Taurus M444 Ultralite (on a Raging Bull frame).

[catalina320]

If I well understand this is a new offer from Taurus. I own a Raging Bull in 44Mag (8 3/8 barrel) that I consider one of my favored guns of all times.
Smooth trigger pull and very manageable recoil. I have seen this new ultralite now being offered and I wonder how it will perform being only a 4" barrel not ported. S&W make a 44Mag in 4" barrel but cost a lot more than the Taurus. Has anybody out there shoot one of the Ultralites?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Shane in WI]

I will be able to tell you in a week.  Just bought one.  M444 ultralite in blued.  Was $350 cheaper than the Smith and I have had very good luck with my other taurus.  My M44 has a 6 1/2" barrel and weighs nearly twice as much as the new M444.  I'm going to use it as a pack gun on my elk hunt this Sept.  I would not think it all that fun to shoot, especially w/o porting, but shouldn't be that bad.   I'll get back to you in a few days and let you know.

[Shane in WI]

I will be able to tell you in a week.  Just bought one.  M444 ultralite in blued.  Was $350 cheaper than the Smith and I have had very good luck with my other taurus.  My M44 has a 6 1/2" barrel and weighs nearly twice as much as the new M444.  I'm going to use it as a pack gun on my elk hunt this Sept.  I would not think it all that fun to shoot, especially w/o porting, but shouldn't be that bad.   I'll get back to you in a few days and let you know.

[Shane in WI]

I picked up the 444 ultra-lite last night.  Only shot a few rounds through it with 200 grain lead SWC lite loads, recoil was fine not a big deal.  I shot a few more with 210 grain win silvertips, which was noticably more recoil.  I have both 240 grain and 300 grain XTP's which I have yet to shoot.  I would think they to be managable, but much more recoil than my heavier 44 mag.  My handloads are the 240 gr XTP with a book load of WW296.  (not a light load to shoot)
The gun looks great, no blemishes I can see and very light at 28 oz, it's half of what my 6 1/2" Taurus is.  Should do exactly what it's supposed to and that's be light enough to pack in the mountains.  I don't think I'd call it a target gun, but for the little I've shot it, it did very well.  I do like the sights, the front one has an orange fiberoptic rod with a square black shape and the rear one is a square notch with a white outline.  Grip is very comfortable as well.