ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

.44 Mag Results in fps

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.

barrel length Cor Bon
165 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
225 gr.
DPX
Federal
240 gr.
Hydra-Shok
JHP
Speer
200 gr.
Gold Dot
Short-bbl
HP
18" 1558 1540 1643 1341
17" 1590 1563 1629 1354
16" 1552 1532 1619 1377
15" 1564 1550 1645 1361
14" 1541 1506 1623 1358
13" 1549 1495 1608 1341
12" 1514 1474 1579 1353
11" 1497 1472 1584 1315
10" 1501 1467 1571 1319
9" 1438 1447 1535 1278
8" 1433 1387 1497 1282
7" 1385 1385 1462 1251
6" 1321 1320 1380 1197
5" 1270 1301 1367 1170
4" 1150 1250 1251 1099
3" 1015 1095 1095 964
2" 952 951 944 833

 

real*
world
weapons
Cor Bon
165 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
225 gr.
DPX
Federal
240 gr.
Hydra-Shok
JHP
Speer
200 gr.
Gold Dot
Short-bbl
HP
Henry
Big Boy
20" barrel
1555 1527 1613 1289
S & W
Model 629
12" barrel
1443 1433 1407 1164
S & W 629-5
Classic
6.5" barrel
1360 1283 1296 1153
S & W 629-5
Perf. Ctr.
w/ brake
5.625" barrel
1257 1245 1256 1061
S & W 629-5
Perf. Ctr.
w/o brake
4.875" barrel
1238 1232 1227 1092
S & W 629-5
Mtn. Gun
4" barrel
1190 1087 1094 1009
S & W 629-5
Mtn. Packer
(ported)
3" barrel
1170 1106 1120 991
Bond
Texas
Defender
3" barrel
1082 1081 1069 926

*see also .44 special real world tests

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.