330gr and Lil GunFor me it's 240 grain and W296
If I do another Mad Science project it'll be to push lightweight Lehigh's towards 3,000fps. But then anything I can do with a 44 even Super Mag is easily eclipsed by a 460 S&W!If "bullet technology" has made smaller bullets more effective, JUST IMAGINE what it has done for a 44 MAGNUM!
How does "I have something more bigger burning more powder." change the equation between 44 mag and the "girls can shoot this too" calibers? Other than to RE-ENFORCE the facts of physics between smaller slower is NOT EQUAL to bigger faster?If I do another Mad Science project it'll be to push lightweight Lehigh's towards 3,000fps. But then anything I can do with a 44 even Super Mag is easily eclipsed by a 460 S&W!
While the topic in this thread is on the .44 Mag, I have to comment about using the 10mm for hunting, and specifically, the hunting of larger game. Those who sport the 10mm are basically semi-auto pistols users, and do not want or like revolvers, and probably have not really used one. Given that most revolvers are a lot more powerful than most pistols (and yes, a revolver is not a pistol), the propensity to suggest using the 10mm over even the .357 Mag, is just one of bias. The .357 Mag is considerably more powerful than the 10mm (over 20% more), and then there is the .41 Mag that is 24% more powerful than the .357 Mag, and then the .44 mag, which is 60% more powerful than the .357.I have several 44 mags and like them; but can see how their popularity could be waining. Fewer hunters. More caliber choices with less recoil or more power. The 10mm gaining popularity for woods defense for good reason.
I lived thru the muscle car era, and even was able to drive a few (Plymouth 426), and none of today's stock 'muscle cars' come close in a full sized sedan. But the efficiency of engines has dramatically changed, so power has increased per engine size considerably. For example, I have a family car, a 2013 Chev Impala with a V6, and it delivers 300 HP! And it is only a 3.6L engine, which is on 220 cu! The original muscle car was the 1965 GTO, and it had a 389 CU engine, and with 3 dueces (carburators), that version delivered 360 HP. What a difference engines are today. Also, today, the Mustang is in the class of muscle car, but back in the day, the Mustang was not a muscle car at all.I agree with contender and peachhead. Venturino is a gunwriter, part of his job is getting us to talk about his articles, which sell magazines, as he obviously has here. I've like some of his stuff over the years, and not liked some of it, just like most of the other gunwriters.
I think he does have a point though. Bullet technology has made smaller bullets more effective, and you can carry a lot more of them in a wonder nine which are arguably adequate for defense against two legged predators, which are the reason most people carry. We don't hunt like we used to, and more that a few leave their big bore revolvers at home in favor of a Glock 20 or some other 10mm for backup in the woods because they're generally lighter, carry more rounds on board without worrying about speedloaders, etc, and in most cases are cheaper to buy and shoot than a BBR. They also look and run just like their G19 that they carry in town.
I used to range officer at a large punlic shooting range outside Denver. Guys woud show up with a Bass Pro Shop bag full of BBR and ammo and no clue. They would shoot it once, maybe twice, then try and get their buddy to shoot it, who would shoot it once, then they would pack up. Especially the light weight guns. I talked to a guy who just shot his brand new Mountain Light he bought for an upcoming Alaska hunt. He put two rounds through it, set it on the bench and just stared at it with his hands shaking, probably wondering what he was going to tell his wife about dropping all that money on a gun he will likely never shoot again. He told me he bought 6 boxes of .44 Mag and 1 box of .44 Special. All I could tell him was, 'well, at least if you end up having to use it for what it was intended for, you probably won't notice the recoil.'
A lot of people live in cities who's only place to shoot is an indoor range. Ever had someone touch off a .44 mag or similar next to you in an indoor range? I'll probably get flamed for saying this, and maybe it's a gross generalization, but I don't think the human animal is as tough as we used to be. The way people lived 200 or even 100 years ago would probably kill a good portion of us today, at least until we relearned to adapt. Walk around any city in America (which is where most of us live) and observe the 20-30 somethings running around...
Look at the muscle car era of the 60's and very early 70's. Are there cars built today that can outperform and are more 'efficient' than a big block muscle car from MoPar, Ford, or GM? Yes. Does it matter to a lot of us? Not even a little bit...
The 44 magnum has been relegated to the adequate for some uses category. Kinda like the 30-06. At this point it's only mediocre in the realm of handgun power. When I got my Dan Wesson 44+Magnum+ it was pretty cutting edge. I was pushing 454 Cassull power when it was just a Wildcat. The Modern equivalent would be the 460S&W or similar.How does "I have something more bigger burning more powder." change the equation between 44 mag and the "girls can shoot this too" calibers? Other than to RE-ENFORCE the facts of physics between smaller slower is NOT EQUAL to bigger faster?
I see you mentioned 'pushing 454 Casull power', but that is probably not possible. You may have achieved a bit more power than what you thought was the max .44 Mag power, but not much. The .44 Mag max's out at a power level of 1,544 Ft. lbs., so if you are reloading, you may have never achieved that power level. But even if you did, the .454 Casull max's out at 2,200 ft. lbs., which is 45% more powerful. In other words, there is a hug difference.The 44 magnum has been relegated to the adequate for some uses category. Kinda like the 30-06. At this point it's only mediocre in the realm of handgun power. When I got my Dan Wesson 44+Magnum+ it was pretty cutting edge. I was pushing 454 Cassull power when it was just a Wildcat. The Modern equivalent would be the 460S&W or similar.
The Dan Wesson and Super Redhawk have cylinders longer than normal and actions far stronger than anything S&W. They were made for the Mad Scientists shooting IHMSA at the time. Many envelopes were being pushed.I see you mentioned 'pushing 454 Casull power', but that is probably not possible. You may have achieved a bit more power than what you thought was the max .44 Mag power, but not much. The .44 Mag max's out at a power level of 1,544 Ft. lbs., so if you are reloading, you may have never achieved that power level. But even if you did, the .454 Casull max's out at 2,200 ft. lbs., which is 45% more powerful. In other words, there is a hug difference.
It is also that they are full of themselves! I have heard several times that the .45 ACP was going away, and it is the 3rd most offered caliber i get from many retailers online. I get between 10-20 email everyday from ammo & gun retailers.I bugs me how gun writers seem like they want to kill off certain calibers when they should be promoting every caliber. It just seems negative and anti gun.
They are trying to sell magazines etc. There's not much NEW that you can write about the 44 magnum and 30-06. The data has pretty much been the data for 40-80 years. Sure there's a new bullet/powder combination every few years but that's it. Nobody is making anything noteworthy with either caliber either.I bugs me how gun writers seem like they want to kill off certain calibers when they should be promoting every caliber. It just seems negative and anti gun.
Now we're getting into Elmer/Jack territoryI highly value what Taffin has to say about the 44. Mike V, not so much.
Cool story bro.I lived thru the muscle car era, and even was able to drive a few (Plymouth 426), and none of today's stock 'muscle cars' come close in a full sized sedan. But the efficiency of engines has dramatically changed, so power has increased per engine size considerably. For example, I have a family car, a 2013 Chev Impala with a V6, and it delivers 300 HP! And it is only a 3.6L engine, which is on 220 cu! The original muscle car was the 1965 GTO, and it had a 389 CU engine, and with 3 dueces (carburators), that version delivered 360 HP. What a difference engines are today. Also, today, the Mustang is in the class of muscle car, but back in the day, the Mustang was not a muscle car at all.
IF a 44 mag is "only mediocre", what does that make a 9mm? 380?The 44 magnum has been relegated to the adequate for some uses category. Kinda like the 30-06. At this point it's only mediocre in the realm of handgun power. When I got my Dan Wesson 44+Magnum+ it was pretty cutting edge. I was pushing 454 Cassull power when it was just a Wildcat. The Modern equivalent would be the 460S&W or similar.
I am good with my mediocre .44IF a 44 mag is "only mediocre", what does that make a 9mm? 380?