Thinking about a .44 Magnum for CCW

[Geister]

The thing about porting on a .44 Magnum is that I think most of the muzzle flash is going to come out of the barrel end anyway.

I wonder if it would be possible to carry a full-size, 4" barrel .44 Magnum IWB with a good belt without too much discomfort. I was thinking about a 5-shot Taurus Tracker, but their six-shot .44 Magnum is 3/8" longer, 3/5" higher, and the cylinder is a quarter inch wider. It's also not ported.

Which brand of IWB? I know about Tucker.

[casingpoint]

Check out the #23971 Speer .44 MAG round at 1075FPS/513ftlbsME. Sort of a super magnum .45 acp revolver load:
http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx

[casselthief]

but knowing S&W, they probably ruined it with a floating firing pin, MIM parts, and The Lock.

I'm a retard, it's been proven, and therefore have a retarded question.
What are MIM parts? are they simply Made In Mexico, or is something to do with how they are made?

[jbirds1210]

but knowing S&W, they probably ruined it with a floating firing pin, MIM parts, and The Lock.

I'm a retard, it's been proven, and therefore have a retarded question.
What are MIM parts? are they simply Made In Mexico, or is something to do with how they are made?

Metal injection molding AKA a way to make cheaper parts

[Geister]

Thanks, casselthief. That's a good load for something with a little more ommph than a .44 Special.

I might just stick with a .357 Magnum though. I can get some Double Tap Ammo in .357 with about 700 foot pounds of energy. I think that's about the top limit for self-defense use. With a 125 grain bullet without any overpenetration I don't know how much better you could get for stopping an attacker.

I also found out that I can load up some inexpensive, hard cast lead .357 rounds with about 700 foot pounds of energy with relative ease. I didn't think I could do that with the .357, which is why I was leaning towards a big bore revolver.

Taurus also offers their eight shot .357 in the same size as their six shot .44 Magnum. Smaller still is the seven shot .357.

My big problem is that I've had a hard time trying to find factory .44 Magnum ammo that sits in the ballistic spectrum between the .44 Special and the hunting loads of the .44 Magnum, but I can find several hot .357 loads between the two. Smaller bullet of course.

[casselthief]

I carry a 2" .357 Mag. not really what you're talking about as far as a hunting/defensive combo gun, but the point being that I think Taurus makes a decent revolver.
mines light (Titanium), so it kicks, but I like the .357.

Thanks, Jason.

so, Metal Injected parts are like particle board, I guess. not like steel, or titanium, would be compared to a 2x4 of oak.

[HankB]

but knowing S&W, they probably ruined it with a floating firing pin, MIM parts, and The Lock.

I'm a retard, it's been proven, and therefore have a retarded question.
What are MIM parts? are they simply Made In Mexico, or is something to do with how they are made?

In making MIM parts, powdered metal is mixed with plastic and injection molded. Subsequent processing removes the plastic and high heat sinters the metal into a "solid" with 96% to 99% of the density of metal parts formed with traditional processes such as forging.

MIM's main attraction is that it's cheaper than traditional fabrication methods. I don't know of anyone who says MIM parts are better - or even equal - to well-made forged, machined, and heat-treated parts in stressed applications, but for most purposes, well-made MIM parts are OK.

[Liberty]

but knowing S&W, they probably ruined it with a floating firing pin, MIM parts, and The Lock.

I'm a retard, it's been proven, and therefore have a retarded question.
What are MIM parts? are they simply Made In Mexico, or is something to do with how they are made?

In making MIM parts, powdered metal is mixed with plastic and injection molded. Subsequent processing removes the plastic and high heat sinters the metal into a "solid" with 96% to 99% of the density of metal parts formed with traditional processes such as forging.

MIM's main attraction is that it's cheaper than traditional fabrication methods. I don't know of anyone who says MIM parts are better - or even equal - to well-made forged, machined, and heat-treated parts in stressed applications, but for most purposes, well-made MIM parts are OK.

MIM parts can and often is further machined and heat treated. and some will say that MIM parts can give you better parts for the money though.

[Geister]

I did a bunch of research over this subject the past week.

I calculated the cost of several lead, copper, and jacketed .44 Magnum loads with around 700 ft/lbs of muzzle energy, around the top end of a .357 Magnum. On average, the cost to reload the .44 Magnum is only around 50 cents or less per 50 rounds compared to the .357 Magnum.

I also found several factory .44 Magnum loads around that energy level, like the Winchester Silvertips for example.

So, now I'm just trying to decide whether to go with a five shot or a six shot .44 Magnum. I know that the five-shot is comparable in size to the .357 and is concealable, but there's more recoil due to less weight. I don't know if the six shot is concealable in a high-rise holster but it has the extra weight and the extra round.