@@anonymousf454 Remington 210 grain hollow points,round sanctioned by department. Shot competition with home cast 220 grain slugs hunted mule deer with both. Both worked well. I know the 44 mag is popular in Alaska I would not hesitate to carry a 41 there with either load.
220 slug was semi wad cutter case from wheel weights. I shot my N frame enough I had to send it back for repairs 2 times. Second time they could not repair so with a little haggling they replaced it with a new SS N frame which I still have. Bbl length .for job was 4 in whin I got the gun it had a 6 in bbl with it they had to put a 4 in on the gun and sent the 6 in with it when they returned it
.45 Colt/.454 Casull and .45 Super/.460 Rowland really got robbed of their popularity by .44 Mag and 10mm....if only introduction times were a bit different.
Yep. The 10mm Auto thing is getting a little out of control imo, especially as regards "woods carry" or "dangerous animal defense" round. 44 SPL, 44 Mag and 45 Colt are all more suitable for that. On the "low end" you have cartridges that are very easy to shoot, from extremely easy to pack pistols, whilst still being more effective than 10mm. On the "high end," you have things such as the 45 Colt, so-called "Redhawk-only-loads," which are as powerful as a the old 45-70 Government load delivered from the 1873 carbine. For God's sake lol. All the while, most everyone seems obsessed with magazine capacity for the 10mm. Revolvers are simply a much more sound choice for woods/bush/country carry than an autoloader, not to mention modern polymer frame autoloaders. Even if someone is bent on an autoloader with a large capacity magazine for "the bush," the 45 ACP is the elephant in the room: when did 45 ACP just get relegated to irrelevance in that context? Anyway, as others have hit on in this thread, there are so many good options for people. Treating 10mm Auto like it's the only show in town is embarrassing.
@@LibertysetsquareJack I completely agree. This obsession with capacity is the admission you’re going to miss a lot. The first shots are the most important. Miss with those, and you probably won’t be alive to fire shots 7 and more. A .44 Special/Magnum loaded with a 250-255 grain SWC or LBT LFN at 1050 fps is far superior to 10mm. I don’t hate 10mm or higher capacity, but they’re not the only things.
Your videos are EXCELLENT. Thank you. Ruger made a GP100 in 44 Special, 3" barrel, 5 shot. I have almost left the store with one a few times...non fluted cylinder. Beautiful revolver. Some are still out there.
I believe Paul Harrell covered the 44 special as well. He didn’t give it a great review in the video, but he later left a pinned comment saying that after some time with the Ruger, that 44spl is now a part of his regular rotation of carry guns.
Excellent video there are of few of us Crusty ,Rusty folks that love .44 special and handloaded properly it can do any task with outstanding accuracy and very controllable. Hey thanks for mentioning it. >>> And a huge fan of Elmer Keith and John Taffin.
I was shot point blank in the neck and paralyzed by a .44 special hollow point in 1983. It put me down. I was also shot in my upper thigh with a .44 special wad. cutter. The first three rounds fired at me completely missed me even though they were fired at less than an arm's length away. My x-rays show I'm still full of bullet fragments. I carry a firearm everywhere I go (legally) my weapon of choice to carry is a .44 special
While in the Army, I bought a S&W 25 in 45 Colt, I still have it and really enjoy shooting it! (I am glad to hear you state that the 45 "Long" Colt is incorrect). I couldn't carry it as a deputy sherrif in the 1980s, so I bought and carried a S&W 686, still shoot it periodically. When I got on the SWAT team, we carried semi-auto pistols. Revolvers should not be discounted as a defensive use firearm, just train wih it and select proper ammunition.
I have a 3" Taurus Tracker in .41 Magnum that I love. It shoots softly with the Winchester Silvertip 175 grain load and even softer with hand loads in Starline .41 Special brass. With hardcore .41 Magnum loads, it is a bit of a handful, but with the barrel porting and a set of the new factory finger groove rubber grips, it is actually still surprisingly controllable and comfortable to shoot. Good video.
@ ~ 16:00 mark through c. 21:00 There actually is a very viable, concealable revolver for 45 Colt, as well as one in 45 ACP, both currently made by Charter Arms. Charter calls the 45 (Long) Colt version the "Bulldog XL," and it's essentially identical to their 2.5" barreled 44 SPL Bulldog, but with a heavier top strap and cylinder. Iirc, it weighs about one (1) ounce more than the 2.5" 44 Bulldog. So five shot, DA/SA, swing out cylinder, overall length just a hair past 7" (and can be considerably shorter if the the "combat grips" are switched out for smaller stocks), shrouded ejector plunger, weighs ~ twenty one (21) ounces empty. The other is the "Pitbull," in 45 ACP. Again, identical essentially to the 44 SPL Bulldog with 2.5" barrel, five shots, etc. Even more interestingly, the Pitbull does not need moon clips: it has a proprietary extractor that seats and ejects the rimless cases. Charter Arms also chambers the Pitbull in both 40 S&W and 9mm Luger. Finally, people may be interester to know that Charter did make a 41 Magnum Bulldog for several years. It's called the "41 Mag Pug." Production was short run, from like 2015 to only 2020 or so; but they are out there, if someone is inclined towards 41 Magnum and want a fully modern, practical, defense oriented 41 with concealed-carry in mind.
@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb the Bulldog XL is a bit snappy with anything more than cowboy action loads but still manageable with defensive loads. I've had mine about 3 years & it's fairly accurate & a good action for a Charter. Last I checked still available. Taurus also made the model 450 5 shot 45colt snubby a few years back. I've only seen one & the owner wasn't interested in selling at twice what he paid for it.
Makes me want to take another look at a 44 Special Night Guard I was ogling. Excellent presentation of the calibers. I have learned a lot. Thank you, sir!
Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane. I carried a Model 629 during my rookie year with Houston PD, in Texas, March 1984 to March 1985. I became eligible to use an auto-loading duty pistol after that first year of service, and, backed down to a 9mm HK P7 for six months, in an old-school flap holster, locally custom-made to meet PD specs. One reason for 9mm was to let my hand heal! Then, I returned to big boredom, finishing out the Eighties, carrying an ex-San Antonio PD Model 58 .41 Magnum, in the duty holster, and during much of my personal time. The Model 58 was loose by 1990, starting to go out of time, when I transitioned to a Colt Stainless Commander, .45 ACP. The Nineties became my .45 ACP and .357 Magnum era, for duty and carry handguns. 1990 was also about time when I admitted to myself that I have K/L/GP100-sized hands, so I now use the “4” cartridges in single-action sixguns, for recreational purposes. The grips are smaller in volume, and, the reach to a single-action trigger is shorter. Non-magnum cartrdiges are now my friends.
"hand heal" Struck a bell with me! I decided a LONG time ago the 44 mag was a little too much for me. I stuck with the .357 mag and have not been disappointed. The muzzle flip on the .44 was really too much to control when you had other potential targets.
It's hard to explain to younger shooters how a mystique grew around the .44 Special round in the '70's and early 80's. It was almost impossible to find revolvers chambered in the round. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I found a pre-24 4th Model Hand Ejector target at a gun show. Mostly because of a gun writer named Skeeter Skelton, I've always loved the .44 Special and the Smiths that chamber it.
That's one of the "problems" with 44 SPL, the relative rarity of the store-stocked ammo. It's actually gotten better than it was like fifteen years ago though. The price is actually significantly cheaper now (when inflation is accounted for), and loadings such as the Hornady 165 grain FTX exist. When I got a Bulldog almost fifteen years ago, it was basically just the old school, 246 grain LRN in stores. Anyway, so-called "Cowboy Ammo" is a good comprise option now for price and performance, if one doesn't want to handload or carry handloads for legality headache. A box of 50 HSM "Cowboy" regularly goes for $48-$49 in Alaska nowadays, which is saying something, considering it isn't cheap to live here otherwise, not at all.
@@michaellavaughnrobinson that's the stuff going for 70 here. I've never tried it, but had horrible .223 from them couple years ago. I've got about 500 casings left, so it'll be quite awhile, before in need.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Yes, our Country is needs to tighten up. There are a lot of people who are well armed and very capable of defending ourselves but I pray things don't reach that point. Thanks for another good video.
Great video as always! I agree with your assessment on the 40s four special, especially Skeeter Skeletons, hot 44 special loads. A 44 with 240gr Lead flat nose, or hollow points semi wadcutters at 900 to 1000fps in a 44mag pistol (I only shoot those loads in 44 magnum rated guns). is about perfectly balanced. The recoil is manageable and it hits with plenty of authority! Skeeter knew his stuff…
Charter arms makes 5 shot revolvers in .38spl, .357mag, .44spl. .45 colt, 9mm, .40SW, and .45acp. The new ones are light weight, very sturdy and value based revolvers. I have a new production. Brushed stainless .44spl Bulldog Pug and it has nice G-10 grips on it. It's very nice looking.
Charter Arms is great. Very, very underrated manufacturer. They also make a 6-shot 357 called the "Professional," 25 ounces in weight and 4" barrel. Afaik, it's the only 6-shot 357 Magnum in that weight and size class in current production.
I totally agree, specifically on the semi-wad cutter h p lead .44. I have had four Charter Arms .44s, two were 3” SS bulldogs. And accurate….jacketed not so much. Thanks
I looked for a 4" Smith 25 for years until I found a Redhawk 4.25" 45colt/45acp. Not a great carry revolver but awful nice for hunting. I wasn't impressed with the Smith 69 & wound up trading it for a GP100 44 that I've been quite happy with. I really don't care much for 44mag anymore but 45colt & 44 special will do anything I need them to. I do like my 4" Smith 41 as well, just wish ammo was easier to find. Thanks for the rundown, some of us still like ole wheelguns.
Used every caliber you mentioned and STILL Do. I used a 6" S&W Model 29 with rollers that could adjust front sights too. This with .44 Special I packed in a shoulder rig. Used a Model 58 .41 and Model 57 both 4". Today I still have a Model 58 a 4" Model 29 and a 629 2.6". Used a Colt 1873 .45 Colt and have carried one in black bear country hunting and tent camping in Colorado. ( bear had been spotted a week before at our camp area) It was comforting when making a head call in the middle of the night. I had a buddy in a small agency who carried a Model 57 all his career and with 210 grain police load and his own reloads ( his agency allowed that). He was an excellent shot too.
I like 44 specials in my S&W 629 3 inch barrel. Very accurate. Since I reload it is easy to test the different loads. I think charter arms also makes a revolver in 45 colt 3 inch barrel along with 44 special.
@@Kinetic.44 , The 45 lc can not be loaded like a 454 . The brass case can't handle it. Too much CUP pressure. When reloading you have to follow what is recommended in the reloading manual. But you can buy a 454 and shoot 45 lc in it.
Towning. Actually dick did use 45 colt brass in developing the 454. Even using duplex loads. Check out Ross seyfried’s articles on it. 45 colt brass especially federal, is just as strong as 44mag brass.
The story goes that back in the days when Elmer Keith was young, 45 Colt brass was not as strong, which is one of the reasons he worked so much with 44 SPL. But yeah, that is definitely not an issue today, or for the last forty to fifty years for that matter. Modern 45 Colt can be loaded up extremely hot, where the external and terminal ballistics actually pass up 44 Magnum considerably. It takes certain pistols to be able to do that though, namely large frame Rugers. 44 SPL remains arguably more versatile overall because of the size and weight of pistol it can be chambered in whilst attaining maximum performance. Some would say it offers a better "power to weight" or efficiency ratio for a given size of pistol, namely small and medium frames.
Dick I gotta say, I have enjoyed your channel since its inception has much as anything on TH-cam in a long time! Great job!! Thank you from an old FUDD like you😁.
Ha ha ha and I found one! A first year production Ruger Blackhawk 6.5" 44 Magnum. Made mid-year 1958 - first full year of production - they made a few hundred in Dec 1957. I am really stoked to have this nice 3-screw, flat top revolver.
The .45 S&W Schofield round works, but doesn't work well in the 1873 Colt. The Schofield round at the time had a larger rim and the chambers are so close in the SAA that there wasn't enough room. Soldiers forced to use .45 Schofield in their SAA revolvers could only load every other chamber, so they were limited to 3 rounds. But it's better than none when a Schofield armed soldier was issued .45 Colt ammunition!
The best .44 special revolvers for defense I've ever seen and I carried them regularly for a bit as well was a pair of S&W 696. They were a 3" 5 shot L frame with a round butt. Great little concealable powerhouse.
Our local PD, during the LE Revolver Era, restricted the Officer to a .38 Spec +P+. They adopted that Policy at some point in the late 50s early 60s. I never heard if whether there was a specific incident that prompted the Policy change. Prior to that, there was a plethora of cartridges used. My Grandfather carriec a S&W Hand Ejector chambered in 32-20. He did use a Semi Jacketed Flat Tip Soft Point Amnunition. Unfortunately, his revolver was pawned by my Drunken Uncle, and we didn't find out he had pawned it until much later.
Legend has it that a cowboy in the old west sauntered into the general store and asked for a box of .45 Colt ammo. The shopkeeper slaps a box of the shorter schofield length .45 M1887 on the counter. The cowboy replies "No thanks! I"ll take the long colts". Of course referring to the longer .45 Colt. So although .45 long Colt is not a proper name. It was used to differentiate .45 M1887 (short) from .45 Colt (long).
More likely he was handed the 45 Colt Government which was a 45 Colt case but the length of the S&W so it could be used in the S&W Schofield revolver but it was a Colt round (i.e. a short Colt).
Ah, the .41. I recall that the cartridge looked the same as the .45 Colt. Big and long and was fired from a "38 look" revolver. I was 9 or 10 years old when my (great) Uncle Claude taught me to shoot a pistol using that beast. He had an "interesting" sense of humor. We went out in the field next to my grandmother's house (and behind her general store), he stuck a 1.5" or so stick in the ground, paced about 6 or 8 strides (he was tall and lanky, so maybe 7 or 8 yards) to where I stood. He described sight alignment, how to hold the gun, how to squeeze and not jerk the trigger... then he stood aside, and I was on my own. That gun was so heavy I could hardly hold it with both hands outstreached. I sighted it and squeezed and... THE WORLD EXPLODED ! I found myself on the ground, on my back, with rhe gun laying next to me. No malfunction; it was just had that much of a kick! I was also PISSED OFF, fuming, sputtering, cussing, and climbing to my feet... while Claude was bent over laughing so hard he was having trouble not pissing himself! All he could do between laughing and gasping for breath was to point at the stick. It was now half as long and splayed apart like an Indian War Bonnet. That was my practical introduction to handguns. I could not have hit it again for flinching, but that intro may have been why I always prefered the 1911 .45 ACP and the .357 magnum in handguns. I always liked the .22 for plinking, since my first personally owned gun was a Remington single shot bolt action rifle (I forget the model). I also owned .32 ACP, .380 (9x17mm), 9mm Makarov (9x18mm), and 9mm Luger/Parabellum (9x19mm). Good calibers all, except that .32 is a HOT cartridge. I shot an old thick walled, short sized, glass Coca-Cola bottle with it, hitting it in the neck of the bottle just above where the neck met the 'shoulders". It WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE NECK, LEAVING THE SIDES ATTACHED ! That FMJ bullet was moving FAST to have done that! For the last 20+ years my favorite handgun and the main one I would be carrying in a "serious" situation, is a .40 S&W IMI (yes, IMI and not the more recent IWI) Jericho 941, marketed in the US as the small frame "Desert Eagle" or the "Baby Eagle" and in Europe as the "Uzi Eagle". It is a totally different gun from the original .44 Mag / .357 Mag "Desert Eagle". That huge DE is more a hunting gun, while the Jericho 941 is a combat handgun evolution out of the CZ-75 and sharing a number of parts with the Italian Tanfoglio TZ-75, marketed in the USA by EAA as the 'Witness". I fire standard FMJ flat nose cartriges, and I have never failed to hit what I was aiming at. The only other gun I was that accurate with was of all things a Colt 1911 chambered in 9mm. First time I fired that gun I jumped soda can 6 times. It was such a sweet shooter, that it is one of about 5 or 6 guns I wish I'd never sold or traded. Say what you will about the .40 S&W cartridge, I love it. Most of the ballistics of the 9mm and most of the energy of the .45 ACP. One reviewer mentioned it has the same ballistics as the 1800s .44-40. I never got around to looking that up, nut if a prominent gun reviewer puts such a claim in print in a popular gun magazine, then I have a feeling it is true. As such, I tend to respect those cowboys with rifle and handgun both chambered in .44-40 for all their needs. If I am going to trek around the back country, I will still take my .308/7.62x51 NATO rifle, thank you. Or maybe a 12 Ga shotgun alternating slugs an 00 Buck. Unfortunately the weight of either of those is a serious limitation on how much you can carry. Without military style resupply, you will not be able to carry enough for an extended period period of use... no matter how strong you are.
I've seen ballistic test on the 44 special and 45 Colt. They hit like freight trains. People forget that the 45 Colt was the most powerful hand gun for decades.
Always loved 44. Cal. Round ( have 2 s&w 29's and a Ruger super Blackhawk) bought in the 70's/early 80's. Love the Magnum but being 76y old backed off to the Special. Thank you for keeping the Revolver and especially the 44 cartridge alive.
Just found this channel last week when I was looking up what side arm to take when I go out west in a couple months and we will be camping and enjoying those mountains. I settled on a Glock 20 and bought one and ordered some Xtreme penetrators along with 200 hardcast bc I fill this would be better than my hog leg 44 redhawk I got when I turned 16 by my dad. Watched every video since. Love this channel
I hope the bear is polite enough to wait while you clear your double-feed, stovepipe, nosedive, failure to feed, or magazine follower jam ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Let me tell you what you're going to do against a bear with 16 rounds of 10mm: You're either going to spray-fire all 16 shots and hit next to nothing, OR you're going to fire 5 or 6 well aimed shots, same as you would with a revolver... only you'll be shooting a boosted .40 instead of an honest magnum. You made the popular choice, not the right choice. Good luck, vaya con Dios, and happy trails, tactical dan. 😂
It depends on how accurate you are and if you can be accurate when SHTF with a bear. If you need just one shot, the .44 mag will be fine. Practice with the G20, it will be better for multiple targets and shots if needed. PS: Bears are probably not the most dangerous animals in the woods, people and moose are higher IMO.
@Mrelindio42 You clearly don't shoot, and you clearly didn't comprehend my comment. Let me help. 44mag revolvers hold 6 shots, not 1, and revolvers have been reliably slaying man and beast since the 19th century, both in war and on the frontier. Consistent, accurate fire is very doable with a revolver inside the narrow time constraints of a bear attack, and make no mistake, TIME is the single greatest limiting factor in most fights, NOT ammunition capacity. You simply will not have TIME to accurately fire more than a handful of accurate shots before a bear is on you. You won't be taking cover, you won't be laying down suppressive fire, and you absolutely will not get to reload your weapon. You would be wise to maximize the effect of every bullet fired. If 10mm is truly your upper limit for recoil tolerance, then please carry it. However, choosing a 16 shot 10mm over a 6 shot 44 when you're probably only going to fire 6 shots anyway is a fashion choice, not a practical one.
How many bears have you killed? Ever had one charge you, tear a hole in your tent, start folowing you in the woods, become a camp pest, raid your food cooler? I have been shooting revolvers/pistols for over 60 years as a LEO and hunter. I just don't prefer a single shot .44 mag in bear country over a G20. The 44 is a single shot because after the first shot the barrel is usually pointed at the sky. IMO the 44 mag is a great hunting round for close range for deer and elk. I have one in a Winchester Trapper model lever action and have also qualified with a 44 mag revolver years ago. PS: I have never, and don't plan on ever, laying down suppresive fire with anything. No warning shots either! The bottom line is, carry what you want! I prefer almost any rifle to any pistol for bear.@@ajm2872
Dick, another option for a lighter 44 revolver is the Taurus Tracker 4" which is actually a 3" with a ported expansion chamber at the muzzle. I have one and it's really an nice revolver. The porting actually makes 44 Mag manageable in the light revolver.
Nicely done.... Carried both a 58 and 57 while in LE in the 1970s and 80s... The POLICE load from Remington clocked 930 fps and the Winchester 960. You didn't mention the 10mm and .40 S&W that make ideal big bore 6-shot carry gun loads when used in the Ruger GP 100 Match Champion and 3" WC Special. I have both and it is just what Keith/Jordan/Skelton were looking for..
I have a S&W model 22 in .45 acp with a 4" barrel. I used to carry it when I was in bear country. I loaded it with .45 Super 255gr bullets before I got a 10mm. It was a chunk to pack but it was better than being a bear burger. It shoots great but it stays in the safe mostly now. When I do shoot it nowadays, it's mostly ball ammo. I just opened the safe and it's got Winchester PDX1's loaded in it now. Thanks for this video. I believe I'll run some rounds through it tomorrow. Hope y'all have a great evening.
Thank you Dick for an excellent breakdown of the “4’s”. Can you recommend any books with similar breakdown of American calibers. I’ve read all of Elmer Keith’s books Thank you again for the informative videos
I own and shoot a Rossi model 720 revolver, un- fluted cylinder, 3" in .44 special. I definitely agree with your assessment of this caliber! Thanks and good job!
The 325 Smith pistols are viable .45 acp carry options as well as the 3 inch (discontinued) 625 and 4inch Model 22s. Charter Arms puts out a 45 acp Pug. Over the years larger .45 acp revolvers have been modified for carry by shortening barrels. It should be mentioned that the .45 acp is roughly equivalent to that .44 special that you love. Loved your presentation. Revolvers rule. If it doesn't spin it isn't in.
I have a 1970's era bulldog. It quite light and small. Butt it's a hammer. I whacked a raccoon about a month ago in the backyard. I have federal swc hollow point. Good grief that was a mess. It didn't get back up.
There’s an old S&W 58 that I’ve been eyeing. Like you said, I have no need for it, but it’s such a rare and beautiful piece of history that I’ve been trying to come up with an excuse to buy it! Lol
Alec Baldwin tragically demonstrated the efficacy of .45LC. The round penetrated and killed one person and then lodged in a second person wounding him.
@LibertysetsquareJack I fired a 45 Colt cowboy round out of a Bond Arms derringer with a 3" barrel. It was a 200 grain hardcast rated at 705 fps...weak even among cowboy rounds...and it went through four layers of denim plus three news magazines. It also deformed enough to make me realize it would most likely do horrible damage to a human. So yes...the 45 Colt round is potent no matter how it's loaded.
Talk sometime about the 454 casuall... I carry the ruger super Red Hawk 2.75 inch in chest rig in alaska for critters 4 or 2 legs. With extreme hunter I'm probably only getting one good shot anyway 🤷 ....THX.
I have been carrying a .45 Colt for self defense/concealed carry for a couple of decades. Being willing to dress around the gun and practice can make it viable in almost any normal sized revolver.
Love this series of videos. Very well done. I have to say though, it was always my understanding that the .44 Russian was not a lengthened .44 American but a totally redesigned internally lubricated bullet. . I do know the Russian can be fired in a .44 magnum which I routinely do Afain, great job.
You're correct. I was watching the vid again this evening and I caught that too, and wanted to see if anyone had posted, so I saw you're comment. Fairburn was saying 44 S&W ("American") was the first consumer cartridge with an internally lubricated bullet, and the 44 Russian was lengthened. The 44 Russian was indeed lengthened in case, but the entire cartridge is also different: larger base diameter, larger rim diameter, and internally lubricated bullet, of smaller caliber (~ .429 for the Russian versus ~ .434 for American). The story goes that it was actually at the behest of the Imperial Russian officer acting for procurement that S&W changed to the non-heeled (internally lubricated) design. So yes, as you allude 44 Russian can to this day be chambered in various arms that will take the 44 SPL or 44 Magnum, because they are all in the same line of descent. The 44 American though is it's own thing.
Your point on the .41 magnum police load ballistics is well taken. I shoot 210 grain RNFP’s at about 850 fps in local action matches. Still powerful, but very sweet shooting. I actually find .45 ACP more interesting in a revolver than an auto. No bullet shape or COAL constraints.
Thank you for your time and expertise in this series. I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well done. Curiously enough, Charter Arms makes a Bulldog 5-shot revolver chambered for 45 Colt AND a "Pitbull" 5-shot 45 acp revolver that has no need for use of moon clips. At least, I think they still make them... I don't know how well they would hold up if shot a lot, but they're out there. I plan to buy one for myself if I ever run across one. Thanks again for your hard work! EDIT: is the cartridge you aren't sure about either the 9x18 Makarov or the 7.62 Tokarev? My brother swears by his CZ chambered for 9x18, but I can't imagine he shoots it much, since so little ammunition is available these days
Thanks for a great video. I have had a Charter Arms Bulldog 44 Spcl on my CCW for a number of years. Can't shoot full power loads as it damages the gun. But great gun.
Thank you, Dick, for an excellent video and an outstanding series of videos, all of which are entirely factually and very well presented. With respect to this “4” video, I agree that revolvers chambering .41 magnum, .44 Spacial and magnum, and .45 ACP and Colt are generally too heavy and large for daily concealed carry. BUT (imho) a Smith 25/625 or a Ruger Redhawk, chambered in .45 Colt or ACP, is an entirely viable defensive firearm for many homeowners. Many individuals will, of course, question their comparatively limited capacity; however, I’d respectfully suggest six rounds is overwhelmingly likely to be more than adequate.
Especially for open belt carry, the "4s" are perfect for folks living in the country, and with a pancake or similar holster they conceal easily under a jacket or vest.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on the 5.7x28 mm. I think it is the only (sort of) pistol round you haven't talked about. Hope a few more folks would like that, too.
I handled both the FN pistol and sub gun in 5.7 more than 20 years ago when a salesman brought them to the ISP academy range along with plenty of ammo. Both were extremely easy to shoot. Since the 5.7 pistol broke the 2000fps barrier thought to be so important by men like Jeff Cooper and Marty Fackler, it had my attention. Since then, it has remained a very small portion of the handgun market and I have encountered few shootings where its terminal performance could be evaluated. I am looking/asking around to see what other guys out there think of the cartridge ... if I find some valid data on it I will report.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I requested the 5.7 to be reviewed before looking for other comments and find it interesting and would love to hear from someone with a lot of experience relating to reliability from a ballistics standpoint. I sincerely hope you can review it even if just to say "nah, not really that good of a round going forward", etc. Thanks again, Dick.
The pitbull in 40S&W has a bit of recoil, but any experienced revolver shooter won't mind. The 45 acp version is on the list as a 2nd carry at bad breath distance. I'm inclined to think that that would alter someone's thought process about making you a victim.
The closest I could get to that was I had a Colt Anaconda, and with defense loads, it was a love-hate relationship . I was definitely abused and battered, but I still loved her, lol. But that follow-up shot would be kind of tough.
I’ve carried a S&W 629 three inch loaded with Hornady Critical Defense in .44 special. Heavy gun but it feels like a .22 when shooting it in that caliber. It kicks like a mule with magnums. I just got my hands on a 1973-74 Charter Arms “Bulldog” three inch revolver. I purchased it from a widowed elderly woman who was selling her deceased husband’s firearms for a very low price. To be honest. Her asking price was too low. So, I upped it $50.00. It was covered in grease and seems like it hasn’t left the safe since the seventies. It had very little wear and the blueing was in good condition. I was surprised at the quality of the revolver and how well it shot. Not Smith quality. But well made and very concealable. Thanks for the great content.
You left out the S&W Model 646 in .40 S&W caliber. It is sweeet. I usually use 155 grain HBRN Berry's bullets with less than a max load of AA #2 and it is nothing less than FUN to shoot. That's my usual range load.
5.7 x 28 mm I'll put the plug in for the move internationally towards this round: gimmick or effective from a ballistics perspective. I'm also wondering what you think of the round and the pistols. Thanks Dick for the great vids.
There's a lot I agree with you on, but there's also a lot I disagree with you about. One example is your assertion that there are no good .41 Magnum defense loads. ...unless you are one who is only interested in low power loads. I also have a box of HSM .41 Special...mainly for the brass, since Starline doesn't run it too often. For the off the shelf, autoloader, tacti-boys....I'm sure it's not very interesting. For the rest of us who thinks that NEEDING 15+ rds for a problem is banking on Murphy and his law taking the day off....make mine a Magnum.
I've been reading about the "Fitz Special", which was typically built on the large frame Colt revolvers. Mr. Fitzgerald was said to always carry 2 of them with him in his pants pockets. Maybe with the right pants...
The 44mag might be the single most versatile metallic cartridge ever developed. When loaded properly, it can easily handle any task expected of a handgun, and many tasks expected of a rifle. From subsonic 135 grain cowboy bullets over TrailBoss to 300 grain bear smashers over H110. Only the 454 casull can boast similar flexibility.
I carry a Charter Arms 44spl Bulldog & at times a Charter Arms Boomer , 44spl which is similar in size as a 642 At times I carry a Charter Arms in a 45acp .. smaller than a K frame and a Charter Arms in 40 S&W I’d like to see a 6 shot 10mm revolver with a 3.5 inch barrel
Check out Charter Arms, they have a revolver that does not use Moon clips for rimless cartridges. I have the 40SW model, works just fine. The Pit Bull is the 45ACP model.
Just a couple of things. I personally feel that if the 30 SC were to be made available in some different sidearm configurations it may have a chance for success. I’ll is the Sig P938 and the SP101 as examples. Also, I’d LOVE to see S&W produce a 45 ACP revolver in the same vein as the model 610. Perhaps even see Colt adapt their Anaconda to a 45 Colt/45 ACP similar to the Ruger Redhawk model 5050. Thank you for your video. I really enjoyed it.
@17:02 Dick, just to add to the info, believe it or not the San Francisco Police Dept issued the .41 Magnum, as did the Amarillo Police Dept., who my father worked for before going to the Texas Highway Patrol. In fact, many of the APD officers continued to carry their m58's (and a few nice m57's) up until the mid to late 1990's, pretty sure the motors guys were the one that liked it the best. Makes sense, after all if you're on a bike and have to shoot into cars, it'd be hard for a 9mm or a .45 ACP to compete with a 175 gr Silvertip running (back then) about 1400 fps.
The .44 American had a bullet that was the same diameter as the case. The .44 Russian was the inside lubed round that was lengthened to become the .44 Special which in turn became the parent cartridge of the .44 Magnum.
September 11, 1999: Jerry Miculek fired six (6) rounds from a S&W 625 in .45acp, reloaded, and fired six (6) more rounds in 2.99 seconds.
we all saw the devastating consequences of such speed two short years later
@@Omniseed Are you referring to the 9/11 attack ?
I'm a huge fan of flat nose bullets.
Carried a 41 mag for many yrs as a deputy sheriff love the round
Strangley enough, I'm seeing more and more of that on the shelves lately.
Did you carry mild or wild loads?
@@anonymousf454 Remington 210 grain hollow points,round sanctioned by department. Shot competition with home cast 220 grain slugs hunted mule deer with both. Both worked well. I know the 44 mag is popular in Alaska I would not hesitate to carry a 41 there with either load.
220 slug was semi wad cutter case from wheel weights. I shot my N frame enough I had to send it back for repairs 2 times. Second time they could not repair so with a little haggling they replaced it with a new SS N frame which I still have. Bbl length .for job was 4 in whin I got the gun it had a 6 in bbl with it they had to put a 4 in on the gun and sent the 6 in with it when they returned it
S&W had fantastic customer service back then
In a strong revolver the 45 Colt is a much better cartridge than it gets credit for. With my reloads my Ruger Blackhawks can be quite a power house.
.45 Colt/.454 Casull and .45 Super/.460 Rowland really got robbed of their popularity by .44 Mag and 10mm....if only introduction times were a bit different.
My wife carries a 45 colt derringer.
Even in an S&W. They can handle the same 23,000 psi as revolvers chambered in.45 ACP.
Yep. The 10mm Auto thing is getting a little out of control imo, especially as regards "woods carry" or "dangerous animal defense" round.
44 SPL, 44 Mag and 45 Colt are all more suitable for that. On the "low end" you have cartridges that are very easy to shoot, from extremely easy to pack pistols, whilst still being more effective than 10mm.
On the "high end," you have things such as the 45 Colt, so-called "Redhawk-only-loads," which are as powerful as a the old 45-70 Government load delivered from the 1873 carbine. For God's sake lol.
All the while, most everyone seems obsessed with magazine capacity for the 10mm. Revolvers are simply a much more sound choice for woods/bush/country carry than an autoloader, not to mention modern polymer frame autoloaders.
Even if someone is bent on an autoloader with a large capacity magazine for "the bush," the 45 ACP is the elephant in the room: when did 45 ACP just get relegated to irrelevance in that context?
Anyway, as others have hit on in this thread, there are so many good options for people. Treating 10mm Auto like it's the only show in town is embarrassing.
@@LibertysetsquareJack I completely agree. This obsession with capacity is the admission you’re going to miss a lot. The first shots are the most important. Miss with those, and you probably won’t be alive to fire shots 7 and more.
A .44 Special/Magnum loaded with a 250-255 grain SWC or LBT LFN at 1050 fps is far superior to 10mm.
I don’t hate 10mm or higher capacity, but they’re not the only things.
Your videos are EXCELLENT. Thank you. Ruger made a GP100 in 44 Special, 3" barrel, 5 shot. I have almost left the store with one a few times...non fluted cylinder. Beautiful revolver. Some are still out there.
Thanks for the kind words. The Ruger would make an excellent self-defense revolver.
I believe Paul Harrell covered the 44 special as well. He didn’t give it a great review in the video, but he later left a pinned comment saying that after some time with the Ruger, that 44spl is now a part of his regular rotation of carry guns.
I got a gp100 5 inch 44 special from my brother in law and it's absolutely my favorite pistol. Wouldn't mind a 3 inch to go with it lol
@@emoryzakin2576Is that the blued with the half lug barrel? One of the sharpest wheel guns Ruger is offering right now.
@@jdoerr779it is. I didn't even know it existed till my brother in law picked one up, which I traded for
Excellent video there are of few of us Crusty ,Rusty folks that love .44 special and handloaded properly it can do any task with outstanding accuracy and very controllable. Hey thanks for mentioning it. >>> And a huge fan of Elmer Keith and John Taffin.
I carry a 44 special with a WFN 250 grain lead bullets. Its my bicycle and walking to the mailbox gun.
I was shot point blank in the neck and paralyzed by a .44 special hollow point in 1983. It put me down. I was also shot in my upper thigh with a .44 special wad. cutter. The first three rounds fired at me completely missed me even though they were fired at less than an arm's length away.
My x-rays show I'm still full of bullet fragments.
I carry a firearm everywhere I go (legally) my weapon of choice to carry is a .44 special
My goodness that's an event. Happy you still here with us Ed. God Bless.
While in the Army, I bought a S&W 25 in 45 Colt, I still have it and really enjoy shooting it!
(I am glad to hear you state that the 45 "Long" Colt is incorrect).
I couldn't carry it as a deputy sherrif in the 1980s, so I bought and carried a S&W 686, still shoot it periodically. When I got on the SWAT team, we carried semi-auto pistols.
Revolvers should not be discounted as a defensive use firearm, just train wih it and select proper ammunition.
Very nice to hear your experience. That model 25 is sa nice one.
Was hoping for your view of the .357 Sig. We carried them in our Sheriff's Office.
You'll want to check his video on *The Super 9s* from about a month ago.
@@cgsimons1187 Thanks, I guess I missed that one.. Found it..
What sheriifs office??
I have a 3" Taurus Tracker in .41 Magnum that I love. It shoots softly with the Winchester Silvertip 175 grain load and even softer with hand loads in Starline .41 Special brass. With hardcore .41 Magnum loads, it is a bit of a handful, but with the barrel porting and a set of the new factory finger groove rubber grips, it is actually still surprisingly controllable and comfortable to shoot.
Good video.
@ ~ 16:00 mark through c. 21:00
There actually is a very viable, concealable revolver for 45 Colt, as well as one in 45 ACP, both currently made by Charter Arms.
Charter calls the 45 (Long) Colt version the "Bulldog XL," and it's essentially identical to their 2.5" barreled 44 SPL Bulldog, but with a heavier top strap and cylinder. Iirc, it weighs about one (1) ounce more than the 2.5" 44 Bulldog. So five shot, DA/SA, swing out cylinder, overall length just a hair past 7" (and can be considerably shorter if the the "combat grips" are switched out for smaller stocks), shrouded ejector plunger, weighs ~ twenty one (21) ounces empty.
The other is the "Pitbull," in 45 ACP. Again, identical essentially to the 44 SPL Bulldog with 2.5" barrel, five shots, etc. Even more interestingly, the Pitbull does not need moon clips: it has a proprietary extractor that seats and ejects the rimless cases.
Charter Arms also chambers the Pitbull in both 40 S&W and 9mm Luger.
Finally, people may be interester to know that Charter did make a 41 Magnum Bulldog for several years. It's called the "41 Mag Pug." Production was short run, from like 2015 to only 2020 or so; but they are out there, if someone is inclined towards 41 Magnum and want a fully modern, practical, defense oriented 41 with concealed-carry in mind.
Great rundown on the Charter Arms revolvers. I hadn't followed their additions to their lineup.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb Sure thing.
@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb the Bulldog XL is a bit snappy with anything more than cowboy action loads but still manageable with defensive loads. I've had mine about 3 years & it's fairly accurate & a good action for a Charter. Last I checked still available. Taurus also made the model 450 5 shot 45colt snubby a few years back. I've only seen one & the owner wasn't interested in selling at twice what he paid for it.
My charter arms pit bull in 45acp is a great conceal carry option for me.
Makes me want to take another look at a 44 Special Night Guard I was ogling. Excellent presentation of the calibers. I have learned a lot. Thank you, sir!
Mr. F is just so knowledgeable and a great communicator too.
Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane. I carried a Model 629 during my rookie year with Houston PD, in Texas, March 1984 to March 1985. I became eligible to use an auto-loading duty pistol after that first year of service, and, backed down to a 9mm HK P7 for six months, in an old-school flap holster, locally custom-made to meet PD specs. One reason for 9mm was to let my hand heal! Then, I returned to big boredom, finishing out the Eighties, carrying an ex-San Antonio PD Model 58 .41 Magnum, in the duty holster, and during much of my personal time. The Model 58 was loose by 1990, starting to go out of time, when I transitioned to a Colt Stainless Commander, .45 ACP. The Nineties became my .45 ACP and .357 Magnum era, for duty and carry handguns.
1990 was also about time when I admitted to myself that I have K/L/GP100-sized hands, so I now use the “4” cartridges in single-action sixguns, for recreational purposes. The grips are smaller in volume, and, the reach to a single-action trigger is shorter. Non-magnum cartrdiges are now my friends.
I carried a P7M8 for most of my years in Wyoming. A pistol FAR ahead of its time.
"hand heal" Struck a bell with me! I decided a LONG time ago the 44 mag was a little too much for me. I stuck with the .357 mag and have not been disappointed. The muzzle flip on the .44 was really too much to control when you had other potential targets.
It's hard to explain to younger shooters how a mystique grew around the .44 Special round in the '70's and early 80's. It was almost impossible to find revolvers chambered in the round. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I found a pre-24 4th Model Hand Ejector target at a gun show. Mostly because of a gun writer named Skeeter Skelton, I've always loved the .44 Special and the Smiths that chamber it.
I use 44spl. Stuff goes for $70 per box here, so I roll my own. 240gr flatnose
Why do you go with .44 Spl instead of .45 Colt?
That's one of the "problems" with 44 SPL, the relative rarity of the store-stocked ammo.
It's actually gotten better than it was like fifteen years ago though. The price is actually significantly cheaper now (when inflation is accounted for), and loadings such as the Hornady 165 grain FTX exist. When I got a Bulldog almost fifteen years ago, it was basically just the old school, 246 grain LRN in stores.
Anyway, so-called "Cowboy Ammo" is a good comprise option now for price and performance, if one doesn't want to handload or carry handloads for legality headache.
A box of 50 HSM "Cowboy" regularly goes for $48-$49 in Alaska nowadays, which is saying something, considering it isn't cheap to live here otherwise, not at all.
@@Kinetic.44 It's what was around for me at the time, and uses same bullets as my Vetterli rifles.
Freedom munitions has pretty cheap 44 special. It's always worked for me and it's like 32 bucks for 50.
@@michaellavaughnrobinson that's the stuff going for 70 here. I've never tried it, but had horrible .223 from them couple years ago. I've got about 500 casings left, so it'll be quite awhile, before in need.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Yes, our Country is needs to tighten up. There are a lot of people who are well armed and very capable of defending ourselves but I pray things don't reach that point. Thanks for another good video.
Great video as always! I agree with your assessment on the 40s four special, especially Skeeter Skeletons, hot 44 special loads. A 44 with 240gr Lead flat nose, or hollow points semi wadcutters at 900 to 1000fps in a 44mag pistol (I only shoot those loads in 44 magnum rated guns). is about perfectly balanced. The recoil is manageable and it hits with plenty of authority!
Skeeter knew his stuff…
Charter arms makes 5 shot revolvers in
.38spl, .357mag, .44spl. .45 colt, 9mm, .40SW, and .45acp. The new ones are light weight, very sturdy and value based revolvers. I have a new production. Brushed stainless .44spl Bulldog Pug and it has nice G-10 grips on it. It's very nice looking.
Charter Arms is great. Very, very underrated manufacturer. They also make a 6-shot 357 called the "Professional," 25 ounces in weight and 4" barrel. Afaik, it's the only 6-shot 357 Magnum in that weight and size class in current production.
I totally agree, specifically on the semi-wad cutter h p lead .44. I have had four Charter Arms .44s, two were 3” SS bulldogs. And accurate….jacketed not so much. Thanks
I bought the 3" 5 shot gp100 in 44spl. I use that around home in the summer with mix of snake shot and my cast bullets.
I looked for a 4" Smith 25 for years until I found a Redhawk 4.25" 45colt/45acp. Not a great carry revolver but awful nice for hunting. I wasn't impressed with the Smith 69 & wound up trading it for a GP100 44 that I've been quite happy with. I really don't care much for 44mag anymore but 45colt & 44 special will do anything I need them to. I do like my 4" Smith 41 as well, just wish ammo was easier to find.
Thanks for the rundown, some of us still like ole wheelguns.
Used every caliber you mentioned and STILL Do. I used a 6" S&W Model 29 with rollers that could adjust front sights too. This with .44 Special I packed in a shoulder rig. Used a Model 58 .41 and Model 57 both 4". Today I still have a Model 58 a 4" Model 29 and a 629 2.6". Used a Colt 1873 .45 Colt and have carried one in black bear country hunting and tent camping in Colorado. ( bear had been spotted a week before at our camp area) It was comforting when making a head call in the middle of the night. I had a buddy in a small agency who carried a Model 57 all his career and with 210 grain police load and his own reloads ( his agency allowed that). He was an excellent shot too.
I like 44 specials in my S&W 629 3 inch barrel. Very accurate. Since I reload it is easy to test the different loads. I think charter arms also makes a revolver in 45 colt 3 inch barrel along with 44 special.
Why do you choose .44 Spl over .45 Colt? If i reloaded i would be all over .45 Colt and God forbid. 454 Casull.
A good book to read is Elmer Keith 's Six Gun. You can still buy it. Thats were I decided to give the 44 special a try. I'm happy that I did.
@@Kinetic.44 , The 45 lc can not be loaded like a 454 . The brass case can't handle it. Too much CUP pressure. When reloading you have to follow what is recommended in the reloading manual. But you can buy a 454 and shoot 45 lc in it.
Towning. Actually dick did use 45 colt brass in developing the 454. Even using duplex loads. Check out Ross seyfried’s articles on it. 45 colt brass especially federal, is just as strong as 44mag brass.
The story goes that back in the days when Elmer Keith was young, 45 Colt brass was not as strong, which is one of the reasons he worked so much with 44 SPL.
But yeah, that is definitely not an issue today, or for the last forty to fifty years for that matter.
Modern 45 Colt can be loaded up extremely hot, where the external and terminal ballistics actually pass up 44 Magnum considerably.
It takes certain pistols to be able to do that though, namely large frame Rugers.
44 SPL remains arguably more versatile overall because of the size and weight of pistol it can be chambered in whilst attaining maximum performance. Some would say it offers a better "power to weight" or efficiency ratio for a given size of pistol, namely small and medium frames.
Dick I gotta say,
I have enjoyed your channel since its inception has much as anything on TH-cam in a long time! Great job!! Thank you from an old FUDD like you😁.
FUDDs of a feather ... Thanks!
Great vid Dick. I totally understand the "sickness" lol There are just certain guns that I would instantly buy if I find them for a sane price.
Ha ha ha and I found one! A first year production Ruger Blackhawk 6.5" 44 Magnum. Made mid-year 1958 - first full year of production - they made a few hundred in Dec 1957. I am really stoked to have this nice 3-screw, flat top revolver.
The .45 S&W Schofield round works, but doesn't work well in the 1873 Colt. The Schofield round at the time had a larger rim and the chambers are so close in the SAA that there wasn't enough room. Soldiers forced to use .45 Schofield in their SAA revolvers could only load every other chamber, so they were limited to 3 rounds. But it's better than none when a Schofield armed soldier was issued .45 Colt ammunition!
That is why the Army eventually developed the .45 cartridge that would work in both revolvers.
Thank you sir for this entire series of videos. It has certainly been an education sir.
Yes. Thanks again for this series. Way better than 95% of the content currently out there.
The best .44 special revolvers for defense I've ever seen and I carried them regularly for a bit as well was a pair of S&W 696. They were a 3" 5 shot L frame with a round butt. Great little concealable powerhouse.
Our local PD, during the LE Revolver Era, restricted the Officer to a .38 Spec +P+. They adopted that Policy at some point in the late 50s early 60s. I never heard if whether there was a specific incident that prompted the Policy change. Prior to that, there was a plethora of cartridges used. My Grandfather carriec a S&W Hand Ejector chambered in 32-20. He did use a Semi Jacketed Flat Tip Soft Point Amnunition.
Unfortunately, his revolver was pawned by my Drunken Uncle, and we didn't find out he had pawned it until much later.
My favorite is the 625 s&w im a big guy so no problems concealing
I carry a ruger super redhawk Alaskan 44mag for edc its very concealable I love it
Legend has it that a cowboy in the old west sauntered into the general store and asked for a box of .45 Colt ammo. The shopkeeper slaps a box of the shorter schofield length .45 M1887 on the counter. The cowboy replies "No thanks! I"ll take the long colts". Of course referring to the longer .45 Colt. So although .45 long Colt is not a proper name. It was used to differentiate .45 M1887 (short) from .45 Colt (long).
More likely he was handed the 45 Colt Government which was a 45 Colt case but the length of the S&W so it could be used in the S&W Schofield revolver but it was a Colt round (i.e. a short Colt).
The ruger. Security six revolver was out in the 70 and 80. It came out in 357mag . Is the daddy of gp 100...
Ah, the .41. I recall that the cartridge looked the same as the .45 Colt. Big and long and was fired from a "38 look" revolver. I was 9 or 10 years old when my (great) Uncle Claude taught me to shoot a pistol using that beast. He had an "interesting" sense of humor.
We went out in the field next to my grandmother's house (and behind her general store), he stuck a 1.5" or so stick in the ground, paced about 6 or 8 strides (he was tall and lanky, so maybe 7 or 8 yards) to where I stood. He described sight alignment, how to hold the gun, how to squeeze and not jerk the trigger... then he stood aside, and I was on my own. That gun was so heavy I could hardly hold it with both hands outstreached. I sighted it and squeezed and...
THE WORLD EXPLODED !
I found myself on the ground, on my back, with rhe gun laying next to me. No malfunction; it was just had that much of a kick!
I was also PISSED OFF, fuming, sputtering, cussing, and climbing to my feet... while Claude was bent over laughing so hard he was having trouble not pissing himself! All he could do between laughing and gasping for breath was to point at the stick. It was now half as long and splayed apart like an Indian War Bonnet.
That was my practical introduction to handguns. I could not have hit it again for flinching, but that intro may have been why I always prefered the 1911 .45 ACP and the .357 magnum in handguns. I always liked the .22 for plinking, since my first personally owned gun was a Remington single shot bolt action rifle (I forget the model). I also owned .32 ACP, .380 (9x17mm), 9mm Makarov (9x18mm), and 9mm Luger/Parabellum (9x19mm). Good calibers all, except that .32 is a HOT cartridge. I shot an old thick walled, short sized, glass Coca-Cola bottle with it, hitting it in the neck of the bottle just above where the neck met the 'shoulders". It WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE NECK, LEAVING THE SIDES ATTACHED ! That FMJ bullet was moving FAST to have done that!
For the last 20+ years my favorite handgun and the main one I would be carrying in a "serious" situation, is a .40 S&W IMI (yes, IMI and not the more recent IWI) Jericho 941, marketed in the US as the small frame "Desert Eagle" or the "Baby Eagle" and in Europe as the "Uzi Eagle". It is a totally different gun from the original .44 Mag / .357 Mag "Desert Eagle". That huge DE is more a hunting gun, while the Jericho 941 is a combat handgun evolution out of the CZ-75 and sharing a number of parts with the Italian Tanfoglio TZ-75, marketed in the USA by EAA as the 'Witness". I fire standard FMJ flat nose cartriges, and I have never failed to hit what I was aiming at. The only other gun I was that accurate with was of all things a Colt 1911 chambered in 9mm. First time I fired that gun I jumped soda can 6 times. It was such a sweet shooter, that it is one of about 5 or 6 guns I wish I'd never sold or traded.
Say what you will about the .40 S&W cartridge, I love it. Most of the ballistics of the 9mm and most of the energy of the .45 ACP. One reviewer mentioned it has the same ballistics as the 1800s .44-40. I never got around to looking that up, nut if a prominent gun reviewer puts such a claim in print in a popular gun magazine, then I have a feeling it is true. As such, I tend to respect those cowboys with rifle and handgun both chambered in .44-40 for all their needs. If I am going to trek around the back country, I will still take my .308/7.62x51 NATO rifle, thank you. Or maybe a 12 Ga shotgun alternating slugs an 00 Buck. Unfortunately the weight of either of those is a serious limitation on how much you can carry. Without military style resupply, you will not be able to carry enough for an extended period period of use... no matter how strong you are.
I've seen ballistic test on the 44 special and 45 Colt. They hit like freight trains. People forget that the 45 Colt was the most powerful hand gun for decades.
Always loved 44. Cal. Round ( have 2 s&w 29's and a Ruger super Blackhawk) bought in the 70's/early 80's. Love the Magnum but being 76y old backed off to the Special. Thank you for keeping the Revolver and especially the 44 cartridge alive.
Just found this channel last week when I was looking up what side arm to take when I go out west in a couple months and we will be camping and enjoying those mountains. I settled on a Glock 20 and bought one and ordered some Xtreme penetrators along with 200 hardcast bc I fill this would be better than my hog leg 44 redhawk I got when I turned 16 by my dad. Watched every video since. Love this channel
Thanks!
I hope the bear is polite enough to wait while you clear your double-feed, stovepipe, nosedive, failure to feed, or magazine follower jam ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
Let me tell you what you're going to do against a bear with 16 rounds of 10mm: You're either going to spray-fire all 16 shots and hit next to nothing, OR you're going to fire 5 or 6 well aimed shots, same as you would with a revolver... only you'll be shooting a boosted .40 instead of an honest magnum. You made the popular choice, not the right choice. Good luck, vaya con Dios, and happy trails, tactical dan. 😂
It depends on how accurate you are and if you can be accurate when SHTF with a bear. If you need just one shot, the .44 mag will be fine. Practice with the G20, it will be better for multiple targets and shots if needed.
PS: Bears are probably not the most dangerous animals in the woods, people and moose are higher IMO.
@Mrelindio42 You clearly don't shoot,
and you clearly didn't comprehend my comment. Let me help.
44mag revolvers hold 6 shots, not 1, and revolvers have been reliably slaying man and beast since the 19th century, both in war and on the frontier. Consistent, accurate fire is very doable with a revolver inside the narrow time constraints of a bear attack, and make no mistake, TIME is the single greatest limiting factor in most fights, NOT ammunition capacity.
You simply will not have TIME to accurately fire more than a handful of accurate shots before a bear is on you. You won't be taking cover, you won't be laying down suppressive fire, and you absolutely will not get to reload your weapon. You would be wise to maximize the effect of every bullet fired. If 10mm is truly your upper limit for recoil tolerance, then please carry it. However, choosing a 16 shot 10mm over a 6 shot 44 when you're probably only going to fire 6 shots anyway is a fashion choice, not a practical one.
How many bears have you killed? Ever had one charge you, tear a hole in your tent, start folowing you in the woods, become a camp pest, raid your food cooler?
I have been shooting revolvers/pistols for over 60 years as a LEO and hunter. I just don't prefer a single shot .44 mag in bear country over a G20. The 44 is a single shot because after the first shot the barrel is usually pointed at the sky. IMO the 44 mag is a great hunting round for close range for deer and elk. I have one in a Winchester Trapper model lever action and have also qualified with a 44 mag revolver years ago.
PS: I have never, and don't plan on ever, laying down suppresive fire with anything. No warning shots either!
The bottom line is, carry what you want! I prefer almost any rifle to any pistol for bear.@@ajm2872
Dick, another option for a lighter 44 revolver is the Taurus Tracker 4" which is actually a 3" with a ported expansion chamber at the muzzle. I have one and it's really an nice revolver. The porting actually makes 44 Mag manageable in the light revolver.
Nicely done.... Carried both a 58 and 57 while in LE in the 1970s and 80s... The POLICE load from Remington clocked 930 fps and the Winchester 960.
You didn't mention the 10mm and .40 S&W that make ideal big bore 6-shot carry gun loads when used in the Ruger GP 100 Match Champion and 3" WC Special. I have both and it is just what Keith/Jordan/Skelton were looking for..
I have a S&W model 22 in .45 acp with a 4" barrel. I used to carry it when I was in bear country. I loaded it with .45 Super 255gr bullets before I got a 10mm. It was a chunk to pack but it was better than being a bear burger. It shoots great but it stays in the safe mostly now. When I do shoot it nowadays, it's mostly ball ammo. I just opened the safe and it's got Winchester PDX1's loaded in it now. Thanks for this video. I believe I'll run some rounds through it tomorrow. Hope y'all have a great evening.
Why get a 10mm instead of putting those .45 Supers in a semi auto?
I just never resprung one to do it.
Thank you Dick for an excellent breakdown of the “4’s”. Can you recommend any books with similar breakdown of American calibers. I’ve read all of Elmer Keith’s books
Thank you again for the informative videos
Elmer Keith's "Sixguns," in case you haven't read that one.
I own and shoot a Rossi model 720 revolver, un- fluted cylinder, 3" in .44 special. I definitely agree with your assessment of this caliber! Thanks and good job!
Glad you liked it.
The 325 Smith pistols are viable .45 acp carry options as well as the 3 inch (discontinued) 625 and 4inch Model 22s. Charter Arms puts out a 45 acp Pug. Over the years larger .45 acp revolvers have been modified for carry by shortening barrels. It should be mentioned that the .45 acp is roughly equivalent to that .44 special that you love. Loved your presentation. Revolvers rule. If it doesn't spin it isn't in.
Dick I would love to see a video on the .38s&w . Thank you for the great content .
That would be nice. I have some old shooters bibles that have those in it. Very interesting round.
Thanks for covering the .4x calibers, very interesting.
Matteson, IL PD carried S&W Model 57 revolvers for several years in the revolver era.
I have a 1970's era bulldog. It quite light and small. Butt it's a hammer. I whacked a raccoon about a month ago in the backyard. I have federal swc hollow point. Good grief that was a mess. It didn't get back up.
Excellent stuff. Thank you Mr. Fairburn.
Would love to see the Model 58 you speak of👍
There’s an old S&W 58 that I’ve been eyeing. Like you said, I have no need for it, but it’s such a rare and beautiful piece of history that I’ve been trying to come up with an excuse to buy it! Lol
I understand! Maybe there really is no excuse if you really dig it! Might want to jump on that one:)
@@mitchsalawine5420 $700 is not a bad price ;)
Alec Baldwin tragically demonstrated the efficacy of .45LC. The round penetrated and killed one person and then lodged in a second person wounding him.
That's after it went through a plexiglass panel
Wonder what kind of round it was.
@@michaellavaughnrobinson probably a cowboy load , but still 250 grains has alot of momentum evem at 700 fps
@@44SWAGNUM-MAGA5**"Probably a cowboy load, but still, 250 grains has a lot of momentum even at 700 fps."**
Yep.
@LibertysetsquareJack I fired a 45 Colt cowboy round out of a Bond Arms derringer with a 3" barrel. It was a 200 grain hardcast rated at 705 fps...weak even among cowboy rounds...and it went through four layers of denim plus three news magazines. It also deformed enough to make me realize it would most likely do horrible damage to a human. So yes...the 45 Colt round is potent no matter how it's loaded.
Talk sometime about the 454 casuall... I carry the ruger super Red Hawk 2.75 inch in chest rig in alaska for critters 4 or 2 legs. With extreme hunter I'm probably only getting one good shot anyway 🤷 ....THX.
"Like being bit in the hand by a rattlesnake! Wayyyyy too much power!" is what i imagine based off his thoughts on .45 Colt and .44 Rem Mag...
I have been carrying a .45 Colt for self defense/concealed carry for a couple of decades. Being willing to dress around the gun and practice can make it viable in almost any normal sized revolver.
Dick, thank you for the interesting and informative video! I’m sad that it is the last of the series - because I’ve enjoyed them all!
Thinking about a series on fighting rifle calibers????
Do it! About the only thing I enjoyed in school was history and they didn't even talk about guns.@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb
Very interesting history and practical knowledge.
I asked a question (letter when he was G&A Editor) to Elmer Keith back around 1970. His answer was 44 Special, 45 Colt, and 45 Auto …
Love this series of videos. Very well done.
I have to say though, it was always my understanding that the .44 Russian was not a lengthened .44 American but a totally redesigned internally lubricated bullet. .
I do know the Russian can be fired in a .44 magnum which I routinely do
Afain, great job.
You're correct.
I was watching the vid again this evening and I caught that too, and wanted to see if anyone had posted, so I saw you're comment.
Fairburn was saying 44 S&W ("American") was the first consumer cartridge with an internally lubricated bullet, and the 44 Russian was lengthened. The 44 Russian was indeed lengthened in case, but the entire cartridge is also different: larger base diameter, larger rim diameter, and internally lubricated bullet, of smaller caliber (~ .429 for the Russian versus ~ .434 for American).
The story goes that it was actually at the behest of the Imperial Russian officer acting for procurement that S&W changed to the non-heeled (internally lubricated) design.
So yes, as you allude 44 Russian can to this day be chambered in various arms that will take the 44 SPL or 44 Magnum, because they are all in the same line of descent. The 44 American though is it's own thing.
@@LibertysetsquareJack What I was thinking. I had read or watched that history as well.
Your point on the .41 magnum police load ballistics is well taken. I shoot 210 grain RNFP’s at about 850 fps in local action matches. Still powerful, but very sweet shooting.
I actually find .45 ACP more interesting in a revolver than an auto. No bullet shape or COAL constraints.
I have an out of production Taurus 450 five shot .45 Colt with a 2" barrel. It is the same size as a K frame.
Thank you for your time and expertise in this series. I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well done.
Curiously enough, Charter Arms makes a Bulldog 5-shot revolver chambered for 45 Colt AND a "Pitbull" 5-shot 45 acp revolver that has no need for use of moon clips. At least, I think they still make them... I don't know how well they would hold up if shot a lot, but they're out there. I plan to buy one for myself if I ever run across one.
Thanks again for your hard work!
EDIT: is the cartridge you aren't sure about either the 9x18 Makarov or the 7.62 Tokarev? My brother swears by his CZ chambered for 9x18, but I can't imagine he shoots it much, since so little ammunition is available these days
They're absolutely practical for getting "the job" done, regardless of "the job" needed!!
All great calibers. I own a S&W model 24-3 lew Horton in 44 special, a model 57 6” and a model 25-5 6” 45 colt.
Thank you so much sir, for these great videos of American revolver history. Love them.
Great and interesting info!
Thanks for a great video. I have had a Charter Arms Bulldog 44 Spcl on my CCW for a number of years. Can't shoot full power loads as it damages the gun. But great gun.
Thank you, Dick, for an excellent video and an outstanding series of videos, all of which are entirely factually and very well presented. With respect to this “4” video, I agree that revolvers chambering .41 magnum, .44 Spacial and magnum, and .45 ACP and Colt are generally too heavy and large for daily concealed carry. BUT (imho) a Smith 25/625 or a Ruger Redhawk, chambered in .45 Colt or ACP, is an entirely viable defensive firearm for many homeowners. Many individuals will, of course, question their comparatively limited capacity; however, I’d respectfully suggest six rounds is overwhelmingly likely to be more than adequate.
Especially for open belt carry, the "4s" are perfect for folks living in the country, and with a pancake or similar holster they conceal easily under a jacket or vest.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on the 5.7x28 mm. I think it is the only (sort of) pistol round you haven't talked about. Hope a few more folks would like that, too.
I got a hunch that's the round Fairburn was cryptically referencing at the end of the video. He might end up talking about it.
I handled both the FN pistol and sub gun in 5.7 more than 20 years ago when a salesman brought them to the ISP academy range along with plenty of ammo. Both were extremely easy to shoot. Since the 5.7 pistol broke the 2000fps barrier thought to be so important by men like Jeff Cooper and Marty Fackler, it had my attention. Since then, it has remained a very small portion of the handgun market and I have encountered few shootings where its terminal performance could be evaluated. I am looking/asking around to see what other guys out there think of the cartridge ... if I find some valid data on it I will report.
@@lockloadwithdickfairburn-cr1jb I requested the 5.7 to be reviewed before looking for other comments and find it interesting and would love to hear from someone with a lot of experience relating to reliability from a ballistics standpoint. I sincerely hope you can review it even if just to say "nah, not really that good of a round going forward", etc. Thanks again, Dick.
Outstanding AF !!
The pitbull in 40S&W has a bit of recoil, but any experienced revolver shooter won't mind. The 45 acp version is on the list as a 2nd carry at bad breath distance. I'm inclined to think that that would alter someone's thought process about making you a victim.
Another great video. Thank you.
The closest I could get to that was I had a Colt Anaconda, and with defense loads, it was a love-hate relationship . I was definitely abused and battered, but I still loved her, lol. But that follow-up shot would be kind of tough.
I’ve carried a S&W 629 three inch loaded with Hornady Critical Defense in .44 special. Heavy gun but it feels like a .22 when shooting it in that caliber. It kicks like a mule with magnums. I just got my hands on a 1973-74 Charter Arms “Bulldog” three inch revolver. I purchased it from a widowed elderly woman who was selling her deceased husband’s firearms for a very low price. To be honest. Her asking price was too low. So, I upped it $50.00. It was covered in grease and seems like it hasn’t left the safe since the seventies. It had very little wear and the blueing was in good condition. I was surprised at the quality of the revolver and how well it shot. Not Smith quality. But well made and very concealable. Thanks for the great content.
Ruger redhawk in 45 colt/45acp with 5 inch barrel is one of my fav revolvers
You left out the S&W Model 646 in .40 S&W caliber. It is sweeet. I usually use 155 grain HBRN Berry's bullets with less than a max load of AA #2 and it is nothing less than FUN to shoot. That's my usual range load.
5.7 x 28 mm I'll put the plug in for the move internationally towards this round: gimmick or effective from a ballistics perspective. I'm also wondering what you think of the round and the pistols. Thanks Dick for the great vids.
Hi from thermopolis , great video
There's a lot I agree with you on, but there's also a lot I disagree with you about.
One example is your assertion that there are no good .41 Magnum defense loads.
...unless you are one who is only interested in low power loads.
I also have a box of HSM .41 Special...mainly for the brass, since Starline doesn't run it too often.
For the off the shelf, autoloader, tacti-boys....I'm sure it's not very interesting.
For the rest of us who thinks that NEEDING 15+ rds for a problem is banking on Murphy and his law taking the day off....make mine a Magnum.
I have really enjoyed this entire series Mister! Thankyou!
I've got a Smith & Wesson 329PD that works best with 44 spl since it's so lightweight.. I carried a 6" Smith & Wesson 658-3 41 mag years ago..😎👌
Very detailed and concise.
I've been reading about the "Fitz Special", which was typically built on the large frame Colt revolvers. Mr. Fitzgerald was said to always carry 2 of them with him in his pants pockets. Maybe with the right pants...
Thank you for the presentation.
The 44mag might be the single most versatile metallic cartridge ever developed. When loaded properly, it can easily handle any task expected of a handgun, and many tasks expected of a rifle. From subsonic 135 grain cowboy bullets over TrailBoss to 300 grain bear smashers over H110. Only the 454 casull can boast similar flexibility.
I carry a Charter Arms 44spl Bulldog & at times a Charter Arms Boomer , 44spl which is similar in size as a 642
At times I carry a Charter Arms in a 45acp .. smaller than a K frame and a Charter Arms in 40 S&W
I’d like to see a 6 shot 10mm revolver with a 3.5 inch barrel
Check out Charter Arms, they have a revolver that does not use Moon clips for rimless cartridges. I have the 40SW model, works just fine. The Pit Bull is the 45ACP model.
I carried my grandfather’s S&W 44 spl hand ejector when I started my career in LE, due to ammo shortage I switched to the S&W mdl 28.
Rossi 720 in 44spl is an small interesting little cat. Too bad its no longer available.
Another very interesting article. Great job!
It would be nice on suggestions on how to train
I enjoyed your series on Self Defense rounds.
Just a couple of things.
I personally feel that if the 30 SC were to be made available in some different sidearm configurations it may have a chance for success. I’ll is the Sig P938 and the SP101 as examples.
Also, I’d LOVE to see S&W produce a 45 ACP revolver in the same vein as the model 610. Perhaps even see Colt adapt their Anaconda to a 45 Colt/45 ACP similar to the Ruger Redhawk model 5050.
Thank you for your video. I really enjoyed it.
S&W usually has one or more .45 ACP revolvers available.
San Francisco PD issued Smith & Wesson Mod-58s. I have seen several marked SFPD. I believe it would have been late 1960s to early 70s.
@17:02 Dick, just to add to the info, believe it or not the San Francisco Police Dept issued the .41 Magnum, as did the Amarillo Police Dept., who my father worked for before going to the Texas Highway Patrol. In fact, many of the APD officers continued to carry their m58's (and a few nice m57's) up until the mid to late 1990's, pretty sure the motors guys were the one that liked it the best. Makes sense, after all if you're on a bike and have to shoot into cars, it'd be hard for a 9mm or a .45 ACP to compete with a 175 gr Silvertip running (back then) about 1400 fps.
There is also the British.455 Webley, but ammunition is a problem. Most were converted to .45 acp.
The .44 American had a bullet that was the same diameter as the case. The .44 Russian was the inside lubed round that was lengthened to become the .44 Special which in turn became the parent cartridge of the .44 Magnum.
I enjoyed the heck out of this. Subbed immediately. Excuse me I gotta go watch the rest of the series. 🤠👍🏽
Thanks for the sub!
Keep it coming !
What are your thoughts on the .327 mag?
I discussed the .32 cartridges in my .30 Super Cary video. I think it has merit.