your thoughts on the .44 Special for self defense?

[mrstang01]

After a lot of research, I chose the .44 Special for my bedside gun to replace the .357 that had lived there for years. It's not as hard on the ears if you have to shoot it indoors as the higher pressure Magnum, and with the Gold Dot's, I'm confident it will anchor what I point it at.

Of course, it's the S&W 624 Lew Horton Special, not a lot bigger than the L frame's several people have posted.

 

[Archie]

What gun do you have?

The Charter Bulldogs and other light snubbies are very unpleasant in recoil. A four inch "N" frame is really easy to shoot.

The 246 LRN factory load (725 fps) is rather anemic. A 245 grain SWC at 900 fps is a real snot slapper. But the heavier loading is for the bigger guns.

I would like to see a 180 or 200 grain wadcutter or cup point (reverse hollowbase) bullet for the 44 Special. Check out the Lee mold 429-208-WC. At reasonable pressure and velocity, that would be a very effective projectile for self defense. The recoil should not be a major problem in the lighter guns. But it lacks the 'cool' factor of a jacketed hollow point, so it will be overlooked.

 

[Preacherman]

I know of three defensive shootings with the .44 Special. All were from 3" barrel revolvers (two Rossi, one Taurus), back in South Africa, and all used SWC ammo (200gr. LSWC, no HP, at about 900 fps). Two were one-shot stops, COM hits; one required a second shot for a (permanent) stop.

I've always liked the .44 Special and .45 Colt/.45 ACP as "stopping" rounds, especially with SWC loads. They've been doing the job for about 100 years or more, and there have been very few complaints about their performance - at least from the shooter's point of view! Hollow-points are nice, to be sure, but a half-inch hole through someone's torso is a pretty stout argument all on its own...

 

[Jim March]

You're right, if you have to do without hollowpoints, a 44/45 SWC "Keith type" load does work.

I prefer a good hollowpoint but if those aren't available...

 

[Tamara]

I must think it's okay, or I wouldn't be carrying a 296 stuffed with Federal 200gr LSWC-HP's around in my purse all day.

 

[The Rabbi]

In general it seems that big fat slow moving bullets create more damage than thin zippy bullets (all you .357SIG fans take note). I love the .44SP--low recoil and easy to shoot. As far as expansion: at .44 caliber, who cares? THe usual formula, as I understand it, is that the bullet will expand half again as much. Is a .66 caliber wound going to be that much more lethal than a .44? I doubt it.
I like someone's comment about it being the revolver equivalent of the .45acp. I wish there were more guns chambered in it and more ammo available.

 

[JERRY]

id trade my g30 for that gun Tamara is carrying.

 

[orangeninja]

Thanks guys. I was actually considering the Bulldog by Charter.

 

[JERRY]

had 2 charter arms bulldogs in the 80's. nice concept, did not hold up well to "normal" shooting.

unless theyve learned to make them better, id go with a taurus "mini" .44spl.

 

[Tamara]

In any lightweight K/L-frame size .44 Spl, shun loads with bullet weights over 200gr. They seem to deliver an unreasonable pounding to the littler guns.

 

[TechBrute]

Alduro,

What, did Sig start making .44spl guns?

T

 

[Nightcrawler]

Check out Buffalo Bore's two .44 Special offerings. One is a 180 grain JHP at 1150 feet per second. The other is a 255 grain Keith-type SWC at 1000 feet per second (big game load).

They're VERY pricey, but Buffalo Bore makes top notch ammunition. And, if you don't handload, and want a high power, low-pressure round for your .44 Special, there you go.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Specials are just that: Special

Here should be the new Smith .44 Special

 

[ivan]

per la mia 629 il tamburo è cosi....


1 44 magnum (24,0 gr winchester 296) (240 gr)
2 44 magnum (10,5 gr vihtavuori340) (240 gr)
3 44 magnum (10,5 gr vihtavuori340) (240 gr)
4 44 magnum (25,7 gr winchester 296) (240 gr)
5 44 magnum (25,7 gr winchester 296) (240 gr)
6 44 magnum (25,7 gr winchester 296) (240 gr)

 

[BluesBear]

Ok Ivan, just what does that have to do with carrying/using a .44 Special for self defense?