| .44 S&W American | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Revolver | |
| Place of origin | USA | |
| Production history | ||
| Produced | 1869?-1940? | |
| Specifications | ||
| Bullet diameter | .434 in (11.0 mm) | |
| Neck diameter | .438 in (11.1 mm) | |
| Base diameter | .440 in (11.2 mm) | |
| Rim diameter | .506 in (12.9 mm) | |
| Case length | 0.91 in (23 mm) | |
| Overall length | 1.44 in (37 mm) | |
| Rifling twist | 1:20 | |
| Primer type | large rifle | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 205 gr (13.3 g) (factory load) | 682 ft/s (208 m/s) | 212 ft·lbf (287 J) |
| 218 gr (14.1 g) | 660 ft/s (200 m/s) | 196 ft·lbf (266 J) |
| 200 gr (13 g) (max) | 810 ft/s (250 m/s) | 296 ft·lbf (401 J) |
| 205 gr (13.3 g) (Lyman #429478) | 800 ft/s (240 m/s) | 291 ft·lbf (395 J) |
| Source(s): Barnes & Amber 1972 | ||
The .44 S&W American (commonly called the .44 American) is an American centerfire revolver cartridge.
Used in the Smith & Wesson Model 3, it was introduced around 1869.[1] Between 1871 and 1873, the .44 Model 3 was used as the standard United States Army sidearm.[1] It was also offered in the Merwin Hulbert & Co. Army revolvers.[1]
It used an outside lubricated bullet of the same diameter as the .44 S&W Russian, with a slightly greater case neck diameter, and appeared in either Boxer and Berdan priming,[1] and both black and smokeless powder loadings.[1]
Its power resembles the .41 Long Colt,[1] .32-20 Winchester,[2] or .44-40 Winchester,[3] and it could be used to hunt small game at short range.[2]
The .44 American ceased to be commercially available around 1940. It can be handloaded by shortening and reforming .44 Special cases.[1] Original black powder revolvers should only use light loads; modern powders will generate excessive pressures.[1]
During the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, Wyatt Earp carried an 8 inches (200 mm) .44 caliber 1869 American model Smith & Wesson. Earp had received the weapon as a gift from Tombstone, Arizona mayor and Tombstone Epitaph newspaper editor John Clum.[4]