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 Special 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
200 gr.
DPX
18" 1353 1286
17" 1377 1339
16" 1338 1307
15" 1339 1315
14" 1327 1298
13" 1351 1290
12" 1314 1234
11" 1289 1250
10" 1296 1263
9" 1224 1215
8" 1237 1210
7" 1184 1146
6" 1133 1098
5" 1102 1084
4" 1013 972
3" 906 859
2" 854 713

 

real*
world
weapons
Cor Bon
165 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
200 gr.
DPX
Henry
BigBoy
20" barrel
1332 1280
S & W
Model 629
12" barrel
1256 1158
S & W 629-5
Classic
6.5" barrel
1209 1056
S & W 629-5
Perf. Ctr.
w/ brake
5.625" barrel
1118 977
S & W 629-5
Perf. Ctr.
w/o brake
4.875" barrel
1126 1004
S & W 629-5
Mtn. Gun
4" barrel
1050 767
S & W 629-5
Mtn. Packer
(ported)
3" barrel
1013 896
Bond
Texas
Defender
3" barrel
956 871

*see also .44 magnum tests for real world guns

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.