.44 Magnum

This article is about the firearm cartridge. For the Japanese heavy metal band, see 44 Magnum (band).
.44 Magnum
.44 Magnum cartridge
TypeHandgun, Carbine
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerElmer Keith
Smith & Wesson
Designed1950s
ManufacturerRemington Arms
ProducedJanuary 19, 1956–present
Specifications
Parent case.44 Smith & Wesson Special
Case typeRimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.429 in (10.9 mm)
Land diameter.417 in (10.6 mm)
Neck diameter.457 in (11.6 mm)
Base diameter.457 in (11.6 mm)
Rim diameter.514 in (13.1 mm)
Rim thickness.060 in (1.5 mm)
Case length1.285 in (32.6 mm)
Overall length1.61 in (41 mm)
Case capacity37.9 gr H2O (2.46 cm3)
Primer typeLarge pistol
Maximum pressure (CIP)40,600 psi (280 MPa)
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)36,000 psi (250 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
240 gr (16 g) SJHP Remington 1,180 ft/s (360 m/s) 741 ft⋅lbf (1,005 J)
240 gr (16 g) JHP Cor-Bon 1,475 ft/s (450 m/s) 1,160 ft⋅lbf (1,570 J)
270 gr (17 g) LFN GC Buffalo bore heavy 1,550 ft/s (470 m/s) 1,440 ft⋅lbf (1,950 J)
300 gr (19 g) JSP Cor-Bon 1,250 ft/s (380 m/s) 1,041 ft⋅lbf (1,411 J)
340 gr (22 g) LFN +P+ Buffalo bore heavy (+P+ used in special guns only) 1,425 ft/s (434 m/s) 1,533 ft⋅lbf (2,078 J)
Test barrel length: 7.5 in (190 mm) [*6.5 in (170 mm)]
Source(s): Ballistics 101[1][2]

The .44 Remington Magnum, also known as .44 Magnum or 10.9x33mmR (as it is known in unofficial metric designation), is a rimmed, large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers and quickly adopted for carbines and rifles. Despite the ".44" designation, guns chambered for the .44 Magnum round, its parent case, the .44 Special, and the .44 Special's parent case, the .44 Russian all use 0.429 in (10.9 mm) diameter bullets.[3] The .44 Magnum is based on the .44 Special case but lengthened and loaded to higher pressures for greater velocity and energy.

Famously called "the most powerful handgun [cartridge] in the world" by Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry, the .44 Magnum has since been eclipsed in power by the .45 Winchester Magnum, .454 Casull, .460 S&W Magnum, .475 Wildey Magnum, .480 Ruger, .50 Action Express, .500 S&W Magnum, and the .500 Bushwhacker; nevertheless, due in part to its more manageable recoil, it has remained one of the most popular commercial large-bore magnum cartridges.[4][5]

  1. ^ "44 Magnum Ballistics Chart | Ballistics 101". www.ballistics101.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  2. ^ "CIP TDCC sheet 44 Rem. Mag " (PDF). C.I.P.
  3. ^ Lyman Reloading Handbook, 48th edition, 2002
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference 50yearsyoung was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference cotw10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).