Pistol · Not SAAMI standardized
.44 AutoMag
Harry Sanford's semi-auto pistol cartridge from the early 1970s, designed for the AutoMag pistol.
- Caliber
- 0.429″ · 10.897 mm
- Introduced
- 1971
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- .308 Winchester
- Primary use
- Hunting, Self-Defense
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1971
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Harry Sanford / Auto Mag Corp
- Manufacturer
- Auto Mag Corporation
- Standard
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 43.2 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:20
- Primer
- Boxer Small Pistol
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 40,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Recoil
- 8–13 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .44 AutoMag.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 10.90 | 0.429 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 11.61 | 0.457 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 11.95 | 0.471 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 11.98 | 0.471 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | — | — | |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 32.97 | 1.298 | · |
| Overall length | 40.77 | 1.605 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .44 AutoMag is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Designed by Harry Sanford in 1971 for the AutoMag, the world's first large-caliber gas-operated semi-automatic pistol. Created to deliver .44 Magnum ballistics in a self-loading action using modified .308 Winchester brass. The AutoMag project was financially troubled; pistol production ceased in 1982.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .44 AutoMag use?
- .44 AutoMag typically uses a 1:20 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .44 AutoMag?
- .44 AutoMag uses a 0.429″ (10.897 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .44 AutoMag still in production?
- .44 AutoMag is limited; typical availability is limited.
- What is .44 AutoMag used for?
- .44 AutoMag is primarily used for hunting, self-defense.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Reference Gun Digest — Ammo Brief: .44 Auto Mag (Cartridges of the World excerpt) · parent_cartridge
- Secondary Wikipedia: .44 AMP (citing Donnelly, Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions, 2011) · parent_cartridge
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 17 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →