.44 special

[jdb]

So I have a hankering for a new pistol to carry whilst bumming around the woods. I'm really leaning towards a ruger Flattop Blackhawk in .44 special. Anyone have one? I'm thinking a 240ish grain bullets at 900 or so fps. Thoughts?

[Encore 280]

Why not just get the 44 mag and run the 44 specials thru it? Then you'll have the best of both worlds.

[jdb]

Man I don't know how to explain to you why a guy would want a .44 special. There's just something magical about it.

[jburkett]

I carried a charter .44 special for years. But if  I could have afforded a magnum at the time I would have spent the extra cash in a heart beat

[T Pearce]

Some serious cool factor in a custom #5 too.

Ive often considered the smaller frame in a 4 5/8".
Should carry easy and be plenty of hammer.
T

[fastdam]

I would get the superblackhawk .44 mag and just shoot the specials through it.

[T Pearce]

The revolver I believe he's considering is based on an early small frame that was brought back into "limited" production due to demand from serious shooters.......

Alot of folks have converted early small frame 357's. I wish I had done the same.

The desire for the 44 spl is hard to explain. When carrying one loaded with a Kieth Hard Cast bullet you are not under gunned.

[Bigshooter]

My dad's name on here is 44 flattop.  If you want to talk anything .44 talk to him.  He's been shooting them for 40 years.

[ChesapeakeMan]

Got one.  Love it!

If we are talking about the same one they are (or were) commissioned by Lipseys.  Mine is the 4 5/8" barrel with the bisley grip.  The .357 size frame is much more comfortable to pack around all day long.  I had a Super Blackhawk Hunter that I was going to modify.  But no matter what modifications I may have performed on that gun it still would have been considerably larger and heavier.  I now have a Redhawk with a 4 1/8" barrel when a magnum is needed.  I have yet to carry the Redhawk afield.  I pick the Blackhawk every time.

One problem they have is that the front sight is terrible.  It's just a solid black ramp with an integral base that is silver soldered in place.  Difficult to change.  I opted to install a Weigand DX front base.  This base accepts any interchangeable S&W front blade.  I chose XS Sights Big Dot tritium front sight.  For the rear I went with Hamilton Bowen's Rough Country v-notched sight.  For fast acquisition and rugged carry this combo has been hard to beat.  After re-blueing and some Wolf springs it was ready to rock.

I haven't had the time to work up any loads for it yet.  So I am using Grizzly Cartridges 260 gr hardcast WFNGC at a claimed 1000 fps.  I have witnessed what damage HSM's 305 gr hardcast 44 mag load can inflict on a 300 lb bear.  I have no visions of the .44 Special being that devastating but I am confident it will perform well at close range.

In the field I carry it in a Galco SAO.  This holster allows cross draw or conventional hip carry.  I always carry it cross draw because that works for me driving the truck, side by side, riding the motorcycle or just hiking.

I got a little long winded but that's easy to do when you talk about your loved ones.  Lol

[thinkingman]

Ruger=heavy.
For a 'walkin through the woods' gun, I'd pick something lighter.
$0.02.

[Fl0und3rz]

Got one.  Love it!

Sounds like a sweet setup.

[headshot5]

I have one in 4-5/8".   It is a stellar little gun.  Running the old skeeter load (unique powder) it gets me right around 1000 fps with 260 Keith bullets.  It'll do anything I need.  I picked it up because I liked the .357 sized frame.   


*Edit to add.   There is a reason the factory grips are nicknamed by many as cheese grater grips.   Extended shooting sessions will skin your hands a bit.  aftermarket grips are good idea if you are planning on shooting a lot at once.  They work absolutely fine for a trail gun.  You won't regret getting one.  If you have any questions let me know. 

[HighlandLofts]

I have a stainless Rossi 720 in 44 special to occasionally use as a carry gun. It is nice shooting, comfortable to carry & shoot and fills the need when used.
Every one should have a 44 Special just because you can.

The Rossi 720s sell for under $500

[theleo]

I have a stainless one that wears elk horn grips, I love the thing! 8 grains of Unique gets me to 1050 fps with Keith bullets out of an NOE mold. It deterred a black bear from raiding coolers anymore Idaho this year.

The guys that are saying just get a mag are wrong. If you want a gun with 6 shots that can push a 240 grain SWC up to 1200 fps and have it on a lighter 357 frame, there's no better choice.

 The Keith load of 17 or 18 grains of 2400 is handful with this gun and I much prefer the lesser recoil of those loads hovering around the Skeeter load performance.

[T Pearce]

I have been the 44mag route numerous times. The mag is a proven cartridge, the Spl is too.

This time around I went with the 45 Colt. A 270gr Kieth at 1110fps shoots great and hard to stop, the Spl is right there as well and would carry better.

My next after I save more pennies.
http://www.gunblast.com/Bowen-No5.htm