44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith - The Firearms Forum

mesinge2 · 10-30-2010, 11:39 AM

I recently bought a 3 inch barrel .44 Mag S&W 629-6 Deluxe Talo Edition and I've got to tell you that I have not had this much fun with a new gun purchase in a long time. At first I was worried about the recoil from the 3" but I've got to tell you I was worried over nothing. I have posted on this gun before (http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=81711) but I keep trying new ammo in the gun and I thought I would post an update.

I am currently carrying 44 Mag Fiocchi Extrema loads with the 240 grain Hornady XTP bullets. But so far I have tried 44 Mag Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads, 44 Mag Hornady 240 grain XTP, CCI Blazer 44 SPL 200 grain Speer Gold Dot loads, and Winchester 44 SPL 200 grain Silvertip loads.

Here are the chrony results per 10 shot average:

44 Mag Corbon 300 grain - 910fps
44 Mag Hornady 240 grain - 1175fps
44 Mag Fiocchi 240 grain - 1122fps
44 SPL CCI Blazer 200 grain - 720fps
44 SPL Winchester 200 grain - 772fps

Here is a video of the 44 Mag Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads at 17 yards:

YouTube - 3 inch barrel .44 Mag S&W 629-6 Deluxe Talo Edition with Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads

Maybe it is just me but the recoil of this gun it not what many people warned me about, it seems far milder than I was expecting.

Also the first pic is a Winchester Slivertip and the last is a Corbon Penetrator:

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mesinge2 · 10-30-2010, 02:36 PM

I always carried a .45ACP 1911; however, I have been carrying this ever since I bought it. The way I figure it is that in this 44 mag, a 240 grain round at 1122fps is faster and heaver than my 45 ACP with a 230 grain round at a 900-1000 fps and only 0.023 of an inch smaller in diameter.

old semperfi · 10-30-2010, 11:29 PM

different people handle recoil in different ways,i have a friend that will shoot one of my 44 mags just two or three times and he is done.i shoot them all day long and no bother. old semperfi

carver · 10-31-2010, 08:52 AM

I must say that I am a little surprised at the low speeds of the Mag rounds from a 3" barrel, I thought they would be a little higher. Still, a 240gr. bullet moving at 1100 - 1200fps will shoot through a really big bad guy! I would be worried about over penitration with the magnum rds. I deer hunt with .44Mag ammo loaded to 1250fps with Hornady XTP bullets, and they usually go all the way through.

al45lc · 11-05-2010, 08:57 AM

I prefer the 44 spcl in a short barrel like that, I tested in camp one night and the flash from the mag loads (Rem) was 3-4 times worse than the spcl using the old H.P. lead loads by Federal. If you can't see after the first shot, all that power is worthless.

Gun Geezer · 11-05-2010, 10:48 AM

I have a S&W Titanium, hammerless, air-lite, .44 S&W snubbie. Try shooting one of these. Can you say ouch!

mesinge2 · 11-05-2010, 07:44 PM

Gun Geezer I tried the 4" Scandium/Titanium and some 300 grainers. 6 of those was enough from the light weight cannon. If I owned that gun it would be regulated to 44 SPL loads only. I can only imagine the 2.5" Scandium/Titanium model. Pain!

JLA · 11-05-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

I must say that I am a little surprised at the low speeds of the Mag rounds from a 3" barrel, I thought they would be a little higher. Still, a 240gr. bullet moving at 1100 - 1200fps will shoot through a really big bad guy! I would be worried about over penitration with the magnum rds. I deer hunt with .44Mag ammo loaded to 1250fps with Hornady XTP bullets, and they usually go all the way through.

In my experience a .45ACP shooting a standard velocity 230 gr bullet will penetrate a lot of flesh. I shot an aggrssive pit bull on my property with a 4 inch XD firing 230 grains of cast lead at 750 fps. the bullet went through him longways. entered at the base of his neck, pierced the heart and lungs, continued through the abdominal cavity and exited next to his danglies and still skipped along the ground and ended up in the dirt burm at the back of my land. The animal was about 15 yards from me when I shot him.

carver · 11-06-2010, 08:52 AM

And that is why I carry two spare mags, one with Hornady Critical Defense, and with ball as a back up for baricades.

mesinge2 · 11-07-2010, 09:15 AM

I carry 240 gr JHP 44 Magnums in the gun.
The top speed loader is 200 gr 44 SPL Silvertips
The bottom speed loader is the 300 Corbon Penetrators for barricades.
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Gabob · 11-07-2010, 07:54 PM

If you reload try 9.0 gr of Unique powder and a 240 gr cast bullet. Very pleasant to shoot and I shot one completely thru a deer from a 3" S&W Mag.

10-30-2010, 11:39 AM	#1
mesinge2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 538	44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith Velocity data included I recently bought a 3 inch barrel .44 Mag S&W 629-6 Deluxe Talo Edition and I've got to tell you that I have not had this much fun with a new gun purchase in a long time. At first I was worried about the recoil from the 3" but I've got to tell you I was worried over nothing. I have posted on this gun before (http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=81711) but I keep trying new ammo in the gun and I thought I would post an update. I am currently carrying 44 Mag Fiocchi Extrema loads with the 240 grain Hornady XTP bullets. But so far I have tried 44 Mag Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads, 44 Mag Hornady 240 grain XTP, CCI Blazer 44 SPL 200 grain Speer Gold Dot loads, and Winchester 44 SPL 200 grain Silvertip loads. Here are the chrony results per 10 shot average: 44 Mag Corbon 300 grain - 910fps 44 Mag Hornady 240 grain - 1175fps 44 Mag Fiocchi 240 grain - 1122fps 44 SPL CCI Blazer 200 grain - 720fps 44 SPL Winchester 200 grain - 772fps Here is a video of the 44 Mag Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads at 17 yards: YouTube - 3 inch barrel .44 Mag S&W 629-6 Deluxe Talo Edition with Corbon 300 grain Penetrator loads Maybe it is just me but the recoil of this gun it not what many people warned me about, it seems far milder than I was expecting. Also the first pic is a Winchester Slivertip and the last is a Corbon Penetrator: __________________ NRA Certified Instructor "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise. I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind ... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." 1785, Thomas Jefferson. --> Last edited by mesinge2; 10-31-2010 at 07:26 AM.. Reason: Spelling Errors Corrected

10-30-2010, 02:36 PM	#2
mesinge2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 538	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith I always carried a .45ACP 1911; however, I have been carrying this ever since I bought it. The way I figure it is that in this 44 mag, a 240 grain round at 1122fps is faster and heaver than my 45 ACP with a 230 grain round at a 900-1000 fps and only 0.023 of an inch smaller in diameter. __________________ NRA Certified Instructor "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise. I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind ... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." 1785, Thomas Jefferson.

10-30-2010, 11:29 PM	#3
old semperfi Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: i live in southern indiana,old country boy at heart Posts: 1,506	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith different people handle recoil in different ways,i have a friend that will shoot one of my 44 mags just two or three times and he is done.i shoot them all day long and no bother. old semperfi

10-31-2010, 08:52 AM	#4
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,271	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith I must say that I am a little surprised at the low speeds of the Mag rounds from a 3" barrel, I thought they would be a little higher. Still, a 240gr. bullet moving at 1100 - 1200fps will shoot through a really big bad guy! I would be worried about over penitration with the magnum rds. I deer hunt with .44Mag ammo loaded to 1250fps with Hornady XTP bullets, and they usually go all the way through. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

11-05-2010, 08:57 AM	#5
al45lc Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: colorful colorado Posts: 1,016	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith I prefer the 44 spcl in a short barrel like that, I tested in camp one night and the flash from the mag loads (Rem) was 3-4 times worse than the spcl using the old H.P. lead loads by Federal. If you can't see after the first shot, all that power is worthless.

11-05-2010, 10:48 AM	#6
Gun Geezer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,710	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith I have a S&W Titanium, hammerless, air-lite, .44 S&W snubbie. Try shooting one of these. Can you say ouch!

11-05-2010, 07:44 PM	#7
mesinge2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 538	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith Gun Geezer I tried the 4" Scandium/Titanium and some 300 grainers. 6 of those was enough from the light weight cannon. If I owned that gun it would be regulated to 44 SPL loads only. I can only imagine the 2.5" Scandium/Titanium model. Pain! __________________ NRA Certified Instructor "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise. I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind ... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." 1785, Thomas Jefferson. Last edited by mesinge2; 11-05-2010 at 07:45 PM..

11-06-2010, 08:52 AM	#9
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,271	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith And that is why I carry two spare mags, one with Hornady Critical Defense, and with ball as a back up for baricades. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

11-07-2010, 09:15 AM	#10
mesinge2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 538	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith I carry 240 gr JHP 44 Magnums in the gun. The top speed loader is 200 gr 44 SPL Silvertips The bottom speed loader is the 300 Corbon Penetrators for barricades. __________________ NRA Certified Instructor "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise. I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind ... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." 1785, Thomas Jefferson.

11-07-2010, 07:54 PM	#11
Gabob Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW GA CSA Posts: 1,161	Re: 44 SPL vs. 44 Mag in a 3" Smith If you reload try 9.0 gr of Unique powder and a 240 gr cast bullet. Very pleasant to shoot and I shot one completely thru a deer from a 3" S&W Mag. __________________ NRA Endowment Member Keep Your Powder Dry