.44 special

[fly-by]

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

Love my 720. Heftier than the 44 special Bulldog (I have one of those too) yet still very handy. Great trigger.  Real sights.

Another choice is the 3.75" Talo (Plow Handle) or Lipsey's (Bisley) .44 mag. I've got the Talo version and it's my go to woods carry sidearm.

[Rich_S]

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

Love my 720. Heftier than the 44 special Bulldog (I have one of those too) yet still very handy. Great trigger.  Real sights.

Another choice is the 3.75" Talo (Plow Handle) or Lipsey's (Bisley) .44 mag. I've got the Talo version and it's my go to woods carry sidearm.

 

[HighRoad]

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?

I had the same thoughts a couple years ago. I bought one and am glad I did. I have a couple .44 DA Mags, but there's something fun and cool in carrying a single-action SPL.

Factory Grip


Custom Grip and Tom Three Persons holster from El Paso Saddlery

[Smokepole]

Highroad, that is one nice rig!

I have a blackhawk .44 mag with 5 1/2 barrel.  I load and shoot a LOT of 44 special loads through it.  The problem you might have is accuracy.  Some guys say they have trouble grouping specials out of the long magnum cylinder.  I do notice some leading in the cylinder when I shoot my hand cast Keith bullets, but I get some decent groups.

If you can find a Ruger 44 special flattop, buy it.  You can load some nice Skeeter loads that will drop most Washington game.  I carry mine as a side arm while muzzle loading.  Plus, I just enjoy shooting it.  I cast a load of lead bullets and load both 44 mag & 44 special.

IMHO the advantages of 44 special revolver are:

1. Less recoil means a quicker, more accurate second and third shot.
2. Less recoil is easy on guys with smaller hands.
3.  More accurate than shoot specials from a magnum cylinder. 
4. Less leading in the cylinder throats than using a magnum.
5.  Nostalgia, man.  Elmer and Skeeter loads are the most fun to shoot.

Yeah, I'd buy a 44 special flattop in a heart  beat. 

[theleo]

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?

I had the same thoughts a couple years ago. I bought one and am glad I did. I have a couple .44 DA Mags, but there's something fun and cool in carrying a single-action SPL.

Factory Grip


Custom Grip and Tom Three Persons holster from El Paso Saddlery

I run around with about the same setup except stainless with elk horn grips and an El Paso Saddlery cross draw holster, same leather shell holder. Pretty comfortable kicking around the woods setup.