DA 44 Russian

HondaCowboy82 · March 5, 2008, 09:40 AM

Are these safe to shoot with modern cowboy loads? of course with proper alignment and a great lockup? any help would be appreciated.

**Mike Irwin** · March 5, 2008, 11:56 AM

Impossible to know without knowing the manufacturer.

Lots of Spanish copies of S&Ws were made, some very good quality, some absolutely horrible.

HondaCowboy82 · March 5, 2008, 11:14 PM

My dad has a Smith & Wesson DA 44. Needs some gunsmithing to make it in good shootable condition. Serial of 1843. All matching numbers. Would it be safe, being a Smith and Wesson 4 inch barrel to shoot todays modern loads? Also original finish, what kind of money are we talking in worth. Not trying to get rid of it, just wondeirng.

**Mike Irwin** · March 6, 2008, 01:16 AM

Breaktop, right?

The serial number would put it in the first year or two of production.

4" barrel is uncommon.

Value drops off VERY quickly when you get below new in box.

One in very good condition would probably bring between $500 and $1000.

And no, I would not shoot it with smokeless powder, black powder only.

These early frames were not steel, they were ductile iron and are not known for their great strength.

Jim Watson · March 6, 2008, 08:51 AM

I was reading David Chicoine's book on gunsmithing such things and he is adamantly against shooting them with smokeless. Says even light target loads will beat them up.

HondaCowboy82 · March 6, 2008, 12:23 PM

Where could i find/buy some blackpowder rounds for the 44 Russian? Its an uncommon gun, and im thinking about getting it worked on by a licensed gunsmith here in town and carrying it sometimes. Any help would be appreciated.

Hawg · March 6, 2008, 03:22 PM

A lot cheaper to roll your own. http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe...g=653***691***

HondaCowboy82 · March 6, 2008, 09:12 PM

so all they blackpowder bullets will clearly say BPC on the box?

Hawg · March 6, 2008, 10:20 PM

I've never bought any so I can't say for sure. Maybe somebody else knows.

HondaCowboy82 · March 11, 2008, 07:45 PM

My dad told the story on this gun earlier today. He was working in an old womans pumphouse (~35 years ago), saw the gun laying there, and asked her about it. Her son had brought it back from the war. Not sure if this is World War I or World War II. She was afraid she was going to get in trouble with it, so she gave it to my dad. He has had it ever since. I looked today and the serial is 1846. All matching numbers in three places. Has the black S&W grips. Im looking for an exact year of manufacture but to no avail. Ran it under somewhere and it said 1871. Just wondering if this would be right? Anybody know a better place to check, please let me know.

Jim Watson · March 11, 2008, 08:40 PM

Liklier 1881, the year introduced; maybe early 1882, depending on when they started manufacture.

For ammunition to be shot on "ceremonial occasions" search on
Black Dawge. That is Goex's line of factory loads with black powder. They also produce Black Dawge Pinnacle loaded with fake powder. I don't know if that is as easy on the old guns as real black or not, but it is likely better than smokeless and less sooty than black.
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,5066.html
http://www.rockcreekarms.com/1145208.html

The other main source is Ten-X who makes only black powder substitute ammo. But if you save your brass, Ten-X will reload it for you.
http://www.tenxammo.com/Pricing.html

a454me · March 12, 2008, 07:46 AM

I have one of these revolvers also ,doesn't lock up as tight as it should and has very little nickle finish remaining .I got a box of the Goex Black Dawge cartridges at a gunshow (expensive) just so I could shoot the old gun .It did fire all 6 rounds but it wasn't very accurate ,I don't plan to shoot it any more it's just a conversation piece for now .

March 5, 2008, 09:40 AM	#1
HondaCowboy82 Member Join Date: November 20, 2005 Posts: 80	DA 44 Russian Are these safe to shoot with modern cowboy loads? of course with proper alignment and a great lockup? any help would be appreciated.

March 5, 2008, 11:56 AM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Impossible to know without knowing the manufacturer. Lots of Spanish copies of S&Ws were made, some very good quality, some absolutely horrible. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 5, 2008, 11:14 PM	#3
HondaCowboy82 Member Join Date: November 20, 2005 Posts: 80	Smith and Wesson My dad has a Smith & Wesson DA 44. Needs some gunsmithing to make it in good shootable condition. Serial of 1843. All matching numbers. Would it be safe, being a Smith and Wesson 4 inch barrel to shoot todays modern loads? Also original finish, what kind of money are we talking in worth. Not trying to get rid of it, just wondeirng.

March 6, 2008, 01:16 AM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Breaktop, right? The serial number would put it in the first year or two of production. 4" barrel is uncommon. Value drops off VERY quickly when you get below new in box. One in very good condition would probably bring between $500 and $1000. And no, I would not shoot it with smokeless powder, black powder only. These early frames were not steel, they were ductile iron and are not known for their great strength. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 6, 2008, 12:23 PM	#6
HondaCowboy82 Member Join Date: November 20, 2005 Posts: 80	Blackpowder Rounds Where could i find/buy some blackpowder rounds for the 44 Russian? Its an uncommon gun, and im thinking about getting it worked on by a licensed gunsmith here in town and carrying it sometimes. Any help would be appreciated.

March 6, 2008, 08:51 AM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	I was reading David Chicoine's book on gunsmithing such things and he is adamantly against shooting them with smokeless. Says even light target loads will beat them up.

March 6, 2008, 03:22 PM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	A lot cheaper to roll your own. http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe...g=653*691*

March 6, 2008, 09:12 PM	#8
HondaCowboy82 Member Join Date: November 20, 2005 Posts: 80	BPC so all they blackpowder bullets will clearly say BPC on the box?

March 6, 2008, 10:20 PM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I've never bought any so I can't say for sure. Maybe somebody else knows.

March 11, 2008, 07:45 PM	#10
HondaCowboy82 Member Join Date: November 20, 2005 Posts: 80	Smith and Wesson .44Russian My dad told the story on this gun earlier today. He was working in an old womans pumphouse (~35 years ago), saw the gun laying there, and asked her about it. Her son had brought it back from the war. Not sure if this is World War I or World War II. She was afraid she was going to get in trouble with it, so she gave it to my dad. He has had it ever since. I looked today and the serial is 1846. All matching numbers in three places. Has the black S&W grips. Im looking for an exact year of manufacture but to no avail. Ran it under somewhere and it said 1871. Just wondering if this would be right? Anybody know a better place to check, please let me know.

March 11, 2008, 08:40 PM	#11
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Liklier 1881, the year introduced; maybe early 1882, depending on when they started manufacture. For ammunition to be shot on "ceremonial occasions" search on Black Dawge. That is Goex's line of factory loads with black powder. They also produce Black Dawge Pinnacle loaded with fake powder. I don't know if that is as easy on the old guns as real black or not, but it is likely better than smokeless and less sooty than black. http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,5066.html http://www.rockcreekarms.com/1145208.html The other main source is Ten-X who makes only black powder substitute ammo. But if you save your brass, Ten-X will reload it for you. http://www.tenxammo.com/Pricing.html

March 12, 2008, 07:46 AM	#12
a454me Member Join Date: September 1, 2002 Location: KY Posts: 21	I have one of these revolvers also ,doesn't lock up as tight as it should and has very little nickle finish remaining .I got a box of the Goex Black Dawge cartridges at a gunshow (expensive) just so I could shoot the old gun .It did fire all 6 rounds but it wasn't very accurate ,I don't plan to shoot it any more it's just a conversation piece for now .