Bellygun is a term you don’t hear much any more, but from the time of the Civil War up to very recently, that’s what short-barreled revolvers were called. Some people in the gun business tried to gloss over the genre of small, concealable handguns, but the snubnosed bellygun is the most important type of all firearms because it is made for self-defense.
Bellyguns were first offered in the seven-shot single-action .22 rimfire by Smith & Wesson in the 1850s. It was favored as a hideout weapon on both sides of the Civil War. In the first half of the 20th century, every little store had a punchboard with one of the main prizes being a nickel-plated pocket pistol. No forms to fill out, no instant check, no waiting period. You hit the board, you won a gun.
Even in my family, which was certainly not part of the gun culture, I found such a little pocket pistol, an Iver Johnson, among my grandfather’s effects after his death. Today the media has picked up on what was originally a racist term of derision, Saturday Night Special. There are no such guns. Saturday Night Specials are certain people with a certain mindset, not an inanimate object such as a life-savin’ bellygun.
Smith & Wesson’s first double-action bellygun was the break-top of 1880, chambered in .38 S&W. In 1882, S&W brought forth the “lemon-squeezer,” a hammerless double-action with a grip safety. These guns featured not only a grip safety, but also an extra heavy DA-only trigger pull to make it that much more difficult for a child to operate. These guns were very popular as pocket pistols since there was no hammer to catch in the clothing.
I lucked onto one of these in excellent shape in a strange way. My daughter moved into an old house and, while she was cleaning it, she noticed a loose board in the back of a closet. She pulled it out and found a 1 lb. candy tin. Inside she discovered a 1935 championship high school ring, a box of .32 S&W and a .32 lemon squeezer. The rubber grips are perfect, while the rest of the gun is 98 percent with very minor nickel flaking. It works just as well today as it did more than 100 years ago when it left the Springfield factory.
In the 1890s Smith brought forth their first solid frame, swing-out cylinder gun, the I-frame. The little gun was beginning to take on the profile that is so recognizable today. These little I-frames were chambered in .32 S&W, .38 S&W and, in 1911, thanks to a gun dealer by the name of Bekeart, in .22 rimfire. The .22 would evolve into that grandest of all little sixguns, the .22/32 Kit Gun in 1936.
The late Col. Rex Applegate was often involved in clandestine operations from his early days with an outfit known as the OSS in World War II through his commissioning as a general in the Mexican Army. One of his favorite pocket pistols was the .38 S&W. At least until he found himself emptying it to stop an attacker.
More power was needed in pocket pistols. Colt had chopped the barrel of their Police Positive to 2″ before World War II and called it the Detective Special. It was a start in the right direction, but with its six-shot cylinder, it was a mite big for a pocket pistol.
The answer was soon forthcoming. Smith & Wesson engineers had been working to improve the I-frame by slightly enlarging it to take five rounds of .38 Special. In addition to a larger frame, the new revolver, dubbed the J-frame, used a coil mainspring. It was very much like the .38 S&W I-frame except for the extra long cylinder, filling the J-frame window.
To introduce the new pocket pistol, the J-frame was taken to the 1950 annual meeting of the conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, You are probably now ahead of me and can see the name coming. The police chiefs voted on a new name and the first I-frame was appropriately given the name of .38 Chief’s Special.
It is altogether fitting that the police chiefs should knight the new five-gun, as it became immensely popular with peace officers as a second or backup gun that slipped easily into a uniform pocket or as a very easily concealed and carried off-duty weapon. For 40 years, until the revolution of sorts in semiautomatic weapons, it was the pocket pistol by which all others were judged.
Not only was the J-frame .38 Chief’s Special a near perfect pocket gun, but also it was extremely strong. The bolt cuts came between the cylinder chambers and the cylinder itself to fill the frame, with no unsupported portion of the barrel sticking back through the main frame as found on the .357 Magnum and .44 Special Smith & Wessons of the time.
How strong are these little pocket revolvers? Elmer Keith reported in 1955 that both of them would perfectly handle the .38/44 and other high speed .38 Special ammunition, as he ran 500 rounds through a Chief’s Special with no ill effects. At the time of Keith’s writing the .38/44 was a +P loading, the forerunner of the .357 Magnum, rated at 1,150 fps from a 5″ Smith & Wesson .38 Heavy Duty sixgun.
I’ve gone even further with my little Chief’s Special. In the pre-.357 Magnum days of the early 1930s, Keith came up with a heavy .38 Special loading for his sixguns that does 1,400+ fps from an 8 3/8″ S&W .357 Magnum. Using this load in a Chief’s Special, the recoil is stout, with a muzzle velocity of 1,150 fps with a 168 gr. bullet from a 2″ barrel. This is not something I recommend and I do not shoot loads like those very often, but it is great to know that option is mine should I need it.
The .38 Special Chief’s became the Model 36 in 1957, the Centennial became the Model 40, while the number 37 was attached to the Airweight Chief’s Special. In 1965, a revolution of sorts arrived in handgun manufacturing when Smith used the Model 36 as the platform for the same gun in stainless steel. This of course is the Model 60.
A favorite little sixgun of hikers, backpackers and fishermen is the six-shot .22 Kit Gun on the J-frame platform. The Model 34 with either a 2′ or 4′ barrel was produced from 1953 to 1991. It then became a stainless steel sixgun, the Model 63, and was subsequently joined by the Model 651, the .22 Magnum version, and the very rare (only offered in 1990) .32 Magnum Kit Gun, the Model 631.
These diminutive sixguns make fine companion guns for the hunter who does not want to pack any more weight than necessary, but can still be prepared to take a grouse, squirrel or rabbit for the camp cooking pot.
The 1990s brought major changes in the J-frame series. All of the older .38 Specials are gone. Today’s J-frame is slightly larger with a 2 1/8″ barrel and chambered in .357 Magnum. In the mid-1930s, a heavy duty, large framed .357 Magnum was looked upon as the ultimate sixgun. Now we have the .357 Magnum chambered in a 24 oz. five-shot pocket pistol. Firing full house 158 gr. .357 Magnums in one of thee little J-frames is a real attention getter. On both ends.
My wife carries Smith & Wesson J-frames. In her fanny pack is a blued Airweight with a 2″ barrel while her purse gun is a 3″ stainless steel Airweight. Both of these are the Bodyguard models with no hammers exposed. From blued to airweight to stainless to titanium, the J-frames keep evolving. Loaded with 125 gr. JHP, I can think of no better carry gun for wife, mother or daughter than these.
Experts argue over the exact specifications of a snubnose revolver. Most will concede that it’s a wheel gun with a short barrel – 3 inches in length or less. Oldtimers might call the snubby a “belly gun,” “bulldog revolver” or “pocket gun,” designed for concealed carry. Modern shooters often consider semi-autos as pocket guns due to their size. However, hammerless snubbies and revolvers with bobbed or shrouded hammers exist to prevent the gun from snagging on clothing, a primary concern in the days before semi-automatic pistols.
The term snubby used to relate almost exclusively to the .38 Special. Today, the firearm uses many calibers, including .357 Magnum, 9 mm, .40 S&W, .44 Magnum, .45 Magnum, .454 Casull, .480 Ruger, and more. Manufacturers of common rounds come from Speer Gold Dot, Remington, Corbon, Smith & Wesson, Hornady, Winchester, and more.
Snubby History
The snubby has a long and vibrant history starting in 1898. Like most new rounds, necessity was the reason for the creation of the .38 Special bullet. It replaced the .38 Long because the ammo couldn’t penetrate the shields of the Filipino Muslim warriors during the Philippine–American War. The military and law enforcement needed something better.
The propellant used in the original .38 Special round was black powder, a relatively ineffective choice. A year later, smokeless powder arrived on the scene, changing the game for all firearms. Today, the maximum standard pressure for a load is 17,000 PSI. Standard +P loading is about 20,000 PSI. Current bullet weights vary from 110 to 158 Grains.
The snubnose owns a large piece of firearms history. Some famous models include the 3-inch barreled Colt Single Action Army revolver (“Sheriff’s Model,” “Storekeeper’s Model,” or “Banker’s Special.”) Revolvers with longer barrels included the “Gunfighter” (4¾” barrel), the “Artillery” (5½” barrel), the “Cattleman” or “Cowboy” (available in several barrel lengths – 4.75″, 5.5″, and 7.5″), and the “Army,” “Cavalry,” “Standard,” and the “Peacemaker” (7½” barrel models).
Historians write at length about other celebrated models including the Webley .450 “British Bull Dog,” Colt Model 1877 Double Action “Lightning” .38 Long Colt, .32 caliber Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless, The FitzGerald Special (“Fitz Special”), Colt Detective Special, Smith & Wesson Model 10, Smith & Wesson Model 36, and the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Ladysmith Hammerless (“Chiefs Special”), among others.
Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Colt and other manufacturers produce updated versions of the traditional snubnose revolver. Advanced technology has allowed the manufacture of new models using modern materials. The materials include polymer and lightweight metal alloys, such as titanium, instead of the old school carbon steel, stainless steel.
Snubbies vs. Pocket Pistols
Aficionados argue all the time about which is better – a wheel gun or semi-auto. Pros and cons exist for each. Since the 1990s, concealed carrying is more popular than ever, only further igniting the argument. Along with arguing over the best self-defense rounds, bullet weights, and jacketed hollow point (JHP) or full metal jacket (FMJ) specs, is the discussion of being able to draw the gun when needed.
Other than wearing an ankle holster or storing the gun in a purse or backpack, most want a weapon that can be slipped into a pocket or tucked inside a waistband. In that instance, a pocket pistol (semi-auto) serves the purpose better than a bulkier wheel gun. But that’s not the end to the argument. While the pocket pistol is flatter, it isn’t always the easiest to draw and shoot. The snubby offers a distinct profile, making it easier to put your finger on the trigger. That also makes it easier to shoot from inside a pocket or bag.
While a semi-auto pocket pistol fires faster repeat shots than a double-action revolver, it also has a better chance of misfiring or jamming, neither of which is helpful in a critical situation. While terminal performance and reaching safety are paramount, statistics show that the probability of actually firing a handgun in a self-defense situation is small. Drawing down is the key to scaring off an attacker. In that case, either handgun will do.
Snubnose Ballistics
Despite the variety of snubnose revolvers on the market today, the primary battle continues between the .38 Spl and .357 Magnum. It’s the closest we come to comparing apples to apples in a snubnose world.
One confusing fact about the two rounds is that they are nearly identical in their design. Take the .38 Spl:
Parent case: .38 Long Colt
Case type: Rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter: .357 in (9.1 mm)
Neck diameter: .379 in (9.6 mm)
Base diameter: .379 in (9.6 mm)
Rim diameter: .44 in (11 mm)
Rim thickness: .058 in (1.5 mm)
Case length: 1.155 in (29.3 mm)
Overall length: 1.55 in (39 mm)
Case capacity: 23.4 gr H2O (1.52 cm3)
Primer type: Small Pistol
Then the .357 Magnum:
Parent case: .38 Special
Case type: Rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter: .357 in (9.1 mm)
Neck diameter: .379 in (9.6 mm)
Base diameter: .379 in (9.6 mm)
Rim diameter: .44 in (11 mm)
Rim thickness: .060 in (1.5 mm)
Case length: 1.29 in (33 mm)
Overall length: 1.59 in (40 mm)
Case capacity: 26.2 gr H2O (1.70 cm3)
Primer type: Small Pistol Magnum
As you can see, the ballistics of two are nearly identical. The critical point is that the .38 Special round fires in a .357, but the reverse is not true, due to the increased pressure of the .357.
FBI standards determine the parameters of most terminal ballistics tests. The FBI established ballistics protocols after the 1986 Miami Shootout, where several agents were wounded or killed. The FBI’s terminal ballistics testing states that a handgun bullet must penetrate between 12″ and 18″ in 10 percent ordnance ballistic gelatin. This test offers no guarantee that the round will penetrate flesh and bone out on the street, but indicates that it will be effective in taking down a target.
The .38 Special round delivers a maximum average pressure of 17,000 PSI. Average penetration is about 12 inches, depending on testing variables. The .38 Special+P ammo, suitable in most medium frame revolvers, delivers a maximum average pressure of 20,000 PSI, with an average penetration of 13-14 inches in ballistic gelatin. The .357 Magnum delivers a maximum average pressure of 35,000 PSI, with an average penetration of more than 16 inches.
Naturally, ballistics will vary depending on the size of the barrel, bullet weight, brand of ammo, and other factors. However, it is clear that the ballistics of both rounds perform well in a snubby, especially when it comes to self-defense.
The last thing worth mentioning is using high pressure or +p loads in older snubbies. The information on antique weapons is often scarce. Ballistics and testing standards didn’t exist when the weapons were manufactured, so there is a chance of miscalculating what one can handle. Added to that, metal fatigue, substandard materials, and unseen cracks can pose a real danger to the shooter that wants to experiment with modern ammo.
For more information on Snubnose ammo ballistics please see the information below:
The snubnose revolver is a close-quarters self-defense handgun. The design was a response to the need for a compact repeating handgun which could be presented rapidly and concealed easily.
Some Historical Background
The first compact revolvers were not the double action hand ejector revolvers we think of as snubnoses today. Colt, Smith & Wesson and others were building small revolvers from the 1850s on. Both Colt and Smith & Wesson introduced double action revolvers in 1877. The S&W guns were top break designs and the Colts were side-loaders. In 1894 Smith & Wesson introduced the hand ejector design, the cylinder mounted on a crane which swings out for loading and unloading, with the push rod and ejector star to eject the spent cases. With the development of hand ejector, the modern double-action snubnose footprint was pretty much established, leaving only the final touch, the sawed-off barrel to Colt. By 1927, Colt had produced its six-shot Detective Special based on their .38 Police Positive Special. Its entirely possible that the very first snubnose may have been a home-brew full sized revolver with its barrel sawed off. Well never know for sure.
In 1942 Smith & Wesson built a few Victory Model Military & Police revolvers with 2″ barrels. In 1946, they began commercial production of the pre-Model 10 (Military & Police) snubnose. In 1950, Smith & Wesson introduced the 5-shot J-frame Chiefs Special in .38 Special. It was much more compact than previous renditions of the snubnose, and it has become the archetype for compact revolvers. It remains in service and production to this day. Sadly, the Colt Detective Special and the Cobra (Detective Special with a Coltalloy frame) are no longer in production. The Model 10 snubnose is no longer in production either.
What we do know is that the snubnose emerged in the shadow of full sized service revolvers like the Colt Single Action Army, The Remington New Army, and the Smith & Wesson Schofield. These were large and powerful single action revolvers chambered in .44 or .45 with 4, 6 and 8 inch barrels. These large revolvers were replaced by equally large double action Colt New Service and the Smith & Wesson Military and Police revolvers. These guns had long barrels and full grips. With six and eight inch barrels, they produced respectable muzzle velocity and superb accuracy. So what would be the rationale for sawing off the barrel and grips, and thereby reducing the sight radius, muzzle velocity and general controllability of a handgun?
The Rationale of the Snubnose
We always talk about the conceal-ability of the snubnose how easy it is to carry and conceal in a pocket or purse, and this is true, but there is another reason for building a short barreled revolver, and that is speed. If you have ever actually strapped on a Colt Single Action Army six-shooter, drawn that gun and fired it, you will understand that this operation is not all that easy to do quickly. These guns are heavy and the long barrels have to be hoisted high to clear the leather. Now, I have seen guys like Bob Munden do amazing quick draw tricks with Colt SAAs, but even Bobs guns are 4 models, and Bob is a natural phenomenon. For the rest of us mere mortals, drawing a full sized revolver and getting its sights on target is a slow affair. Try it for yourself if you have the equipment: draw a 6 barreled revolver from a holster, and then put a snubnose in the same holster, and see how much faster and easier you clear the leather with the snubby. There’s just less distance to travel, and therefore, less time involved.
What exactly is a belly gun? It is just what the word implies? A kind of hardware you jam against the other man’s navel and trigger off a burst. It has to be done in a twinkling or else he is apt to take the gun away from you and that could be bad. Since the trick of the thing depends on speed, the pistol must be short and handy-short so that it comes out fast and lines up lethally and handy so that a man points it like he does his finger. Col. Charles Askins, Belly Guns, Guns Magazine, 1955
The second and perhaps most enduring glory of the snubnose is its ability to be easily concealed. When rendered with modern light weight metallurgy, you get a handgun that still ranks as one of the best combinations of reliability, power and comfort in carry of any handgun ever built.
The Art of Compromise
The snub-nose .38 Special is a study in trade-offs. The .38 Special is an excellent cartridge coming out of a 4″ barrel. Launched from a 2″ barrel, it can suffer velocity and expansion problems. On the other hand, a .38 with a 4″ barrel wont fit in your pocket. A snub-nose .38 can launch a bigger bullet than any other pistol of its size and weight, a 158 grain slug, but it can only launch five or six of them before you have to reload. Its small size and weight make it a dream to carry, but a pain to shoot. Modern .38 Special +p ammunition from Federal, Remington, Speer, Cor-Bon and Winchester has addressed the velocity and expansion issues fairly well. Nevertheless, when you select the snubby as a self-defense handgun, you have to come to grips with the compromises involved with them.
You trade ballistics, accuracy and shooting comfort for speed, conceal-ability, and carry comfort. That’s the deal. This is just simple physics. The issue is how to deal with it. What kinds of things do you need to do to compensate for the shortcomings of the snubby and accentuate its strengths? Here are my thoughts on this question:
1. Practice.
(Well, duh, I hear you say.) The fact of the matter is that most people don’t practice much with their carry guns. When we go to the range or matches, we engage our egos and shoot the big full-sized guns with their long barrels and superb triggers, but then, when we leave the range, the gun on our hip is some little compact revolver or auto. As Walt Rausch is fond of saying, We talk .45s, shoot 9mms and carry .38s. The big gun gets 300 rounds and the carry gun gets 10. This is really backwards. Shouldn’t the gun you bet your life on get the lions share of the practice? When was the last time that you actually did an IDPA match with a J-frame revolver? If you haven’t, you should. Its enlightening. Can you empty your snubnose into a pie plate at seven yards in five seconds? If you cant, you need to go back to the range and pop caps until you can. (And that’s five seconds drawing from realistic concealment) Can you do that while moving to cover? Can you hit anything with a snub gun weak hand only? I think you get my drift. Treat the carry gun realistically, because its the one that’s most likely to pull your bacon out of the fire.
2. Practice reloads.
Most times these days, when I go to a match, I’m running a Springfield XD-9 with 16 round magazines. I never have to reload unless I want to. Snubbies aren’t like that. My greatest complaint with the snubby is that it only loads five or six rounds. For the most part, you shoot 5 rounds and then have to reload. Can you reload your revolver under stress? Have you ever tried it? While it is true that most civilian self-defense encounters are resolved with 5 rounds or less, with my luck, Ill run into the four zombies from Hell, and if I survive the opening salvo, I will need to reload. Practice your reload until its smooth and fast. It can be done. I’ve watched Jerry Miculek shoot, and he can reload a revolver faster than most of us can reload an auto. (For that matter, Miculek can reload a revolver faster than most of us can do anything.) For the video of Jerry Miculek shooting the world record and reloading, click the play button on the player to the right.
3. Carry a reload.
Five rounds may not be enough, although it probably will be. I always carry a reload. Its usually a speedloader in my strong-hand pocket. Often I will carry a second speedloader in a pouch on my belt. When everything else is equal, more ammo is better than less. Work out the way you’re going to carry your reload and then practice actually using it. The chances are good that you will discover little screw-ups and problems with your reload procedure that only practice at speed will reveal. Ill share with you a big one: many of the grips that Smith & Wesson put on their J-frames are not properly relieved to handle speedloaders smoothly. Hogue Monogrips and Crimson Trace Laser Grips are relieved properly for speedloaders, but the default Uncle Mikes boot grips and Uncle Mikes Combat Grips are not relieved properly for speedloaders. If the reload defeats you, consider carrying a second gun. In gunfighter parlance, this is referred to as The New York Reload, and its faster than any other kind of reload.
4. Study and understand ammo performance in short barreled revolvers.
This is an important point. When a gun fires, the powder is not burned instantaneously. It continues to burn as long as the bullet is traveling down the barrel, and the longer it burns, the more pressure it develops. More pressure means greater muzzle velocity for the bullet. Greater velocity means better hollowpoint performance and terminal ballistics. The snubnose has a very short barrel so you need an ammo which burns its powder fast and develops some velocity. Know also that .38 Special revolvers are calibrated to 158 grain ammunition, and smaller faster loads will tend to shoot low because the bullet emerges from the barrel sooner in the recoil cycle of the gun. Some of our preferred loads include Remington Golden Saber +p, Speer 135 grain +p, and Cor-Bon 110 grain DPX. See also Snubby .38 Special Ballistics.
I’m a Cooperite and I believe in aimed fire. At the same time, when you are threatened and drawing at close range, you probably will not have time to align the sights and fire that way. You will whip the gun up, looking over the top of the gun, maybe get the front sight on the target, and pull the trigger. One study I saw showed that most police officers tended to actually use the point shooting technique when under close-range attack. They aren’t trained that way; its just something we do under the stress of a close-in lethal assault. Also, once we cross the age of 50, few of us have the eyes of a 21-year-old fighter pilot. We may not have the visual acuity to see the sights in an emergency. Hence, while I believe that the sighted fire method is to be preferred, we may face self-defense situations which will preclude the use of it. Practice both.
What You Have Going For You
Speed and Simplicity
The snubnose indexes naturally, almost as if it were an extension of your hand. Being light, and compact, it draws easily and rapidly. I would hazard the guess that there are more snubnose .38 Special revolvers currently deployed for the purpose of self-defense than any other single type of firearm. They are simple and effective. They continue to work, so people continue to use them. The cartridge is powerful enough to be lethal when adequate hits are made, and the ammunition is readily available all over the world. Women and non-dedicated personnel like them. Better a .38 Special in your pocket than a 1911 .45 at home in a dresser drawer. The snubnose is simple and uncomplicated. There are no safeties to remember. There is no complex manual of arms to master and commit to muscle memory. Its point and click. I prefer revolvers for the home defense role because there is no confusion about them. I know that every member of the family has practiced with them, and there are no tricky safety sequences to explain.
Conceal-ability
I have more holsters for my snubnoses than any other firearm platform. I have more hours carrying the snubnose than any other gun. Why? Because they carry so well. An Airweight Smith & Wesson snubnose is the most comfortable gun to carry of any I have ever tried. They are light and ergonomic. A J-frame fits to the human body better than most autoloaders. Autoloaders tend to be blocky and square. The extra magazine also adds weight and bulk. The snubnose is a bit wider at the cylinder than a 1911, but everywhere else, it is thinner and more rounded. They’re just comfortable, and they’re light. An Airweight snub weighs about 15 ounces empty, whereas an empty Government Model M1911 weighs 39 ounces. The conceal-ability of the snubnose also contributes to its speed. You can carry the gun in the pocket of a jacket and have your hand on the grip without anyone noticing it. You can even fire the gun from inside a pocket if you have to, although I don’t recommend that technique. Even so, its a lot quicker than drawing from a holster.
Snubbies fit in purses, fanny packs, leg and shoulder holsters, pants pockets and belly bands. Don’t neglect conventional belt holsters and IWBs. A lightweight snub gun in a belt holster is a delight to carry.
Dependability
It is possible to jam a revolver. It is possible, but highly unlikely. I have been firing revolvers for going on 40 years, and I have yet to have one jam on me. (Generally, my autoloaders don’t jam on me either, but it has happened.) How can one jam a revolver? Mostly, it has to do with crud. If crud gets under the ejector star, it can cause the revolver to seize up when the cylinder is closed. Crud build-up on the front of the cylinder and rear of the barrel can cause the cylinder to stop turning. With very light-framed guns using lead bullet +p ammunition, the bullets can pull out of the cases during recoil and cause a jam (Always use jacketed hollowpoints in lightweight snubs), and last, the lock work in the gun can get messed up and cause the gun to fail to fire. All of these failures are very rare. Mostly, revolvers just work with almost monotonous reliability. If you can pull the trigger on a revolver, it will go off, regardless of whether you support it well or not. It doesn’t care about ammo much. It will fire and advance the next cartridge to the firing position. If you are weak or injured, the revolver will still work for you. The other learning at this point is the revolvers are not zero maintenance. They should be fired, cleaned and periodically checked out by a qualified gunsmith.
A Gun That Is Always With You
A gun writer whose name is regrettably lost in the crevasses of my faulty memory, once wrote an article about self defense handguns for hiking. He talked about the standard range of handguns from .22s to .44s, but the thing I remember about the article was that he related that on the two occasions in which he actually had to use a gun for self defense, the gun was a .38 Special snubnose. The reason? Because that’s what I had with me. The snubnose .38, and especially the lightweight models such as the S&W Airweight, remain, in my mind, the most comfortable guns to carry and the most versatile in carry modes. Since they are so easy to carry, you’re more likely to have one with you when you need it.
Far from being obsolete, the snubnose revolver remains one of the most important, versatile and utilitarian options for self-defense.
The .44 Magnum is a large bore cartridge that was first introduced in 1956. A highly accurate round, the .44 Magnum was originally designed byElmer Keith, an Idaho rancher, writer, and firearms enthusiast. Keith had previously developed the.357 Mag cartridge and solidified his reputation in the firearms community. Keith set out to create a multi-functional cartridge and convincedSmith & Wesson andRemington Arms Co. to manufacture it for the Smith and Wesson Model 29. Although Remington manufactured the first. 44 Magnum at Keith’s request, S&W is credited with introducing the .44 Mag to the public. Not many people seem to remember that Ruger beat S&W to market by a few months with a .44 Mag version of its single actionBlackhawk revolver.
Keith had intended for the .44 to be used for hunting, self-defense, and target shooting. The cartridge is strong and packs a big punch. The .44 is extremely precise, giving the shooter as much as a 90% accuracy rate. However, the high-pressure causes it to carry a heavy recoil and muzzle flash, making it less than ideal for novice shooters or people of smaller stature. Those that find the .44 Mag a bit too intense may opt for the .44 Special, a slightly smaller cartridge with less recoil. Shooters should experiment using both rounds to find which is best suited to their style and experience. Note that .44 Special cartridges can be fired from guns chambered for a .44 Magnum, but the reverse is not true.
While the .44 Magnum seems to be the perfect bullet for self-defense experts often rebut the choice due to its deep penetration. They claim that the cartridge is too powerful for in-home defense and may cause collateral damage.
Superior Ammo
The .44 Magnum ammo has deep penetrating cartridges and precise shot placement. These features make it ideal for hunting even the largest of game. You can also use it for self-defense against elephants. Another advantage of this ammunition is that it uses flat point bullets. You will not have trouble with it as is the case with some high velocity, lightweight, pointed bullets.
The .44 Magnum ammo also has very good accuracy. If you load it with a heavy,non-expanding bullet, this ammo can easily shoot through large game such as bison and elk without trouble. The limiting factor of its cartridge is not terminal ballistics, but rather the trajectory of the bullet. It is going to work better if you limit your hunting range to 100 yards when shooting. The casing of this ammo is slightly longer compared to other ammunitions to prevent the far higher pressure cartridge from being chambered in when you are shooting, and in turn preventing possible deaths and injuries.
Best .44 Mag Self-Defense Ammo
Law enforcement relies on .44 Mag out in the field for its maximum stopping power. However, .44 Mag ammo is also an excellent choice for home defense. SP and JSP are best suited to home defense to prevent over penetration in close quarters while HP and JHP are better suited for law enforcement and open areas for maximum effect.
Buffalo Bore Anti-Personnel 180 Grain Lead Hollow Point
This round is touted as one of the best for self-defense. It is a no-nonsense ammunition designed for self-defense and eliminating two-legged targets. It has a Muzzle Velocity of 1500 fps.
According to Buffalo Bore: “This load is designed to permanently and quickly disable human threats.” This round offers a Muzzle Velocity of 1300 fps.
Federal Ammunition 240 Grain Fusion Bonded JHP
This medium-priced American-made Fusion bullet with brass casing delivers a Muzzle Velocity of 1290 fps.
Federal AmmunitionHydra-Shok 240 grain Personal Defense
The new production Hydra-Shok 240 grain Personal Defense round is an excellent choice for concealed carry and law enforcement agencies. The center-post design delivers controlled expansion. The notched jacket gives maximum penetration. It offers a Muzzle Velocity of 1180 fps and Muzzle Energy of 742 ft-lbs.
Hornady Ammunition JHP XTP Load
HornadyXTP is highly recommended by seasoned shooters. The American-made self-defense cartridge makes the list for the best .44 self-defense ammo. It’s slightly more expensive than the Remington, but also more powerful. It boasts 1150 fps Muzzle Velocity.
Remington Ammunition 240 Grain HTP Rounds
Top of the list of the best .44 ammo for self-defense. Available in 240 grain SP and SJHP rounds, thisAmerican-made defense load is inexpensive, but powerful. It boasts 1180 fps Muzzle Velocity and 742 ft-lbs Muzzle Energy.
Speer Gold Dot Handgun Personal Protection 44 S&W Special
Speer Gold Dot has an excellent reputation for quality and accuracy. This 200 grain hollow point has plenty of what it takes for self-defense. It offers 875 fps of Muzzle Velocity.
Winchester Ammunition Platinum Tip 250 Grain JHP
A bit more expensive than the other brands, Winchester offers this American-made self-defense cartridge with 1250 fps Muzzle Velocity.
Best .44 Mag Ammo for Hunting
The following .44 Mag ammo is at the top when choosing rounds for hunting. Most are best suited to whitetail deer hunting, although, with proper placement, can be used on big game such as black bear, elk or wild hogs.
Deer Hunting
Black Hills 240 Grain
Black Hills is known for producing reliable, high quality products. This new production round is Boxer primed with reloadable brass casings. It delivers a Muzzle Velocity of 1260 fps.
Buffalo Bore 240 Grain Deer Grenade +P
Deer Grenade +P Ammo was designed specifically to do maximum damage to medium sized game and does not penetrate like a hard cast bullet. It offers about 30% penetration as a typical flat-nosed bullet, perfect for shallow game like whitetail deer, medium-sized pigs, and black bear. Deer Grenade has a Muzzle Velocity of 1550 fps. Great choice for the Redhawk or Super Blackhawk.
HornadyXTP is highly recommended by seasoned shooters. The American-made cartridge makes the list for the best .44 hunting ammo. It’s slightly more expensive than the Remington, but also more powerful. It boasts a higher velocity of 1500 fps.
Big Game
Buffalo Bore 305 Grain Lead Long Flat Nose
This .44 Mag ammo is designed for big game. The flat nose offers straight and deep, 3+ feet of penetration. Unlike a round nose bullet which slides though matter, the flat nose cuts and smashes it way, doing maximum damage. It delivers a Muzzle Velocity of 1325 fps.
Cor-Bon Barns DPX 225 Grain
Cor-Bons Barns DPX uses a solid copper hollow point bullet. It has a lighter recoil and faster recovery than rounds with a heavy bullet weight. It offers deep penetration while maintaining soft tissue integrity. DPX has a Muzzle Velocity of 1350 fps.
New for 2019, this Remington sport round uses a Barnes all copper bullet. It has six expanding copper petals guaranteed to take down medium to large prey. It has a Muzzle Velocity of 1235 fps.
New for 2019. Remington’s Hog Hammer features Barnes XPB Pistol Bullets to deliver maximum knock down power from a handgun. Wild boars don’t stand a chance. It offers a Muzzle Velocity of 1235 fps.
Partition Gold offers a low velocity resisting weight loss upon impact. The bullet’s rear lead core is locked in place for extra bullet integrity. It offers a Muzzle Velocity of 1250 fps.
This new production round is high performance ammunition featuring a patented, reverse-taper jacket design. The notched lead core delivers superior accuracy and weight retention. It gives a Muzzle Velocity of 1250 fps.
Best .44 Mag Ammo for Target Shooting
Magtech Ammunition 240 Grain SJSP
Brazilian-based Magtech offers this SJSP bullet with brass casing, touting 1180 fps Muzzle Velocity.
Buffalo Bore Anti-Personnel 180 Grain Lead Hollow Point
This round is touted as one of the best for target shooting. It is a no-nonsense ammunition designed for self-defense and eliminating two-legged targets. It has a Muzzle Velocity of 1500 fps.
Fiocchi Ammunition: 240 Grain JSP
Coming in at the same price as the Remington, this foreign made, jacketed soft point, 240 grain round offers 1838 fps velocity.
Hornady Ammunition 200 Grain XTP
Hornady XTP is highly recommended by seasoned shooters. The American-made cartridge makes the list for the best .44 hunting ammo. It’s slightly more expensive than the Remington, but also more powerful. It boasts a higher velocity of 1500 fps.
PMC Bronze .44 Remington Magnum Ammunition JHP 180 Grains
Poongsan Corporation makes “PMC” (precision-made cartridges) ammunition for competition shooting and hunting. The company has a solid reputation for high quality and currently exports more than 100 different types of ammunition. This jacketed hollow point has a high velocity of 1,750 fps.
Remington Ammunition: 240 Grain HTP Rounds
Top of the list of the best .44 ammo for shooting targets. Available in 240 grain SP and SJHP rounds, this American-made defense load is inexpensive, but powerful. It boasts 1180 fps Muzzle Velocity.
Best 44 Magnum for Lever Action Rifles
The choices for ammunition for rifles, shotguns and pistols are myriad. Below are top picks for lever action firearms.
HornadyLEVERevolution 225 Grain
Hornady ranks at the top for lever action ammo. Unlike most .44 cartridges, HornadyLeverevolution is a spitzer style bullet with a polymer tip, making it safe for use in a lever-action magazine. It will stand up to a jacketed bullet without denting the primer or cause accidental fire. LEVERevolution travels 250 fps faster than the average traditional flat nosed round. Muzzle Velocity: 1410 fps
Firearms designer Jesse James created the perfect load by balancing accuracy, velocity, and recoil. Note that this round has a higher velocity than most. Muzzle Velocity: 1,589 fps.
Magtech Sport Ammunition .44 Remington Magnum 240 Grain Semi-Jacketed Soft Point
Magtech has been around since 1926. The company manufactures all its components, maintaining high and consistent quality. This new production round is the choice for plinking and competition shooting. Muzzle Velocity: 1,180 fps
Remington High Terminal Performance .44 Remington SJHP 240 Grain
Remington® HTP (High Terminal Performance) .44 Magnum Ammo combines premium primers, brass cases and propellants with a wide assortment of bullet designs. This ammo gives you the instant-stopping power you need. Muzzle Velocity: 1,180 fps
Winchester ‘USA’ 240 Grain SJSP
Winchester USA Pistol, .44 Rem. Mag, JSP, 240 Grain For serious centerfire handgun shooters, U.S.A. Brand ammunition is used by serious handgun shooters and is an ideal choice for range training, plinking or competitive shooting. Muzzle Velocity: 1,180 fps
Conclusion
Firearms experts and enthusiasts may not agree on using .44 magnum ammo. The .44 Magnum is a powerful gun that is not well suited to concealed carry. It is an excellent choice for self-defense although some claim that the .357 Magnum is easier to carry and aim. It’s important to keep in mind that not all.44 Mag ammo is the same. Some brands and grades are appropriate for self-defense while other, less powerful, grades are more appropriate for target and sports shooting and cowboy action.
By John Taffin
By Syd
In 1942 Smith & Wesson built a few Victory Model Military & Police revolvers with 2″ barrels. In 1946, they began commercial production of the 
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