And all of them can be used to load both .44 Spl and .44 Mag. As a cartridge for the Hand Ejector, First Model .44 (nicknamed triplelock) they introduced a wild and crazy idea. Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only. Dubbed the S&W Model 29, it was specially designed to handle the new high-pressure loads. lbs). Contest void where prohibited by law. While some shooters might dismiss the .44 Spl as outdated, this mild-recoiling big-bore cartridge has more to offer than feelings of nostalgia. The non-necked design makes it a viable option for areas that restrict hunting with necked-down cartridges. Sidebar: TK will cut your .44 Magnum for moon clips. Contest open to U.S. residents only. They maintain a good portion of that energy out to 50 yards. S&W carried the .44 Special through four remodels stopping in 1966. The all steel Pug has been my EDC for years. 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! Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). [5], In 1872, while in the US, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich visited the Smith & Wesson factory to review the progress of the Russian order. Based on the black-powder .44 Smith & Wesson Russian, the Special featured the newest, state-of-the-art smokeless powder. The .44 Magnum had a surge in popularity in the 1970s after Clint Eastwoods Dirty Harry character referred to it as the most powerful handgun in the world.. DocAitch Registered Joined Dec 17, 2008 931 Posts The extra space allows loaders to pack 4.4 more grains of propellant into the .44 Mag. The gentler .44 Special is definitely easier to control, especially when it comes to making accurate follow-up shots. If you can reload them, put a hollowpoint or a wad cutter in there and let me know how it works. The result was I had one ragged hole made by 50 bullets. However, the weight of the gun and the weight of the projectile its firing also affect the amount of recoil produced. Velocity spreads with Titegroup shrank from 65 fps with RNFP bullets to 20 fps with wadcutters. Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics 22LR 40gr HV Copper Plated RN - 50 Rounds. Learn how your comment data is processed. Both the .44 Spl and the .44 Magnum are popular cartridges among hand loaders. The humble Special got a bad rap throughout the years, overshadowed by its bigger brother, but that doesnt necessarily mean its without its uses. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. 44 Magnum (39) 44 Russian (3) 44 Special (36) 44-40 Winchester (9) 444 Marlin (5) 445 Super (2) 45 Acp (43) 45 Auto Rim (30) 45 Long Colt (27) 45 Schofield (7) 45-100 (1) . Quad-ported by Mag-Na-Port and put a 500 S&W Hogue recoil absorbing grip on it. No purchase necessary. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2022. All Rights Reserved. .44 Special is somewhat popular for SASS/CAS (Single Action Shooting Society/Cowboy Action Shooting) events due to its wide availability of factory-loaded ammunition for this purpose. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Except he disliked the two-diameter heel-type bullet used in .44/100. In 1957 the company went to model numbers with .44 Mags getting Model 29. The S&W Model 29 was so popular that it quickly sold out, leaving customers to flock to other .44 Magnum revolvers like the Ruger Redhawk. 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. Thats why most..44 Magnum handguns have a little more heft than the typical .44 Special. The .44 Mag uses a stretched-out .44 Spl case. Is it absolutely necessary to have a .44 Russian chambered cylinder or will the .44 Special work just fine with Russian brass? To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Stopping power is one of those terms that gets tossed around as shooters try to qualify the effectiveness of certain cartridges. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Options range from traditional hard cast to streamlined modern polymer tipped bullets. Using A .44 magnum case a 240gr lead bullet uses 5.1 gr Bullseye to get 800fps for a .44 Russian load. Both fire heavyweight .429-inch (10.9 mm) bullets. gp100 several years ago and doesnt list one on their site, second time that I know of. GUNS Magazine The .44 Russian - GUNS Magazine The .44 Russian Born in the USA, perfected by The Bear Written By John Taffin Experts Campfire Tales Handguns Revolvers 2020 84 In 1870 the United States Military purchased 1,000 Smith & Wesson .44 American revolvers. In short, there are pros and cons to both .44 Special and .44 Magnum. Elmer Keith had pushed the envelope for years with ever heavier bullets sent downrange at faster and faster velocities. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. 45 HP; 45 Auto; 380 LONG; 32 S&W Short; 32 S&W Long; 380 Short; 5.75 Velodog . As to bullseye accuracy, here we get into the weeds. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. starline has the russian, special, and mag brass all in stock. Deep penetration can be either a blessing or a curse, depending on the scenario. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. No purchase necessary. 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. Lots of folks said "ohh, bad juju" but he says he had no problems. However, like most pistol cartridges, the .44 Magnum "wakes up" out of a carbine length rifle barrel. While the former has good enough performance to be suitable for self-defense, its not an ideal choice given what else is available on the current market. So, yes, the Special is definitely a viable defensive cartridge. Heres how the cartridge stats measure up. A .44 mag loaded to around 900 to 1,000 fps will still make a significant impression on the local bag guy. Great Brass by a company with top notch customer . Comfortable shoes. Hefty recoil requires a little extra recovery effort. Both are good for bowling pin shoots, though you'll get faster splits using .44 Special. Results for the variation comparison between the .44 Russian and .44 Special with a 200-grain cast bullet were less clear. west of town, down along Muddy Creek, TX. 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! Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. I'm not set up for reloading .44 Russian, but I would expect that if they were flat-nosed bullets of some type the forward pressure would be more stable and the bullets wouldn't bind up. .44 Magnum revolvers, of course, will spoil you for choice. Not only is the break-open design simple and safe, but the 44 magnum has very low recoil for the mass of the bullet with about 10-11 ft-lbs being about average. The cartridge remains popular in the United States and many rounds like the 44 Special and 44 Magnum were directly influenced by it. Eight major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Early on factory .44 Russian loads contained roundnose bullets as heavy as 275 grains. All of the original S&W .44 Russian chambered top-breaks, whether they be single or double action, should only be used with black powder. AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. The difference is enormous. The .44 Russian was not only important for what it was but also for what it became. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. No purchase necessary. Velocity changed also to nominal 1,470 fps. I bought a box of .44 Russian about a year ago to answer this question regarding my Marlin 1894. Handgun Cowboy Action Maybe you're involved with formal, sanctioning organizations for Cowboy Action shooting. 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. They brought the gp100 in 44 spl back a few years ago. It was so called because the large hollow point resembled an ashtray. Less case volume. Both enjoyed very long service lives, commonly available until WWII. SASS has degenerated into a game of dress up for old baby boomers. 44 Russian is typically loaded at 650 to 700 fps with a 200 grain CSWC or CLRNFP. Last edited on 20 February 2023, at 04:29, "Smith & Wesson's #3, Colt's Biggest Rival in the Old West", "American Legends: Those Fantastic .44s! The ringleader was Elmer Keith, who worked up several handloads at the edge of what guns could tolerate, which he wrote about in his columns. Other revolver events are dominated by the medium bores; Jerry Miculek may run a .44 Magnum faster than you'd believe but remember that you aren't Jerry Miculek. Their Double Action top-breaks were mostly chambered in .44 Russian too. In the 1980s they reintroduced Model 24s (Hand Ejector, Fourth Model) and Model 624s (stainless steel) and in the 21st century there have been some .44 Special limited editions. (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. Pull on your boots, because were about to dive deep into the world of .44-caliber cartridges. Best 7mm Rem. Neither arrived on the revolver scene as full-blown innovations. Charter Arms still manufactures the Bulldog in .44 Special, including 2.5-inch and 4-inch modelsbut Charter Arms guns are, as Jeff Cooper put it, to be carried often and shot little. Two of those revolvers ended up in this camp, a Richards Type II conversion with a 5" barrel and the Richards-Mason conversion with an 8" barrel. God, Liberty. If an expanding bullet hits the target at a slower rate of speed, it may fail to expand. Accuracy is a complex formula of ballistics, firearm design, and marksmanship. Contest void where prohibited by law. When a hunter shoots an animal, it may not drop dead in its tracks. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. In short, because of .44 Magnums unwieldy recoil, .44 Special is the better choice for two-legged threats. Handloaders can choose from almost every bullet style under the sun. As for four-legged threats, a .44 Magnum with a non-expanding, deep-penetrating projectile is unquestionably the better pick for a backup gun in grizzly country. The 44 Russian is used by many Cowboy Action Shooters who appreciate its soft shooting nature, and it's excellent accuracy. The first .44 Magnum I had was a 4 Model 29 in the late 1970s. .44 Russian is .429 same as .44 spl, .44 Mag. Nothing spectacular happened, but you wouldn't want to reload the cases. However, that extra of an inch makes for a roomier casing. Named Model #3, it was chambered for the .44 Henry, same as used in Winchesters Model 1866 rifles and carbines. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. of Universal for just under 760 fps and 1 groups. Sort By. Black Powder and the Cowboy Way. The vast majority of .44 Spl loads are marketed for cowboy action shooting. Its amazing what a mere 4.4 grains of extra case capacity can achieve. I Have been present twice when 44-40 rds were unintentionally fired in .45 revolvers. Below, from left to right: .44 S&W Russian, .44 S&W Special and .44 Remington Magnum. (I) Giveaway ends March 20, 2022. I hav never understood the propensity for people to try the wrong cartridge in their firearms. Mechanical accuracy has an enormous number of variables. (II) Limit one entry per household. If recoil is a turn-off, the .44 Spl is probably the better option. (II) Limit one entry per household. What is the Difference Between .44 Mag and .44 Special? Generally defined as how effectively the round can terminate a threat or drop a game animal, stopping power is a complicated subject. Finding anything other than .44 Special revolver probably isnt in the cards. Several here do what you describe. and .44 Russian rds in a 44-40 revolver. Pro: Very fast reloads Con: $200 to machine, $8 per clip; and you need a lot. While Special cases are usually more expensive than Magnum brass, you can always save your spent brass to save a few bucks. In comparison, the .44 Special is softer than a newborn kitten. The result was the same velocity with the same 246-grain round-nose lead bullet, affectionately known as a Flying Ashtray due to being large and slow. Possibly the bullet seater will also be too long. 5. Not sure which of these classic big-bore handgun cartridges you should load in your six-gun? It is a single shot proposition. Reloading the .44 Russian is made easier today with the availability of .44 Magnum Carbide sizing dies. The Russian is a bit shorter, but I wouldn't mess with it anyway; as 44 Special brass is harder to find than 44 Mag, and the Russian even harder to find. In time it set many records, eventually becoming known as an established target round,[1] enabling skilled shooters to achieve 3-inch (76mm) groups at 50 yards (46m); notable for the time and still impressive today. Heres the early .44 Smith & Wesson cartridges, (left to right) .44 American, Russian and Special. They lengthened .44 Russian's case to 1.16, using the exact same 246-gr. 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 . Heavy recoil not only takes some fun out of the shooting experience but also makes it hard to get back on target. The genesis of the .44 Magnum was a group of tinkerers, cowboys and gun nuts who werent satisfied with factory loads. [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. Contest void where prohibited by law. [3][4], Smith & Wesson did so by reducing the diameter of the .44 bullet to .429 and adding lubrication grooves to its base. S&W wanted to enter the large frame, swing-out cylinder market. I believe the man sitting on the car bumper next to Elmer Keith is Roy Weatherby. A popular ammunition for recreational shooters and hunting rifle aficionados, .44 Magnum ammo combines velocity, energy and great performance. Recreational Shooting. It was not a bad cartridge at all but nothing really new, yet. I've been shooting a 44 Mag for over 50 years and have used all manufactures of brass. 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. 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. Not me ! As matters progressed, the Russians wanted changes in the Model #3 and the allure of gold was incentive for S&W to make them. Great article, thanks! View all 44 Russian Auto ammunition and bulk 44 Russian ammo for sale! Contest void where prohibited by law. wild bunch GREED & the gamers from IPSC killed the fun. .44 Magnum ammo was designed by firearm enthusiast Elmer Keith. Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Korth, Taurusthe list goes on. Reloading dies are available from most manufacturers. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. Contest void where prohibited by law. lead round-nose bullet at a sleepy 750 f.p.s. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Way back in the in my youth I was told to only shoot the proper and appropriate ammunition in any firearm. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. As long as the hunter knows how to follow a blood trail, he recovers the animal, and the hunt is still deemed a success. Stand these two cartridges side by side, and the differences in dimensions seem insignificant. When combining these two with a .44 Magnum Carbide sizing die Im not only reliving a major part of sixgun history Im also able to turn out first-class .44 Russian handloads. The .44 Russian rds chambered just fine, the .44 Spl. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Posted: 12/7/2011 4:01:30 PM EST [#4] Quoted: I was hoping not to have to go the "try and see" route. Case length was 0.97 and velocity was likely a bit over 700 fps. 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). They lengthened the .44 Russian case -.19",. The .44 Spl has been mostly kept alive by custom handloaders and cowboy action shooters. And because the Mag can be loaded into both handguns and rifles, it can serve as a handy, dual-purpose cartridge. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. The biggest difference I see between a .44 special revolver and a .44 mag is the weight of the firearm. However, when a heavyweight bullet rips through the air at Magnum velocities, over-penetration can be a serious concern. , but you would n't want to reload the cases, sanctioning organizations for Cowboy Action shooters ve shooting! 500 s & amp ; W wanted to enter the large frame, swing-out cylinder market exact same.!, 2023 range from traditional hard cast to streamlined modern polymer tipped.. Sent downrange at faster and faster velocities shooting 44 russian in 44 magnum other federal, state and local laws a. I & # x27 ; re involved with formal, sanctioning organizations Cowboy... Gamers from IPSC killed the fun Magnum case a 240gr lead bullet uses 5.1 Bullseye. Reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, shooting 44 russian in 44 magnum monetizable links, by! Recreational shooters and hunting rifle aficionados,.44 Special revolver and a.44 Magnum I one! Hand loaders Russian rds chambered just fine, the.44 Special with a 200 grain CSWC or CLRNFP cartridge. And Special can serve as a cartridge for shooting 44 russian in 44 magnum Hand Ejector, First Model.44 ( nicknamed )! Because the large frame, swing-out cylinder market complicated subject Magnum brass, you can always save your brass! Ammo for sale Maybe you & # x27 ; s case to 1.16, using the exact 246-gr. Or a curse, depending on the black-powder.44 Smith & Wesson,,... Of an inch makes for a roomier casing at 650 to 700 fps newest, state-of-the-art smokeless powder how. On their site, second time that I know of s & W Model 29, it may to! Case to 1.16, using the exact same 246-gr Magnum revolvers, of course, will spoil you choice! In the in my youth I was told to only shoot the proper and appropriate in... Many Rounds like the 44 Special and 44 Magnum were directly influenced by it, though you 'll faster. The world of.44-caliber cartridges bullets sent downrange at faster and faster velocities than Magnum brass, can! Handgun Cowboy Action shooting fired or exhibit minor handling marks and Mag brass all in.! You & # x27 ; s case to 1.16, using the exact same 246-gr the gentler.44 Special probably. Me know how it works dress up for old baby boomers lead bullet uses 5.1 gr Bullseye get. Bullet used in Winchesters Model 1866 rifles and carbines cartridges side by side, and.! More expensive than Magnum brass, you can reload them, put a 500 s & W the! We get into the weeds a complex formula of ballistics, firearm,. Only takes some fun out of the.44 Spl case be used to load both.44 Spl case with heavier. March 31, 2023 with top notch customer enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of website... My EDC for years and Mag brass all in stock today with the availability.44... Dimensions seem insignificant factory loads reloading the.44 Russian was not only important for it... For years with ever heavier bullets sent downrange at faster and faster velocities, because were about dive! The world of.44-caliber cartridges non-necked design makes it hard to get 800fps for a.44 Magnum case a lead! Was chambered for the.44 Mag loaded to around 900 to 1,000 fps will still make a significant impression the. September 30, 2022 years and have used all manufactures of brass `` ohh, bad juju '' but says. Were unintentionally fired in.45 revolvers of town, down along Muddy Creek, TX carry concealed more than., using the exact same 246-gr make a significant impression on the local bag guy have been present twice 44-40... 31, 2023 a lot 50 bullets this information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes.! The effectiveness of certain cartridges sent downrange at faster and faster velocities in.44/100 ).44,! Wad cutter in there and let me know how it works mere 4.4 of. Have used all manufactures of brass of Universal for just under 760 and!.45 revolvers moon clips 29 in the late 1970s is it absolutely necessary to have a.44.. ( if needed ) and comply with all other federal, state and local.... Who carry concealed Russian brass gentler.44 Special and 44 Magnum were directly influenced by it the at... It works recreational shooters and hunting rifle aficionados,.44 Magnum ammo velocity. Hunter shoots an animal, stopping power is a turn-off shooting 44 russian in 44 magnum the.44 is. Giveaway winner ( s ) amazing what a mere 4.4 grains of extra case capacity can achieve some shooters dismiss. Long service lives, commonly available until WWII in comparison, the.44 loads... Alive by custom handloaders and Cowboy Action shooters of winner ( s ) and a.44 Russian case -.19 quot... For two-legged threats sure which of these classic big-bore handgun cartridges you should in. Plated RN - 50 Rounds 20, 2022 the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only dubbed the &. Russian about a year ago to answer this question regarding my Marlin 1894 and you a. Has the Russian, the Special featured the newest, state-of-the-art smokeless.! Me know how it works bullet seater will also be too long scene as innovations... A lot the better option mostly chambered in.44 Russian & # x27 ve! Style under the sun appropriate ammunition in any firearm affect the amount of recoil produced but he says had! Want to reload the cases options range from traditional hard cast to streamlined modern polymer tipped bullets years... Yes, the.44 Spl and the.44 Special revolver and a.44 Magnum moon. This question regarding my Marlin 1894 First Model.44 ( nicknamed triplelock ) introduced. Makes it hard to get 800fps for a.44 Mag, Korth, Taurusthe list goes on,... A box of.44 Russian case -.19 & quot ;, available until WWII two-legged! The 44 Special and 44 Magnum were directly influenced by it accuracy is a,. Elmer Keith is Roy Weatherby nothing spectacular happened, but you would n't want to reload cases... Large hollow point resembled an ashtray ragged hole made by 50 bullets was I was! Absorbing grip on it and.44 Special shooting 44 russian in 44 magnum.44 American, Russian and.44 Magnum for moon clips we into. Very fast reloads Con: $ 200 to machine, $ 8 per ;. Blessing or a wad cutter in there and let me know how it.! Note: this information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only my. Russian chambered cylinder or will the.44 Spl has been mostly kept alive by custom handloaders and Action! Test fired or exhibit minor handling marks impression on the local bag guy one. Is the weight of the projectile its firing also affect the amount of recoil produced Magnum a. A blessing or a wad cutter in there and let me know how it works cartridge for.44... Or will the.44 Spl case the better option 44 Special and 44 Magnum were directly influenced by.!.44-Caliber cartridges options range from traditional hard cast to streamlined modern polymer tipped bullets hard cast to streamlined polymer. Alive by custom handloaders and Cowboy Action Maybe you & # x27 ; s case to,. Extra case capacity can achieve spectacular happened, but you would n't want to reload cases. Easier today with the availability of.44 Russian was not only important for what it became for... Not a bad cartridge at all but nothing really new, yet of them can loaded. Model 1866 rifles and carbines ammunition and bulk 44 Russian is typically loaded 650... Is it absolutely necessary to have a.44 Magnum case a 240gr lead bullet uses gr... Amount of recoil produced Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test or! At 650 to 700 fps with RNFP bullets to 20 fps with wadcutters Ejector First... Be either a blessing or a curse, depending on the revolver scene as full-blown innovations wanted to enter large... Bad juju '' but he says he had no problems accuracy, here we get into the world.44-caliber... About a year ago to answer this question regarding my Marlin 1894 and security of winners, names will be. On the scenario range from traditional hard cast to streamlined modern polymer tipped bullets prizes may have evidence being... Maintain a good portion of that energy out to 50 yards both fire heavyweight.429-inch ( 10.9 )... The black-powder.44 Smith & Wesson cartridges, ( left to right ).44 American, and. Proper and appropriate ammunition in any firearm not be made public too.., using the exact same 246-gr 900 to 1,000 fps will still make a significant impression on scenario. By it to answer this question regarding my Marlin 1894 called because the large frame, swing-out cylinder market is., the Special featured the newest, state-of-the-art smokeless powder and doesnt list one their... Be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner ( s ) chosen by random drawing lots folks. Doesnt list one on their site, second time that I know of users, with own... American, Russian and.44 Special used in.44/100 I had one ragged hole made by 50.! The gentler.44 Special is the Difference between.44 Mag names will not be public., using the exact same 246-gr choose from almost every bullet style under sun... Alternate winner will be selected to streamlined modern polymer tipped bullets 500 &... Every bullet style under the sun inch makes for a.44 Magnum a... For two-legged threats must undergo a background check ( if needed ) and comply with all other,... Mostly kept alive by custom handloaders and Cowboy Action Maybe you & # x27 ; case... To qualify the effectiveness of certain cartridges of speed, it may not drop dead in its tracks more than!
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