44 Special 

I just saw your comment. We have several presentations that include demonstrations of shooting the meat target with .38 special and .357 magnum. I considered it redundant for this presentation. There are definitely some valid points in favor of the .44 special. Lower chamber pressure may mean less damage to hearing, less recoil than a .357 and although less power, the large diameter bullet makes up for some of this. However, in my opinion those are outnumbered by the negatives such as ammo availability and the reality that most of the high performance ammo performed VERY poorly. and because the .44 special isn't all that popular anymore there may not be very many gun choices. So if you already have a .44 spec. then great, but it might not be the best choice if you're looking for a new gun. Again, however... I bought the Ruger GP 100 for this presentation, now I'm stuck with it so I fall into the category of, "already have one". And now that I have it and I was able to find a good supply of the Hornady critical defense ammo, The gun has become one of my main self defense handguns.

@@PaulHarrell I agree with your assessment. While I thought the 44 Spec had some strong points in its favor, ammo availability is a big issue. Also, the way the ammo performed at 44 Spec velocity was truly dismal, showing clearly that practical testing and evaluation beats numbers on paper any day. I don't own a 44 Spec myself, but now know this will remain unchanged. And, again, this was a very good presentation, as is the norm for your channel.

moth man 1967: I've read the same valid arguments against the 44 spl in G & A magazines 20+ yrs ago. I wonder if the same bullet argument can be applied to bullets used in 38 spl. In the case of 44 spl bullet performance, Me suspects that there might be CAST LEAD bullet designs out there that get around at least SOME of that issue. I don't have any 44s. So I unfortunately, won't be able to test any of this.

@@PaulHarrell Me suspects that a reloader/bullet caster MIGHT be able to find a CAST LEAD bullet that improves bullet performance issues in respect to that. Since I don't own any 44s, I won't be able to investigate into this for you. But as far as pressure goes- if memory serves me right, I recall seeing relatively low pressures in my load books for 44 spl. Somewhere in the general neighborhood of 38 spl. 44 & 357 MAGS are a much different story.

@@PaulHarrell I wonder about using a "Keith style" cast lead bullet ? The Late Great Elmo Keith was responsible for developing the 44 mag from hot rod 44-40s AND he also developed his own cast lead hunting bullets named after him.

Average Enthusiast Right? When he says “here’s the boring part” I get excited. Hell, I enjoyed the Halloween episode where he talked about tooth decay

I watch for the "boring" bits: trying to learn, rather than watch soda bottles explode or something.

@@drcrumbs I find that one of the memorable moments, not for the humor, but the education!

The shooting and calling out velocity portions are pretty tedious, however.

@@exothermal.sprocket I tend to watch those bits at double speed!

Lol, I bet he is too!

Also hes at an outdoor range, in winter, in a foot of snow, no gloves or hat... And he doesn't even look cold lol

😂

I am still in awe of him shooting the NAA revolvers at that distance.

@@richardsnyder9767 I don't know how he does it. I bought one this weekend and shot it today. It about jumped out of my hand on the first shot. I could barley hit the target at 7 yards. I am definitely not a professional and it showed today.

Everybody should drill with their non-dominant hand, you never know when you take a bolt to the elbow...

Great point.

Most sensible selection and reasoning.

@@michalsoukup1021 , Most sensible reasoning for off-hand practice.

Good you found what works for you.

Cory. My condolences. The 44 special is fun to shoot. Ammo can be a little harder to come by then some other popular calibers. But it is out there. I carried a Ruger Vaquero ( Lipsey special order run ) single action revolver in 44 special as my handgun hunting partner. I ran hard cast lead 240-250 gr semi-wadcutter handloads for deer, hogs and black bear. Hope you enjoy your Grandpa's old wheel gun.

I hope that in the time since you posted this comment that you’ve gone out to shoot that revolver. I also hope that you’ve developed a great fondness for the 44 special cartridge.

Have fun my guy. Send a 5 shot salute for grandpappy. Make him proud

look into reloading. save money and make slightly tamer rounds that will be around .357 power but easy on gun and budget.

I would love to put some mid range loads through it...👍

@45Kimber1911A1 seriously, this one is better than the "I carry 2 hi points - one to throw, and the other one to throw" hahaha. True intimidation factor 😭

Plus, when you break into a guy’s house and he presents a hi-point, you’ll also know that there was nothing of value in that house anyways and you died in vain.

Yeet!

The HiPoint…..the one gun where a coroner wouldn't be surprised that the victim died of blunt force trauma. Because the owner of said pistol fired all rounds and missed, then threw the boat anchor sized gun at the attacker and crushed his skull in.

@@Lex5576 you deserve a trophy sir. Cheers

You fire one single round of .44 special, and I promise it will ruin you for all those other so-called cartridges. That's what happened to me. After I shot that round, I went home, threw all my Glocks in a crock pot set to Slow Melt, then went back to the range and fired the other 4 rounds (Charter Boomer).

​@@evin98t

Another reason 30-30 is great as far as rifle cartridges, there's always heaps of it everywhere

Not these days....nothing of àny kind

Through this whole pandemic and ammo hullabaloo, the one firearm of mine I’ve ALWAYS been able to find ammo for is my 20ga shotgun. My local Walmart has had Winchester super X slugs and #3 buckshot the whole time, in stock every time I checked. And they had heaps and heaps of target ammo too.

@@boxlid214where? I can’t ever find it.

Where? I can't find 44spec anywhere

You forgot Registered Dental Assistant. :) Yes, he's that good.

@@MongooseTacticool TOO FUNNY..yes sir ..of all his ACCOMPLISHMENTS..He IS a dental hygienist

@@francissullivan6400 Is that a cavity in the 2nd left lower molar? Mrs Harrell, you be the judge.

@@MongooseTacticool you guys gotta stop..I haven't laughed this hard in years👍👍

Francis Sullivan And he’s what I call a common sense professional

You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, Pork?

@@mikeyhuntsman568 That is the best line !!! :)

@@mikeyhuntsman568 genuine LOL line there.

Love it.

meat target with the .327 mag, please... thanks

You can live your whole life and never really need your gun but just having it is a beautiful thing

Right?

Absolutely ... The aesthetic of a fine revolver to my eye is so much greater than all the semiautomatics I've ever owned.

Since 1989 i have had one misfire of a revolver. Gp100 using 357 swc reloads. Never ever any fails with factory ammo. Revolvers are top shelf reliable and strong. Plus it makes a good club if the fight devolves to that point lmao

@@GeorgeHeil-ch3ro I have few beautiful pistol and few beautiful revolvers; they both exist but they are not Glocks

That's when I stop whatever else I'm doing and listen

@@rlsanders1057 As you should!!!

No, you'r not.

You are not!

Absolutely. The chronograph puts me to sleep.

Almost as important as actually having it with you when it's needed.

I believe that is the #1 factor you need with a carry gun, any last minute doubts you have in a crucial moment can prove fatal.

I for One would not like being shot with a 44 special

@@scottwilson1258 i got hit with a bb gun in my younger days. never liked THAT either. went out and bought me a pump benjamin 22. nobody shot at me after than. it would almost go thru a white pine 3/4 inch board.

B. Eder I'm a 44sp guy too. And I'm also an Eder! What part of the country/world are your people from? Mine from NY and Colombia.

If 10% of paul’s subscribers gave $10 a year it would really help.

How cool would it be to talk to his butcher? "I don't get it, the guy buys like three pig's worth of meat a week and he never gets fat!" Nice.

I wonder if a day at the range is followed by a night at the grill. Meat target meets the Weber!

johnnybeanz1 That’s a good idea. I’ll do it.

Some grouchier somewhere is thinking "Man that guy likes pork and oranges."

Thanks .....you know what for.

Absolutely the right way to do it. Accuracy is far more important than having what all the "cool kids" carry. I personally carry a S&W 1006 (yes, that's 10mm Auto) auto, but I love revolvers, too; and I wouldn't feel vulnerable carrying my wife's Ruger LCR-X .38 Special revolver in a pinch.

Al B what for?

@@MitchC357 Your service.

Agree 100% I started as the change from revolvers to sa started. I did change over for on the road work. But later went to corrections and there main issue was still revolvers. So yes now most of the time I don't carry a revolver. And a 44. Mag. Normally loaded with spc. I have the CD but I like the silver tip up win. I tested it some and it seems to expand. But I have not used the official meat Target. On the farm I normally slip in the mag rounds the 180 mag and the 200 be sthp shoot to the same site for me. For these avergating wildhogs.

Very astute. I have not shot outside with snow framing the range since being a member of a shooting club in Marion Cty., WV

Makes him feel alive.

He is not enduring. He is thriving.

@Liverpool 11 Yes, it's about identical.

Its a good thing we came here once again for your advice, Sam.

@@saul2577 I can't tell if your comment is genuinely appreciative or snidely passive aggressive.

You could always just load 44 magnum cases to 44 special levels. I doubt that you would ever need new brass if you did that.

The only advantage I can find is the 44 specials seem to hold a slightly smaller group at 25 yds when fired from a 44 spec length cylinder than a 44 mag length cylinder. Velocities differences are insignicant.

I really want to see him analyze the 1997 North Hollywood shootout.

With Federal HST and other hyper ammo.

I'd Like to see Paul shoot Everything into the meat target , up to & including .50 Barrett , .50 black powder , .375 H&H, large caliber Punt guns & the .950JDJ etc. But then ,I'm a glutton ,for the Paul Harrell World of Education , teaching Me the facts , Because I'm Not an Expert !

I want to see him test old winchester super x silver tip .38 special +p

@@Andy47357 That as well , Every type of Personal Firearm & every type of ammo .

Colt following *Knee slap

Yup, though not commented on, the degree of 'muzzle flip' with the 44 Spl rounds was practically non-existent. Rapid, accurate, follow-up shots with a 44 Spl _is_ doable.

@@ironwolfF1 Paul is an extremely experienced shooter and he's very good at managing recoil, but watching this video I noticed the same revolver moved less than half as much when he was shooting .44 Spl. If you're not as practiced as Paul (most of us ain't!) then that difference could be even larger.

ayyyyyy :D

Nnaaaa...it knew it was a five shot revolver.. 😉

@Frisky Bottomsuuater ...well do ya? ...click

🤣

During all of the confusion he does not remember, But this being a 44 Special it can blow the Chonograph right off of the Table, Tell me " Do you feel Lucky Punk,?

Good to be considered "someone". Love my Ruger GP100 .44 Special. Period

It's no fun staring down the bore of any gun

@@poorfatman5317 I wouldn't mind staring down the bore of *insert female celebrity here*

"Staring down the bore of the deadly .44 of Ringo. Ringo"

@@Mister_Belvidere Lame AF, also never going to happen jackass.

@@jonross377 your white knight services are appreciated.

Evilstorm11 Nice supporting What do you think about this? Meat target elk, giraffe, bear or a tactical T-Rex? RU-vid: Magnum Pistols vs Body Armor Link source: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nrQOJgTsSlg.html

I had a 44 revolver and carbine, I loaned to a retaliative and they lost both, but if all you have is a 44 mag hunting gun for self protection the right 44 special load makes sense. LOL

Stanley Post Mr. P, Are you convinced that "retaliative" truely lost your firearms, or possibly just to his closet ? I know a Big Al and Moose that i can send over, to "talk" with him and get to the bottom of all this ...

If I'm carrying 44 mag it's because I'm out in the wilds where the threat is large animals. However, when I'm doing so I may be on a trip away from home, so require a SD firearm for the hotel and so forth, so a switch to 44 special ammo can make that a better option for carrying in "civilization", or than taking two handguns with me and then worrying about where to safely store one or other of them. I find both of my 4" 44 mag revolvers can carry quite well as concealed handguns with the right holster, although I obviously wouldn't choose them for everyday carry.

Correct!

@@JohnDavis-im1oy I don't entirely see your point, I have many small carry guns, but good luck facing down a cougar, or black bear with one. The point for me at least, is regularly I have a 44 mag with me, usually during my many outdoor pursuits and have had 44 special ammo on hand for any SD incidents that could occur, while in my hotel, where ever I'm staying on my trip, or even in Walmart getting supplies. You have to carry enough gun for the potential "job in hand" - that changes, and I can conceal carry a 4" barrel 44 mag with the holster I have making it a viable option when there's the possibility of needing a powerful sidearm. Sometimes I still bring along a pocket carry firearm, but that also creates the problem of what to do with your other firearm if you aren't going to carry it? leaving a 44 mag, or a 9mm, that you don't want to carry at that point, in a hotel room, or in your parked vehicle is not generally being responsible, due to the risk of theft etc. So there are many scenarios outside of just a pocket carry handgun, which is my normal carry, and many of us have a number of different handguns in various calibers to meet those needs. Also as Paul often points out in his videos, what if the 44 mag is your only gun? you may have one because you need it for protection against large animals, but not be in the fortunate position having bought it, to buy another handgun better suited to the urban environment.

did you like the results

Which one

Enjoy. My last purchase was a 44mag Tracker from Taurus. :)

I picked up two in the last few months. CA Bulldog and GP100 3" ... the latter I installed a Novak front tritium sight. Also CDNN had a sale on the GP100 which made it hard to pass up. BTW I can highly recommend Underwood 44 SPL ammo!

@@cnick6 Do you think the bulldog would be a good CCW?

Comically, I read this, thought - 'well I haven't heard any' 21:25 "BOOM!" in the background.

@FlamQ Dbltap i dunno if waffler fits precisely, i think he's just a normie when it comes to guns. people who dont have a nuanced understanding of the whole atmosphere around 2ndA stuff probably dont see bump st0ks as essential, and dont understand how banning such a thing can set a precedent for things to come. And it would seem that even fewer folks out there understand how detrimental the erosion of our 1st and 2nd will be down the line.

sounds like... Liberty :)

Alpha Team Outdoors Yessiree! A few of those reports were quite loud & sharp....perhaps they were .357 cal loud & sharp.

mtgAzim Good points. I don’t know how much his sons influence his opinions on such matters but one of them is an enthusiast. Maybe that will some weight.

I've not seen 44 special ammo in shops around me since even before the shortage. I've resorted to loading my own. Same with 38/357 and I've been seeing 38 costing almost as much as 357. Now that I've been handloading for a little while I see that the powder itself is the cheapest component as you're often using the same size bullets, the price difference between non-magnum and magnum primers is rather negligible, and the shell cases don't differ much in price either.

@@jeffumbach yea, I haven't had luck finding much ammo at a price even close to what I'd consider reasonable. The nice thing is that reloading components seem to be mostly available and haven't gone up in price as far as I can tell. I did have some trouble finding .430 diameter jacketed 240 grain bullets, but lead and hard cast bullets still seem very available.

My local farm and ranch store has been well stocked in 44 special during this entire “shortage”. I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve collected nearly enough star line brass to begin reloading.

Out in the suburbs of Atlanta, pretty much everything is available except 9mm, .223, 7.62x39 and .308/7.62x51nato. All the revolver cartridges can be found within one or two stores worth of looking

@J. B. A lot can change in a couple of months. My local gun shop as well as the local farm and ranch store have been pretty consistently sold out. On the few occasions that they’ve had 44 Special in stock it has been the 240gr HSM loads. Heck, it’s gotten to the point where powder, bullets and primers are getting hard to find.

Caveat empor ( pardon my deficiency in spelling )

Markius Fox Paul was actually Spartacus!

Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum viditur. = Anything said in Latin sounds profound

@@blairbuskirk5460 For future reference, emptor.

@@1RFB308shooter Vestigia nulla retrorsum.

Why? Manhunter.... Manhunter....

the movie.

I don't think PornHub notifies people of new videos, if they do can you please teach me how to get them.

It's your weekly PH balance.

Is it acidic, or more alkaline?

Bet you love lamp too

Agreed! I shoot my Bulldog better than the Mag Pug even if it's downrated to .38 Spl loads.

I don’t really. I mainly pull those out for letting my new shooter friends feel the difference between the snubbie 38s and my micro 9s. My Charter Arms 44 has maybe 700 rounds through it in the time I’ve had it.

@@JohnDavis-im1oy I should say thank you in a weird way. In the last year I’ve shot my .38 snubbies more, about a thousand rounds worth. If I shot a box of .38spl, I shot a box of .44spl. And I can say I like the 1 7/8’ and 2" models less now. The only benefit I’m seeing is weight and size, because my S&W J frames and my Taurus 85 Ultra-lite have the most basic U-channel rear and fix front blade sights you can get. Even with putting paint on the blade they just aren’t as prominently the ones on my Bulldog. That said, I bought a 3" Taurus 856 and it is a wonderful gun. I get one more round and the Big-dot front sight and tiny gain in sight radius make the Taurus 856 better than the even the Bulldog, and it’s only a 3/4" longer than the Bulldog. I bought the Two-tone Defender model with CZ grips and it needed a little sanding to smooth out the "rub-ya-raw’ area, but I have found a very nice gun that is growing on me the more I shoot it. I’ve chosen the Federal 130gr HST as my carry ammo. All this because your comment rubbed me the wrong way. I’ve shot a considerable amount of .38spl and .44 spl this year. My Bulldog now has 1700+ rounds through it and it still shoots fine. Most of my shooting has been in the last 6 months and mostly because I bought that 856. I also reload and .38spl and .44spl were still pretty available up until about 6 weeks ago. Now it’s all gone too. I mean it when I say thank you and hope you’re doing well. Also, if you have not looked into the Taurus 856 Defender you should, even if you’re not interested in buying one I think you’ll agree Taurus has come a very long way with their revolvers. And my 856 Defender is a fantastic gun!

I'm in! 2X for me

Doc gave me some pills, and my caveats cleared right up.

Do you come from the South Bay in Cali? I used to know a Robert Bailey there.....

@@DeepOwl1073 my dad kicked my butt once and my caveats disappeared too!

-'Beware the man who has only one gun. He probably knows how to use it".

Hes a LOT more into guns than ypu think

I think .44 spl and .45long Colt are still with us because they are still an effective round. They were effective when they were first developed and some people can’t see dropping something that works. Of course, in the case of .45 long Colt, cowboy action shooting has helped a great deal. I enjoy shooting the old rounds rather than buying new guns that shoot newly developed rounds. The problem I have with the .44 spl, .44 mag, .45 long Colt is over penetration. I would feel guilty as hell if a round from my gun over penetrated and killed an innocent bystander.

They are only around because of cowboy competitions. Literally none of the reasons you listed. If it wasn't for cowboy action, they would have been phased out decades ago

Paul made a video about that a while ago. Good stuff. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_zrH8nn0kAc.html

Interesting indeed, but Paul speak about this in the past.

I carry a .44 special because the caliber has always displayed very good accuracy in anything other than the Charter Arms Bulldog. I primarily carry in the field and there are feral dogs as well as wild hogs in the area. I also cast my own bullets and reload my own ammunition. I cast soft or hard lead and use different bullet profiles depending on what I anticipate to encounter. Generally it’ a 230 gr round profile flat nose with a cast in hollow point and a #2 alloy. Not quite soft enough to mark the bullet with a thumbnail. Accurately delivered at about 850-900 fps, I assure you those bullets will expand and penetrate on pork ribs and chops. Start the BBQ.

What about why .38 caliber is called .38 even though it's really .36 caliber in diameter? Is that story somewhat similar?

wow you could bore the perp to death

David SgtE I only use Keith bullets in my specials.

Wad cutters are what you want

Here here! I also use only 245-255 grain RCBS or Lyman SWC or RNFP’s. Factory ammo is so grossly under loaded. It’s so easy to get 900 plus fps with those heavier bullets while staying within the standard pressure limit.

Thanks that is good to know. Now I will not waste my money on expensive hollow point ammo. I have been loading my .44 specials with 4.9 grains of accurate number 2 powder with a 200 grain FMJ semi wad cutter.

@@876mpr It's such a shame the main factory ammo manufacturers have pretty much opted out of doing anything with 44 special and just turn out the "standard" load, which is weak. If you look beyond the major players, commercial ammo is available to push a 200gr at 900-1000fps, even a 240 at 850-900 fps which is certainly an effective SD load.

cartridge

FredrikW You forgot Dirty Harry. Perhaps only in shooting competitions but nonetheless.

250 grain gas check bullet over 8 grains on unique will give you new respect for the 44 special

Heck yes. Checking in with 9 grains of Unique behind the same. Makes a nice low pop and a clean hole.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have a self defense(against 2 legged threats)load using 215 grain soft lead hollow base full wadcutters with 4.5-ish grains of trailboss behind them. They do great damage to soft tissue and bone and usually stop just before exiting the target. I carry those when I got to civilization.

It depends on the platform. A 1950 Target/M24/M624 is a different animal than a 3" Charter Bulldog. My most useful loads in that little thing, and it's 4" Target Bulldog sister, have been midrange Unique charges and a lighter SWC like the Lee 210, the MP 220 gr SWCHP or an inverted MP HBWC.

I would like to see that too!

Good one !

I just had the same thought. Both calibers are relatively slow and non expanding, yet have decent penetration. Would the extra mass of the 44 special make it any more effective than 38 special. I have read that recoil is comparable.

John Davis Perhaps it would’ve been better stated as “44 special CAN BE a very effective round”. As Paul demonstrated in the presentation, it depends greatly on projectile design as to how effective it can be. The sad truth is most 44 special ammunition that you find on the shelf is either pud, cowboy action ammo or what I refer to as “bandwagon” ammo. The bandwagon ammo is (in my experience) 44 special brass that has been loaded with bullets that were designed to function at 44 Magnum velocities. Ergo, you’ll have serious over penetration issues due to almost no bullet expansion. So a, 44 special can be effective if loaded with an appropriate projectile AND if it is used within a reasonable range. A reasonable range being UNDER 30 yards. Are there better options? Most definitely. Also, if you’re going to hunt just upgrade to the magnum. That’s what Mr Keith did.

Ok , I HAVE shot large critters with both .44s, and 9mm +P+ . Yes , the 9mm worked , albeit with very precise shot placement . But a 44 loaded to " Skeeter level " , ie 240swc @ +/- 900fps is better for all around hunting , or the rare , but more than zero chance of anti- social black bear , while hiking or 4x4'ing in bear rich environs . And loads of that level in a large frame revolver are a slightly different recoil dynamic than a hot 9mm , but are at least as controllable for rapid hits .

You should move out of the okc / edmond cesspool area.

@@blueduck9409 we did. Much better outside of the city.

The guy at Gander mountain told me that 44 special has been outselling 9mm and 45 COMBINED for the last three years. He said that most people are getting tired of those bullshit calibers and are coming home to the true classic. Remember, he added with a knowing smile, Dirty Harry's Smith and Wesson was akshually a 44 special... look it up.

@@evin98 sorry, but I don't get it. What do you mean by that? The revolver used in the movie was able to shoot .44 magnum rounds and they didn't shoot live rounds, so could you explain it to me?

@@Neomalthusiano Sweet: “What kind of load do you use in that .44?” Harry: “Light Special.” minute 1:05 -- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Gs8AqzN9Ga4.html

@@evin98 I remember that scene, but as I see it, he's not talking about .44 spl, but about handloading his revolver with lighter loads (less powder) when training. That's what most people do when handloading, except if the goal is to train rapid fire. You could argue that a light loaded .44 mag may be have the same characteristics of a . 44 spl shot, which is true, but that's still a .44 magnum, just lightly loaded. The same way some people reload .357 magnum below .38 spl standard loads. On the other hand previously, when inquired, he said that he chosen the .44 magnum because, if I recall correctly, because the round is powerful enough to not suffer deflection, like it happened to him before. So even if he used .44 spl when training, which I don't think so, he suggested that. 44 mag is the round for the streets.

@@Neomalthusiano good points

After flossing your teeth: "Please do this at home even though I'm what you call a professional, and thanks for coming for a teeth cleaning"

@@smite5555 That made me laugh.

I think he's got the attn to detail for that work

If Jesus had Paul as His apostle, the Romans would have been devastated.

@@TheRoadhammer379 Jesus did have an apostle Paul, and while the Romans weren't devastated, many were converted :)

@@TheRoadhammer379 "Lets test the effectiveness of .44 special 180 grain jhp on Roman Armor."

Jerry McHugh Amen

Pretty cancerous my dude

This is one of the very best channels, along with Sensus Fidelium.

Like wise ! , I pity those who have yet to find this exemplary show .

I have both and love them. 44 special is my conceal carry and the 41 mag is my walking in the woods revolver. I've had the 41 since I bought it new in 81.

What ammo you carry? I use #321 from Underwood.

How did it look like? I would find it difficult to laugh unless it was a beretta 418,and that still would be a nervous laugh.

or sirens for 32 years. Yep.

Gunshots will absolutely damage hearing. When I was younger, I shot guns (rifles, shotguns, and handguns) only a couple of times without ear protection and I developed some fairly serious tinnitus. Now I always wear ear protection when shooting.

Once again, thanks Sam, that's why we come here, for your expertise.

Thanks for the info. I was wondering about that.

40 years on the ground side of aviation. Was tested yearly for hearing loss. The audiologist noted a slight loss in my left ear and asked if I did a lot of bird hunting. Yep. Simply advised me to wear one ear plug in that ear while hunting. That was 30 years ago and it prevented further hearing loss. Smart man.

.44 special has a BIG bullet, but light recoil and reasonable report. My current under the pillow gun is the Ruger GP 100 that you see in this presentation.

Yes!!! Please do a segment on the 327 Federal Magnum and compare it to the 32 H&R and the 32 S&W Long and Short, that would be very interesting! Recently added a Ruger LCR chambered in 327 to my collection, I’m very impressed with this caliber so far.

Yes please!

I'd love to see a .327 vs .38+P video!

Yeah, I have a .327 Fed LCR and would love to know exactly how much ass it kicks.

Here is some data my friends and I gathered one afternoon. Sorry the formatting gets screwed when posting it. 1st number ins FPS, second is energy Ft/ Lbs Temperature 38 Altitude ~9000 feet Avg FPS Energy Ruger LCR 357 (1.87”) -------- Aguila 158gr SJSP 1075 405 Remington Green & White 125gr JHP 1146 364 Remington Green & Yellow HTP 125gr JHP 1211 407 Ruger LCRx 327 (1.87”) -------- Federal 100gr SP 1318 386 Speer 115gr JHP 1276 416 S&W Mod28 357 (4”) -------- Aguila 158gr SJSP 1213 516 Remington Green & Yellow HTP 125gr JHP 1409 551 S&W M&P Shield 45 (3.3”) -------- Federal 230gr FMJ 708 256 Speer 200gr FMJ 728 235 Hornady Crit Duty 220gr +P 890 387 Springfield XD Sub Compact Mod 2 (3”) 9mm -------- Winchester Steelcase 115gr FMJ 1007 259 Hornady Critical Defense 115gr FTX 1060 287 Underwood 115gr Ext Penetrator +P 1146 335 Buffalo Bore 147gr Hard Cast +P 1038 352

You can get some very easy to shoot 44 mag rounds. Check out HSM Cowboy loads. I'm a new 44 mag owner too, and those cowboy loads were no problem.

Which one did you get

@@infamousnova Taurus Raging Bull. It's been really good to me, I've enjoyed the heck out of shooting it. I have a couple videos on my channel if you want to check it out.

@@TheOldFatDadGoober I got the 4" Ultralite Raging Bull. That's a lot of fun, but I can't shoot those +P+ rounds from it. I also made a recoil video about it, and my other Raging Bull. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GiKWg4Dtlb0.html

Try shooting Buffalo Bore .44 mag out of a Ruger New Model Blackhawk and you’ll wish you’ve gotten .44 Special cartridges!

YES

NedryOS time stamp is late.

Love it

ROFL 😂😂😂

That is a really nice gun, but the wood grips hurt they say. I love the the finish on it. Charter arms has had problems in the past, but I think they have fixed their quality issues now.

Elmer Keith pushed the .44 special to the point of breaking. It's really how the .44 mag finally came around.

Before he became known as Son of Sam, he was simply called "The .44 caliber Killer".

When I bought mine all 3 of the employees made mention of that; almost made me choose differently but it was too late then. And while filling out the paperwork the guy is telling me about a police officer that went through all the rigamarole of buying one then went home and shot himself with it instead of just using his duty weapon. I'm thinking Jeez... I want this as a snake and night stand gun; enough already! (Although I do sometimes carry it instead of my .45 or .40 esp. if travelling interstate.)

@@exothermal.sprocket Actually , it was Keith's blowing up of a .45 Colt that lead him to the .44 Spl . Once the .44 Mag was a thing , Keith didn't even handload it as hot as the initial factory loads . He wanted 1200fps on purpose , and his .44 Mag loads had same velocity as his .44 Spl loads .

Just got myself a Bulldog 44. My problem now is where to get ammo in my area. Thanks Paul for the informative video.

Gordo_Gun_Guy Good comment. Although Speer is SUPPOSED to have developed the entire line of Gold Dot / Deep Curl bullets in a research-heavy, caliber-specific manner, the 44 Spl 200 gr GDHP has been a big disappointment for me. It has too heavy a ‘jacket’ to work at SPL velocities, and I’ve tiptoed between using my dwindling stock of Speer 225 gr JSWCHPs and using the M-P 200 gr HBWC, reversed, cast a little softer than wheelweight, in the Bulldogs and 624. Same goes for my 45 ACP/AR & 45 LC revolvers.

I participated in two iterations of Speer's "Gold Dot Show" when the GDs were introduced, one as the shooter and one as the stats guy. Still got the gimme cap. Their ad copy of the period says that each design gets a specific core hardness and "jacket" plating thickness assigned for the intended use, ie the same weight bullets are allegedly different between .44 SPL and Mag. When I attended their dog & pony show, they had us bring any ammo we wished, and shoot it against the GDs in the FBI standard gel & barrier tests. The GDs were jaw-droppingly impressive. I had several pallet-loads of Wonder Bullets of another brand ($25K+) on order at our ammo jobber, and when the retiring rangemaster and I got back to the office, we cancelled that order and told them to replace everything with either Gold Dots or Speer's training FMJs/SWCs. They later had to backpaddle and produce the "short barrel" line of GDs. I guess .44SPL fell through the cracks, because (1) look at this test, and, (2) in handloading every version of .44 GDs extant, I have not gotten any of them to expand to any appreciable extent out of a Bulldog nor a 624, nor in any SPL-level load out of any .44 Mag platform, including rifles. The quest makes me wish Speer had not discontinued its excellent 3/4 jacket SWCHP/SP line. That 225 JSWCHP made it simple to get great expansion.

Right, that "old belief" still happens to be very accurate and true. when is enough power, enough for self defense. the 44 spl does mimic the 45 acp in revolver form. lighter recoil, faster follow up, expends most of its energy in intended targets, and who cares if it expands when it's already the size of expanded 38/9mm. the 45 acp, still one of the most effective defense rounds 100+ years

@@jonjames4281 very good points, it might not expand but it never shrinks and while velocity may not be very high, thats still a big hunk of lead coming at you faster than the eye can see.

now that .45 acp revolvers are a thing I see even less reason to opt for the .44 special. That's just my honest opinion as .45 acp is much cheaper and more readily available to shoot. Who doesnt want a cartridge that has revolvers, pistols, and carbines next to it's name?

Jason Shults I don’t know about you, but I’m sure glad I load my own. I don’t really feel the need to use hollow points. I’m very pleased with how the Keith slugs perform at any velocity.

I agree me and my Bulldog go for a little walk here and there to the grocery store gas station Etc and that Hornady ammo helps deliver a pretty good bite

I couldn't agree more with your rationale. The .44 Special cartridge is the best equivalent to .45 ACP on the revolver side. Perhaps the more obvious equivalent would be .45 Long Colt, but the performance of .44 Special and .45 Long Colt are nearly identical. What gives .44 Special the edge is simply the availability of many more double action revolver models to choose from (not even counting any and all .44 Magnum models) not to mention much greater availability of defensive ammo. Personally, I tend to think that Mr. Harrell is simply biased against the .44 special because he likes .357 Magnum. While I can't argue the points about ammo cost, capacity, and size, a lot of people tend to forget that bullet expansion can't be relied upon in a self-defense situation. You never know what type of clothing, etc. someone might be wearing plus a variety of other environmental concerns come into play, not to mention the barrel length of what you're shooting from. Leaving expansion aside, I would rather punch .44 size holes in whatever I'm shooting than .357 holes. Another factor only touched on in this video is how beautifully manageable .44 Special recoil is -- FAR more manageable than . 357 (but not .38 Special). I keep a .44 Special revolver as a home defense weapon because my girlfriend, who is small and light, can shoot that far better than she would be able to shoot .357. And, as far as reliability, I agree that contemporary semi-autos are more reliable than ever (and I carry one regularly), but ask yourself, "how many jams have you had in your lifetime with a semi-auto?" For me, it's dozens, possibly hundreds. How many times has a revolver -- any revolver -- failed to go bang? For me, zero.

I would as well . As a guess I would guess the 45 by just a few Feet per second . .

.45 colt is loaded to many different levels There are cowboy action loads that are reduced recoil and are typically loaded down to like 700 fps with a 200 grain bullet they are more like .44 Russian or.455 webly power level than .45 colt .45 acp/.45schofeld/.44 special duplicate power level is pretty common for many brands although it is way below the SAAMI specs for.45 colt pressure level the .45 acp dublicate ammo is like 900 fps advertised velocity with a 200 grain 850 fps with a 230 800 fps with a 250 Actual SAAMI spec ammo for .45 colt is about 1000 fps advertised velocity with for a 200 grain and 900 fps for a 250 grain. Then there's magnum Ruger loads at .44 magnum power levels which should only be fired in guns where the.44 version of the same gun is .44 magnum and not .44 special or .44-40 which is a whole nother kettle of fish and would not be a fair comparison to .44 special.