what is the difference between a .44 and a .44 magnum?

Question

what is the difference between a .44 and a .44 magnum? also what is the difference between a .38 and a .38 super?

Answer 1

about 20 grains

Answer 2

.44 just describes the caliber of a given cartridge, i.e. the diameter of the bullet expressed in fractions of an inch. So when one says "a .44" one could be talking about anything from a .44 Russian, a .44 Special, a .44 Magnum, a .44 WCF (.44-40), all the way to historical curiosities like the .44 Henry Rimfire all the way to the .44 caliber ball stuffed into cap-and-ball revolvers like the Colt 1860 Army.

The .44 Magnum is a specific cartridge that fires a .44 caliber bullet. It also happens to be the most commonly thought-of .44 caliber cartridge, as it's the one most commonly seen in pop culture. So when the average Joe talks about a .44, he's probably thinking of the .44 Magnum.

It's the same with the .38. There are a lot of .38 caliber cartridges out there. The .38 Long Colt and .38 WCF (More of a .40 caliber cartridge, but that's beside the point) used in Cowboy Action Shooting events. There is the .38 Special, which is the cartridge that is most likely to be known by the average Joe, and a whole host of .38 caliber cartridges aimed at semi-automatic pistols. In this case, it's the .38 Auto (NOT to be confused with the .380 ACP) and the .38 Auto +P, better known as the .38 Super (which is the old .38 Auto loaded to much higher pressures.)

Needless to say, these are unique cartridges and are, broadly speaking, NOT interchangeable. For example, the .38 Special is a revolver cartridge, and the .38 Super is a semi-auto pistol cartridge with different dimensions and higher pressure to boot, and while .44 Special can be safely fired in .44 Magnum guns, the converse isn't true, and the .44 Magnum is designed to be impossible to chamber in most well-made .44 Special guns.

Answer 3

44 Special Vs 44 Magnum

Answer 4

There are lots of 44's. 44 Remington magnum seems to be most popular these days, and it's basically a 44 Special loaded to extreme pressures. The case is slightly longer but the same otherwise. You really should read some about Elmer Kieth, who is responsible for the cartridge. He blew up quite a few good 44 Special revolvers in developing the thing.
Another is the 44WCF, AKA 44-40, famous from the model 1873 Winchester, the only rifle that turned into a movie title, and another thing to put on your list of "things to do" is see the movie, starring James Stewart. It was very popular and chambered in Colt SAA revolvers as well. It's a smaller, bottlenecked case and isn't very strong by modern standards but was really something in the 1870's and 80's, and is still a decent short-range deer cartridge. Even the old 44 Russian has made a comeback in Cowboy Action Shooting circles.

Answer 5

As stated, the 44 Special is a shorter case then the 44 Mag. Less capacity, so less powder (less power).

There are two 38 auto's (mainly here in the US)- 38 ACP (aka 38 Auto) and the 38 Super. Both are the same case, but one is loaded 'hotter' for use in the 1911. The old 38 ACP was used in the Colt semi auto pistol BEFORE the 1911 came out (the 1903? model).

It's possible to load and fire a 38 Super in a 38 ACP gun since the casing dimensions are the same.

Now if you are talking about 38 Special vs 38 Super, the Special is a revolover round while the Super is a semi auto round.

Also, a 38 Special and 357 are similar (only case length, like the 44 Special vs 44 Mag). The 38 and 357 use a .357" bullet while the 38 ACP and 38 Super actually use a .355" bullet (which is actually 9mm in metric....and the 9mm everyone knows is a .355" dia bullet).

Answer 6

Ok you’re getting some good and some confused answers.
For one thing any .44 mag round you fire in a hand gun will work in a .44 magnum rifle..
Here is the proof of that;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.44_Magnum
There are some .44 mag rounds that are hotter and require either the Ruger Super Redhawk and a few other heavy built pistols and rifles only

This link explains more
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridge_%28firearms%29

The .44 comes in several different rounds; the .44 Russian, .44 special, .44 magnum.
The .38 comes in several different rounds, .38 special, .38 S&W and to be confusing the .357 magnum is a .38 round. See this link for explanation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.357_Magnum

Answer 7

The .44 Magnum is a lengthened .44 Special. The .44 Special an be used in the .44 Magnum, but not vice-versa.

Answer 8

.44 refers to the caliber. The 44 magnum is a long .44 Special, hence more powder, hence more velocity. You can shoot a .44 Special in a .44 mag, but not the other way around.
The .38 also refers to caliber. The .357 is actually the same caliber as the .38, and the .357 is a long .38 Special just like the .44 mag. You can also shoot a .38 Special in a .357.
The .38 Super is a powerful .38 caliber cartridge adapted to semi-auto.

Answer 9

This is a very dicey subject because people use different non-standard descriptions and names for these items.

There are rifle bullets and pistol bullets that are both .44 caliber. However the rifle bullets use rifle powder which burns slower. Using rifle .44 ammo in a pistol won't do much good.
Using pistol ammo in the rifle can lead to a major accident.
Additionally the .44 pistols are always revolvers which means they have a huge gas leak between the cylinder and the barrel so revolver ammo has the fastest burn powder of all.

The only modern .44 caliber rifle I can think of is the RUGER carbine .44 Magnum. It is no longer made. 12 gauge shotguns with mag slugs are a better choice.

.38 ammo is always always revolver ammo. 9mm "Luger" ammo is actually .380 inch but called 9 mm or "Luger".
.38 ammo, .38 super ammo, and .357 magnum ammo are all exactly the same diameter. These shells have dead straight sides and are progressively longer bullets so their revolver cylinders are longer / deeper. Longer >> more chamber volume >> more powder >> higher pressure >> more bang for your buck. You can fire .38 ammo in a .357 anytime.

Be very careful buying any used .357 particularly with the 6 inch barrel. People who use guns see this combo as an ultimate stopper, so they might fire 3/4 proof loads a lot. This wears out the gun and typically one cylinder will stick on a used pistol.

A .357 3/4 proof load will go right through a car, steel door, dumpster..... with the right bullet. So there's no place to hide.
On the other hand you only get 6 shots, and the followup shot is slower than the 9 mm's out there.

If you're really thinking you need the stoppping power of a .44 magnum get a magnum 12 Gauge Slug Gun. If you don't shoot a lot get the semi auto..... it'll fire the second shot when you're scared to death while the pump requires movement and co-ordination to get #2 chambered....

Answer 10

The currently available .44's for handguns are the .44 spl, and .44 magnum. The magnum rd. is slightly longer to keep it from chambering in the weaker .44 spl. guns. All .44 spls can be fired in .44 mag. handguns.

Answer 11

44 is just the cal of the bullet 44 magnum means it is loaded very hot and should only be fired in a gun marked (44 magnum).