Cartridge comparison
.44 Russian vs .44 S&W American
.44 Russian and .44 S&W American are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .44 Russian | .44 S&W American | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Revolver | Revolver |
| Introduced | 1870 | 1869 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.4323″ | 0.434″ |
| Case length | 0.9701″ | 0.9098″ |
| Max pressure | 14,500 psi | 18,000 psi |
| Recoil | 2.5–4 ft·lb | 4–5.8 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 50 yd | 50 yd |
| SAAMI | SAAMI (not in current Z299) | Not SAAMI standardized |
| CIP | CIP standardized | Not standardized |
| Obsolete | — | Obsolete |
Highlighted cells hold the clear edge where both sides have a number. Every figure is a range maximum from the reference; typical loads run lower.
Case profiles, to scale
Drawn to the same scale, so the proportions are true. Physical size varies with your screen.
