The gentler .44 Special is definitely easier to control, especially when it comes to making accurate follow-up shots. with 310 ft.-lbs. The .44 Russian's development dates back to 1870, when Russian General Alexander Gorloff, stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Washington D.C., approached Smith & Wesson regarding the possibility of purchasing a large quantity of its Model 3 revolvers for the Imperial Russian Army. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Starline produces ready to load brass and of course any .429/.430 inch lead bullet between about 180 to 250 grains is usable. While shooters can (and often do) argue ethereal concepts like stopping power and shootability until the cows come home, the numbers simply dont lie. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Developed as a big-bore revolver cartridge in the 1950s, the .44 Magnum quickly grew to widespread adoption. They brought the gp100 in 44 spl back a few years ago. Of course, Russian and Special .44s can be safely fired in .44 Magnum revolvers, but I freely admit nowadays Im far fonder of shooting the Russian version from Navy Arms replica 3rd Model No. Velocity spreads with Titegroup shrank from 65 fps with RNFP bullets to 20 fps with wadcutters. If you wanted to find a really cool vintage .44 Special, look for a Smith & Wesson Model 21 or Model 24, though some Triple Locks and Colt New Service guns survive as well. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Learn how your comment data is processed. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. It amazes me how many shooters young and old talk about their .44 [] Magnum for four-legged adversaries and Special for two-legged predators. The .44mag was made in 1975 and the little .357 is an early eighties model. Stopping the attacker is the goal here, and that doesnt necessarily mean death (although that is often the end result). Bill Jordan said as much in his book No Second Place Winner; as did fellow Border Patrolman Skeeter Skelton. The .44 Magnum was the end result of decades of hot .44 Spl hand loads. Case length was 0.97 and velocity was likely a bit over 700 fps. Comedian and Student of Life | Ep 029 JP Sears. That means theres plenty more .44 Magnum ammo and firearm variety. However, the weight of the gun and the weight of the projectile its firing also affect the amount of recoil produced. The genesis of the .44 Magnum was a group of tinkerers, cowboys and gun nuts who werent satisfied with factory loads. Less powder (you'll notice in in the posder bills too). A popular ammunition for recreational shooters and hunting rifle aficionados, .44 Magnum ammo combines velocity, energy and great performance. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. The load pushed that hefty projectile out the muzzle at 780 feet per second. The .44 Spl has been mostly kept alive by custom handloaders and cowboy action shooters. God, Liberty. He turned what had been almost exclusively a target cartridge into a viable big game hunting cartridge. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. However, this cartridge is ultra-mild in the recoil department while still providing plenty of accuracy and energy at self-defense ranges. The Flying Ashtray was, is and will always be the sadly discontinued #4477 Speer 200g JHP. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. Ammo: Elk, Deer And Everything Else, 10 Best Long-Range Cartridges of All Time (2023), 8 On-Target Concealed Carry Insurance Options (2022), 10 Affordable Double-Barrel Shotgun Options (2022), Best AR-15 Options For Any Budget And Buyers Guide (2022), Best Concealed Carry Handguns For Women (2022). A heavier handgun will produce less felt recoil, because the mass of the gun absorbs some of that rearward force. The .44 Spls ballistics arent too far off from the .45 ACP, which remains a popular option for both law enforcement and civilian personal defense. Below, from left to right: .44 S&W Russian, .44 S&W Special and .44 Remington Magnum. On 44 WCF its .471. It typically produced a velocity of 750 feet per second with 310 foot-pounds of energy. Cowboy load for .44 Magnum I started shooting with a local Cowboy Action Shooting club several months ago. Related Links; Rock Island Arsenal Bolt action .22 TCM; Savage Arms Corp. Model 24 Combination Gun .22LR/.410 GA; SMITH & WESSON S&W 14-2 K-38 MASTERPIECE 38 . Or is .44 Magnum the best cartridge in .44? Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Mar/Apr 2023, P.O. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Available by Appointment for Lectures on Any Topic, Quote from: PJ Hardtack on January 16, 2018, 02:48:30 PM, Quote from: Professor Marvel on January 17, 2018, 01:53:14 AM, Quote from: PJ Hardtack on January 17, 2018, 03:47:27 PM, learn from the past, or be doomed to repeat it. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. On the left Family. of Unique yields 790 fps all from a 71/2 Colt Single Action. Midsouth Shooters can supply you with your pistol and rifle ammunition, as well as all of your shooting and reloading supplies. The Magnums substantial recoil also makes getting multiple shots on target quickly a real challenge. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. That means theres less time for wind and gravity to pull the bullet off course. The cartridge remains popular in the United States and many rounds like the 44 Special and 44 Magnum were directly influenced by it. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Home; Categories. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. There is, however, a known phenomenon of shorter cases sometimes degrading accuracy most likely due to gas inefficiency and/or a longer jump to the leade. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load. The all steel Pug has been my EDC for years. My Colts have dual cylinders, 44-40 & Special. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). (II) Limit one entry per household. I use the M29, but I handload for in between load (20gr 2400 Keith lead bullet)! Again, the new cartridge was a wonder of innovation (sarcasm intended). No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. However, it may be necessary to shorten a .44 Magnum/.44 Special expanding die as well as a seater/crimper die to be able to reach the relatively short .44 Russian case. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. And this is not limited to the cowboy/old west shooters. Taming its recoil takes some serious effort. Because .44 Mag hums along at a significantly higher velocity than .44 Spl, it also carries a ton more kinetic energy with it. Both the Mag and the Special are used by serious bullseye competitors, which proves both are capable of consistent accuracy. I've been shooting a 44 Mag for over 50 years and have used all manufactures of brass. In our SDB we cannot use Lee dies OR regular Dillon dies. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. S&W wanted to enter the large frame, swing-out cylinder market. Taurus - 44SS8 8.375in 44 Magnum Stainless 6RD. The .44Spl is a wonderful cartridge in the GP-100 and a bit of a handful in the Charter Arms Bulldog Pug when loading jacketed bullets although big, heavy, slow lead bullets work just fine. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. However, Ive known a few old-timers who claim to have tagged a few whitetails with their Special. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Whether youre a serious big-game hunter or just a serious recoil junkie, shooting .44 Mag can deliver a major adrenaline rush. I've 'made' .455 brass but .45 long colt brass is on the thick side when you trim it that short. Velocity changed also to nominal 1,470 fps. .44 Magnum ammo was designed by firearm enthusiast Elmer Keith. However, bullets changed from 246-gr. Compared to the hotrod .44 Magnum, the Special delivers fairly sluggish speeds. However, with a well-placed shot, the animal will eventually succumb to blood loss. [1][3], However, Gorloff had some reservations about the standard .44 S&W American chambering of the pistol which, similar to today's .22 long rifle, had an externally lubricated heeled bullet. "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. If an expanding bullet hits the target at a slower rate of speed, it may fail to expand. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. As far as ballistics, when fired from a 6-inch barrel revolver, a heavy 240-grain .44 Magnum bullet can reach speeds of up to 1,380 feet per second, generating kinetic energy at themuzzle of 1,015 . Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. and the case is the same outside diameter. When it comes to the debate of .44 Special versus .44 Magnum, are there any good reasons to choose the former? If you were really torn about these two cartridges, the best practice would be to get a .44 Magnum and figure out which .44 Special loads shoot to the sights and don't lose any accuracy. Either way, HSM has you covered. Only a mother could love a face like yours. To ensure we had as close to an apples-to-apples comparison as possible, we looked at Noslers load data. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. Some of these early factory loads had lube grooves exposed. At ignition, the projectile is going to rattle around in the chamber until it engages the rifling and won't be real accurate. The Duke was also feted with a US governmentpaid buffalo hunting trip with Buffalo Bill Cody and US generals Philip Sheridan and George Armstrong Custer, where he was impressed with Cody's adeptness with firearms. (In fact, they'll chamber the .44 Special cartridges.) Remington engineered the cartridge for the new big-bore wheel gun by lengthening the .44 Spl case. First introduced in 1907, the .44 S&W Special cartridge was developed specifically as a revolver cartridge for the companys new Triple Lock wheel gun. Both enjoyed very long service lives, commonly available until WWII. The extra space allows loaders to pack 4.4 more grains of propellant into the .44 Mag. In the same publication, Col. Charles Askins wrote that .44 Magnum is a man's cartridge, but he would also later write that it and .41 Magnum had too much recoil for serious prolonged use. They were derived in a stair step fashion. (II) Limit one entry per household. That said, if .44 Special appeals to you as a defensive cartridge, there are still plenty of relatively small revolver options out there to choose from (even if most will be second-hand). Theres very little difference in overall length, although the .44 Spl case is about an of an inch shorter. RN to 240-gr. And the .455 Webley should be .455 Webley Way Short and a .450 Webley would be How in the world do you have any room for the daggone powder and a bullet Short Short. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. View as Grid . Both cartridges were originally designed for big bore revolvers. More calibers. S&W introduced their first metallic cartridge-firing revolver in 1870. View as Grid . A number of ammunition companies still manufacture .44 Russian ammunition: Black Hills Cowboy action ammunition 210 grain lead flat point; Fiocchi ammunition 247 grain lead round nose Best 7mm Rem. Got a few other issues to deal with .. My wife uses LFC dies in both of her 550's as well as other Lee dies, the only Dillon dies we use are the powder thru funnels so they are compatible with the powder hopper. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Deployed military should use stateside address. Heres the early .44 Smith & Wesson cartridges, (left to right) .44 American, Russian and Special. The Flying Ashtray was, is and will always be the sadly discontinued #4477 Speer 200g JHP. BTW, before the Magnum was even thought of the .44 S&W Special was the Bullseye Competition Cartridge of Choice for many years. Sign-up now to get more revolver content every Wednesday! RN bullets over 3.8 grs. Reloading dies are available from most manufacturers. You may be thinking of the 44 Magnum or the 44 Special, they will both chamber the 44 Russian, as it is the parent round of both. Save my name and email to use for future comments. The .44 Russian chambering became a hit in the domestic market as well, gaining a reputation as the first American revolver cartridge offering inherent accuracy. Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited. is a Navy Arms replica of a 3rd Model S&W .44 Russian. [4], The .44 Russian was the parent cartridge for the .44 Special introduced in 1907, which in turn was the parent to the .44 Magnum in 1956.[2]. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Handloaders can choose from almost every bullet style under the sun. There are many loads for both .44 Special and .44 Magnum that satisfy the FBI standard of 12 to 18 inches of penetration in ballistic gel through 4 layers of denim. Of course you can shoot a shorter round in the same caliber. Shooting 44 Specials And 44 Russians In Our 44 Magnums For That Extra Hoot FortuneCookie45LC 63.6K subscribers Subscribe 5.5K views 5 years ago The often mentioned fouling and residue buildup. Reloading the .44 Russian is made easier today with the availability of .44 Magnum Carbide sizing dies. Both are good for bowling pin shoots, though you'll get faster splits using .44 Special. They chambered just fine. For hunting, either with a rifle or a handgun, the .44 Remington Magnum is capable of taking even the toughest game animals. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. We will be happy to answer any of your . (IV) Winners must undergo a background check and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. He warped around at the speed of heat, immediately striking and striking again while I desperately crab-walked backward, one-handing shots at him while he, Rival Arms expands its offerings with the X1 Red Dot, a 3 MOA red dot ideally suited for use on defensive pistols, target pistols, rifles, hunting and Quite possibly, for the very first time, all three Gun Cranks agree on something open carry is stupid! bullet at a similar velocity of about 750 fps. One large group purchaser of S&W Americans made two important changes after their additional order. With the same 225-grain cast bullet, the .45 Schofield's velocity ranges were clearly improved compared to the .45 Colt's velocity ranges at the load levels of fast-burning propellants common to cowboy events. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Smith & Wesson released their new wheel gun chambered for a more modern .44-caliber cartridge - the .44 Smith & Wesson Special. Mine currently are the RCBS "cowboy" style with carbide sizing die and case mouth belling die with plug diameter of .426 inch. Posted: 12/9/2011 3:27:38 PM EST [#5] No purchase necessary. They changed the grip frame of the American, adding a small hump at the top of the backstrap, preventing the pistol from sliding in the hand under recoil. Smith & Wesson introduced the first successful big-bore, centerfire sixgun, the Model #3 American, in 1869. Smith & Wesson's popular .44 Russian cartridge had established a reputation for superb accuracy and was a renowned target load, and they decided to use an improved smokeless powder version as the basis for the new round. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Contest open to U.S. residents only. The humble Special got a bad rap throughout the years, overshadowed by its bigger brother, but that doesnt necessarily mean its without its uses. And both are fine options for hunting and home defense. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. .44 Russian is .429 same as .44 spl, .44 Mag. Its recognizable by a large thumb screw on the topstrap. If recoil is a turn-off, the .44 Spl is probably the better option. Our Big Boy models will push a 240-grain projectile up to 1600 feet per second, more than enough energy to take any North American . For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.). In late 1907 the .44 Russian sired its son, the .44 Special, and was around in late 1955 to see its grandson, the .44 Magnum arrive. 38 Colt Short, 38 Colt Long, 38 Special in a .357 Magnum. Those factory loads leaded like the dickens! Loading the 44 russian may need a new die or two. Good reasons to choose the former round in the same brand and type load bore revolvers expanding bullet the... Reasons to choose the former with a rifle or a handgun, the animal will eventually succumb to blood.. Remington Magnum is capable of consistent accuracy swing-out cylinder market makes getting multiple shots on target quickly a real.. New wheel gun by lengthening the.44 remington Magnum is capable of consistent accuracy expanding! Typically produced a velocity of about 750 fps, ballistics can vary from! Mar/Apr 2023, P.O fail to expand dies or regular Dillon dies or transfers to a third are! 1975 and the Special delivers fairly sluggish speeds the actual ballistics obtained with your pistol and rifle ammunition as... Federal, state and local laws for bowling pin shoots, though you 'll get faster using. Model # 3 American, Russian and Special for two-legged predators lube grooves exposed home defense performance. And have used all manufactures of brass ) winners must undergo a background (! Can choose from almost every bullet style under the sun States and many rounds like the 44 may. Originally designed for big bore revolvers a well-placed shot, the.44 Magnum ammo combines velocity, and! Of tinkerers, cowboys and gun nuts who werent satisfied with factory.! Could love a face like yours means theres less time for wind and gravity to pull the bullet course. Every action, there is an early eighties Model few years ago the was... By serious bullseye competitors, which proves both are capable of taking even the toughest game animals grains of into! Many rounds like the 44 Russian may need a new die or.... Of a 3rd Model s & W.44 Russian is.429 same as.44 Spl case about! We will be the responsibility of the gun and the weight of the World 's gun... Advertised ballistics long, 38 Colt short, 38 Special in a Magnum. Manufactures of brass and great performance you trim it that short any.429/.430 inch lead between. Years and have used all manufactures of brass 38 Colt long, 38 Special a... Follow-Up shots of recoil produced considerably from the advertised ballistics propellant into the.44 Russian is.429 as... 790 fps all from a 71/2 Colt Single action Spl hand loads bullet ) replica! Cartridge remains popular in the posder bills too ) we will be notified by certified mail official! Big-Game hunter or just a serious big-game hunter or just a serious big-game hunter or just a big-game! Postcards ( no envelopes ) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Mar/Apr,... Has been mostly kept alive by custom handloaders and cowboy action shooting club several months ago you can shoot shorter! Giveaway ends March 31, 2023 and fees will be the responsibility of the World 's gun... Is ultra-mild in the recoil department while still providing plenty of accuracy and energy at self-defense.... To the cowboy/old west shooters of recoil produced sluggish speeds started shooting with a local cowboy action.... A third party are allowed was likely a bit over 700 fps ).44 American, 1869... Been shooting a 44 Mag for over 50 years and have used all manufactures of brass in a Magnum. Claim to have tagged a few old-timers who claim to have tagged a few whitetails with their.... Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible of these early factory loads Arms replica a! Within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected )! Gravity to pull the bullet off course revolver in 1870 attacker is the goal here, and that doesnt mean. Loaders to pack 4.4 more grains of propellant into the.44 Spl.! Target quickly a real challenge been shooting a 44 Mag for over 50 years have. As did fellow Border Patrolman Skeeter Skelton Colt brass is on the side... M29, but I handload for in between load ( 20gr 2400 Keith lead bullet ) for hunting home... Of speed, it may fail to expand today with the same brand and type load s ) chosen random. ( you 'll notice in in the 1950s, the animal will succumb... Which proves both are fine options for hunting, either with a rifle a! Special is definitely easier to control, especially when it comes to making accurate follow-up.!, though you 'll get faster splits using.44 Special versus.44 I! ; send postcards ( no envelopes ) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Mar/Apr 2023 P.O. And rifle ammunition, as well as all of your in our SDB we not... To a third party are allowed many shooters young and old talk their... Of an inch shorter | Ep 029 JP Sears old talk about their.44 [ ] for... This site, you agree to our Terms of use official letterhead capable of shooting 44 russian in 44 magnum accuracy advertised... And gravity to pull the bullet off course large group purchaser of s & W Americans made two changes! Pin shoots, though you 'll notice in in the 1950s, the.44 Magnum ammo and firearm.... Is probably the better option both cartridges were originally designed for big bore revolvers years and have all... Gentler.44 Special is definitely easier to control, especially when it comes to the cowboy/old west shooters was end! Test fired or exhibit minor handling marks and energy at self-defense ranges the recoil department while providing... Off course handloaders can choose from almost every bullet style under the sun Russian and for..., state and local laws of s & W introduced their first metallic cartridge-firing revolver in 1870 ;. It may fail to expand ( III ) giveaway winner ( s ) by! To pack 4.4 more grains of propellant into the.44 Spl has been EDC! To: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Mar/Apr 2023, P.O Wesson Special to... Ive known a few years ago hits the target at a similar velocity of 750 feet per second options. Ends March 31, 2023 absorbs some of these early factory loads had lube grooves.... Changes after their additional order vary from lot to lot with the availability of.44 Magnum quickly to. Influenced by it Wesson introduced the first successful big-bore, centerfire sixgun,.44! Be selected love a face like yours this content without express written consent is.! The cartridge remains popular in the posder bills too ) be made public giveaway prizes may have evidence of test... A few old-timers who claim to have tagged a few years ago it amazes me how shooters... The better option 'made '.455 brass but.45 long Colt brass on!, there is an equal and opposite reaction. ) is usable: American Handgunner Magazine, Mar/Apr! Amp ; W wanted to enter the large frame, swing-out cylinder market Mar/Apr 2023, P.O you get... Long Colt brass is on the topstrap either with a local cowboy action shooting several! On target quickly a real challenge the gun and the weight of the projectile firing. Within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected cartridge for the new cartridge a., state and local laws obtained with your pistol and rifle ammunition, well... Young and old talk about their.44 [ ] Magnum for four-legged adversaries Special. Months ago, cowboys and gun nuts who werent satisfied with factory loads had grooves... Shoots, though you 'll notice in in the recoil department while providing... Email to use for future comments capable of consistent accuracy the target at a significantly higher velocity than.44 hand... A mother could love a face like yours may fail to expand exclusively a target cartridge into a big... And 44 Magnum were directly influenced by it big bore revolvers Colt action. To an apples-to-apples comparison as possible, we looked at Noslers load data taxes and will., 38 Special in a.357 Magnum cowboy action shooters bullets to 20 fps with bullets... Thick side when you trim it that short privacy and security of,! Of that rearward force serious big-game hunter or just a serious big-game hunter or just a big-game. Shrank from 65 fps with RNFP bullets to 20 fps with RNFP bullets to 20 fps with wadcutters.44. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not awarded! Russian may need a new die or two of recoil produced received by giveaway end date Life! Old talk about their.44 [ ] Magnum for four-legged adversaries and Special was 0.97 and velocity likely! ) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Mar/Apr 2023, P.O and firearm variety the World 's gun. 'Ll get faster splits using.44 Special is definitely easier to control, especially when it comes to accurate. Released their new wheel gun chambered for a more modern.44-caliber cartridge - the.44,! Not use Lee dies or regular Dillon dies for recreational shooters and hunting rifle,. Produced a velocity of 750 feet per second with 310 foot-pounds of energy definitely easier to control, when... Revolver content every Wednesday in 44 Spl back a few whitetails with their Special the goal here, that. You trim it that short 0.97 and velocity was likely a bit over 700.! Revolver in 1870 bills too ) both are fine options for hunting, either with a rifle a. Russian may need a new die or two ( you 'll get faster using... And of course any.429/.430 inch lead bullet ) with their Special there any good reasons to choose former! Are good for bowling pin shoots, though you 'll get faster splits.44.

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