Why would anyone want a 44 magnum revolver?

[Will Carry]

I ask that because I have an itch for a new pistol and I do not own a 44 magnum. So I'm thinking about buying one and want some input.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Will Carry

[gregintenn]

Why not?

You want one so you can later get a 44 mag lever action carbine to go with it.

Edited March 27, 2012 by gregintenn

[Jonnin]

44 is a nice flat shooting, long range pistol and reasonable to control in a long barrel revolver. Its capable of taking most game in our area if you hunt. Ammo is fairly common and comes in a variety of loads suitable for many purposes. Its big and loud and fun at the range. It is fine for self defense --- pretty much the same round as a 45 acp but with twice the velocity. Basically just one of the most useful and flexible cartridges for a variety of shooting needs. And you can poke it into a number of rifles, including but not limited to lever actions, which gets it pretty close to a 30-30 in performance for a lighter, rifle type payload.

[peejman]

What they said. And you can shoot .44 specials for plinking.

Need I say more...

[D3vo]

I thought I did, but decided a .357 would be a better fit. The cost of ammo played a role and being able to shoot .38 is a bonus.

[k9wh91984]

Because its awesome especially the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan snub .44 MAG

[nightrunner]

The name is misleading The. 44mag actually uses a .429 bullet. I feel its a good all around caliber

[Mike.357]

"being as this is a .44 Magnum,the most powerful handgun in the world"

All the reason one needs

[f3joel]

Why not?

You want one so you can later get a 44 mag lever action carbine to go with it.

that was my plan

Well, I got the lever action first...

[LI0NSFAN]

What mike said

[E4 No More]

Because it's a 44 Magnum!

[Oh Shoot]

I thought I did, but decided a .357 would be a better fit. The cost of ammo played a role and being able to shoot .38 is a bonus.

But a .44 mag is a .357 that goes to 11!

- OS

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Thirst quenching gun without the necessity of shooting a hundred rounds through it. Mine is

awesome to shoot. When I get my hands on the other one I just bought, it will be just double

the fun with half the rounds. Mine are 29 Smiths. Easy handling pistol. Plenty of knockdown

power and very accurate so far for me.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

You sure it doesn't go to 12, OS?

[JAB]

I wanted (and eventually got) a .44 Mag in a Super Blackhawk. I honestly haven't shot it all that much but have no interest in getting rid of it. .44 Mag certainly hasn't replaced the .357/.38 family as my favorites or my idea of the most versatile. That said, I also know it would do things solidly that my .357 might just be 'marginal' for. Mostly, though, I have to admit that it is just that it is a .44 Magnum. It is kind of my 'extreme' handgun while still possibly having actual, practical applications whereas anything 'bigger' would be getting into the realm of the ridiculous for me.

[Caster]

Jab, don't get me wrong, but I don't understand people's point of view with the .357/.38 being so versatile? It's really not. What can it do that the .44 cannot? I can name a few things the .44 can do that the .357 can't for sure. The .44 is the low end standard for dangerous north american territory. Not something I would attribute to the .357. As far as ease of shooting, that's all dependent on the reloader. Afterall, if you ain't reloading for either one, you're cheating yourself out of a LOT. The .44 can be loaded to be just as comfortable as any .357 and many 38's.

I love the .357/38 but it's role is actually very limited. It's a little too much for small game where a .32 caliber would be much better suited. It's a little under for any large game unless you really know what you're doing. It does do one thing very well, it's good at taking down the Long Pig [man].

Me personally I am a 45 Colt [blackhawk only] man. It will do 99.5% of what a .44 mag will do and only be edged out on paper, not in any practical way. The .44 magnum is an awesome cartridge and certainly NOT the beast it was once demonized to be.

[lshel]

I like the Ruger Super Redhawk in a 44 Mag. This is an all around hunting/plinking gun. I have had several and then I had to have a Super Redhawk 454 Casull. This can put 300g bullets out at 1550fps. This round is expensive to shoot unless you reload. I would like my 44 mag back.

[Caster]

I can get close to that with .45 colt, but not quite. I'm scared to go any further. 'bout 1300 is a handful and all I'll ever want for.

[Guest chrisdridley]

Why would anyone want a 44mag? To hunt with.

I hunt with two 44 mags. A stainless Dan Wesson with a 8" VH barrel and a Redhawk with a Nikon scope on it.

These two handguns are responsible for over 20 deer, hog and bear trophys. I have never seen the reason behind carrying a rifle in the woods when a pistol is much easier.....I'll save my rifles for the open country.

[JeffsSig]

Will if your in no hurry Ill be down your way in a few weeks and Ill be glad to bring mine to let you test drive it.

[Volzfan]

It would be fun to have one but I can't afford to shoot it too much so I guess I'll pass, unless I hit the Mega Millions tonight! (Don't usually play it but for a chance at 363 million I figured I would drop a couple of dollars on it)

[tnhawk]

I haven't found a reason yet, but I'm sure there's a good reason that I need a 44 mag.

[JAB]

Jab, don't get me wrong, but I don't understand people's point of view with the .357/.38 being so versatile? It's really not. What can it do that the .44 cannot? I can name a few things the .44 can do that the .357 can't for sure. The .44 is the low end standard for dangerous north american territory. Not something I would attribute to the .357. As far as ease of shooting, that's all dependent on the reloader. Afterall, if you ain't reloading for either one, you're cheating yourself out of a LOT. The .44 can be loaded to be just as comfortable as any .357 and many 38's.

I love the .357/38 but it's role is actually very limited. It's a little too much for small game where a .32 caliber would be much better suited. It's a little under for any large game unless you really know what you're doing. It does do one thing very well, it's good at taking down the Long Pig [man].

Me personally I am a 45 Colt [blackhawk only] man. It will do 99.5% of what a .44 mag will do and only be edged out on paper, not in any practical way. The .44 magnum is an awesome cartridge and certainly NOT the beast it was once demonized to be.

I see your point. However, I have read more than one account of people downloading LRN .38 and using it to hunt small game such as rabbits, etc. I would think it would be good for other types of small game (birds, squirrels) at very short ranges with shotshells. Load it with anything from standard pressure .38 (with a good bullet) up through .38+P and I trust it for defense against anything in our area - two or four legged - short of a black bear or wild hog. Load it with a 125 to 158 grain .357 defense load and I'd trust it even more. Load it with 180 grain hardcast and I will trust it for last ditch defense against (but not hunting of) even the two, latter critters. After all, a .357 that I'm probably not going to get a shot off with before I get mauled is just as good as a .44 that I'm probably not going to get a shot off with before I get mauled - and if I get a shot or two off and manage to place them right, either should work. There are also people who successfully hunt deer with a .357. Pair that .357 revolver with a .357 carbine and the versatility only grows. Now, if I were in grizzly/kodiak/moose country then I'd lean more toward a .44 Mag - maybe as a BUG.

For carrying purposes, a .357 would be easier to conceal and lighter to carry, IMO. Not that carrying a .44 would be impossible (for some reason I can't explain, I have a remote hankering for a .44 Special Bulldog) and there are certainly 'easier' guns to carry than a full size revolver in either caliber.

Factory ammo availability and prices also play a role. I have the supplies to reload for .357 and .44 (the only two I really plan to fool with reloading at this point) but haven't gotten started, yet. I do not order ammo online therefore cost and local availability are also important factors, for me. There may be every type of bullet/load available for the .44 that is available for the .357/.38 but good luck finding much of a variety on a shelf anywhere - and when you do plan to pay 1.5 to 2 times as much for the .44 as for comparable .357.

Don't get me wrong - I see what you are saying about how the .44 could be just as versatile. It is just that, for me, it isn't.

Edited March 27, 2012 by JAB

[TNWNGR]

The .44 Cal has long been known for its high degree of inherent accuracy which goes back to the .44 Russian but really comes into play with the .44 Special. Instead of making max loads in the .44 Special the .44 Magnum came into play and it is every bit as accurate and balanced a round as the .44 Special with the right loads. Factor in a 6†to 7.5†barrel and you’ve got some really remarkable velocity out of the barrel with fat, heavy bullets. This gives you a first class hunting handgun and shot from a lever action carbine you’ve got every bit the equal of a 30-30 at reasonable distances.

I’ve owned a 4†M29 and a 6†Ruger Redhawk, both of which I never should have let get away from me in gun trades. Most likely I’ll end up buying a Super Blackhawk or Bisley in .44 Magnum and call it done, unless I run across a clean pre-crossbolt Marlin 1894. For myself I see no need for any handgun caliber larger than the .44 Magnum or .45 Colt, both have their niche and get things done.

[A.J. Holst]

If I was the adventurous sort and got out in the back country to hike, camp, atv, etc and there was a possibility of dangerous predators, it would make sense for me to get one (reason my buddy has two, he is the adverturous sort)

As a back-up or primary hunting weapon, another great fit.

Get into reloading, and with .44 spl, you've got a fun, affordable to shoot range gun.