44 Special vs 44 Magnum: Battle of the Big Bore Revolvers

The .44 Smith & Wesson Special is well over a century old. Although insanely popular in the early 20th century, the Special almost went the way of the dinosaur after the introduction of its faster, harder-hitting, and more popular younger brother, the .44 Remington Magnum. The .44 Spl has been mostly kept alive by custom handloaders and cowboy action shooters.

While there’s no doubt the .44 Rem Mag puts a ton more speed and energy downrange, that performance comes with a price. Many shooters find the Magnum’s recoil difficult to control. Meanwhile, the .44 Spl’s recoil is mild as milk.

Not sure which of these classic big-bore handgun cartridges you should load in your six-gun? Pull on your boots, because we’re about to dive deep into the world of .44-caliber cartridges.

Learn more in our latest ammunition guide at Ammo.com.