From the Vault: The Versatile .44 Magnum Cartridge

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

I own seven 44 magnums (Rugers, Smith , BFR, and Marlin) and have handloaded and fired some 10,000 rds. thru them. Great cartridge. I have bigger stuff: 454 Casull, 50 AE, and 500 Smith, but I still love shooting the 44 Mag. Great video.

[@jeffreylocke8808]

The 44 magnum loaded with the right bullet has taken every big game species world wide. Factory loads are available to do more than any other cartridge. If you do not handload the 44 magnum is the best choice. From elephant (taken by Larry Kelly with his Super Blackhawk 44 magnum custom ported sixgun) on down to rabbit with 44 Special there is nothing you cannot drop with a well-placed and properly constructed bullet.

[@ms.annthrope415]

Was thinking about Bigfoot.

[@cliff8680]

Never been to crazy about the 44 recoil. So I went 41 mag and i love it. Reloading is easy. Have it in lever gun and revolvers.

[@MWR-lg9qp]

As a kid I thought Dirty Harry was the definition of Badass. A few years back I purchased a Taurus Raging Bull in .44mag to pay homage to Dirty Harry. As a reloader I quickly learned the .44mag cartridge is extremely diverse and an outstanding performer and super fun. I recently purchased a Henry X in .44mag and man do I love that gun and how it shoots. I'm not quit ready to give up my collection of 300blk, but I find myself shooting my .44mag's a lot and boy do they put a smile on my face every single time.

[@blueduck9409]

The 44 magnum is a most capable cartridge. This was a very informative video. Thank you!

[@ArizonaTengu]

Why did you do this to me? Now everyone is going to buy up 44 mag supplies, and I wanted it all to myself lol.

[@randypalmer9038]

I HAVE A 629 that will be with me all my life, a Browning 92 which is an excellent 44 mag saddle gun and a Ruger 77/44 that I do most of my deer hunting with. I live in the middle of grizzly bear country and have never felt under gunned during my many outings.

[@willrowell3218]

I wish Elmer Keith's book "Hell, I was there was still in print".

[@Dan-yw9sg]

Yeap! I've got an 1894 Marlin in .44mag and it is a sweet rifle to pair with my Redhawk. The thing that I like is that I can plink all day with .44 special in any of them!

[@justincase7661]

Wow, excellent information; I really do appreciate your knowledge. I have a Marlin 30.30 Big Loop Lever Action & a Rossi R92 357/38Sp also. I just invested into a new Henry big loop 44 rem mag, but im not too familiar with the round. I love the traditional hardwood furniture with a blued finish. This caliber fascinates me and your video was so helpful, especially the history of this dynamo!! Thx fer sharing; kudos!!

[@tonysmith5465]

Outstanding video friend. Great job. Thanks a lot. SC Navy vet. Keep up the good work.

[@jdhenry6300]

I’ve had several 44 magnums in the past, super Blackhawk, TC contender, inter arms Virginia Dragoon, and a marlin and NEF rifles. I presently have an American arms made by uberti. The 44 is an awesome cartridge. You can load it to hunt anything from cotton tails to black bear, and maybe beyond. A great deal of fun to shoot, and hits hard. Great video.

[@scottstubbs9913]

Great Video! I've a Big Fan of the 44mag. for a long time.

[@carlbuschman]

I own three 44mags one Red hawk one super Redhawk hunter and a Henry big boy, love em all.

[@montanaspring7176]

i bought my father.44 magnum ammo last time i visited him for his marlin 1894. i plan to get a smith and wesson revolver .44 for my bday, smith and wesson makes the best revolvers in my opinion already rock a 642

[@trevorthefilthyrat3742]

The ruger deer slayer was a awesome rifle, It was basically a oversized 10/22. A 10/22 that shoots .44magnum.

[@nean9894]

Thats sounds really interesting actually

[@kyleg1166]

Both of mine were picky on reliable cycling. Still really fun.

[@brianbumgardner8704]

@@kyleg1166 The 77/44 is the way to, bolt action cycles very smoothly.

[@MrOnyxRaven]

The 10/22 is an undersized Ruger .44 Carbine (they had to change the name in 1963 or 4 as Ithaca had a copyright on "Deerstalker"). The .44 Carbine actually predates the 10/22 by a few years. The version that came out in the 1990's used a detachable magazine that held 4 rounds. The original was made from 1962 (iirc) to the mid 80's and had a a 4 round tube magazine.

[@tonysmith5465]

I watched it again. Still a great video. Keep up the good work. Thanks a lot. SC Navy vet.

[@Manfran]

Great video!!! Thank you

[@boedude8496]

i have both, ruger srh and marlin 1894 in 44 mag, and a remington 06. both calibers are the all around best, imho. since i reload the cost is very reasonable and the versatility of each is unbeatable

[@jagervw]

.41 Magnum is way overlooked too.

[@roykiefer7713]

I entirely agree; in fact, I believe a reasonable case can be made the .41 mag is the optimal magnum revolver round. BUT . . . both .357 and .44 magnums have a substantial advantage that (imho) really undermined the .41 mag: “companion cartridges” (i.e., .38 and .44 Specials) that are lower power/recoil, are often less expensive, yet are quite effective, and are FULLY COMPATIBLE with their “bigger brother” designs. In sum, a plinking woods-walker or a target shooter can load his .357 or .44 magnum with cheap and effective Special FMJs - and “life is good” - whereas a non-reloader can’t employ any inexpensive rounds in his .41 magnum.

[@Dade_Soulja]

@@roykiefer7713 the 10mm could be considered the companion cartridge for 41 magnum since they are ballistically similar.. kinda how 7.62x39 and 30-30 are similar

[@roykiefer7713]

@@Dade_Soulja Basically, I agree with you (although I believe hand loaded .41 magnums can safely be quite a bit “hotter”than hand loaded 10mm’s).

[@Dade_Soulja]

Your reasoning of the popularity the 44 and 357 along with the 10mm and i guess that new 7.5 bruno round all may have contributed significantly to the 41 mag being pushed into obscurity. It really is a great load but sadly is in a niche with to much competition

[@TheRealZJE313]

Wow back at the time when there was no such thing as the Internet

[@JeffreyCotle]

I love 44 mag. I have a Henry big boy 44,and a Ruger super Blackhawk hunter in 44. They bring home the deer meat every year.

[@M--ri2ef]

Sense you mentioned it would love see a video on the 30-06 . It really is one of the best all around cartridges

[@bobbyboothe8964]

Great video. The old saying is. If it's not broke do mess with it. Same as guns. The ,3006.... ,270..3030...308....357 and the ,44 mag have seen it all and done it all. Why change.... Thanks again. Great video

[@richardkev3077]

This has been my favorite cartridge since I used it for handgun metallic silhouette shooting way back when there was such a thing.

[@jakkbatt4711]

Just bought a .44 mag Henry

[@killenrhyme1692]

I bought one yesterday - 5 months after you JAKK

[@cottleful]

I bought one a couple days ago with the new side gate!

[@briankerr4512]

love my S+W 629 classic hunter. I also have a Winchester 1894 - 1994 centenary model , Trapper Carbine version with the big hoop. fun.

[@therealfilthyanimal]

Great informative vid👍🏽👍🏽

[@tonysmith5465]

Very outstanding video. Thanks a lot SC Navy vet. Keep up the good work.

[@BuzzJones]

Your Videos are very well done, great Production and Presentations by Steve

[@randallgreene6428]

Just to clarify it was the 70s that Dirty Harry was popular

[@moreme40]

1971 to be exact. Pretty close to the 60’s :)

[@zaca952]

I would like to see a from the vault on the 480 ruger, I think it is one of the best big bores, with much more power than the 44 magnum but with much more controllable recoil than the 454 casull.

[@totallyfrozen]

While living in Alaska, I bought a Colt Anaconda .44 mag brand new at a gun shop for $500 on clearance sale. Today’s prices for they same revolver? Well...LOL! You’d use a .44 mag for protection against bears. You’d be a fool to take a .357 mag for Alaska grizzlies.

[@destinytroll1374]

Just got a model smith and Wesson model 29, I loved my Taurus Tracker but this thing is just so smooth shooting. I carry either that or a 10mm when I'm hiking or camping here in Alaska.

[@jace2wheel762]

Just picked up a Rossi 92 in 44. Broke it in today with a box of 44 spl and 44 rem mag, 50 of each. Lol and my shoulder wouldn't mind if I got a recoil pad haha

[@vonzahnstein]

Cool, Sir! I am thinking about to buy one, too, and i would like to ask you some questions: Up to what ft/lbs can you safely shoot from it? What are the safest and unsafest ammo types for lever actions in .44 mag? For example, Germoney´s .45-70- pope told me, never too shoot PPU/ Prvi Partizan in .45-70 from a lever action for safety reasons...

[@srvbluesmaster]

I have taken 3 6' + alberta black bears with my winchester 94 AE 44 mag. always does the job.

[@mikepreciado7807]

In 1980 i got a mod 29. Ben a 44 fan since. Got a few carbines an a dozen differant pistol since. Nothing has been shot twice. Deer. Pigs. An a elk. Walked maybe 5 feet. Dead.

[@glengranger3896]

Love my 629 44 mag 4 1/2 barrel

[@rogerpemberton79]

I'm really disappointed I'm just now seeing this video. Not sure how I missed it but I did. The 44 magnum is still sexy and useful to me. The first gun I ever shot was a Ruger Blackhawk 357 magnum at 5 years old. The second centerfire handgun I shot was a Ruger Blackhawk 44 magnum. I still have a scar on my right thumb second knuckle from shooting the 44 magnum for the first time. Today I own five 44 magnums, S&W Model 69 Combat Magnum 4.25", two S&W Model 69 Combat Magnum 2.75", S&W Model 329PD, and a Henry Big Boy steel frame 20" rifle. The 44 is so versatile from 44 Special to full power 44 magnum and if you reload there's everything in between those two. The 44 just plain works so why fix what isn't broke?

[@mycatumz640]

I have the Marlin and it's like you said good deer gun and a lot of kun just to shoot at the range.

[@williamwalker1277]

Can you shoot a 44 special in a 44 mag.

[@jfshotgun1329]

Yes

[@matthewporter4761]

Cool video

[@-TheMillenniumFalcon]

The .44 Mag is such a great round! One way to greatly improve the felt recoil in a revolver is to change the stock grips. S&W X-frame impact absorbing grip fits on the N-frame 629 and provides a much better experience shooting.

[@DrQuagmire1]

I have to agree!!!! I got a Desert Eagle that's chambered in .44 Magnum, and boy oh boy, that thing kicks like a mule. I love it!!!!

[@LogisticallyMisrepresented]

A desert eagle 44 kicks like a mule, ​@@DrQuagmire1.?!

[@kevinklimek7596]

Great job on this video. Thank you! Before I actually looked at the video, I thought it was Billy Bob Thornton talking! LOL

[@bobvedder2451]

I am saving up my "mad money" to get a Henry 44 mag lever gun. I think it would be cheaper than a 45/70 since i already have the reloading equipment.

[@coachjoe4523]

Bought one a month ago! Love shooting it and it looks so good I bought the Henry Display case.

[@FernandoDuarte-xb6lf]

I love 44magnum revolvers, I have 2, the 44magnum Taurus Tracker 5 shots and the M44 44 magnum 6 shot by Taurus as well, and my 12gauge shotgun, I live in Alaska, big bear territory. Thank you for the videos, I really appreciate it. Greetings from Anchorage Alaska, your friend, Dr. Duarte.

[@keithfreeman5204]

The 357 magnum is my go to cartridge. Versatility is the Key. Sidearm, 4" SS, Rifle, 22" Barrel, Scoped. With the 110-125 gn. rounds for PSD, all the heavier bullets, 140-158-180 gr. for Hunting. Handloading opens up a whole chapter on this round.

[@hardlylivin6602]

I have a desert eagle in .44 magnum, and I shoot it every range session. Absolute joy to shoot, not to mention it's currently more affordable to shoot than 9mm and much easier to get ammo for (at the time of this comment).

[@TheRealZJE313]

Yeah that's cause everyone has gotten on the 9mm bandwagon.so we find 44,45acp and other Big boar rounds with no problem

[@kermitlovesbacon1926]

I’ve got some of this ammo but nothing to shoot it out of. Collecting odd ball Ammo is a real thing

[@garyrandolph5855]

Question, Smith and Wesson model, 53, 22 jet have you shot that one before, just a question.

[@huntermcguire8623]

would brownells talk about the 458 Socom caliber, maybe give an overview of how it came about ?

[@brownells]

Good suggestion!

[@johnandtriciaweigenant1938]

How about the Dan Wesson 445 supermag for a handgun hunting gun. What would your thoughts be on it.

[@boedude8496]

as is the 06 the 44 mag is the all around most versatile cartridge out there, if you handload. from 9mm equivalent loads up to take anything hunting loads, and everythingin between. out of a lever gun it doesn't get any more fun (except something in full auto). the problem comes when folks try to make a pocket pistol out of it and still get its magnum power. yeah, its really hard to handle and takes a bit to get a follow up. duh

[@jorgesolis9468]

But it's not impossible I own a compact frame 44 mag and I enjoy shooting it

[@boedude8496]

@@jorgesolis9468 some of us enjoy a stout load more than the rest. and i spose stout means different things to different people

[@jorgesolis9468]

@@boedude8496 I'd rather shoot a compact frame 44 mash with a 4 inch barrel than a snub nosed 357 mag

[@boedude8496]

@@jorgesolis9468 as i have never fired either i could not say either way. only shot a blackhawk 10½" (which was my first and got me hooked) and my srh 7½". i definitely wouldn't mind a test drive

[@jorgesolis9468]

@@boedude8496 I started off with a 7.5 blackhawk then went to a 5 shot 44 mag with a 4 inch barrel and its reasonable

[@hoosierplowboy5299]

Back in the day, shot a .44 Mag in metallic silhouette competition with a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Handloads would nail steel at 200 yards, no problem...

[@phillipfirmin3590]

41 magnum review

[@Ammo08]

For my light loads in my Model 29 I use Trail Boss powder with my 240 grain bullets. Fun to shoot, still running around 900fps+.

[@infamousnova]

Which ammo was good for self defense?

[@jorgesolis9468]

Light and fast in 44 mag fast expansion less penetration check oir 44 special critical defense gel test and 44 mag 200 gr xtp gel test both by chopping block

[@blueduck9409]

Most hollow points, unless you want protection from bears. Then i would go heavy weight solids.

[@jorgesolis9468]

@@blueduck9409 under 240 gr though

[@blueduck9409]

@@jorgesolis9468 for bears and dangerous game id go 250 grains or heavier. For bandits, 200 to 240 is plenty.

[@blueduck9409]

@@jorgesolis9468 i think the 240 grain is a very good all around weight. In the 44 mag, i personally dont like anything less than 225 grains. Just my preference.

[@quinnmoore5985]

Can the Ruger Super Blackhawk take .44 maximum loads?

[@dangerrrnick5005]

Quinn Moore you got it.

[@jorgesolis9468]

Ummm I would call ruger

[@blueduck9409]

Im pretty sure the ruger can handle just about any load for the 44. Rugers are manufactured with incredibly strong steel. Its stronger than most other manufactures, the only exception i can think of being a freedom arms firearm.

[@jorgesolis9468]

@@blueduck9409 yes true up to plus p plus but id m44 maximum is line the 357 maximum ir would not fit for one ABC's second would have much higher pressures

[@blueduck9409]

@@jorgesolis9468 I have not seen many 44 maximum. Kinda rare. Freedom arms, magnum research, and Ruger if they make any would be the way to go.

[@sorshiaemms5959]

Have a trapper model 94 ae have taken a deer at 100 yrd s and a moose at 80 yrd s great little rifel

[@rilwicc5002]

Aint 44.mag like a 1 tap bullet can kill a human with 1 bullet to the chest or stomach?

[@frankieramirez4791]

Good video. Can you do one about the 222

[@WestCoastChicano]

Gr8 vid as usual. Just one thing. Dirty Harry came out in 1971. 🔫

[@rtaylor190]

Talkin bout the shells i look on line an they dont seem to be available

[@matthewporter4761]

How about the 22-250

[@rogue5643]

How about the 25/20 Winchester. I have a Marlin 25/20 SL

[@Oldhogleg]

I've been noticing people keep saying the Dirty Harry movies made the 44mag popular in the 60's which is false, the Dirty Harry movies didn't come out until the 70's! I wonder why people keep repeating such an obvious myth?

[@inhumanfilth681]

Some people are too buisy being right all the time to take 3 seconds in google to see if they actually are lmao silly gooses

[@Oldhogleg]

@@inhumanfilth681 Yeah, I guess I am being one. I also don't understand why people keep calling the 45 Colt the 45 Long Colt when there's no such animal. Or why people keep calling the AKM barrel monoblock a Trunnion when there's no Trunnions on AK's (A trunnion is a cylindrical protrusion used as a mounting or pivoting point. First associated with cannons and break top shotguns)! Or keep calling the AR a direct gas Impingement action when in reality it's a piston, but uses the bolt as the piston(The AG42B and MAS 49 are the true direct gas Impingement actions)! And so on 😷

[@robertwalther4411]

Dirty Harry came out in 1971 to be exact.

[@BV-fr8bf]

Timber wolf, Pump action in 44 magnum, only a 1000 imported.

[@tufftrucker40]

I just picked up a stainless new model super blackhawk and I love this gun...ive shot some potent ammo through it including underwood +p+ hard cast and it performed better than I did...its a handful but it'll make you smile.

[@asesinodezombis2077]

your not joking about the ammo shortage. its flying off the shelves up here.

[@bosse641]

And it's cool.

[@ZGoddessLola]

Very informative, thank you. As for a suggestion, as my memory could aid me here. On of my grandpa's rifles was a revolver rifle. It was one of my early exposures to firearms. Could you bring it out of the Vault, please

[@terry5957]

Question: I have a Ruger 44 magnum rifle.. What's the best ammo to use? I currently use Blazer Ammo aluminum case 240 GR JHP.. But they fail to eject.. What do you suggest? Thank you.

[@edbecka233]

Remington 788, NEF Handi-Rifle...

[@JRH6271]

The full underlug 629 is gorgeous.

[@Alexx120493]

never heard of that Ruger autoloading Rifle in .44 Mag. Seems to be out of production for quite some time

[@rustytaylor7708]

They are hard to find. I remember way back maybe early 80s a guy took out 4 home invaders with the 5 rounds. That was in Sunnyvale Tx. a suburb of Dallas.

[@Brett235]

My oldest son's mother in-law hunts with one and she's taken many whitetail with it. It's compact a really has no recoil. I have looked at every gun shop and gun show in our area for the past 5 years to find one, the one I did find was in like new condition and the guy wanted $1500 for it, I don't really want one that bad.

[@owyheekid7186]

Just cranked out another couple hundred light plunking loads of 240gr LRNFP. God bless!

[@rtaylor190]

Seems everyone is out of stock did they quit makin them

[@ryankeene861]

Covid

[@DWhite-el4ih]

I’m surprised he loads a revolver in that manner.

[@TheRealZJE313]

Wow at the time (44mag) when there was no such thing as the internet.so who would even know

[@redcat9436]

Do .41 Magnum and .22 Remington Jet.

[@toddjohnson271]

Then almost new S&W 29 were loaded back in pawn stores....lol. Brutal on the hand.

Would like it more if it were less expensive

[@inhumanfilth681]

I still think its sexy lol

[@stevenblack7509]

Once again the handgun that gets no recognition in this caliber, Colt Anaconda. That's OK though. Keep the secret between us that do know about it.

[@GunBigotHater]

I have had several 44 magnums, and I find the 2.5”- 4” the most useful to carry, as I rarely use full power loads. In my 8”, light loads hit very high; I mean the rear sight is all the way down, and I still hit several inches high. I never had this issue with a 4”. I usually load them to 800 FPS range.

[@GunBigotHater]

In the motion picture, “Magnum Force,” when Sweets asked Inspector Callahan, what kind of load he used in his 44, he said it was a light, special load.

[@jorgesolis9468]

Yep but in another movie he said he valued the penetration meaning it was likely a light gr bullet with a special powder load so 180-200 gr loaded fast

[@timt8029]

Yes but they did clarify, it didn't mean he shot .44 specials but rather a special .44 magnum loading.