guess any backup weapon is better than none.

 

[Kleanbore]

I would not take a 9mm on a hog hunting trip as a backup weapon,...

Agreed.

 

[CraigC]

Let's see that white handled .44 one more time, CriagC. I can't get enough of that revolver.

This ole junky thang?

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I would not take a 9mm on a hog hunting trip as a backup weapon

Not me...gimmie the .44





Shot a 90 pounder years ago with rifle and it ran into a thicket alongside a swamp drainage canal. Waited 30+ minutes and went in looking. I heard it snorting & grunting so I backed out. Went in 30 minutes later with S&W model 29 in hand. Found the pig dead and didn't need the .44.

Friend went in with me 2nd time with a Browning .22 pistol in his hand. He said later, "I'll never do that again with just a .22."

There went the versatility of the .22.

 

[35 Whelen]

You guys have posted some great pictures of some beautiful handguns, but I just have to ask: Do any of you EVER shoot them? In all the pictures I see, all the firearms are unmarred, no holster wear, no soot, no lube star on the muzzles. The holsters are perfect with no scuffs, cracks or scratches. No matter how often I clean my guns, they all seem to develop holster wear, nicks, dings, etc. from being shot weekly and carried almost daily!

 

[CraigC]

Mine above was taken the day after taking two hogs with it in the South Carolina swamp. So yeah, they get used.

However, it was its first outing (now 8yrs ago) after getting it back from the gunsmith, who refinished the whole thing.

What you can see in this recent pic of another .44Mag is the heavy cylinder ring. What you can't see is that half the finish is worn off the grip frame and trigger.

 

[flipajig]

I fell inlove with the 44 mag 30 years ago and still love it today when I go in the hills it goes with me. I reload all my own ammo it's the reason I got into loading becouse of the savings in ammo alone I load from mild to wild and I don't mean excessive wild eather you have to control the wild. I have snake loads for it and they work for quite well. The 44 I'm talking about is a SBH with a 7.5" barrel I have a gun belt set up with a cross draw holster with 20 or so extra rounds. I also cast my own Boolits when not on my hip it's loaded with soft lead Boolits at 45 auto valosity. I live way out in the country and my closest neighbor is a 1/2 mile away so over penitration is not a isue. If some thing Happens and it's needed any gun looks like a cannon but bigger is better. I also shoot mine a lot and I'm not bragging but I hit what I shoot at. And as my signature states Aim small miss small.
Flip.

 

[savit260]

You guys have posted some great pictures of some beautiful handguns, but I just have to ask: Do any of you EVER shoot them? In all the pictures I see, all the firearms are unmarred, no holster wear, no soot, no lube star on the muzzles. The holsters are perfect with no scuffs, cracks or scratches

Is that better? Fresh off the range...


If you're talking about my holster pics.. The pic with the Walnut Gripped 45 BH in it... the pic NOT being worn.... That was taken the first day I received the holster a few years ago..

If you look at the pic where I'm wearing it... you'll notice scuffs bangs, and a good bit of the black worn off the snap that's visible.




Regarding the BH in the pic... I haven't owned this particular one long enough to wear any blue off it yet.(although it's already starting a little on the high spots) Had this one about a month... My 45 BH (got it about 3 years ago) show quite a bit more holster wear.

 

[back40]

savit260, those are some fine looking grips. and craigc, your holly handled bisley is one of the finest looking sixguns i've ever laid eyes on. i need to have some new stocks made for mine.

 

[dickydalton]

I have about 30 different "versatile" calibers to choose from in many different types of handguns. I love them all and would want at least one of them with me at all times and any crook would not want me to be shooting anyone of them at him/her. That said a tiny 380, Colt Officers 45 and a 44 629 Mountain Gun are the main ones I carry. Where I'm going is what makes the decision for me. The last goes anywhere.

 

[B!ngo]

The timing of this post is interesting.
After shooting semi-autos for years, and not having shot a revolver for many years, I decided to purchase my first in .44 magnum. It's a Perf Center (V-Comp) and it was not designed to replace or be the single all-around handgun I own. But rather, to do things that other handguns simply cannot do. Whether a throttled down .44 special for HD/PD or .44 magnum for camping/small aircraft travel, having something that is, for me, the maximum manageable power in a handgun is an important 'add'.
I've been aware that reloading would give greater span of capabilities of the gun, and reading these posts have likely convinced me to begin, if only for this caliber.
B

 

[bluetopper]

Every cartridge has its place and has its fans, but in my opinion the 44 Magnum renders the 357 all but obsolete.

 

[22-rimfire]

Every cartridge has its place and has its fans, but in my opinion the 44 Magnum renders the 357 all but obsolete.

Let's start this discussion all over again.

My view is much like Kleanbore in that different calibers have different uses. You can load down a 44 mag to powder puff levels or you can make it painful to shoot. If I only owned one revolver, then well, I might be interested in powder puff. But I'm not.

It's obvious. Everyone does his own thing and has fun doing it.

 

[buck460XVR]

It's obvious. Everyone does his own thing and has fun doing it.

^^^This......and one should not hafta justify it to others. As long as one is safe, responsible and not a threat to others with their firearms, what difference should it make what model/make or caliber they are? As for versatile......I tend to stick with firearms that are purpose specific. Gives me a chance to own and shoot more of 'em.