Posted: 5/24/2006 9:15:43 PM EDT
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I was at my local gun store today and I saw a beautiful Smith and Wesson 44-40 Caliber and it was blue with a 4 inch barrel and had brown wooden grips without finger groves (which I like the looks of way better. I don't like the new ones with the groves) and it was from 1985. Anyway I was thinking of getting it someday. The guy wanted 445 for it. I was wondering what the stopping power is on a 44-40? Is it better than a 38 and if so is it equal or better than a 357Mag? The reason why I want to know is I would like to get it anyway but someday down the road I might see if I can get a job with Brinks Armored Car Service and I heard that they haven't modernized to Semiautomatics. Heard they still make there officers carry revolvers. So what do you all think of the caliber?his |
Yep. What aaron said about ammo availability. As for a comparison. When loaded normally (i.e. not with downloaded cowboy competition ammo) it is similar to the .45 ACP, .44 special, .40 S&W power level cartridges from a pistol. But the problem is since it hasn't been marketed for self defense in nearly a century. Modern self defense loadings are not available. Nowadays the .44-40 is more of a fun cartridge than a serious self defense cartridge. Kent |
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Thanks. I will just forget about getting that gun for that purpose. If I do get a job someday with Brinks Armored Car Service and they still don't let people carry semi automatics I will go with a 357 Magnum instead. That way like you two said I can get some hollow points for it. And I can always carry 38 Special rounds in it if they don't want me to have that much power. "If you can't handle this like a normal assignment 007... Then 008 will replace you." 008hug.gif |
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.44 WCF (aka .44-40) is better as the rifle round it was originally designed to be. It's somewhat of a pain to handload in quantities most people think of when pistol shooting. Factory ammo is either weak and expensive or so-so in power and expensive. If you're considering an armored car job, your future employer will probably mandate cartridge as well as handgun type. |