.44 Magnum

.44 Magnum (.429 bore)

History & Design Intent

The .44 Remington Magnum was developed by Elmer Keith, Smith & Wesson, and Remington in 1955 by lengthening the .44 Special case for far higher pressures. It rocketed to fame as the "most powerful handgun cartridge in the world" of its era, later cemented in popular culture by the Dirty Harry films.

Operational Profile

A 240-grain bullet at roughly 1,300–1,400 fps delivers heavy recoil and serious power, making the .44 Magnum a genuine handgun-hunting and woods-defense cartridge effective on deer-sized and larger game. The shorter .44 Special chambers in the same revolvers as a gentler practice load.