Best Available 44 Spl

[ozyman]

My brothers and I started our affinity for revolvers with Dan Wesson 44Mags for going on our first Hog hunt in maybe 1990… before Hogs and night vision was a Thing. There are plenty of pet loads that are easy to handle and a joy to shoot. A common powder for these plinking / reduced loads is shotgun powder (Red Dot, Clays, etc) because it is bulky… downside is these powders are dirty

These reduced load in a heavy revolver provide a nice recoil impulse like shooting a 1911 45ACP.

 

[M118LR]

Nowadays glow in the dark iron sight compatibility may be more important than a sixth round in .44 Special. But with current legislation it probably takes longer to unlock your wheel gun than it does to slap in a mag and chamber a round in a semi auto during a home defense situation. JMHO YMMV.

 

[M118LR]

For Home Defense is there a better .44 Special than a S&W N-Frame? You don't need to carry it, just grab it off the nightstand and shoot? It should get you to a primary firearm located in the boudoir.

 

[JackBull]

You could always go with a pair of Redhawk Kodiak Backpackers


View attachment 99560

I waited to see if Ruger would come out with a Backpacker in 45. I wont wait to buy next time.

 

[JackBull]

Another Hit-N-Run post by the OP....I don't get it.

Whats there to say. Many ideas are being given.

 

[Crazywader]

You could always go with a pair of Redhawk Kodiak Backpackers


View attachment 99560

Wow! Been looking for one of these for a long time. Very nice!

 

[ArizonaTea123]

Why not 45 Colt? (Long)

 

[M118LR]

Why not 45 Colt? (Long)

S&W used to make an N-Frame .45.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

What do you mean "used to"?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Why not 45 Colt? (Long)

Indeed. The OP was "Want a 44 Spl for home defense" and it has received a lot of good responses. But a .45 anything would be a good alternative if carry is not really rquired. JMHO

FWIW my nightstand piece is a .44 Special Taurus Model 431, five shot, 3" barrel.

They still offer the .45/.410 Judge, so I wish they’d just offer a similar shorter gun in .45LC only with a 3” barrel. The Judge’s cylinder diameter and matching frame dimension tells me it should be doable. Maybe make the cylinder to accept .45ACP with moon clips as well?

Sorry about the thread drift.

 

[LAH]

If you want a 6 shot 44 Special I would consider a 44 Mag sixgun. My personal choice would be a Smith M-29 or 629 loaded with your choice of 44 Special ammo.

 

[Neon Vernon]

If you want a 6 shot 44 Special I would consider a 44 Mag sixgun. My personal choice would be a Smith M-29 or 629 loaded with your choice of 44 Special ammo.

The 329PD is still in production as well and makes a dandy 44 Spl.

 

[seasterl]

I’d get the S&W 329PD and only fire 44 Special rounds through it. It’s light, but will have less recoil to match the weight.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/n-frame-163414

 

[gramps]

My favorite 44 Spl bullet was the old Speer "Flying Ashtray".

Corbon makes an 165 gr HP for SD
gramps

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

FWIW my nightstand piece is a .44 Special Taurus Model 431, five shot, 3" barrel.

This is one of my favorite 44 Specials. I stupidly sold mine when I got the 44 special in the GP100 3”, then I stupidly sold the GP when I got the S&W 69. I would like to replace either the Taurus or the GP should I run across a fair deal on either. My back up is the Bulldog. I can comfortably CC either the Taurus or the GP. For whatever reason as I get older the more I like the bigger caliber cartridges for SD. A 200 grain bullet is substantial. At the same time I have lots of confidence with the 357 mag.

 

[eveled]

The 329PD is still in production as well and makes a dandy 44 Spl.

The 329’s are great guns. I recommend getting a stainless cylinder it will be easier to keep clean, and helps with recoil.

 

[Track14]

No BS take for home defense with a true 6 shot, American made .44 Spl you can always shoot mild .44 Spl loads in the magnum guns.

Ruger Redhawk 44M RH 44M Tank built DA, eats anything, smooth enough. Big and heavy overkill for house use.

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan 44M Short 2.5" barrel, super strong, but brutal recoil even with .44 Spl and awkward for fast follow ups indoors. More bear in the yard than bedroom gun.

S&W 629 Mountain Gun 44 Mag 4" tapered barrel, 39 oz, great balance, excellent trigger, and shoots .44 Spl very softly. Classic, accurate, and controllable.

S&W Night Guard 44 Spl 396 Lightweight scandium 23-24 oz, compact, but only 5 shots and snappier. Not 6 shot.

My pick: S&W 629 Mountain Gun in .44 Mag. Load it with good .44 Special defensive ammo like 200-240gr JHP or hardcast and you get soft recoil, six rounds, real stopping power, and a gun that points naturally for quick home defense shots. It's the best all around compromise not too big, not too light, made in America, and actually fun to shoot.

If you want something even more dedicated to soft shooting .44 Spl with six rounds, a used S&W Model 624 or similar N frame .44 Spl would be ideal, but among your current options, the Mountain Gun wins for real life home use. Rent one if you can you'll feel the difference immediately.

My thoughts exactly.
The most accurate 44spl would be one made to shoot that caliber but for home defense the ranges you would be shooting that extra bullet jump length into the forcing cone of s magnum isn’t noticeable.
I shoot two 629 s&w , a 3” Deluxe and a 2-5/8” Performance Center revolver. I also own a Super Redhawk Alaskan in 44m and although the heaviest of the 3 it is the most accurate and had the best trigger pull! Hard to believe but double action the RH is amazing snd oddly enough more accurate than single action.
I load 240g lead bullets with a gc from Rim Rock and move them at roughly 850fps. Accurate and mild recoil. Buffalo Bore has a “anti personnel “ 200g flat point lead that is real accurate.

 

[jyo]

Back in the old Skeeter/Keith days, the all-around, multi purpose .44 Special reload was 7.5 grains of Unique powder under a hardcast 240 grain SWC for about 950 FPS---this is the load I feed to both my Colt SAA and OM Ruger .44 Mag Flattop revolvers---before I stopped reloading, I assembled several thousand of this load, and continue to shoot them to this day... More powerful that most .44 Special factory ammo, less drama than .44 Mag ammo...

 

[jyo]

The 329’s are great guns. I recommend getting a stainless cylinder it will be easier to keep clean, and helps with recoil. View attachment 100459

Love the older style Pachmeyer square-butt grips WITHOUT the cheesey Pachmeyer metal discs the later production grips have...

 

[LDB]

For me, someday I hope, if Mr. Grumpy Checkbook ever becomes agreeable, it will be a 200gr. RNFP over 3.6gr. of Clays in a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan. Riding in a Mika pocket holster in the cargo pocket of my Tru-Spec originals.