I think that the .44 is probably good enough for self-defense. 44 magnum might be, well, 'overkill.'
I like Henry. Someday when the big boy becomes a real big boy they’ll put a loading gate on the frame. I have shot marlins in .44 Remington Magnum. Very accurate. The older marlins innthis caliber used micro-groove rifling. Very accurate with jacketed Ammo. Since cowboy action shooting became popular they went to big Ballard style rifling. Good for lead, slow, bullets but not as good for jacketed.
I reload for this caliber for my Ruger Redhawk. Very accurate gun. It has a 7.5” bbl. I have take. 2 does with it. One was running at 50 yards. Both with finality.
I have shot this offhand at 50 yard targets and made sub 1” 3 shot groups.
It’s to heavy for me to lug around now. It’s a range gun only now.
--this site is without doubt, the greatest disgrace to both writing and firearms knowledge on the internet---
When I go camping or hiking, my Ruger Redhawk is always in my backpack. I feel completely confident It will take down anything coming at me. That thing hits like a sledgehammer.
Some of these tags, whew !
Self defense? A .44 will do just as well as a .357 for social work. Fully disabled or dead is good enough.
Handgun? It's all for show, I had an Anaconda, the proportions aren't as beautiful as a Python, it was kind of ugly actually. All out of proportion like Kurtwood Smith's forehead(5head)
What the article doesn’t mention is that big-ball pistol calibers like this one gain about 300 - 500 fps in velocity when you shoot them out of a rifle.
A 2,000 fps .44 caliber bullet? Now you’re talkin’!
The .44 mag seems to hit the sweet spot of compromise between size, weight, power and recoil.
The .44 in a model 29 or larger handgun doesn’t bother me but it is about all the recoil I want to handle. I would love to have one of the S&W model 500 or 460s but would only shoot them with reduced loads.
Those big heavy six guns would be OK as a truck gun.
The .44 mag, .357 and .41 all make fine carbine loads suitable for deer etc.
I once had an H&R Handi Rifle in .357 maximum. It was one of the neatest guns I have ever owned. Surprisingly powerful in a rifle.
I have a Marlin chambered in .44 magnum. I use it for deer hunting. Free hand, I can consistently hit a 6” pie plate at 150 yards.
It would be a sure thing if the deer would just wear the paper plate!
I just acquired a Ruger Super Redhawk with a 9” barrel. Definitely not a carry gun.
27g of H110.
A fun reload for low light shooting.
Muzzle blast is a column of flame a foot wide and two feet long out of my 8” 629.
I seldom shoot it much anymore but I sure feel safe carrying it.
I have a S&W model 29 that I really love, I have owned it for years. It’s my carry gun for out in the wilderness. N-frame S&W’s are my favorite revolvers.