What does "magnum" mean in defining a handgun?

Question

I'm a long-time hunter fairly familiar with long guns, but I never understood what the magnum designation means. For example, other than the caliber, what differentiates a .44 magnum from a .45?

Answer 1

All "magnum" means is that a given round is either loaded to a higher power level than its progenitor cartridge, or has greater powder volume than its progenitor cartridge. These days, it can be taken to mean any high-pressure, high-performance cartridge. Like the .500 S&W Magnum, which is an original case design, but is called a "magnum" because it's designed to be a very powerful round and requires a big, beefy gun to handle it.

Take, for instance, the .357 Magnum. The .357 Magnum developed from the .38 Special. It is 1/10th of an inch longer than the .38 Special, but this was done, not to increase powder capacity, but to ensure that it couldn't be chambered in .38 Special revolvers. The chief difference between .38 Special and .357 Magnum is one of pressure. The .38 Special descended from old blackpowder cartridges (i.e. the .38 Long Colt.) As a result, it's maximum chamber pressure is held to a modest 17,000 PSI. The .357 Magnum, on the other hand, has a maximum chamber pressure of 35,000 PSI. And since pressure against the base of the bullet equals thrust, a .357 Magnum can throw a given bullet at least 300 ft/sec faster than the .38 Special.

This is the same case with the .44 Magnum, whose progenitor cartridge was the .44 Special, which descended from another old blackpowder case, the .44 Russian. The .44 Special generates a maximum chamber pressure of some 15,500 PSI and can throw a 240 grain bullet at some 750 - 800 ft/sec. The .44 Magnum, like the .357 Magnum, is slightly longer than its parent cartridge, but the chief difference is the operating pressure. The .44 Magnum has a pressure ceiling of 36,000 PSI, so it will throw that same 240 grain bullet at least 400 ft/sec faster.

This is almost the case for the .460 Smith and Wesson Magnum, which is a lengthened .454 Casull case, which was a lengthened and strengthened .45 Colt case. Though the .460 S&W doesn't have a higher pressure ceiling than the .454 Casull, it has a much longer case, designed to hold more powder. And if one has more propellant, one can keep up peak chamber pressure longer, which means more thrust. So a .460 S&W can drive a 300 grain bullet over 2000 ft/sec, whereas a .454 Casull can only drive it at 1700 ft/sec, a Ruger-only .45 Colt pushes it at 1200 ft/sec, and a standard .45 Colt is doing well to break 700 ft/sec.

Answer 2

Magnum doesn’t define a handgun so much as it defines a cartridge. Magnum means large or great and is used to define many things other than cartridges. Basically, magnums are rounds that are heavier or have more of a charge or both. This gives them higher velocity, more range, a flatter trajectory and more stopping power.

As many magnum rounds are just more powerful versions of standard rounds, the casing on magnum rounds is slightly lengthened to prevent them from being loaded into a fire arm that isn’t designed to handle the bigger charge. An example of this is the .357 magnum which is basically a more powerful version of the .38 special. Theoretically a .38 cartridge can be fired from a .375 magnum firearm but not visa-versa although I’d check with a professional before trying this.

Answer 3

Other details that define 'magnum' are things like the primer. Some rounds use a magnum primer that creates a hotter spark for powder ignition. They are usually larger in diameter or spark more than regular small or large pistol primers. What you won't find in a magnum pistol round is a belt around the case like you will find in rifle rounds that are magnum. Take a look at a .300 WinMag, .375 H&H, or a .458 WinMag case and you will see the belt around the case down near the base. This is just reinforcement for the pressures created by that particular round. Pistol ammo doesn't have that, but between the type of primer, amount and type of powder, you get whats defined as a 'magnum' round. Generally, pistols chambered for a mag round will have a thicker frame (revolvers) to handle the increased pressure. Old school black powder and smaller caliber pistols (ie .22LR, 25-20,...long list) can operate on a smaller frame therefore reducing weight. Magnum pistols will just be a llittle meatier.

Answer 4

In regards to guns, "magnum" was actually "reserved" by S&W back in the 1930s for their ".357 Magnum"(the world's first and late renamed Model 27). The magnum revolver (ie. .357Mag) or auto (ie. 45WinMag) is about 1/16th" longer as to keep it from being chambered in its non-magnum parent. The two most popular magnum revolvers are .357 Winchester Magnum and .44 Remington Magnum, although some of the newer "magnums" are catching up-WITHOUT usuing the term "magnum"
(.454Casull/.500SW). Below is a list of "magnums" and their source or "parent" cartridges. As with any list on Answers, this is abbreviated:

Magnum / parent shell

.32 H&R Mag / .32 SW Long
.357 Win Mag / .38 SW Spl
.41 Rem Mag / (no predecessor)
.44 Rem Mag / .44 SW Spl
.45 Win Mag / .45ACP

I stuck with handgun shells that actually use the "magnum designation".
Also, the brass on these shells is not only a little longer, but also thicker because of the intense smokeless charge required to obtain velocities.
Magnums do wear guns (even though the guns are engineered to take them) when high volumes of shells are fired. Ruger makes the most durable magnum line of revolvers overall. There are others, but Ruger has some patents others do not. Also noteworthy is the fact that magnums can chamber and fire their parent non-magnum shells, but not vice-versa. You can shoot .38SPL in a .357Mag and a .44SPL in a .44Mag. Reasons for this should be quite obvious.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What does "magnum" mean in defining a handgun?
I'm a long-time hunter fairly familiar with long guns, but I never understood what the magnum designation means. For example, other than the caliber, what differentiates a .44 magnum from a .45?

Answer 6

The handgun designation is borrowed from rifle terminology. "Express train," later shortened simply to "express" and "magnum" were advertising gimmicks that showed the cartridge shot a bullet to a higher-than-normal velocity, normally with a larger case and more powder than the standard cartridge. The "magnum" designation is especially appropriate for the classic British large-bore cartridges used in Africa, since they do bear a resemblance to a magnum bottle of champagne. The designation was well-established terminology when the 357 magnum pistol cartridge was developed, and had lost any remaining suggestion of requiring a bottle-neck.
And the 44 magnum is the practical end of a lengthening process. It shoots a bullet of about .429" caliber from a case 1.285" in length compared to the 44 S&W Special with its case length of 1.160" and is loaded to much higher pressures The SAAMI maximum average pressure for the former is 14,000 CUP, and for the latter 40,000. And the Special was a lengthening of a previous case. Likewise, the venerable 45 Colt of six-gun fame has been lengthened and loaded to higher pressures by Dick Casull in the 454 Casull, which could certainly qualify for magnum status in anybody's book.

Answer 7

A .44, magnum or not, is smaller in diameter than a .45.

A .44 magnum is different than a .44 in that the casing is longer, allowing a larger, more powerful powder charge. The casing was intentionally made longer so that it would not fit in a regular .44 and cause damage.

Answer 8

Magnum means that it is an extra long casing with more grains of powder. That means it increases velocity and stopping power. A .45 is just a hundredth of an inch wider in diameter.

Answer 9

Read a while back that the designer of the 357 dubbed it a magnum because he was a wine lover & would order a magnum of wine as opposed to the smaller bottle. I cant recall the details in full or the name of the person but it appeared in on of the reputable gun magazines like ShootingTimes or Guns and Ammo.

Answer 10

God is. God is Love. God is Light in Him there is no darkness at all. God is not a man that He should lie God is Spirit and Truth, Jesus said I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is GOD, perfect, pure, just. I know He is God and is worthy of all my praise, all my heart mind and strength, He is the air i breathe. I was born gay, 9 years ago God called me out of that life style, I chose Him and continue to do so. He has changed me from the inside out. only God can do that.