The 44 Special and 44 Magnum are two different types of firearms that were designed to fire the same round-nose bullet.
The only difference between the two is that the 44 Magnum has a larger cartridge.
Both firearms are popular choices among law enforcement officers and hunters, but their popularity may be due to their relative affordability rather than their specific performance advantages.
In this world that is full of options, you are hesitant about what rounds you will use for hunting either 44 Special or 44 Magnum.
In this 44 Special vs 44 Magnum article, you will find out what are the specifications and capabilities of these things.
Also, it will help you balance everything before buying what round suits you.
The 44 Special and 44 Magnum are both powerful rounds, but which one is the better choice for self-defense?
The answer is that it depends on the situation.
The 44 Special has a higher muzzle velocity than the 44 Magnum, making it more powerful at close range.
However, the Magnum has a longer barrel, making it more accurate over a wider range.
Ultimately, the decision between the two rounds comes down to personal preference.
What’s the difference between 44 magnum and 44 special?
- 44 special slots can be shot 44 times yet is denied a visa.
So, if you haven’t fired all of the throttle 44 loads yet, start with the 44 special loads until you’re comfortable with the gun.
- The 44 magnum cartridge is the world’s most powerful handgun cartridge.
Because it has enough power to kill even enormous animals at close range, it is referred to as a “super-shotgun” cartridge.
The 44 special, on the other hand, is a smaller cartridge commonly seen in handguns.
The 44 magnum has more powder and bullets than the 44 special, which is the difference between the two cartridges.
- The 44 special cartridge is specifically designed for use with revolvers, while the 44 magnum can also be used in semi-automatic pistols.
What is 44 Special?
In 1907, the .44 S&W Special was introduced, for use with the new S&W Triple Lock Revolver.
The cartridge was made for the box on the .44 Russian cartridge to be lengthened by .2 inch to produce more powder capacity.
The original load called for 246-grain round-nose lead ammunition over 26 grains of black powder, or an equivalent load of smokeless powder presenting a muzzle velocity of 780 fps.
The 44 Special has a parent case of .44 Russian, bullet diameter of .429 inches(10.9 Millimeters), neck diameter of.457 inches(11.6 Millimeters), base diameter of .457 inches (11.6 Millimeters) , and length of 1.615 inches(41.0 Millimeters).
What is 44 Magnum?
The 44 Magnum is an undeniably powerful revolver cartridge.
Elmer Keith in 1995 initially developed the .44 Magnum to be a more potent load of the .44 S&W Special’s parent cartridge.
The .44 Magnum was made largely popular by the “Dirty Harry” movie of Clint Eastwood in 1971 and has enjoyed a well-deserved reputation among law enforcers, hunters, and sporting arms enthusiasts.
The problem about ammo availability never became an issue as it is popular. The 44 Magnum has a parent case of .44 Special, bullet diameter of .429 inches(10.9 Millimeters) , neck diameter of .457 inches(11.6 Millimeters), base diameter of .457 inches(11.6 Millimeters) length of 1.61 inches(41.0 Millimeters).
What are the advantages and disadvantages of 44 special?
The .44 Special doesn’t hit hard compared to the .44 Magnum, and to put the Remington cartridge to good management you need to have a strong grip.
For everyone to shoot it conveniently in most cases, the .44 Special recoil is made like .45 ACP. It means the Smith & Wesson is the better option when it comes to having a manageable recoil.
Having a problem in the budget is nowhere to be found as the .44 Special is affordable than .44 Mag revolvers.
Many .44 Magnum revolvers owners often practice using .44 Special and only load Magnum rounds if stopping power is required.
One of its advantages is few gun makers on the market have been willing to produce firearms chambered in.44 Special.
When it comes to .44 Special people have many choices but certain shooters might find it difficult to stock up on the Smith & Wesson round.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of 44 magnum?
The .44 Magnum will ensure you get the job done without trouble if it comes to what targets you shoot at.
The .44 Magnum with the blend of high velocity and flat trajectory is allowed to stretch out to 100 yards which are impressive for around initially designed for revolvers.
Shooting skills can be a factor, weather conditions and something else would affect the shooting range.
One advantage of this is shooters can get this gun at most gun stores across the country.
Making hand-loaded ammunition is a walk in the park as .44 Magnum uses a straight-wall, non-bottleneck case and if you have suitable tools and materials.
On the disadvantage side, if you don’t handle the recoil well like a good shooter .44 Magnum is a poor choice of caliber.
Having a steady grip is important to avoid the gun chewing the web of your hand due to the kickback of the Remington round.
Can a 44 special shoot 44 Magnum?
No, you can fire the lower power 44 special in a 44 magnum fine but in reverse, you cannot fit the larger 44 magnum ammo into a 44 special due to its largeness it will not fit or close.
The .44 Special can only operate in low pressures because its frames are initially created for .44 Special and are not as strong as .44 magnums.
In many cases, .44 Magnum ammo is too powerful it would tear the cylinder into pieces.
The .44 Magnum round is too long for a chamber in .44 Special, it is risky to force .44 Special to fire .44 magnum ammo.
Can a 44 magnum shoot 44 Special?
Yes, the 44 Special can be applied in the 44 Magnum barrel with no difficulties.
The standard 44 Special loading pushes a 246 gr lead bullet at around 750 fps while the standard 44 Magnum load pushes a 240 gr bullet at around 1200 fps or so.
Like .38 can be fired in a revolver chambered for .357 Magnum, the .44 special can also be fired in a .44 Rem Mag for low recoil practice.
That’s what has kept the cartridge in the ammo maker’s catalogs all these years, but despite the case, few handgunners were purchasing guns chambered for .44 Special.
Can a 44 magnum kill a moose ?
Yes, it will kill or work on moose with good hits and good bullets.
Though it isn’t the ideal caliber for shooting moose with 50 yards and good shot placement it would be a walk-in-the-park job. 44 mag super Redhawk can even kill a buffalo at 35 yards.
Moose certainly are large animals and muscular but I think that they could be killed by using bows and arrows, how much more with a .44 magnum if you are close enough.
Also, think that with .35 rem Marlin and never at more than 100 yards you can kill a moose so you would expect that a 44 magnum could also kill a moose with good shot placement.
In a 150 yards long poke it is not sure if it will do the job because the ribs and shoulders of moose are thick and heavy.
Can a 44 special kill a bear?
Anything that is more powerful than .41 Magnum or .44 Magnum is good for bear hunting.
As the old-time black bear hunters say, any load that throws at least 1 200-grain or bigger solid bullet at 1000 fps can do the job of killing a bear.
And with that standard, a good heavy-power .44 Special in the right gun can work fine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 44 Special is a more powerful cartridge than the 44 Magnum.
It can be fired in revolvers that are chambered for the Magnum, but it delivers more muzzle energy and has a wider range of acceptable bullet weights.
While the Magnum may have a slight edge in terms of stopping power, the Special is still more than capable of taking down most game animals.
If you are looking for a powerful revolver cartridge that is easy to reload, the 44 Special should be your top choice.
In our lives, there are some periods that we are still doubtful about which to get even though we are already knowledgeable about what specifications attract us.
Shooters like you have various flavors, but if you are adjusting for the amount .44 special can be a good option for you.
On the opposite side, if you have an adequate budget and have the ability of a good shooter .44 magnum is suitable for you.
