The also makea very nice Winchester 1873 clone, in many variations. Here is the all-around 20" version, again in our caliber of choie the .44/40:
Posted on 07/03/2010 11:11:27 AM PDT by calex59
I believe the .44 Special is the best handgun cartridge ever made. It is accurate and has enough energy in factory loadings to drop the bad guy. It can be handloaded to near .44 mag velocities if the revolver is of good quality.
I’m pretty damned old an creaky myself, being 68. However, if you want good stopping power the present day .357 magnum with 110 or 125 grn hollow points will stop just about anyone.
What brand do you have?
Nah, not really. What I tell my daughters to tell the guys who want to date them is that I like a 10-ga. 3-1/2” magnum, BELT-FED, automatic shotgun. Loaded with two .69 cal. punkin balls per shell.
I'd settle for a GAU-8 though.
I think we could all agree that we love to shoot (almost) any new caliber any time we get a chance.
This is what’s known as a true “can of worms” post.
“How about just looking at any site that lists handgun ammo with both speed and weight of the bullet!”
Feel free. The Buffalo Bore 44 special is a 255 grain bullet moving at 1000 fps with 566 ft/lbs of energy.
Federal Premium Personal Defense ammo in .357 pushes a 158 grain bullet at 1240 for 539 ft/lbs.
I prefer the former. You are welcome to choose the latter - I regularly load my Model 60 with Buffalo Bore’s .38+p: a 158 grain bullet moving at 1000 fps with 351 ft/lbs of energy.
BTW - I don’t believe energy is an accurate prediction of ‘stopping power’, but it is a widely available tool for comparing in a general sort of way. I think any of the loads I listed will do about as well as any load can do against humans.
I carry full power 44 mag loads for fun - trying to save some money using Prvi Partizan moving a 300 grain bullet at 1280 fps with 1095 ft/lbs. I think that is a bit too much for self-defense against humans...but it makes a big boom coming out of a 2.5 inch barrel. What’s not to like?
Really. See my Bulldog is an outstanding little carry piece. It's light, fast, has a nice smooth trigger pull in DA, and is eminently concealable. To each their own of course, but the new offerings from CA are nice little revolvers.
Taurus... well, I haven't really liked anything they've ever made.
Then you must not be a Smith and Wesson fan either. They're using the same equipment. I've never had a single quality issue with either line.
L
I believe you can still get revolvers in 32 20.
I sometimes settle for a .44 Mag Marlin rifle, but a GAU-8 sounds fun!
“I’m pretty damned old an creaky myself, being 68. However, if you want good stopping power the present day .357 magnum with 110 or 125 grn hollow points will stop just about anyone.”
I’m only 55, but I’ve already had a hip replacement, and should have both knees done. The back may be dealable with injections or a TENS or something. I’m trying to resurrect an old .45 auto, since I have the frame & slide. “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” pretty much describes the situation right now. Also, I’m unreasonably fond of them. Sort of like you and the .44 special. ;)
The also makea very nice Winchester 1873 clone, in many variations. Here is the all-around 20" version, again in our caliber of choie the .44/40:
“Bond Arms in Texas makes a series of these double-barreled derringers. The majority are in .45 Colt Long / .410”
Taurus Judge is the #1 player in that game (5 rounds in 45 colt/.410). Nice guns, but a little large for summertime concealed carry. Taurus makes very good (not excellent) quality guns at affordable prices (lifetime warranties). Not everyone can afford sig, colt, kimber, et al.
I like the .44 Special and .44 Mag and if I had the cash I'd buy a couple.
That being said I've had a couple of .357 Mags and have one now. I can shoot 148 gr HBWC loaded in a .38 SPL case with little recoil and great accuracy up to a 125 gr or 158 gr loaded with H110 that strikes like lightening, sounds like thunder and is accurate as heck.
I have other handguns but if I could only have one it would be a .357 Mag.
I have a 686 Performance Center that I'm pretty sure that Taurus doesn't make a judgeworthy counterpart to. I say that if you're looking at a Taurus revolver, you're really looking at a Rossi.
blast from the past...
The Winchester 1866 Yellowboy was in the original .44 caliber, the .44 Rimfire. That caliber is long gone, as is Winchester as a manufacturer of the 1866, but Uberti still makes them (and sells them under a variety of names in the USA)and chambers them in .44/40
The also make a very nice Winchester 1873 clone, in many variations. Here is the all-around 20" version, again in our caliber of choie the .44/40. Both about $1300 list. 
And as for handguns, go with a matched pair of these beauties! US Firearms SAA - many options, including .44 special, but the .44/40 is too. $995 list is steep, but quality always costs. Made in the USA (in the old blue-domed Colt factory in Hartford, CT, amazingly enough!) Get one to match your long-gun!
Now your set for Cowboy Action Shooting, except for the scattergun.
“I think we could all agree that we love to shoot (almost) any new caliber any time we get a chance.”
I’d take the “almost” out, but yes. ;)
To paraphrase something my TIs used to say, “Shoot ‘em if ya got ‘em, bum one if ya don’t.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.