Lindcott Armory Compare / .44 S&W American vs .44 Special
Cartridge comparison
.44 S&W American vs .44 Special
.44 Special is faster (900 vs 700 fps); .44 Special carries more energy (400 vs 237 ft·lb); .44 S&W American recoils less.
.44 S&W American →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
.44 Special →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
| .44 S&W American | .44 Special | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Revolver | Revolver |
| Introduced | 1869 | 1907 |
| Bullet ⌀ | 0.434″ | 0.429″ |
| Case length | 0.91″ | 1.16″ |
| Velocity | 650–700 fps | 700–900 fps |
| Energy | 204–237 ft·lb | 220–400 ft·lb |
| Max pressure | 18,000 psi | 15,500 psi |
| Recoil | 2.5–4 ft·lb | 5–8 ft·lb |
| Eff. range | 40 yd | 75 yd |
FAQs
- Is .44 S&W American faster than .44 Special?
- .44 Special is faster — up to 900 fps versus 700 fps.
- Does .44 S&W American hit harder than .44 Special?
- .44 Special carries more muzzle energy (400 vs 237 ft·lb).