<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Test barrel length: 7.5 in (190 mm) (* 6.5 in (170 mm)) Source (s): DoubleTap Buffalo Bore </Td> </Tr> <P> The . 44 Remington Magnum, or simply . 44 Magnum (10.9 × 33mmR), and frequently . 44 Mag, is a large - bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers . After its introduction, it was quickly adopted for carbines and rifles . Despite the ". 44" designation, guns chambered for the . 44 Magnum round, and its parent, the . 44 Special, use 0.429 in (10.9 mm) diameter bullets . </P> <P> The . 44 Magnum is based on a lengthened . 44 Special case, loaded to higher pressures for greater velocity (and thus, energy). The . 44 Magnum has since been eclipsed in power by the . 454 Casull, and most recently by the . 460 S&W Magnum and . 500 S&W Magnum, among others; nevertheless, it has remained one of the most popular commercial large - bore magnum cartridges . When loaded to its maximum and with heavy, deeply penetrating bullets, the . 44 Magnum cartridge is suitable for short - range hunting of all North American game--though at the cost of heavy recoil and muzzle flash when fired in handguns, less so in carbines and rifles . </P> <P> The . 44 Magnum cartridge was the end result of years of tuned handloading of the . 44 Special . The . 44 Special, and other large - bore handgun cartridges, were being loaded with heavy bullets, pushed at higher than normal velocities for better hunting performance . One of these handloaders was Elmer Keith, a writer and outdoorsman of the 20th century . </P>

What's the difference between 44 mag and 44 special