44 Special for deer-sized game?

[OregonBoy]

I wanted to find out what the general opinion is on the 44 Special as a "woods" gun, for possible use on everything up to deer-sized game, including black bear. With Buffalo Bore's top-end loads, I think it would more than do the job, with not a whole lot of recoil.

[Blackhawk44]

Any 44 Special load with a 240-250gr bullet at 950fps or more, inside 50yds or so, leaves any accountability for failure in the operator's hands, not the gun or loads'.  I will add that, especially at these speeds, generally a good cast bullet with large flat point (meplat) would be more reliable for all around use than a jacketed one.  Handloading brings out the true enjoyment of a 44 Special.  Time to get started.  BOL

[litman252]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Not a history buff, however I think it worked great with older powders before the .44 became a Mag.
Should still work well, Deer have not changed as much as calibers and computers. :wink:
Tony

[GhosTT]

.44 cal(240 grain) traveling at 1000fps,
 sounds like an Elmer Keith load to me.

[OregonBoy]

Yeah...but would those loads be safe to use in a current production snubby like the Charter Arms 2000 Bulldog? All of the affordable 44 Specials made these days are featherweight double-actions, and I'm unsure if they could handle the heavy loads. If they can't, I could always work up to the safest maximum load  :?[/i]

[Lloyd Smale]

wouldnt shoot anything heavier the factory level loads in a bulldog.

[Blackhawk44]

Yes, TC Addict, those loads would be safe, but absolutely uncontrollable due to size and weight, not strength.  A load such as a 240gr cast over 7.5gr Unique (a Skeeter Skelton load) is safe in any late model 44Sp, and effective on deer at shorter ranges.  With the Bulldog, recoil is the problem.  Dropping bullet weight to about 200gr and velocity to about 800fps makes them much more controllable.  No one needs to be loading the Keith loads of 17.5gr 2400 and a 250gr bullet because these loads generate anywhere from 28,-35,000cup depending on components and technique.  If anyone has need to push a 44 bullet faster than 1100fps, it needs to be from a magnum pistol, not a Special.  Why push safety and a good gun when cheap used maggies are available everywhere.

[OregonBoy]

Alright, maybe I'll see if I can't find a used Blackhawk 41 Mag or something along the lines of that. The 44 Special was mainly appealing because of the price ($290 at my local gun shop). Thanks for your help, though.

[Blackhawk44]

The old three screw 357 make up into the greatest 44 Specials ever.  I've had mine over 25 years and its the one I'd have if everything else had to go.  That's saying a bit since I also shoot 44 Specials in 2 SAA's, a 1950 Target, a 24-4. and 24-3.  Its the perfect weight and strength.  If needed it would easily handle Keith loads all day.  The trouble with the 41's and everthing built after 1972 is that they are all on the 45 frame.  There's no use building a 44 Sp when its going to be as big and heavy as a 44 mag.  For a change, the next 3 screw I sneak up on is destined to become a 25-20.

[madbadger]

I've taken several deer with the .44 Special in several different platforms from 2nd generation SAA's to S&W 24's to Freedom Arms '97 in that chambering.  The "Special" will indeed take deer even in some of the more benign factory loadings quite nicely.  Loading it (or purchasing from Buffalo Bore) like Keith suggested is more than adequate for deer and bear.  In the right circumstances I'd not feel undergunned for larger game.

I believe it to be the best all around (woods bumming to serious hunting) caliber.  You simply cannot go wrong with a .44 Special.

[44 Man]

A Charter in .44 makes a wonderful carry gun.  Light wt, compact and handy.  However I would limit my loads in it to 200 gr gold dot or xtp's over 8 gr Unique.  That load is plenty in that gun.  As the old Speer #9 manual states, a charter will handle heavier loads but you won't.  The recoil gets a little viscious in that little gun.  If you want to shoot loads in the range of 7.5 gr Unique with a cast 245 gr bullet (900 fps), get a Colt/clone in .44 spl.  Great woods gun, and still much smaller than a Ruger .44 mag or N-frame Smith.  Those loads will do any thing you ask them to.  Your ability to take Deer or Black Bear cleanly will only be limited by your shooting skill.  For deer hunting, I often carry 250 gr LBT's over 8 gr of Unique.  That load only does 825 fps from my Colt, but just hammers anything it hits!   44 Man

[OregonBoy]

Thanks for your input, 44 Man. As someone who's only hunted squirrels with an old Ruger MKI, I don't know too much about handgun hunting. Seeing as you have noted some of its positive aspects, I might just get the Charter. It would mainly just be a backup when hunting in black bear country, though I might take a blacktail with it if the situation allowed.

[The deerslayer]

It would be great for deer and even black bear If you used a hevier frame gun and used buffalo bore ammo.

[Dave in WV]

TC addict, IMHO if you're wanting a trail gun a Taurus .41 mag would be better. For a hunting revolver many states don't allow the use of a .44 spcl. or a snubbie.

[OregonBoy]

The limits for Oregon deer, black bear, and cougar are all .22 centerfire or larger, and the minimum for elk is .24 or larger, so the 44 Special is legal on all Oregon big game, even if its not the best choice for all. I am starting to steer away from the Bulldog towards a Uberti or Cimarron SAA clone. I should note that besides the price, most of my interest in the 44 comes from reading Elmer Kieth's Sixguns. If heavy 44 loads worked that well back then, why wouldn't they work now? I've put a good 100+ rounds of factory loads (246gr, mostly) through a friend's 44 Mag T/C Contender, and I feel more comfortable with it than with most magnum cartridges, except maybe the 41 Magnum, which is also an option.

[GunnyII]

Why not a nicley broken-in (used) Blackhawk or Vaquero? Found all over here in Michigan for about $300. And I have never heard a man complain about wearing out his Ruger!