Who made such a thing?
I’m Interested in a five shot .44 special the size of a six shot .38 and made with steel. (Unlike the harder kicking alloy-framed Charter Arms .44’s)
I had a GP100 .44 special but it was huge and I didnt shoot it well. Never shot the .38 / .357 GP100 well either so I’m done with those.
I think a S&W L frame is going to be your only option unless you go the custom route. Even then, it would be a very expensive proposition.
Your asking a lot mi amigo. For small frame revolvers, I buy 38/357 and shoot 38 special out of them. So maybe I can get quality follow up shots on target. Can’t hurt what you can’t hit. And practicing with those beady is costly in all variables considered.
Good luck, YMMV.
PB
Charter Arms Bulldog 44 came in a steel frame, but their quality can be hit or miss. Taurus made one as well.
Smith and Wesson M69 may be what you’re looking for. It’s .44 Mag, but from what I’ve seen online most owners prefer to shoot .44 Spl out of it due to the recoil of the magnum in such a lightweight gun
Thanks.
I’ll pick up a Charter or Taurus snub and see how it goes. Mostly for fun unless one actually holds up enough for me to trust.
The S&W 69 is pretty big / heavy.
Thanks
Current production or ever made?
Rossi made a DAO stainless with 3"(?) barrel at least in the late 1990’s.
Either. Higher quality the better.
I’ve had experience with Rossi’s. Very heavy triggers but the older guns usually worked ok. I recall some cylinder rods backing out unless loctite’d.
That is one I’d forgotten, thanks.
I didnt realize the Charter Bulldog is a steel frame. There is alluminum around the steel barrel. (Alluminum barrel shroud / lug)
S&W made a 2.5" Model 24 & a 624 but they are N frame revolvers.
I don’t think they make an aluminum framed .44spl, .38 they do.
Like someone said.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-69?sku=10064
It’s about 2.4 ounces heavier than my K frame 3" M13.
I’m sure its nice but I already have a heavy .44 I was looking for something smaller.
I recently got to fire an old Charter. 44 Pug. It was definatly used and had the wood grip. My cowboy loads were not hard on the hand at all. Unfortunately something was wrong with the DA and it wouldn’t always fire.
The owner called who he got it from and will be able to return it.
There was as also a Charter alloy 9mm revolver I got to fire. Less recoil than expected, felt like .38. (WW 115 gr fmj) Gun worked fine but trigger was poor and it’s slower to reload than a regular revolver. (Uses unique extractor system)
About your only options then are the Bulldog at 21 oz or maybe a used Taurus titanium 445 at 19.8 oz.
If you want steel and the M69/GP100 are too big, then you’re pretty much limited to a Charter Arms Bulldog. You could step up to a Scandium 329PD which is super light, but you’re talking about a physically larger gun with the N frame
I’ll pass on the Charter.
If I wasnt going to shoot it much I’d get one. They arent designed to last many rounds. I’d probably fire 500 rds a year at least.
I had an old gunsmith friend and he customized a carried a Rossi for many years. I see them on Gunbroker on occasion.
Thanks.
Probably going to pass on the small .44 because there isn’t anything between lightweight cheap guns that wont last and @38 oz (loaded) quality guns.
Except maybe that alloy L frame S&W made awhile back that are collector status now.
If the Charter was $350 new I might roll the dice on it but they are over $500 currently and I KNOW it’s going to give me problems immediately or later.
I’d rather pop large pistol primers with a 10 mm Glock 29. (I just cant get away from Glocks much as I try) So I’ve got eyes peeled for a Glock 29 gen 4. (33 oz loaded)
Would be a nice, fat slide to mount an rds on, too.
You could also do a 460 Rowland conversion for a G21
Forgot to mention the Smith 696 L frame .44 special. 36 oz. No longer made, but, maybe a used one. Beautiful piece. Probably too large and heavy though.