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Re: .44 special

Posted: 26 Jun 2021 20:10
by Reese-Mo
Just tested... They feed like "buttah"

Re: .44 special

Posted: 28 Jun 2021 00:00
by Archer
To each their own caliber choices.

That thing about .45 Colt doing anything a .44 Magnum will do and more keeps coming up.
I think that's a very gun dependent statement. True if you pick the right gun(s) to hot load but potentially false if you try to run those .45 Colt Magnum loads in any old .45 Colt weapon.

I've seen enough busted guns in all calibers that I don't feel the need to load beyond book for much of anything. I will load right up to the published limits on .44 Mag and I'll load to the true .45-70 levels that aren't reduced for the black powder Springfield rifles in poor repair. I tend to mark those warm .45-70 rounds very clearly as to the load data and purpose and I don't push them to the 40KPSI mark just because Marlin runs the .444 Marlin up to that sort of pressure limit.

Under normal circumstances I can get factory ammo in true .44 Magnum level loads and I can get reduced .44 Magnum loaded to Special levels or Cowboy powderpuff levels. IF I can find them I can load the guns with outright .44 Special ammo. And the rounds are safe in just about any .44 Magnum weapon that's not falling apart. (I have seen some of the foreign clone revolvers in .44 Magnum that weren't in time that I didn't care to fire with any ammo.)

Under those same circumstances IF I want .45 Colt in anything much above .45 ACP levels I either have to order them from a Boutique source like CorBon, Garrett or Buffalo Bore at a price to match OR I have to load them myself. Those Boutique rounds tend to have a list of one to three weapons that they are considered safe to use in. Reloading data that's published by reliable sources tend to limit those rounds to very specific weapons also. Yeah the 'modern 92s' are generally safe for those rounds but rarely will any of the reloading data say so. None of the Colt clones, SA Colts, Smith & Wessons including the N frames are something you are going to want to pop them off in.

Re: .44 special

Posted: 28 Jun 2021 15:59
by Reese-Mo
So true.

I do have "rifle only" loads here for 45Colt. And more moderate loads too. And I'd never think of shooting the loads for the 44 Rossi and Ruger GP, in my Charter. Clearly marked in three ways, to avoid issues too.

Old Elmer blew up his share of Peacemakers before he switched to DA S&Ws.

Re: .44 special

Posted: 28 Jun 2021 19:40
by mr surveyor
since this all started out discussing .44 spl, it reminds me that I still lust for a .44 spl revolver that will fit my digitally challenged hands. The Ruger SP-101 frame fits perfectly, as that's what I've carried 5-6 days a week "in the field" for the last 11 years. Since I'm still totally in love with that 1993 vintage .357 mag SP-101 I reckon I don't really "need" something along the same lines in .44 spl .... I "want" something in .44 spl that fits.

jd

Re: .44 special

Posted: 28 Jun 2021 20:37
by Reese-Mo
My ex got the SP101 in 38special. Great gun. I used it in training CWP safety class for 11 years, dry fired a ton and then some. It did distort the recoil shield/firing pin cup a bit, but it was easily remedied with a little gizmo I made from an 11/32 ejector pin (thanks to a mold making buddy). I liked its fit too. The little Charter Boomer, same as the Bulldog in frame, has an option for their compact grips. Dunno if you can try any out locally to you, but they have a good feel as well.

Truth be told, I carry 44 Russians in the Boomer, its the only "factory" ammo I could get at reasonable price ($24/50) a few years ago. The 44 Special is a handloader's cartridge to make it economical, but the cases last as well as any 38special case that's light loaded. IOW, a very long time.

Re: .44 special

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 00:35
by Archer
I've trashed at least one set of snap caps in a Ruger GP100.
The little SP101 is a nice package.
A little bit of weight makes it pretty easy to shoot if a bit less handy to carry.

Re: .44 special

Posted: 29 Jun 2021 16:33
by HarryAlonzo
My only 44 Spl revolver is a Taurus 441, a clone of an S&W K frame. Its 44 Mag brother is an S&W Model 69 Combat Magnum (L frame). Both 4 inch barrels, and both get a steady diet of warm 44 Spl (240 Gr, 950 fps). Both are trail/field carry. The Model 69 has Pachmayr Compact grips for the chest rig and Ahrends target grips for hip carry. The 441 factory grips aren’t bad, which is fortunate since nobody offers any after-factory.

Re: .44 special

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 11:37
by Reese-Mo
Thinking serious about loading some 200g .44SP DEWC They ought to fly like a barge thru butter