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44 Special Vs. .44 Magnum: Is .44 Spl Good For Anything?

I used a. 44 special Bulldog for Ccw for couple of years in colder weather and used a. 44 magnum as my exclusive centerfire cartridge in Michigan for hunting for close to 30 years. And that's exactly how I preferred it.

The .44 magnum was superior in hunting needs where distances may be longer than normal self defense situation for animals in the deer and black bear range.

The .44 special has plenty of punch along with the large mass of a. 44 bullet for closer defense situations with the added bonus of quicker recovery time. I greatly preferred the special in a short barreled revolver.

So in answer, both have uses.

Due to arthritis I have since changed over to .357 magnums.
 
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HansGruber said:
Depends on the use.

The 3” 629 I like to keep close at hand in my home is loaded with specials, not magnums…faster follow ups, less chance of a miss ending up going through 3 houses.

If I’m out in the wild and worried about bears? Then yes, magnums.
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I'll agree on snub-nosed barrels that non-magnum/specials is a better fit. I state ma all the way as I had a 629 w/ 8 3/8" barrel. The only revolver I've ever owned. The 629 fit my grip style better than other frames. A huge waste of powder on sb'd guns on magnum cartridges. 1 day I'll get a revolver in 444M and/or 45-70.
 
I've loaded some 44 specials up to 900fps for my Model 29 as pre-hunting practice rounds. That's higher velocity and greater mass than a 45 acp. Granted a standard 44 revolver like the CA Bulldog will probably put a top strap into the side of your head on a steady diet of them but you can get away with 1 or 2 of them or use them all day in a pre 29 big Smith.

Elmer Keith did develop the 44 magnum by overcharging 44 specials in big S&W N frames.
 
I only own two guns that will fire .44 caliber bullets. I purchased a Charter Arms Bulldog, which only shoots .44 Special, a few years back because I consider it a classic and the price (per-pandemic) was around $300. My Bulldog isn't fired very often, but I do enjoy taking it to the range from time-to-time. My Marlin lever-action will fire either .44 Special or .44 Magnum, but I've never fired a .44 Special round through it.

I'm sure that I could find a legitimate reason to justify .44 Special over .44 Magnum if I really tried, but I honestly only fire any .44 Special at all because I like the Bulldog. Luckily for me, I'm fine with having an oddball cartridge for no other reason than, "Because I like it and it's fun". Not everything in my collection needs to be tactical.
 
Annihilator said:
Good story on the .44spec/.44mag cartridge, great rounds, love the .44spec and there is nothing I can say about the .44mag, well maybe iconic. Good read

gundigest.com

.44 Special Vs. .44 Magnum: Is .44 Spl Good For Anything?

Between .44 Special vs. .44 Magnum, which is best for what? Both are capable of defense, hunting and sport shooting, but some more than others.
gundigest.com
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Thanks for an informative article. I own a 44mag pistol / Lever action rifle. The rifle is part of my home defense with a G 31. I use specials at the range and will typically run 1 cylinder (pistol) and 5 rds (rifle) of magnum before leaving for practice and also to enjoy the added "thump".
 
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