How about the .44 special?

me | 2/19/02 | Detailer

[DETAILER]

Hi everyone- just a short request for info from fellow Freepers. I just got the opportunity to purchase a Charter Arms .44 special bulldog- from a friend that has owned it for years and not shot it in years, who now finds himself in a little cash crunch. I can get it cheap! I've never shot the .44 special and wanted to hear any opinions about it out there. It's a short barrel, I know it won't be accurate much more than room distance, but that's exactly what I want it for. What do you all think?

[sneakypete]

The .44 Special, as loaded today, is a weak sister. And, it is designed to be shot in 5 to 6 inch barrel guns. It is kept downloaded in deference to all the old 44 special revolvers out there.

This may have been true as recently as the early 1960's,but it's not true anymore. Win Silvertip 200gr JCP's are supposed to run somewhere around 900fps out of a 4 inch barrell,so a 3 inch barrel isn't that much of a handicap. I'm going to have to dig out my chronograph one day and clock them out of my Rossi. I know they expand like a champ out of my Rossi. The high-pressure version of the 44 Special is called the 44 Magnum.

In either case you, hand-wrist-ears, will definately know when it goes off in a short barreled light gun.

Whoever told you this has never shot one. The average 10 year old girl could shoot one with no discomfort.

[sneakypete]

Just the sound of racking a round in the chamber is unmistakable to any intruder.

You're right. This sound is GUARANTEED to not only give away your position to a now-terrified intruder,but if he's armed it's likely he will open fire on you right then. Racking a slide is not a real clever tactical move. Waiting until you need the gun is not the time to be loading it.

[C-Note]

I agree SP. I think a lot of people are confusing the 44 special with the 44 mag. A friend of mine has a ruger 357 with a 6" barrel and shooting 38 special +p from it is a pleasure. I haven't shot 44 special, but I imagine it's about the same recoil wise as the 38 +p. Yes, anyone could fire it and with practice become proficient.

[sneakypete]

. I want to find one cheap too!

I don't know what the Charter Arms 44's are selling for,but I don't think the basic Taurus version is all that expensive. Taurus has a web site that give retail prices and all specifics on each of their guns,and it's worth a look. In MY opinion,the 44 Special is the best self-defense round out there.

[sneakypete]

. My favorite is the A-5 Browning.

Do NOT use a A-5 or any other recoil-operated weapon for self-defense. They have a tendency to jam if not held firmly against the shoulder,and you never know what conditions you will be facing in self-defense. If you want to use a auto-loader,get a gas gun.

[sneakypete]

Heavy ? Yeah, but somehow, that squared off receiver design gets my eye on the target quicker than the smoother Remington design.

It's most likely the design of the butt stock on the Remington isn't right for you,and the A-5 with it's high comb allows you a more comfortable neck position.

[Timmy]

I've got one exactly like it. I like it for self-defense. Hard to hit anything farther than 15-20 feet away. It ain't a howitzer, but it's close.

[JDoutrider]

I still like my Bennelli M1-90 sitting next to my easy chair for the ultimate self defense scatter gun. I've popped six shots before the first casing hit the dirt, it's quite fast.

I keep it loaded with a sequence of 4 buck, 00 ott, 000 ott,and at the end...BRI sabot slugs. That is an impressive and effective defense line up...

[Lurker]

The .44 Special is a fine weapon, especially those old Charter Arms.

Have it inspected by a competent gunsmith. If he or she clears it, it should serve you well.

That cartridge packs a hell of a wallop at close range without all the recoil of the vaunted .44 magnum.

Anybody who calls this round a 'weak sister' hasn't done their homework.

Regards,

L

[Lurker]

Naw....

Load it with the 200 grain Speer JHP over 8 grains of Unique.

That will ruin anyones belly.

Regards,

L

[Noumenon]

Load it with the 200 grain Speer JHP over 8 grains of Unique.

Ooooof! I guess so... Call ya later...

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

For home protection you can't beat an Ithica modle 37. It's a 12 ga. pump action shotgun, 27" total length with a pistol grip handle.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I am thinking of buying a .40 cal. Any one have any thoughts on the .40???"

I was born and bred a .45 ACP fan. I choked on my first purchase of a .40 S&W. I have since converted. I do consider it a shame the 10mm never caught on. It was initially entertained by the FBI who insisted on some watered down loads...About the same time, the .40 came along, and offered similar performance to the weakened loads, in a shorter case, and subsequently, available in smaller, and more concealable weapons. I'm not trying to imply that the .40 is a pipsqueak, I certainly would not want to be shot with one! Simply that the 10 is a great design, limited only by the fact that it has not caught on, and that has resulted in a dearth of factory ammo, and commercial ammo development. That is not a problem with the .40, as a very large number of civilian law enforcement agencies have embraced it, and it has, in its short life, proven itself time and again, under real world circumstances...

IMHO, one of the best factory pistols on the market today is the...

...Browning Hi-Power...

...chambered in .40S&W.

[Mr. Mojo]

"It's a great piece, however, it's blast will scare the crap out of both you and any intruder."

Are you sure you're not talking about the .44 magnum? Factory .44 Specials are standard pressure rounds that are easy on the shooter, even when used in lightweight revolvers (like the Charter Arms Bulldog).

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

I just bought his today. I already have a taurus 24/7 but this little one is a lot of fun to shoot. I cant bring it home until next thursday. But I can shoot it at the range.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

how about this if your looking for a 44

[I got the rope]

No way...sneakypete is back?

[Eva]

What is the advantage to having an unregistered gun?

[Mr. Mojo]

Or a Charter Arms Bulldog (22 ozs.)

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

I have never fire a 44 that thing must have one hell of a kick to it