Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Duke’s testing S&W’s new Model 24 .44 Special from a Ransom Rest. Note his nose isn’t too far in the air. S&W’s entire line of .44 caliber revolvers from 1872 until today were based on these three cartridges. At left is .44 S&W Russian, middle is .44 S&W Special and at right is .44 Remington Magnum. its cylinder with .435" chamber mouths. Firing bullets of .429/.430" through .435" chamber mouths and into .427" barrels (Colt’s diameter for all .44 caliber barrels) is a sure recipe for poor groups. Me? .44 Special? Now, before some of you guys start sharpening your hatchets let me fess- up that for years — even decades — I bought into the .44 Special myth. I just perused my hand-jotted records of all the handguns I’ve owned starting in 1966 and there were 21 .44 Specials listed. They run the gamut from those little Charter Arms five-shooters to all the legendary S&W N-frame double actions, through several Colt SAAs and on to one of the latest — the Smith & Wesson/Clint Smith collaboration. That one was called the Model 21-4 Thunder Ranch Revolver. At this writing I still have six; none of which have been kept because they are “special” in regards to shooting, but because they are special in regards to collecting or for sentimental reasons. Back in January 1980 I was so Five generations of S&W .44 Special revolvers. 1st Model (triplelock) with 4" barrel. 2nd Model with 6½" barrel. enthused upon learning of a S&W Model 1950 Target .44 Special with rare 4" barrel for sale I drove nearly 400 miles round trip on extremely icy roads to grab it before someone else did. It wasn’t that special. In fact it was the first of four Model 1950 Target .44 Specials (Model 24s) and one stainless Model 624 I have owned, and none shot that great. Right now I have one of S&W’s brand new Model 24s on loan and it doesn’t shoot that great either. Sorry boys. Saying a revolver doesn’t “shoot great” isn’t the same thing as saying those .44 Specials shot terrible. They all grouped fair to middling, say 2.5" to 3" five-shot, 25 yard groups, or occasionally a 10- or 12-shot group of about the same size. It’s just that such groups are nowhere near grounds for a “special” accuracy reputation. In my career I’ve tested many far more accurate handguns, and I’m talking ordinary off the shelf types, not custom jobs. For instance, I once developed handloads for two S&W Model 29 .44 Magnums with 6½" barrels that averaged around 1.5" for 5-shot groups at 50 yards. In fact my favorite pair of Colt 1873/1973 PEACEMAKER Of all the S&W .44 Special revolvers Duke has ever test fired for accuracy from machine rest: 3rd Model (Model 1926) with 5" barrel. 4th Model (Model 1950) with 6½" barrel. New Model 21/TRR with 4" barrel. The new Model 21 Thunder Ranch Revolver has given the tightest groups. 50 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2009