The .44 Special ain't so special?

American Handgunner, July-August, 2009 by Mike "Duke" Venturino

Colt Single Action Army revolvers were even more sparse as .44 Specials. Colt only made 506 chambered for .44 Special between the cartridge's introduction and the SANs first demise in 1941. Colt's other revolver that was chambered for .44 Special was the DA New Service. I have no idea how many of those were made as .44 Specials but I can say I've seen more as .44-40s. Many more Colt SAAs were made in 2nd and 3rd Generations from 1956 to present as .44 Specials, but due to my earlier experiences with them I will buy no more. In that type of handgun give me a .44-40 any day. For DA revolvers make mine a .45 Auto-Rim such as the new S&W Model 22 also Thunder Ranch Revolver. Among non-magnum, big bore, handgun cartridges that one shines.

The .44 S&W Special isn't a bad cartridge, and with a few exceptions the handguns made for it haven't been bad revolvers. It's just that neither cartridge nor handguns deserve any kind of "special" reputation. Among big bore handgun cartridges and their revolvers they're just a sort of mediocre, middle of the pack, combination. Heresy? Nope, just the truth.