Does any .44 Mag ammo recoil as little as .44 Special ammo?

swmountain · #1 02-02-2020, 02:00 AM

Looking for some clean, low recoil .44 Special ammo or .44 Mag ammo if it has similar recoil to .44 Special ammo for target practice at the cheapest price. Some have said that if the ammo is labeled "Cowboy Ammo" (for Cowboy Action Shooting I imagine) that it will be low recoiling also.

*** Note: Handloadimg is not an option.

What is good .44 Special or .44 mag ammo if it has the same recoil for low recoil, cheap target shooting?

Thanks in advance.

4barrel · #2 02-02-2020, 02:06 AM

Today is 02022020==No offence. 6 min. after midnight.

There is not any cheap 44 load unless someone gives it to you.

Alk8944 · #3 02-02-2020, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swmountain

Looking for some clean, low recoil .44 Special ammo or .44 Mag ammo if it has similar recoil to .44 Special ammo for target practice at the cheapest price. Some have said that if the ammo is labeled "Cowboy Ammo" (for Cowboy Action Shooting I imagine) that it will be low recoiling also.

Yes, .44 Cowboy loads are relatively low recoil. Take up hand-loading and you can make whatever you want!!!!!

Muley Gil · #4 02-02-2020, 03:43 AM

Here's some. Velocity is 750 FPS. Their .44 Special ammo is also 750 FPS.

http://www.georgia-arms.com/new-44-r...-nose-flat-pt/

hkcavalier · #5 02-02-2020, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4barrel

Today is 02022020

Palindromic dates aren't particularly rare in the first century of a millennium

Before 2001 the last one occurred on August 31st, 1380.

Almost forgot my point: I've shot the COR-BON 165gr .44 Mag load and so has my young daughter. Listed MV is 1300fps so it's pretty much a .357 in terms of recoil. Felt recoil is less than a 240gr .44 Special or 200gr .44 Mag cowboy loads IMO.

6string · #6 02-02-2020, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alk8944

Take up hand-loading and you can make whatever you want!!!!!

Agree with this! ^

Buy a Lee Loader and a set of the Lee powder scoops.
Also, get some primers, a pound of Unique, and some light lead bullets.
Use the 1.0 cc Lee scoop for about 8 gr Unique.

An organized person can make about 50 rds in an hour. A couple boxes of ammo and your investment is paid off.

Jim

Oops, just saw the reloading comment in the OP. Sorry! No offense intended!!

Glashaus · #7 02-02-2020, 08:15 AM

I have been shooting MSM .44 Special Cowboy Action Loads out of my 2nd Model Hand Ejectors and M629's. I have also tried MSM .44 Magnum MSM Cowboy action Loads to see how much oomph they have over the .44 Specials, they both are pleasant to shoot.

HSM Cowboy Action Ammo 44 Special 240 Grain Hard Cast Lead

There is no such animal as cheap, practice, factory .44 Special or .44 Magnum, it is what it is.

swmountain · #8 02-02-2020, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkcavalier

Palindromic dates aren't particularly rare in the first century of a millennium

Before 2001 the last one occurred on August 31st, 1380.

Almost forgot my point: I've shot the COR-BON 165gr .44 Mag load and so has my young daughter. Listed MV is 1300fps so it's pretty much a .357 in terms of recoil. Felt recoil is less than a 240gr .44 Special or 200gr .44 Mag cowboy loads IMO.

Is this what your talking about? It's a self defense round?

44 Rem Mag 165gr Self-Defense JHP

BC38 · #9 02-02-2020, 07:21 PM

Armsor makes some good 240gr cowboy loads.

Univibe · #10 02-03-2020, 12:23 AM

I load my 629 to shoot 240 grains at about 1000 fps by estimate (I need to chrono). Accurate and fun to shoot.

And it costs me $8 or 8.50 a box of 50, not $30+ like the factory stuff.

BC38 · #11 02-03-2020, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Univibe

I load my 629 to shoot 240 grains at about 1000 fps by estimate (I need to chrono). Accurate and fun to shoot.

And it costs me $8 or 8.50 a box of 50, not $30+ like the factory stuff.

I think you missed a critical piece of the OP's post...
He says "NOTE: Handloading is NOT an option"

He's looking for loaded ammo - not reloading info.
That's why the thread is in the Ammo forum, not the Reloading forum.

Dave Lively · #12 02-03-2020, 08:18 AM

The cowboy loads from various manufacturers will be low recoil and depending on what brand and who you buy it from will be about $.50/round. Due to the lead bullet it will be smoky and leave quite a bit of residue on your gun. The residue is not hard to clean off but there is quite a bit of it.

A cleaner option is Magtech 44 special 240 grain FMJ. Its currently listed at $.52/round at sgammo but is out of stock. I tried a couple of boxes recently and it is going to replace the cowboy loads for low recoil plinking with my S&W 69.

The prices I mentioned are mail order not including shipping.

If you don't want to reload do not let anyone talk you into it. I reloaded for about 20 years due to economic necessity and found it as enjoyable as having to mow the yard on a humid 95 degree Georgia afternoon. These days I pay someone to do my yard work and buy factory ammo. Shooting may not be as cheap as if I reloaded but I enjoy it more.

hkcavalier · #13 02-03-2020, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swmountain

Is this what your talking about? It's a self defense round?

44 Rem Mag 165gr Self-Defense JHP

Yes it's not cheap.

cmansguns · #14 02-03-2020, 09:18 AM

When taking my 1980 Model 29-2 out to the range, I do take a few cylinders full of full load Magnums, either PMC Bronze, 180 gr., JHP (definite bruiser on felt recoil), or PMC Starfire, 240 gr., SFHP. The Starfire is labelled at 1320 fps

For most of a outing with the 29-2 I take several boxes of Winchester, 240 gr., LRN. These are known as the "cowboy loads" so I have heard, and they are very easy to shoot, I don't notice much felt recoil at all.

Usually if anyone is with me, or range friends who like to lay down their Glocks for a moment and enjoy a big-bore Smith, also find that 1 cylinder with full house Magnums is enough to make one really have fun with the cowboy loads.

As posted above, there is more attention to cleaning required, but that just means 2 - JD and branch water, instead of 1 when the shootings over.

uncleted327 · #15 02-03-2020, 09:32 AM

I will agree with looking for anything labeled Cowboy load as your best bet. Though without a willingness to reload, cheap ammo and the 44 Magnum are not compatible.

cmansguns · #16 02-03-2020, 09:51 AM

Don't want to steer you wrong so grabbed out some 44 ammo and took a couple pics.

The "cowboy load" I spoke about is actually NOT LRN, rather LFN (Lead Flat Nose) and the Winchester Super-X, is actually labelled S&W 44 Special, Cowboy Action and is a box of 50 as you can see.

The Starfire is a box of 20, and the Bronze is a box of 25, both full load 44 Remington Magnum.

I bought my last "stash" some years ago and Walmart had best pricing on the 44 special Winchester, so don't really have up-to-date costs, but as said by others....none of this ammo is "cheap".

swmountain · #17 02-03-2020, 03:58 PM

Thanks for all the help.

I ended up with a box of each of these and will see if they work.

Could only find the Corbon on their website and they wanted $12 just to ship it.

BC38 · #18 02-03-2020, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swmountain

Thanks for all the help.

I ended up with a box of each of these and will see if they work.

Could only find the Corbon on their website and they wanted $12 just to ship it.

You're probably better off not getting the Corbon anyway.
Everything I've heard about their loads indicates they are hotter than average and you're looking for milder than average.

Early Bird Dave · #19 02-03-2020, 06:44 PM

I have also been chasing this. When I read the paperwork with the 29-2, they also said I could use Russian 44. Gave me a better option. Also found some Remington 44 Mag that claims less foot pounds than the 41 mag that I can shoot comfortably.

Bronco89 · #20 02-03-2020, 06:51 PM

I reload mine, and I reload it at the start loads. For Universal, that's about where Special stops.

nate-dogg · #21 02-03-2020, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swmountain

I ended up with a box of each of these and will see if they work.

I've shot those HSM Cowboy before and while they are light recoiling, they are very dirty and produce and large puff of smoke when fired.

swmountain · #22 02-03-2020, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate-dogg

I've shot those HSM Cowboy before and while they are light recoiling, they are very dirty and produce and large puff of smoke when fired.

Thats what one of the reviews said, not good for indoor ranges.

fleabus101 · #23 02-07-2020, 07:46 PM

Being in Ga I bought the 44 spc 750fps
ammo at local shows at Ga Arms tables.
Some of the lowest cost rounds you can get.

PHS327 · #24 03-07-2020, 05:20 PM

Someone mentioned the 240 grain Magtech was low recoil. Compared to most 44 mag ammo it is but I think it's still too much in my model 69. My favorite is HSM 200 grain cowboy ammo @ 975 fps 422 foot pounds which is really a warm 44 special load in a 44 mag case. Other choices are Georgia arms 240gr @ 1000 fps and LAX 240gr @ 1026 fps 533 and 560 foot pounds respectively.

swmountain · #25 03-07-2020, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHS327

Someone mentioned the 240 grain Magtech was low recoil. Compared to most 44 mag ammo it is but I think it's still too much in my model 69. My favorite is HSM 200 grain cowboy ammo @ 975 fps 422 foot pounds which is really a warm 44 special load in a 44 mag case. Other choices are Georgia arms 240gr @ 1000 fps and LAX 240gr @ 1026 fps 533 and 560 foot pounds respectively.

Does "warm" mean higher velocity this recoil?

Dave Lively · #26 03-07-2020, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHS327

Someone mentioned the 240 grain Magtech was low recoil. Compared to most 44 mag ammo it is but I think it's still too much in my model 69.

If that someone was me I was referring to Magtech 44 special, not magnum.