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Can a Ruger .44 use other size ammo

13K views 14 replies 11 participants last post by  Gun Geezer 
#1 ·
I'm looking at getting a used ruger .44 cal. I know the 357 can use 38's. Can the 44 use any other size ammo?

thanks
 
#2 ·
Depends on if it is a .44 mag. If it is a .44 special, that is all it can shoot. A .44 mag can shoot magnum and special rounds.
 
#3 ·
44 Magnum? Yes, you can also use 44 Special and IIRC you could use 44 Russian. They are just shorter versions
of the 44 Magnum case.

If your "44 cal." is 44-40, then no---nothing else works.

In 38, you can shoot 357 magnum, 38 special, 38 long colt, and 38 short colt in the same gun. You should not (although
some guns will chamber it) shoot 38 S&W in a 357/38 special gun.
 
#5 ·
.44 Special, they are a short .44 magnum round. Just like a .38 is a short .357 mag.

I'm not sure the shorter rounds will be much cheaper, but they will be easier on your wrist.
 
#6 ·
A 44 Mag will shoot Magnum, Special, and Russian, and 44 Long Colt. The 44 Special will shoot 44 Russian and 44 Long Colt { If you can Get Them ?} No 44-40 ammo !
 
#7 ·
I don't know if you still have your heart set on the .44mag, but if you don't purchase that one, you might look at a .454 Casull. It's even more powerfull than the .44 Magnum, and you can also shoot .45 Long Colt and .45 ACP (with half moon clips). Very powerfull and versatile.
 
#9 ·
na that would be 44 Big Jim Colt. 44 Colt was the second to middle brother of sister Jane Lady Smith 44 Smith...which happens to be the sister of 44 Long Colt.
 
#14 ·
"In 38, you can shoot 357 magnum, 38 special, 38 long colt, and 38 short colt in the same gun. You should not (although some guns will chamber it) shoot 38 S&W in a 357/38 special gun."
Quote from BillM's post

Sorry Bill, but this is untrue, and might result in injury or even death to an unsuspecting shooter. While I do not belive that a .357 would chamber in a .38 Special, I would not want to see someone get hurt. I can't speak to the .38 Long Colt or .38 Short Colt, as I have never seen either of these rounds or shot them.

However, I know that, while you can shoot .38 Spl; .38 Spl +P; and .38 Spl +P+ in a .357 Magnum, the opposite is not true. You cannot shoot .357s in a .38 Spl. Firearm.
 
#15 ·
As someone who has just traded off his .44 S&W revolver, I can tell you that I have found the .44 S&W or .44 special bullets are harder to come by and more expensive than .44 mag. I have yet to find re-loads or cheaper range ammo in .44 S&W caliber. If you are looking for a range gun or a weapon to shoot on a regular basis, I would stick with the most popular calibers: .22 LR, .38 special, .357 mag., 9mm, .45 ACP and maybe .40
 
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