I just picked up a 44 special carry gun and need some loads please. The gun is a Rossi with a 3 inch barrel. I will be carrying the gun, primarily when I am fishing because I fish in the brush along the small streams in Maine. I have never encountered an animal with rabies but our winters are getting warmer and shorter so I want to be prepared. I hunt with a 44 Mag Ruger with a 7 1/2 barrel but it is not comfortable to carry while I am fishing. Thank you for any info that I can use.

Depending on which source of load data you find, 6.5 to 7.0 grains of Unique behind a 240 cast SWC will do an admirable job from a .44 Special.

If it's varmints you are talking about (i.e. skunks, raccoons, etc.); Speer makes a 200 grain Gold Dot designed for velocities under 1100 fps. This bullet weight is about 40 grains under what I recommend in a .430" bore. However, I did try it out on some groundhogs a couple of years ago and it does make a mess of one. I'm loading these ahead of 8.0 grains of Unique in my revolvers.

Thank you MS. Hitman, that is exactly what I have in mind. I use unique in my 44 mag and it works well. Thanks again.

I started using Universal Clays in .44 spec. with excellent results. I now use it for .44 mags as well.

Roger
If you are worried about animals like bears, mountain lions, coyotes, wild dogs, etc, then I would use a 240gr hard cast over 7.5 gr of Unique, or equivilent.

If you are worried about skunk sized animals I would load a Speer shotshell or two in the first 2 cylinders followed up by the 240gr hard cast.

I am with Tony, 7.5gr Unique is my go to load for the spec. I load it with Lyman's 429421, Keith's 250gr SWC.

Keith