Guide

.44 Magnum Ammo 2026: Self-Defense, Hunting and Range Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 23 current .44 Magnum loads on Federal's, Remington's, CCI's and Hornady's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 11 from Federal, 4 from Remington, 1 from CCI and 7 from Hornady. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 4 makers, not every .44 Magnum load sold.

Grouping follows each maker's own usage label ("Self-Defense," "Big Game" and "Target Shooting"). Hornady prints no usage label or stock status on our capture, so its loads sit in their own table. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses: "44 Mag", "44 Rem Mag", "44 Rem Magnum" and "44 Remington Mag". The .44 Special, a different cartridge, is not in these tables.

Self-defense loads

These are the loads Federal and Remington label Self-Defense on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

Download these 23 loads as a CSV: maker, load, item number, bullet, muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, test barrel, box count, maker status and the maker URL for each row. No prices. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0; more files on our open data page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Personal Defense HST	44 Rem Magnum	P44HST1S	230 gr HST Jacketed Hollow Point	1,085 fps	601 ft-lb	4 in vented	20	Available
Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok	44 Rem Magnum	P44HS1	240 gr Hydra-Shok Jacketed Hollow Point	1,210 fps	780 ft-lb	4 in vented	20	Available
Remington High Terminal Performance	44 Rem Magnum	23002	240 gr Jacketed Soft Point	1,180 fps	742 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington High Terminal Performance	44 Rem Magnum	23010	240 gr Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point	1,180 fps	742 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available

Hunting loads

Federal and Remington label these loads Big Game on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Barnes Expander Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	P44XB1	225 gr Barnes Expander	1,280 fps	818 ft-lb	6 in vented	20	Available
Federal Fusion Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	F44FS1	240 gr Fusion Soft Point	1,290 fps	887 ft-lb	4 in vented	20	Available
Federal HammerDown Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	LG441	270 gr Bonded Soft Point	1,615 fps	1,564 ft-lb	20 in	20	Available
Federal Power-Shok Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	C44B	180 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	1,460 fps	852 ft-lb	4 in vented	20	Available
Federal Power-Shok Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	C44A	240 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	1,230 fps	806 ft-lb	4 in vented	20	Available
Federal Solid Core	44 Rem Magnum	P44SHC1	300 gr Solid	1,150 fps	881 ft-lb	6.5 in vented	20	Currently Unavailable
Federal Swift A-Frame	44 Rem Magnum	P44SA	280 gr Swift A-Frame	1,170 fps	851 ft-lb	6 in vented	20	Available
Federal Terminal Ascent Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	P44TA1	235 gr Terminal Ascent JHP	1,380 fps	994 ft-lb	6 in vented	20	Currently Unavailable
Remington Core-Lokt Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	R20228	240 gr Core-Lokt Hollow Point	1,220 fps	793 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table, and the test barrel is the one the table names.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady Backcountry Defense	44 Rem Mag	90868	240 gr DGH® Backcountry Defense™	1,620 fps	1,398 ft-lb	8 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Custom	44 Mag	9080	200 gr XTP®	1,500 fps	999 ft-lb	7.5 in vented	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Custom	44 Mag	9085	240 gr XTP®	1,350 fps	971 ft-lb	7.5 in vented	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Custom	44 Mag	9088	300 gr XTP®	1,150 fps	881 ft-lb	7.5 in vented	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Handgun Hunter	44 Remington Mag	9083	200 gr MonoFlex® Handgun Hunter®	1,475 fps	966 ft-lb	8 in vented	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady LEVERevolution	44 Mag	92782	225 gr FTX® LEVERevolution®	1,410 fps	993 ft-lb	7.5 in vented	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Subsonic	44 Rem Mag	90888	300 gr XTP® Subsonic	1,050 fps	734 ft-lb	5 in	20	Not listed on maker page

Range and training loads

These are loads Federal, Remington and CCI label Target Shooting. Several are the same load in different box counts, and each box size has its own item number.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal American Eagle Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	AE44A	240 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	1,230 fps	806 ft-lb	4 in vented	50	Available
Remington UMC Handgun	44 Rem Magnum	23744	180 gr Jacketed Soft Point	1,610 fps	1,036 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
CCI Blazer Brass	44 Rem Magnum	5244	240 gr Full Metal Jacket	1,200 fps	767 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 23 loads, 5 list no test barrel on the maker page (Remington and CCI), and 6 list 4 in vented, 4 list 7.5 in vented, 3 list 6 in vented, 1 lists 20 in, 1 lists 6.5 in vented, 1 lists 8 in, 1 lists 5 in, 1 lists 8 in vented. A revolver with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's velocity test barrel for .44 Magnum is 8.275 in solid or 4.000 in vented. Many maker pages list a vented revolver test barrel. For how velocity changes with barrel length in .44 Magnum, see our barrel length vs velocity data for .44 Magnum.

.44 Magnum: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "44 REMINGTON MAGNUM (44 REM MAG)" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022, its centerfire pistol and revolver standard (approved Dec. 13, 2022). The cartridge drawing was issued 05/29/1979 and revised 07/12/2021. The standard lists pressure two ways. By transducer, the maximum average pressure is 36,000 psi (the table shows 360 in psi/100). By crusher, it is 40,000 CUP (400 in CUP/100). Cartridge overall length runs from 1.535 in minimum to 1.610 in maximum. Case length is 1.285 in (−.020). The drawing shows a bullet diameter of .4320 in (−.0060), labeled lead bullet. Bore is .417 in and groove is .429 in. SAAMI's velocity test barrel for .44 Magnum is 8.275 in solid or 4.000 in vented. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.3 PDF.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: we opened 9 Winchester product pages (shotshell, handgun and rimfire) on Nov. 4 and every one said "There is no ballistics data available at this time," so we have no Winchester figures to copy.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we could not verify its product pages.
Speer: Speer's caliber list and its Gold Dot and Lawman product pages (opened Nov. 4) show no .44 Magnum load, so none is in the tables.
Federal and Remington: their .44 Special loads are a different cartridge and are left out.
CCI: its handgun pest-control shotshells for .44 Special/Rem Mag are shot capsules, not bullet loads, and are not in the tables. The Blazer Brass 5244 is the only CCI .44 Magnum bullet load we found.
Hornady: its .44-40 and .44 Special loads are different cartridges and are left out; the .44 Magnum loads come from the product pages in Hornady's sitemap.
Test barrels and stock status: Remington and CCI pages list no test barrel on some loads, and Hornady's pages list no stock status.

Revolvers and carbines for .44 Magnum

The .44 Magnum is a revolver round that is also used in lever-action carbines. Barrel length changes velocity, as the .44 Magnum barrel length data shows. See also new pistol releases.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal, Remington and CCI show availability on their own product pages (for example "Available" or "Currently Unavailable"). Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see .357 Magnum ammo, .38 Special ammo, .45 Colt ammo, 10mm Auto ammo, .500 S&W Magnum ammo, .454 Casull ammo, .460 S&W Magnum ammo, .41 Magnum ammo, the .44 Magnum barrel length data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Compare: .44 Magnum vs .45 Colt.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .44 Magnum?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 36,000 psi for .44 Remington Magnum by transducer (360 in psi/100) and 40,000 CUP by crusher, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3.

What grain is .44 Magnum ammo?

In our tables the bullets run from 180 gr to 300 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your gun is set up to shoot.

How fast is .44 Magnum ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 1,050 fps to 1,620 fps, and muzzle energies from 601 ft-lb to 1,564 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.

What does test barrel mean?

It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. See our .44 Magnum barrel length data.

Do you list prices or stock for .44 Magnum ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

Sources

Keep exploring

Cite this data

Suggested citation:

GunReleases.com (The Release Desk), “.44 Magnum factory ammo ballistics: loads from maker pages,” updated Nov 4, 2026. https://gunreleases.com/guides/44-magnum-ammo/

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