Taurus 44
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 165 mm
- Weight, empty
- 1.47 kg
- Introduced
- 1994
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Taurus 44 (Model 44) is a large-frame, six-shot, double-action/single-action revolver chambered in .44 Remington Magnum that also accepts .44 Special ammunition. Built entirely of stainless steel, it was introduced in the mid-1990s as a more affordable alternative to the Smith & Wesson Model 629 and Ruger Redhawk for hunters and backcountry enthusiasts who need serious magnum stopping power. The defining feature of the Taurus 44 is its factory-ported barrel with a gas expansion chamber, which vents propellant gases upward through ports near the muzzle to significantly reduce muzzle flip and felt recoil. This makes follow-up shots faster and more manageable despite the powerful .44 Magnum cartridge. The 6.5-inch barrel model weighs 52 ounces (1474g) with an overall length of approximately 11.67 inches (296mm). The revolver features adjustable rear sights and a fixed front sight, complemented by a soft rubber grip that absorbs recoil and provides a secure hold. The six-shot cylinder gives it one more round than many competing .44 Magnum revolvers that only hold five shots. Available barrel lengths include 4-inch, 6.5-inch, and 8.375-inch configurations, all featuring the signature ported barrel design. With factory 240-grain .44 Magnum loads from the 6.5-inch barrel, muzzle velocity is approximately 1,250 fps (381 m/s), producing around 1,129 joules of muzzle energy.
The Taurus Model 44 brought .44 Magnum revolver ownership within reach of everyday shooters, offering the same cartridge made famous by Dirty Harry at a fraction of the S&W Model 29's price.
The Taurus 44 competes directly with the Smith & Wesson Model 629 and Ruger Redhawk in the large-frame .44 Magnum market segment, offering comparable functionality at a significantly lower price point. The ported barrel system is one of its strongest selling points, as factory porting on competitors' models typically requires aftermarket modification or premium model selection. The 4-inch barrel model weighs approximately 45 ounces (1276g) with an overall length of approximately 9.5 inches (241mm), making it more portable for field carry. The 8.375-inch barrel model weighs approximately 57 ounces (1616g) with an overall length of approximately 13.75 inches (349mm) and is optimized for scoped hunting applications with a ventilated rib. Loaded weight estimate for the 6.5-inch model includes six .44 Magnum cartridges at approximately 20.2g each. The double-action trigger pull is approximately 10.5 pounds (47 N), while the single-action pull is approximately 5 pounds (22 N). Reviewers consistently note that the ported barrel effectively reduces muzzle flip, though it does increase muzzle blast and noise. The ports can also be difficult to clean, requiring wire brushes to remove lead and carbon buildup from the vent holes. The stainless steel construction provides excellent corrosion resistance for field use in wet or humid conditions. MSRP is approximately $749-$849 depending on barrel length, with street prices often several hundred dollars below the comparable Smith & Wesson 629.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Taurus
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- Brazil
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1994
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 165 mm
- Overall length
- 296 mm
- Height
- 152 mm
- Width
- 46 mm
- Weight, empty
- 1.47 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 1.59 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Double action
- Firing mechanism
- Double action single action
- Trigger
- Double action
- Trigger pull
- 47.0 N
- Capacity
- 6
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Stainless steel
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Finish
- Matte stainless
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 381 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1129 J
- Effective range
- 50 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Large frame
Six shot cylinder
Ported barrel
Gas expansion chamber
Adjustable rear sight
Fixed front sight
Rubber grips
Full underlug barrel
Dual caliber capability
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 1,909 pistols | 1.47 kg | 794 g | Heavier than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 1,911 pistols | 296 mm | 196 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 1,941 pistols | 165 mm | 102 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 1,962 pistols | 6 | 8 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the Taurus 44
How much does the Taurus 44 weigh?
The Taurus 44 weighs 1.47 kg (3.25 lb) empty and 1.59 kg (3.52 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Taurus 44?
The Taurus 44 is chambered in .44 Remington Magnum and .44 Special.
How many rounds does the Taurus 44 hold?
The Taurus 44 holds 6 rounds.
How long is the Taurus 44?
The Taurus 44 is 296 mm (11.65 in) long overall, with a 165 mm (6.50 in) barrel.
Who makes the Taurus 44?
The Taurus 44 is made by Taurus (Brazil).
When was the Taurus 44 introduced?
The Taurus 44 was introduced in 1994.
How does the Taurus 44 operate?
The Taurus 44 uses a double action, and its firing mechanism is double action single action.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Civilian Hunters
- United States
- Civilian Backcountry & Trail Defense
- United States
- Civilian Sport Shooters
- United States
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/taurus-44' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "taurus-44", "name": "Taurus 44", "manufacturer": { "id": "taurus", "name": "Taurus", "countryCode": "BR", "foundedYear": 1939, "website": "https://www.taurususa.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "71240218613bda05e45296e8997918c10d23b1d7627e46a424bd7e516e0fdffb" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "BR", "year_introduced": 1994, "barrel_length_mm": 165, "weight_empty_g": 1474, "action_type": "double_action"}