Revolver · SAAMI (not in current Z299)
.44 Russian
Direct ancestor of the .44 Special and .44 Magnum.
- Caliber
- 0.4323″ · 10.98 mm
- Introduced
- 1870
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .44 S&W American
- Primary use
- Military, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1870
- Type
- Revolver
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Smith & Wesson
- Manufacturer
- Smith & Wesson
- Standard
- SAAMI (not in current Z299)
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 27.1 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:20
- Primer
- Large Pistol
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 14,500 psi, CIP transducer
- Eff. range
- 50 yd
- Max range
- 2000 yd
- Recoil
- 2.5–4 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Introduced by Smith & Wesson
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .44 Russian. Parent case: .44 S&W American.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 10.98 | 0.432 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 11.61 | 0.457 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 11.61 | 0.457 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.08 | 0.515 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.52 | 0.060 | ~ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 24.64 | 0.970 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 36.32 | 1.430 | ✓ |
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 Russian 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.
Firearms chambered in .44 Russian
Lineage
inside-lubricated rework
History
Developed by Smith & Wesson for a Russian Imperial Army contract in 1870. The Russian government specified refinements to the .44 S&W American that produced a superior cartridge — the inside-lubricated heel-less bullet and rounded case mouth were Russian improvements to the original S&W design. The .44 Russian was regarded by target shooters as one of the most accurate revolver cartridges in the 1870s–1890s. Smith & Wesson later lengthened the case to create the .44 Special (1907), which was in turn stretched to make the .44 Magnum (1955).
FAQs
- What twist rate does .44 Russian use?
- .44 Russian typically uses a 1:20 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .44 Russian?
- .44 Russian uses a 0.4323″ (10.98 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .44 Russian still in production?
- .44 Russian is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is .44 Russian used for?
- .44 Russian is primarily used for military, target.
- What is .44 Russian based on?
- .44 Russian is derived from the .44 S&W American case.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
- Manufacturer Fiocchi USA — Cowboy Action 44 S&W Russian (SKU 44SWR) · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
- Manufacturer Black Hills — .44 Russian — Authentic Cowboy Action (No. 8) · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 12 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
