.44 Special Trajectory Calculator
See how .44 Special stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every handgun caliber side by side.
The .44 Special is a classic revolver cartridge known for accuracy and moderate recoil. With a 165-grain bullet at 900 fps and a 25-yard zero, expect about 2.4 inches of drop at 50 yards, 7.7 inches at 75 yards, and 16.3 inches at 100 yards. The cartridge delivers 297 ft-lbs at the muzzle and retains 236 ft-lbs at 100 yards, effective for self-defense and small game at typical revolver distances.
Use the calculator to match your specific load. Click "Modify Calculation" to enter your bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and ballistic coefficient. The .44 Special runs 165 to 246 grain bullets. Cowboy action loads run slower while defensive loads from Hornady and Federal push velocities higher. You can also factor in wind, shooting angle, and atmospheric conditions.
Compare up to 5 different loads. The current caliber (.44 Special) is pre-selected for the first load.
.44 Special Trajectory Chart
.44 Special Ballistics Data
| Range (yd) | Elevation (in) | Elevation (MOA) | Elevation (MIL) | Windage (in) | Windage (MOA) | Windage (MIL) | Time (s) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.001 | 900.0 | 296.84 |
| 5 | -0.17 | 3.12 | 0.908 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.018 | 894.16 | 293.0 |
| 10 | 0.04 | -0.39 | -0.113 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.035 | 888.61 | 289.38 |
| 15 | 0.14 | -0.89 | -0.259 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.052 | 883.16 | 285.83 |
| 20 | 0.13 | -0.62 | -0.179 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.069 | 877.79 | 282.37 |
| 25 | 0.01 | -0.02 | -0.006 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.086 | 872.52 | 278.99 |
| 30 | -0.23 | 0.74 | 0.214 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.103 | 867.33 | 275.68 |
| 35 | -0.59 | 1.59 | 0.463 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.12 | 862.22 | 272.44 |
| 40 | -1.06 | 2.51 | 0.731 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.138 | 857.2 | 269.28 |
| 45 | -1.65 | 3.48 | 1.012 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.155 | 852.24 | 266.17 |
| 50 | -2.35 | 4.48 | 1.303 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.173 | 847.35 | 263.13 |
| 55 | -3.18 | 5.51 | 1.603 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.191 | 842.52 | 260.14 |
| 60 | -4.13 | 6.56 | 1.909 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.209 | 837.75 | 257.2 |
| 65 | -5.21 | 7.63 | 2.221 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.227 | 833.05 | 254.32 |
| 70 | -6.41 | 8.72 | 2.538 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.245 | 828.4 | 251.49 |
| 75 | -7.74 | 9.83 | 2.86 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.263 | 823.81 | 248.71 |
| 80 | -9.19 | 10.95 | 3.185 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.281 | 819.28 | 245.98 |
| 85 | -10.78 | 12.08 | 3.515 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.299 | 814.81 | 243.3 |
| 90 | -12.49 | 13.23 | 3.849 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.318 | 810.39 | 240.67 |
| 95 | -14.34 | 14.39 | 4.186 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.336 | 806.01 | 238.08 |
| 100 | -16.32 | 15.56 | 4.527 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.355 | 801.68 | 235.53 |
Take this table to the range
The .44 Special reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.
Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.
Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.
Available .44 Special Ammunition Ballistics
Zeroing the .44 Special
Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 165gr G1 .125 at 900 fps, with a 0.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). Handgun zeros are short because the sight sits close to the bore and the bullet arcs little inside 50 yards; the choice is really about where you want the crossover. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.
.44 Special zero comparison
| 10-yd zero | 15-yd zero | 25-yd zero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near zero | 10 yd | 15 yd | 9 yd |
| Far zero | 22 yd | 15 yd | 25 yd |
| Max ordinate | +0.1" | 0.0" | +0.2" |
| Max ordinate distance | 16 yd | 15 yd | 17 yd |
| Hold-dead-on window (4" vital zone, ±2") | 0–46 yd | 0–44 yd | 0–47 yd |
| Sight in at 25 yd | -0.1" (-0.4 MOA) | -0.2" (-0.9 MOA) | +0.0" (+0.0 MOA) |
| Drop at 50 yd | -2.6" | -2.8" | -2.4" |
| Drop at 100 yd | -16.8" | -17.3" | -16.3" |
| Energy at 50 yd | 263 ft-lb | 263 ft-lb | 263 ft-lb |
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 4" vital zone, ±2" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 100 yards.
Key terms
- Near zero
- Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
- Far zero
- Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
- Max ordinate
- The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
- Point blank range (MPBR)
- The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.
.44 Special with a 10-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 10 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 165gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 10 yards, peaks +0.1" at 16 yards, crosses back down at 22 yards, and is -2.6" at 50 and -16.8" at 100 yards. This load is subsonic from the muzzle.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -0.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 900 | 297 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -3.54 | -1.03 | 894 | 293 | 0.1 |
| 10 | 0.0" | -0.04 | -0.01 | 889 | 289 | 0.1 |
| 15 | +0.1" | +0.47 | +0.14 | 883 | 286 | 0.2 |
| 20 | +0.0" | +0.19 | +0.06 | 878 | 282 | 0.3 |
| 25 | -0.1" | -0.40 | -0.12 | 873 | 279 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.4" | -1.16 | -0.34 | 867 | 276 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -0.7" | -2.01 | -0.59 | 862 | 272 | 0.6 |
| 40 | -1.2" | -2.93 | -0.85 | 857 | 269 | 0.7 |
| 45 | -1.9" | -3.90 | -1.13 | 852 | 266 | 0.9 |
| 50 | -2.6" | -4.90 | -1.43 | 847 | 263 | 1.0 |
| 55 | -3.4" | -5.93 | -1.73 | 843 | 260 | 1.2 |
| 60 | -4.4" | -6.99 | -2.03 | 838 | 257 | 1.4 |
| 65 | -5.5" | -8.06 | -2.34 | 833 | 254 | 1.7 |
| 70 | -6.7" | -9.15 | -2.66 | 828 | 251 | 1.9 |
| 75 | -8.1" | -10.25 | -2.98 | 824 | 249 | 2.2 |
| 80 | -9.6" | -11.37 | -3.31 | 819 | 246 | 2.4 |
| 85 | -11.2" | -12.51 | -3.64 | 815 | 243 | 2.7 |
| 90 | -12.9" | -13.65 | -3.97 | 810 | 241 | 3.1 |
| 95 | -14.8" | -14.81 | -4.31 | 806 | 238 | 3.4 |
| 100 | -16.8" | -15.98 | -4.65 | 802 | 236 | 3.7 |
165gr G1 .125 at 900 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross.
.44 Special with a 15-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 15 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 165gr load first crosses the line of sight at 15 yards, peaks 0.0" at 15 yards, returns to zero at 15, and is -2.8" at 50 and -17.2" at 100 yards. This load is subsonic from the muzzle.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -0.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 900 | 297 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -4.01 | -1.17 | 894 | 293 | 0.1 |
| 10 | -0.1" | -0.50 | -0.14 | 889 | 289 | 0.1 |
| 15 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 883 | 286 | 0.2 |
| 20 | -0.1" | -0.27 | -0.08 | 878 | 282 | 0.3 |
| 25 | -0.2" | -0.86 | -0.25 | 873 | 279 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.5" | -1.62 | -0.47 | 867 | 276 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -0.9" | -2.48 | -0.72 | 862 | 272 | 0.6 |
| 40 | -1.4" | -3.40 | -0.99 | 857 | 269 | 0.7 |
| 45 | -2.1" | -4.36 | -1.27 | 852 | 266 | 0.9 |
| 50 | -2.8" | -5.36 | -1.56 | 847 | 263 | 1.0 |
| 55 | -3.7" | -6.39 | -1.86 | 843 | 260 | 1.2 |
| 60 | -4.7" | -7.45 | -2.17 | 838 | 257 | 1.4 |
| 65 | -5.8" | -8.52 | -2.48 | 833 | 254 | 1.7 |
| 70 | -7.1" | -9.61 | -2.80 | 828 | 251 | 1.9 |
| 75 | -8.4" | -10.71 | -3.12 | 824 | 249 | 2.2 |
| 80 | -9.9" | -11.84 | -3.44 | 819 | 246 | 2.4 |
| 85 | -11.6" | -12.97 | -3.77 | 815 | 243 | 2.7 |
| 90 | -13.3" | -14.12 | -4.11 | 810 | 241 | 3.1 |
| 95 | -15.2" | -15.27 | -4.44 | 806 | 238 | 3.4 |
| 100 | -17.3" | -16.45 | -4.78 | 802 | 236 | 3.7 |
165gr G1 .125 at 900 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross.
.44 Special with a 25-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 25 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 165gr load first crosses the line of sight at 9 yards, peaks +0.2" at 17 yards, returns to zero at 25, and is -2.4" at 50 and -16.3" at 100 yards. This load is subsonic from the muzzle.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -0.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 900 | 297 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -3.12 | -0.91 | 894 | 293 | 0.1 |
| 10 | +0.0" | +0.39 | +0.11 | 889 | 289 | 0.1 |
| 15 | +0.1" | +0.89 | +0.26 | 883 | 286 | 0.2 |
| 20 | +0.1" | +0.62 | +0.18 | 878 | 282 | 0.3 |
| 25 | +0.0" | +0.02 | +0.01 | 873 | 279 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.2" | -0.74 | -0.21 | 867 | 276 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -0.6" | -1.59 | -0.46 | 862 | 272 | 0.6 |
| 40 | -1.1" | -2.51 | -0.73 | 857 | 269 | 0.7 |
| 45 | -1.7" | -3.48 | -1.01 | 852 | 266 | 0.9 |
| 50 | -2.4" | -4.48 | -1.30 | 847 | 263 | 1.0 |
| 55 | -3.2" | -5.51 | -1.60 | 843 | 260 | 1.2 |
| 60 | -4.1" | -6.56 | -1.91 | 838 | 257 | 1.4 |
| 65 | -5.2" | -7.63 | -2.22 | 833 | 254 | 1.7 |
| 70 | -6.4" | -8.72 | -2.54 | 828 | 251 | 1.9 |
| 75 | -7.7" | -9.83 | -2.86 | 824 | 249 | 2.2 |
| 80 | -9.2" | -10.95 | -3.19 | 819 | 246 | 2.4 |
| 85 | -10.8" | -12.08 | -3.52 | 815 | 243 | 2.7 |
| 90 | -12.5" | -13.23 | -3.85 | 810 | 241 | 3.1 |
| 95 | -14.3" | -14.39 | -4.19 | 806 | 238 | 3.4 |
| 100 | -16.3" | -15.56 | -4.53 | 802 | 236 | 3.7 |
165gr G1 .125 at 900 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross.
Similar Calibers
.44 Special Ballistics Comparisons
Stock Up On .44 Special Ammo for the Range
| PRODUCT | DEALER | QUANTITY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL PRICE | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 1000 | $716.29 | $0.00 | $716.29 |
$0.72
1000 Rounds
|
|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 1000 | $747.05 | $0.00 | $747.05 |
$0.75
1000 Rounds
|
|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 1000 | $790.83 | $0.00 | $790.83 |
$0.79
1000 Rounds
|
|
| Lucky Gunner | 500 | $420.00 | $22.49 | $442.49 |
$0.88
500 Rounds
|
|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 500 | $463.15 | $0.00 | $463.15 |
$0.93
500 Rounds
|