We fired three five-shot groups for accuracy at 25 yards. Controlled Expansion JHPīuffalo Bore 44 Special 200-gr. The major manufacturers make this happen by offering five-shot revolvers chambering the 44 Special, allowing the shoehorning of the 44 into a 357 Magnum-size frame. This same revolver isn’t too bulky to conceal for personal defense, and with proper loads, it will make a good personal and home-defense revolver. It is also all of the recoil an occasional user may care to handle. A medium-frame revolver should offer all of the power we need for animal defense at close range. When fly-fishing or hiking, this is a heavy weight on the hip. But it is difficult to carry a 46-ounce Smith & Wesson Model 629 loaded handgun on a daily basis. The 44 Magnum is even better if big Western bears are part of the problem. For protection against bears, feral dogs, and big cats, the 44 Special with heavy loads is adequate. While there are small-frame and ultralight revolvers designed for defense use, a medium-to-heavy-frame 44 Special will safely handle loads that move the cartridge into deer and boar territory out to 50 yards. The 44-caliber bullet, particularly a 255-grain semi-wadcutter, offers plenty of mass and has good sectional density that translates to deep penetration at less than Magnum velocity: 1000 fps isn’t slow for a heavy revolver bullet. Savvy outdoorsmen appreciate the accuracy and modest recoil of the 44 Special. The 44 Special revolver is an outdoors mainstay. The Taurus Tracker delivered the highest velocities and energy with two of the three 44 Special loads and both 44 Magnum loads we used - in particular the Winchester Super-X 44 Magnum 240-grain jacketed hollowpoint, which ran at 1288 fps and produced 883 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. The 44 Special-chambered Ruger GP100 exhibited one of the finest accuracy performances we’ve seen, shooting 1.7-, 1.6-, and 1.5-inch average groups with three loads. With an overall length of 7.8 inches and an overall height of 5.7 inches, the 35.8-ounce loaded Smith & Wesson is the most compact and easiest to carry. The Ruger GP100 chambered in 44 Special is a relatively new introduction, being introduced in 2016. The Taurus Tracker 44 Magnum has a 4 inch barrel. The Smith & Wesson Model 69 Combat Magnum is a new version with a 2.75-inch barrel and round butt.
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All are stainless-steel five-shooters, weigh within a few ounces of each other, and have similar features.
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To see how a trio of wheelguns would do when pitted against each other at the range, we selected the Ruger GP100 1761 44 Special, a Smith & Wesson Model 69 Combat Magnum 10064 in 44 Magnum and a Taurus Tracker, also in 44 Magnum. We agree that this is a formidable combination, but it also demonstrates formidable recoil, perhaps a step beyond what’s necessary to do double duty as a personal-defense round day to day. The medium-frame 44-caliber revolver, whether chambered in 44 Special or 44 Magnum, is a great outdoors revolver, often used for defense against animals.