44 Special

Hey Paul. So would you say the 44 Special has better stopping power than the 357 Magnum? I'm not big into the numbers but from everything I've shot.....The 357 Magnum seems to pack a better wallop....Or maybe I'm just biased to my all time favorite handgun caliber 😂

I also wanted to ask you another question Paul...Have you ever written a book? If you haven't you definitely should. To me you are up there w Massad ( I probably butchered his name but I'm sure you know who i speak of) I would love to see you at a book signing. You and Hickok 45 are my 2 favorite gun channels. W an honorable mention for Nutinfancy

Hollowpoints work best in the human body, where fluid causes greater expansion at right velocities. Meat targets aren't surrounded by fluid. Oh, well. Great tests, nonetheless.

I repeat a point Paul made in another video. .44 special and .44 magnum use the same bullets, not the same brass. Most .44 (actually .429) bullets are made to expand at .44 magnum velocities, not necessarily .44 special velocities. Good bullet selection for .44 special is mandatory for expansion.

Thanks Paul. I love the 44 Special. I'm a handloader though and so I can customize my loads. I've had several 44 Specials in the past - S&W and Ruger - and sadly, had to sell them a while back to get through a financial low point... I am looking to get another one though. Enjoyed this vid. And I see that I might be able to get a GP100 in 44 Spcl. hmmm

I was shot twice with a .44 special. One was a nasty flesh wound in my leg. The other hit me in the neck. It went through my right shirt collar and almost exited just under the bottom of my left shoulder blade. The wad cutter bullet destroyed my 1st and 2nd thoracic vertebrae. I've been paralysed from my collarbones down for 41 years.

Bulldog .44 spl with CCI shotshells is great for carrying around on the farm for snakes. But I don't think it is optimal for carrying around in the city.

I think the single best reason for shooting .44 Special is that you own a 329 PD and actually want to shoot it.

I've recently gained some interest in the 44 S&W Special. I'll agree up front that it is not an ideal self defense caliber due to the lack of appropriate bullets. It is very popular for certain target sports. It is a hand loader's cartridge. However, the 44 Specials shot over the chronograph were very light loads according to the reloading data I have. A 200gr bullet should be able to clock ~1000fps with ease. So one would expect even faster projectiles that are 180gr or 165gr. To say that the defensive ammunition tested was disappointing is an understatement.
Another point is that while an N-Frame size revolver like the S&W 629 3" is still quite a chunk to carry, shooting 44 Magnum through it can be quite an education on recoil. Dropping down to specials could make the 629 quite comfortable to shoot (if not carry) for many people. Maybe it would be a nice nightstand gun. The Critical Defense is an OK round, but I imagine far better exists. The only suitable defense bullet I could find online (not to say there aren't others) was the Nosler NOS44846, a .429" 200gr JHP. It should manage the ~1000fps within SAAMI specs. And if you are hand loading, you might go just a hair further as there is also 44 Magnum loading data. I wonder how the 2.75" S&W Model 69 will handle it. It also has a five shot cylinder like the GP100.
Just to check my sanity, my EDC is a five shot J-Frame loaded with 38Spl+P ammo. It's super comfortable to carry and not as difficult to shoot effectively as many make it out to be. Odds of needing a gun with my life style are low enough for my to prioritize comfort over firepower.

Regarding intimidation factor as a civilian: I was forced to pull my CCW weapon twice fairly recently. The first time was when I was accosted by 3 individuals (one brandishing a knife) while walking my dog in broad daylight. My J-frame 38 was enough to make them run away. The second time was at night in a gas station parking lot, which started as a surprise unprovoked physical altercation. I was able to create some distance and pull my Officer model 1911, and my attacker ran away.
All that to say that I don’t put much stock in the concept of “intimidation factor” in the context of civilian interactions when a firearm is drawn. I agree with Paul that the criminal’s belief that the victim will indeed shoot is a more important factor.

When indoors firing 200gr .44 spl Fed. lead hp's with a 2.5" bbl guys who were close looked for the cannon.

I am planning on buying a Colt Anaconda but will shoot more .44 spcl than .44 mag I am sure, but like to have the option. This was a great vid (obviously, it's a Paul vid) and this helped me decide on adding the big snake to my collection/arsenal.

Paul's expertise and teaching style are unparalleled.

👍 3 years later my opinion remains the same.
In fact, I just sold a 1911 style 9mm pistol to purchase another .44 Special single action revolver. IMHO wheelguns are sexier than autoloaders and are more fun to shoot. In revolvers the .44 Special is the king perhaps only matched by the .44-40. I do believe the .38 Special has some merit as does the .22LR, but have nothing pleasant to say about the .357 Magnum. 🤷🏻‍♂️
But, I do enjoy and learn from your videos and agree the .44 Special may not be the perfect choice for everybody, but it works for me.
Also, I firmly believe one should practice with ammunition they plan to use for hunting or self-defense (i.e. practicing with .44 Special or .38 Special will not prepare one for the recoil or noise of a .44 Magnum or .357 Magnum IMHO).

Woo doggy! The CRACK of that 44 Mag echoing down the canyon!!!

Thank you Sir

Paul handles a .44 Magnum like I shoot a 9mm 😂

LCR 327 for the win. 38, and 357 suck out of a snub. 6 shots, can be shot from a pocket, or purse. Ammo doesn't function the gun, and a thumb, or dirt bag wont be able to jam your slide. Women, H&R mag can still be had, and smokes the 380, 38 options out there with a lot less recoil. SD baby!

Still Special !

The “intimidation factor” thing is something I have direct personal experience with. It goes like this: I was forced to present a firearm in an altercation. In doing so, I did indeed defuse the situation. However, my firearm was a pistol which I had Duracoted in a neat-looking desert sand/coyote tan pattern. The person I was pointing it at (wielding a bat against a friend) had to do a double take to realize that I was pointing a gun at them, at which point they dropped the bat and disengaged. My takeaway is this: whatever you’re carrying probably ought to be easily identifiable as a “GUN” when someone sees it. Regardless of caliber or physical size, it probably ought to be black or silver in coloration, and register instantly in anyone’s head that you are holding a “GUN”. Everything else is probably window dressing.

Please do a 44special vs Taurus Judge video!! Even if it's your brother Roy as long as he dislikes the Judge as much as you dislike not having any snakes to shoot

I read a study that focused on interviews with inmates and one interesting thing to come out of it was that the SS finish was intimidating. They didn’t get into the size or caliber, but almost to a man, they mentioned the stainless finish.

Myself, I would like to see a comparison of the .44 spl with the .455 Webley. They seem very close in size, shape and velocity. The British used this .455 for many years and in many wars. Effective? Maybe?

.22lr getting no respect is coming from people who know less than nothing about it.

i keep going back and watching. i cant help but love these videos. ive learned so much from em

Just found your page because I recently purchased a .44 Special. I must say, it’s the most fun roll gun I own! It’s a Bulldog by Charter Arms and I absolutely LOVE it!

Just for fun I watched Magnum Force. Dirty Harry admitted to the motorcycle officers at the range that he carried a S&W model 29 but fired .44 special ammo through it.

Re revolver vs autoloader for reliability. Jeff Cooper commented on this and favored the auto as they "had become much more reliable". And Paul says auto's that "are properly maintained" are very reliable.
If cars are any indicator, average citizens are aggressively disinterested in maintenance.

Unless it's rusted tight or the main spring is rusted solid, a revolver will always fire with zero maintenance. Revolvers can be kept loaded indefinitely with no mechanical degradation. I believe tests show fully loaded, a magazine relaxes over time.

If one of the cartridges in a revolver is a dud, simply pulling the trigger again takes you to a new (hopefully working) cartridge. In an auto one must perform a clearance drill. A casual SD carrier is likely to go to "deer in headlights" mode. Drills are that, practiced endlessly until they become automatic. I guess less than a 10th of a percent of SD carriers practice scenario drills at all.

The hugest majority of people will never need a SD weapon in their lifetimes.
An SD carrier will most likely never need to present a firearm in defense. (I've known police who went a whole career and never drew).
Those that do, the attacker will likely withdraw from a non helpless victim.
Those that fail to withdraw will probably resolve either way in 2-4 shots. I have said before, unless you're James Bond, the scenario where you're involved in a protracted firefight with multiple determined opponents is so unlikely as to be statistically insignificant from zero.

So the main advantage of the auto is smaller, flatter, easier to carry concealed, also cheaper. A Phoenix arms (or whatever they are now) in 32. or .380 is probably around 250 bucks. Most revolvers are built by "better" firms, better made and cost a lot more.

So revolver vs Auto (in small carry sizes)? Easier carry vs simpler operation...choose one.

As for .44 spc in particular? I believe a somewhat skeptical ne'er-do-well may be more convinced by a .44 bore than a .22 bore as speculated. My 2 cents.

Don't waste money on fancy hollwpoint ammo. My thunder ranch .44SPL is loaded with 240 hard cast swc with 5.5 grains w231. Average velocity is 850fps. Good enough for me. 😊

As someone who had to shoot just one round from a .357 Magnum in a stairwell I can attest that yes it will cause hearing loss, but I’m alive today to have that hearing loss.

All good but more importantly, how is Paul doing. I pray for him every day. That matters.

I like .44 special because it makes big holes and a lot less work

Can you guys test some more 44 special?

RIP Paul ❤

R.I.P. Paul… once again coming in clutch and having a video on exactly what I wanted.

👌

RIP Paul

What a loss that he isnt here anymore!!! For the hearing loss issue and his 30-06 accident. The decibel rating for 30-06 from a rifle is about 161db. .38 special from a GP100 (barrel length not mentioned) 164db and 357 Mag 169db. Every 3db is double the noise! And from a snub 357 might be even more than 169db. So its actually much louder than a 30-06 rifle. And I have read a few stories of guys who hat a hearing loss of 70% by just one shooting in a self defense situation with a 357 snub. So I disagree here with him. Hearing loss can be an issue in self defense. Even blast trauma right in the moment of self defense.

I do not know how i missed this one. I am a massive fan of 44 Special and Paul Harrell videos. Great video as always.

Rest in peace Mr Harrell.

That 44 Special Critical Defence ammo is truly impressive.
Why would someone choose a 44 Special for a carry gun?
Because I like therm.
Seriously though, my city gun is a modern autoloader. My bear country gun is a 44 Special. This loaded with my handloads of hard cast SWC bullets.
For decades the 44 Special has been plagued with low powered factory loadings.
Things are changing though. There are several companies making high performance 44 Special ammo now.

I miss Paul Harrell. He gave me the info I needed in a very professional manner.

If you don't love Paul Harrell, you are an idiot...

Pistols are too complicated for me 😂

Large frame .44 magnum has less recoil. And carries in a shoulder holster just fine.
.44 special is fine for two legged predators and training and . 44 magnum for bears.

.44 special is quieter and doesn’t disturb the neighborhood 🎉so much…

And with the Dan Wesson can change barrel lengths… and have a new gun… 2” up to 15”…

Most gun incidents are less than 6 shots… they say 🎉Unless an officer involved shooting 😂

And training with an identical .22… helps

Question is which is better? The .38 special in the.357 mag or the .44 special in the .44 magnum.

Legend!

Thank you, Paul. Your information is still useful and appreciated. RIP.

Just going back through Paul's work. Today, just about anything other than 9mm is hard to get, and when found, expensive. I think 44spl does have a place for the handloader. I use it for plinking, as well as a wild hogs once in a while. I do not have any 44spl firearms, they are all magnums, large format guns, pretty hefty as well. For near range hogs on my place I like a 44spl with a 200gr softer (12 hardness) lead FP going at least 900fps. When processing the hogs, the results are very clear. Wound channel and bone penetration are no problem and the hog is dead. 44mag recoil gets old quickly. 44spl brass is a lot like 38spl in that pressures are low, so the brass tends to last a LONG time. Paul stressed the "right ammo". So true, for whatever one is doing with a firearm and its intended purpose. For defense, I carry a G19. It has been a long while ago that I stopped carry a revolver.

As usual, the information was solid and well presented. I have to wonder, though, if you were looking at the 44 Special from the same position as those who were interested in it. I have heard some of my friends raise some interesting and, in my personal opinion, valid points in favor of the 44 Spec. HOWEVER, they ponder the cartridge in smaller firearms like the Charter Arms bulldog and others for use instead of a 38 special or even 357 Magnum, rather than in place of a 44 Magnum.

The larger diameter, and much heavier weight, of the 43 caliber projectile, as apposed to a 36 cal (apprx) provides significantly more energy than the 30 spec delivers. The smaller size and lighter weigh makes it more reasonable for regular carry purposes. I have no solid figures for comparative velocities aside from Hornady loading tables (old ones at that) at my disposal at the moment, but the average 44 Spec loads were faster from a 4 3/4 test gun than the 38 Special from a 6 inch gun.

From an energy perspective, it looks like a step up for sure. But compared to a 357 Magnum, and in actual use and not numbers on paper? That would be interesting to see, and it would answer questions I and others have regarding the 44 Spec vs 38 Special and, especially, the 357 Magnum.

The real takeaway I got from your presentation, and a VERY useful one at that, is that most 430 bullets seem to be designed with only the magnum loadings in mind. Bullet performance at 44 Special velocities seemed dismal. This, along with hard to find ammo, makes the round a questionable choice. Still, I would have loved seeing a comparison between the 357/38 Spec performance and and that of the 44 Spec. Maybe someday...?