.44 Special

.44 Special
Charter Arms Bulldog with five .44 Special 246 gr LRN cartridges
TypeRevolver
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerSmith & Wesson
Designed1907
ManufacturerSmith & Wesson
Produced1907–present
Specifications
Parent case.44 Russian
Case typeRimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.429 in (10.9 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 length1.16 in (29 mm)
Overall length1.615 in (41.0 mm)
Case capacity33.5 gr H2O (2.17 cm3)
Rifling twist1 in 20 in (510 mm)
Primer typeLarge pistol
Maximum pressure15,500 psi (107 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
200 gr (13 g) Semi-Wadcutter HP[1] 870 ft/s (270 m/s) 336 ft⋅lbf (456 J)
246 gr (16 g) LRN[2] 755 ft/s (230 m/s) 310 ft⋅lbf (420 J)
Test barrel length: 4 in (100 mm) (vented)[1] / 6 in (150 mm)[2]
Source(s): Federal Cartridge Co.[1] Remington Arms Co.[2]

The .44 Smith & Wesson Special, also commonly known as .44 S&W Special, .44 Special, .44 Spl, .44 Spc, or 10.9×29mmR, is a smokeless powder center fire metallic revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1907 as the standard chambering for their New Century revolver, introduced in 1908.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Federal Cartridge Co. website Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine - Ballistics page. Accessed February 25, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Remington Arms Co. website Archived 2007-11-19 at the Wayback Machine - Ballistics page. Accessed February 25, 2008.
  3. ^ Hawks, C. "The .44 S&W Special" Chuck Hawks website. Accessed February 25, 2008.