Background:
I have long wanted (over 20 years) to buy a Taurus 431. The one time I won one on Gunbroker (around 20 years ago), I didn't make much money and just after my bid I had a huge unexpected expense and worked out with the seller that I could cancel the sale by paying the Gunbroker fees (the gun was only $200 something at the time). Since then, I was often hesitant to pull the trigger when the prices had doubled, and when I got used to the higher prices I just had other priorities. Well, lately I've been revamping my collection, selling some guns I don't really want (some didn't really fit what I bought them for, others were cheaper guns than what I wanted for a particular niche, others I just stopped shooting/liking so much) and buying guns I always wanted but never bought. I recently won a Gunbroker auction for a 2.5" Taurus 431 (it should be at my FFL any day now).
So, I now have a .44spl. It is a good carry size (K-frame sized 2.5" barrel), though not for everyday carry. However, most .44 cal hollow points are designed around the .44mag. Unlike .38 vs. .357 where there is enough of a .38spl defensive market to develop separate bullets that are optimized for both sets of velocities, many/most .44 cal bullets are not. So, many .44spl hollow points do not open up and can have issues with over penetration.
On to the questions...
As the title says, if you have a .44spl, would you carry it? Would you use it for home defense? If you would, what round would you use?
Pros:
I have long wanted (over 20 years) to buy a Taurus 431. The one time I won one on Gunbroker (around 20 years ago), I didn't make much money and just after my bid I had a huge unexpected expense and worked out with the seller that I could cancel the sale by paying the Gunbroker fees (the gun was only $200 something at the time). Since then, I was often hesitant to pull the trigger when the prices had doubled, and when I got used to the higher prices I just had other priorities. Well, lately I've been revamping my collection, selling some guns I don't really want (some didn't really fit what I bought them for, others were cheaper guns than what I wanted for a particular niche, others I just stopped shooting/liking so much) and buying guns I always wanted but never bought. I recently won a Gunbroker auction for a 2.5" Taurus 431 (it should be at my FFL any day now).
So, I now have a .44spl. It is a good carry size (K-frame sized 2.5" barrel), though not for everyday carry. However, most .44 cal hollow points are designed around the .44mag. Unlike .38 vs. .357 where there is enough of a .38spl defensive market to develop separate bullets that are optimized for both sets of velocities, many/most .44 cal bullets are not. So, many .44spl hollow points do not open up and can have issues with over penetration.
On to the questions...
As the title says, if you have a .44spl, would you carry it? Would you use it for home defense? If you would, what round would you use?
Pros:
-I like a larger bore and low pressure round, especially for home defense. The lower noise level (even if marginal) may do a little less hearing damage if shot in a defensive situation without hearing protection, while still having the potential of being relatively effective.
-Now that I can carry everyday, I'm finding that I like carrying a revolver more than I thought I would and often find myself with my Taurus 85CH, Taurus 856 or Colt King Cobra and sometimes two of them at a time. A larger bore addition would be nice.
-I bought it because I wanted one for years, not specifically to use as a carry gun (I have quite a few options). However, it first caught my eye (20+ years ago) as a potential carry and home defense gun.
-It is a little different. OK, that maybe isn't a good rational reason to carry it, but sometimes just wanting to pick something a little different is enough for every now and then (though not for everyday).
-As a .44cal, even if hollow points don't expand, it would still create a reasonable sized hole (comparable to some of the lesser 9mm JHPs when they expand).
-When I'm in the mood to carry a big bore revolver, it is much smaller than my N-frame S&W 625 Mountain Gun.
Cons:
-A lot of the positive changes in ammo development seem to have missed .44spl which seems to be seen by the ammo manufacturers as mainly a "cowboy" caliber and defensive uses are at best an afterthought.
-If a hollow point doesn't expand, over penetration is a concern (especially when used for home defense or in close quarters).
-It doesn't really do anything that my .45LC can't do (and there has been some development of defensive rounds in that caliber).
-A K-frame sized gun is a little on the large size for carry, especially for a gun that only has a 5 round capacity.
-This is my first 2.5" K-frame sized gun so I don't have a holster for it, adding to my costs (in the past, all the K-frames I've owned have been 3" or 4" and the only one I currently have is a 3").
Ammo:
For ammo, since there is a good chance that hollow points won't expand, I was thinking about Underwood Extreme Defenders, but I don't see a lot of tests to reassure me that over penetration won't be an issue. I have seen some testing that suggests that Hornady Critical Defense (FTX) rounds will reliably expand, but they just barely meet FBI standards for minimum penetration. I was thinking about going old school for an old school revolver: Buffalo Bore or Underwood make some old fashioned lead SWCHP, and also some hot loaded wadcutters and SWC. However, I am a bit concerned about over penetration with those rounds. Even with target loaded SWC that many companies make, without an expanding bullet, I'm a bit worried that it may penetrate too much.
-Now that I can carry everyday, I'm finding that I like carrying a revolver more than I thought I would and often find myself with my Taurus 85CH, Taurus 856 or Colt King Cobra and sometimes two of them at a time. A larger bore addition would be nice.
-I bought it because I wanted one for years, not specifically to use as a carry gun (I have quite a few options). However, it first caught my eye (20+ years ago) as a potential carry and home defense gun.
-It is a little different. OK, that maybe isn't a good rational reason to carry it, but sometimes just wanting to pick something a little different is enough for every now and then (though not for everyday).
-As a .44cal, even if hollow points don't expand, it would still create a reasonable sized hole (comparable to some of the lesser 9mm JHPs when they expand).
-When I'm in the mood to carry a big bore revolver, it is much smaller than my N-frame S&W 625 Mountain Gun.
Cons:
-A lot of the positive changes in ammo development seem to have missed .44spl which seems to be seen by the ammo manufacturers as mainly a "cowboy" caliber and defensive uses are at best an afterthought.
-If a hollow point doesn't expand, over penetration is a concern (especially when used for home defense or in close quarters).
-It doesn't really do anything that my .45LC can't do (and there has been some development of defensive rounds in that caliber).
-A K-frame sized gun is a little on the large size for carry, especially for a gun that only has a 5 round capacity.
-This is my first 2.5" K-frame sized gun so I don't have a holster for it, adding to my costs (in the past, all the K-frames I've owned have been 3" or 4" and the only one I currently have is a 3").
Ammo:
For ammo, since there is a good chance that hollow points won't expand, I was thinking about Underwood Extreme Defenders, but I don't see a lot of tests to reassure me that over penetration won't be an issue. I have seen some testing that suggests that Hornady Critical Defense (FTX) rounds will reliably expand, but they just barely meet FBI standards for minimum penetration. I was thinking about going old school for an old school revolver: Buffalo Bore or Underwood make some old fashioned lead SWCHP, and also some hot loaded wadcutters and SWC. However, I am a bit concerned about over penetration with those rounds. Even with target loaded SWC that many companies make, without an expanding bullet, I'm a bit worried that it may penetrate too much.
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