I've never shot one but, I sure have the hots for a .44 Mag. Maybe a Model 29. Just how bad is the recoil? How hard are they to control ?

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Cliff

Oh, sure they kick hard. The ones with the sharp checking on the stocks are no fun at all. But it's nothing that should hurt most people. (Except in the wallet, that hurts BAD).
Jim

I shot a dozen magnums in my 629 when I got it. I could handle it, but I quickly said "why"?? Since all my shooting is on the range, I only use .44 Specials. It's supposed to be fun, not a chore, although there are plenty of folks here who think it's a hoot to hear the artillery go off!

Well, it is definitely more violent of a recoil than a 357. I own a 629-6 Classic, 6.5" bbl. It is a stainless with a full underlug making a little bit heavier than the M29. So an M29 of the same barrel length will probably have a little bit sharper recoil. But I'm not sure if it would be terribly noticeable...

It is my opinion that if one exercises proper grip and stance that almost anyone should be able to fire a 44. Obviously that statement has a few exceptions. I LOVE my 629 Classic... Next wheelgun just might be a 460XVR, 8-3/8"....But that will be a little while.

I practice/target shoot with the same ammo that I put in the gun when I go deer hunting. In other words, I like to practice up with the stuff that will be in the gun when it counts... SO, no 44spl out of my 629, no 38spl out of my 357, except for just plinking.. My serious shooting, the shooting I do to dial in the groups and adjust my sights too, I use full house loads.

The three that I found used looked brand new. I'm pretty sure there are many out there that get shot once or twice and then get sold. I suppose it depends on the user. I don't find them that bad with the right grip in the hand and the stock has to fit your hand. I really like Ahrends for them. But I do confess that many of my .44 magnums are what you would call magnum lights. But I only do that for paper punching.

A lot depends on the barrel length. Many years ago I bought a Model 29 with a 4-inch barrel. Beautiful gun. I fired six rounds through it and promptly traded it off for something else. Later purchases of 6 1/2" and 8 3/8"-barreled guns showed me that the .44 magnum is better shot with the longer barrel lengths - recoil and blast were considerably reduced. It's a trade-off of power and weight. The more weight, the more manageable the recoil. I have a 4" M629, but I shoot it only with .44 specials or reduced-load magnums. There are those who regularly shoot the shorter-barreled guns, but I suspect that deep down they might be masochists...

My first .44 mag was a Ruger Super Blackhawk. With its 7 1/2" barrel, unfluted cylinder and smooth curved grips, it was quite manageable. A single action gun will roll in the hand - spreading the recoil over a bit longer time, where a double action will not. It's therefore more of a kick than a push.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Aint nuttin but a thing. Do you reload??

Yes they have some kick, But you need not load hot loads or a heavy bullets. For fun shooting I load 180gr HDY with ACC #2 10.0gr vol 1.271 C.U.P. 36.500 this is a fun round to shoot after you are use to this load you can add a little more powder or a heaver bullet. GOOD LUCK

I can tell you its not as bad as what the movies make you think. I used to shoot fifty rounds or so at a time in my 4-inch Model 29. Granted they were mild loads of 250 grain lead SWC and 10.0 grains of Unique. The biggest thing I found is the grips. I had a Ruger 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum and it came with those black checkered grips. They were like 60 grit sandpaper. I replaced them with elk stag and I could shoot it all day long with my handloads. To be honest I prefer the .357 Magnum for all day shooting, its too expensive to shoot the .44 like that now even when I handload.

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Vaya con Dios

I have a M29-2, 4 inch and yes, with a full magnum load, it will get your attention. But with the correct stocks, the recoil can be tamed...well, somewhat.

With the stock grips and full loads it can cause severe flinching if you're not used to a hard recoiling revolver. Seen it more times than I can count when I lived in Alaska and everyone just had to have a .44 or .454 for bear protection and never shot anything more powerful than a .357 mag. They would be lucky to hit a 10" paper plate from 10 yards after 1 cylinder and thats no joke! I could actually watch em close their eyes before yanking on the trigger.

Put a good set of full coverage rubber grips and work your way up from light loads to heavy and with time it is a very manageable round. I went with my model 57 and 210 gr. hard cast LSWC's and had great penetration with less recoil and muzzle blast than with a 29 or 629.

If I were to buy another .44 mag it would not be a S&W. Had 3 and now own none. I'd go with a 5.5" Ruger Redhawk, rubber grips and have the trigger worked over. Very heavy revolver that's built like a tank and will gobble up 300 gr. bullets loaded hot with no problem. The extra weight and a good set of grips really tames the standard 240 grain round down. JMHO

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V/R
Roger / SG

I have a S&W Model 29 8 3/8" barreled nickel plated 44mag, it has a superb target trigger action and target sights and hammer. That thing is deadly accurate too! I took down a deer at 180 yards with the open sights, thru the heart. I suppose it helped that I had just finished target practicing with that behemeth! It came in the wooden presentation case.

I handload for it and feed it mostly 240 grain bullets...

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How harsh the recoil is depends on the gun and the load. In a model 29 or Ruger with mild .44 mag loads, it's not bad. The barrel length matters, 4 inch and under is much stouter than the longer barrels. A mild load is low recoil, a 3oo grain full house load is punishing. I carry a 3" 629 with light loads in it for CCW sometimes and it's manageable. I have no idea why anyone would want the titanium/really light versions of a 44, besides carrying it as a hunting backup, they are brutal.

I'm going have to say I'm not sure where the people who are comparing it to the .357 are coming from, they are in no way comparable. You are talking high 500 to low 600 MVE in the .357 to double that or more in the .44. It's like comparing bench pressing 250 to 500 and saying it's not much different.

Well,I started my son off early with shooting. When he was 10,he had moved up to the .44 mag with an 8 3/8" bbl. He would sit cross-legged on the ground and rock backward with each shot. He LOVED it! So did several of his buddies. We start 'em young down here.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

After re-reading the whole thread, I see where nobody has claimed a 357 compares to a 44...


I guess I was comparing the differences because I own a comparable gun in 357 (my 686 6") and know from experience the difference is stark. And it seems that many people are familiar with shooting 357's. I believe I did say it was definitely a more violent recoil than firing a 357.

After a little practice, I can now safely and accurately fire my 4" 629 one-handed. Get to know the gun and make sure you are in control of it, but it really isn't as bad as you may imagine.

Agreed. But let's not forget the shooter, their hold, and the way they handle recoil in the first place. I find the recoil produced by lightweight .357's far worse than the kick from the larger caliber magnums. Reason being, the need to "choke up" on a small frame/grip compared to the hold for a N frame gun. If you aren't trying to manhandle the .44 it will become much more pleasant to shoot. I absolutely love shooting the N frame .44's, J frame .357's...not so much.

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Regards,
Brian.

Not trying to down you Dooman, recoil is subjective, I was just giving him a little different perspective. Have a good one.

No problem Sir! I just wasn't sure where you were coming from.. But I agree, really depends on the gun..

One thing about 44's is they are all on large frame pieces, I have never fired a J-frame 357, but I can't imagine it being a real shooter friendly piece for a day at the range! LOL! I have no trouble firing a box or 2 of full house 44s at a time, well, except for the price... I love shooting my 44!

I would rather shoot my 29 (with smooth presentation grips) than a hot loaded J frame!

With the 44 mag Like others have posted alot depends on the grips and barrel length but the 44 mag also takes a little getting used to when firing it. But do not let all of this diminish the idea of buying one, If you reload all the better, The 44mag is an awesome round, Go for it

A little eye candy/ when I take this one to the range it gets Pach-presentation grips,

+1 ColdSteel

A lightweight .357 is a bear, I carry mine with the Gold Dot SB ammo in it. A full power .357 in a J frame is not something I care to do again....but I also have to say the 300 grain rounds I fired out of a titanium gun was no joy either. The 500 MAG grips are a wonderful thing on any N frame magnum, I've got them on my .41 and .44 and recommend them.

Agreed Dooman, .44 is a great caliber. You can load it up or make it a pussy cat with .44 spl. I'd say you are a smart man, there is no joy in a full power load in a J frame.

A fun fact about power. Many folks think the .44 Remington magnum is the most powerful handgun. Probably from the Dirty Harry movies. I'd wager .454 and .500 may be stronger.

But at one of the ranges I shoot Bulls eye matches at, they have quite an overhead baffle system of 4'x8' sheets of plywood backed by what looks like 1/2" of rubber that looks like the stuff semi trucks use for mud flaps. The rubber stops every common handgun (not Thompson centers) except for the .22 rim fire magnum. Those blast right through the wood and the rubber sheets.

Food for thought.

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hold 'em & squeeze 'em

I put off buying a 44 mag for years because my first experiance with a 44 mag was with a Ruger Super Blackhawk with the square trigger guard. It was not good. I now own several 44 mags and put grips on them that fit my hand. I even have a Ruger super blackhawk but with the rounded trigger guard grip frame which fits my hand much better. I really like it.

If you reload you can download the 44 mag to 44 special levels and shoot it all day long like a 22LR. I think it is the best, most versatile centerfire cart. there is. That is my opinion anyway.

John

This! ^^^

I recently got a 29-10 and I admit it's a handful. I changed the grips to Hogues and it improved but it's still got a little kick. The weird thing is that the faster I pull the trigger, the tighter my groups get! Guess I'm thinking about it too much. It's definitely not unbearable though.

My scandium J frame 360 w/ 357's is a whole other story. Yikes!

No big deal. My SBH Bisley 7.5" and 6" Vaquero are among the most accurate revolvers I have ever shot. Always with full magnum loads, 23 grains H110 under 240 grain hard SWC cast or 310 grain SWC cast over 18 grains H110.
Never reduced loads. Why get a magnum and shoot specials?
Too much $$? Role your own.

Yes, 44 mag is certainly among the most powerful, but THE most powerful, it is not.

454 Casull is a bit faster and harder hitting, but the 460S&W Mag, and 500S&W Mag make them both look like child's play. There was another lesser known 45ish caliber magnum I have heard of (but cannot recall the name right now) that is a bit hotter than the 454 Casull.

Well now I REALLY want one! I think the search begins for a blue Model 29 with an 8 3/8" Barrel. Unfortunatly, I do not reload but, checking prices at CTD, it doesnt seem any more expensive to shoot than a .357 Mag. I wouldnt be blowing through boxes of the stuff at the range anyway. Thats what the K-22 is for.

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Cliff

Virginia Arms in Manassas had one on consignment two days ago.

There are a couple M29's here in the classified section. One is a 4" and the other is 6".... And those are on the first page.. I didn't look farther in..

Good luck and happy hunting for your 29!

I am amused that a lot of people say they enjoy shooting their .44 mag. but they shoot light loads. My thinking is even though the barrel and the cartridge says .44 mag. if is loaded down to 800 fps. you are only shooting a .44 caliber. The .44 mag. is in a different class. My opinion is a .44 cal. doesn't kick bad but a .44 mag. kicks like a mule and the shorter the barrel, the more kick. Larry

All depends on what ammo you load it with,My 80 pound 12 year old son shoots My Ruger Redhawk with Reduced Power Hand Loads with no issues with the recoil, He does get tired of holding a heavy handgun up after a while,I will not let him shoot with Magnum Level Loads yet or for quite a few years in the future becuase he is just getting the basics of handgunning,For Me I practice plenty with the Reduced Power Loads and also shoot "Full House" Loads while the recoil is fairly stout it's far from extreme.

My wife, before she became ill with cancer, considered the 44Mag to be the ideal woman's gun. She carried a 3" SW 629 as a purse gun. BTW, she could place 6 shots into 2" group @ 25 yds. She owns 6 44Mags including her first one, A Ruger Super Blackhawk.

I'm going to have to take the last post as humor...nice one...lol.

Depends on which end of the gun you're standing....

QFT
From mild to wild, if you reload. The ability to tailor such a wide range of loading is what really makes the 44mag shine.

My normal foolin' around and range load is 10gr of Unique, or a little less of Universal, under a 250 gr. Keith LSWC. Good for about 1100 fps, so not a real fire breather, but enough to do any job I need done. I can shoot this load all day, very comfortably. And accurate!

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Hearsedriver- I have a long tube 29 and it is fun to shoot. My gun club has berms out to 500 yards and I like to shoot the 200 yard targets. Take the comments about proper fitting grips seriously, The standard S&W target grips fit my hand well but I wear a glove when shooting with them. I have a 6" 629 for woods carry that I have some Pachmyers on, they make shooting more comfortable.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

I have at least a half dozen of them,I find them enjoyable, but I would not want to shoot several hundred rounds at a time.My grandson is 17 now, and has been shooting them for at least 7 years.

I really enjoy mine. The recoil is stout but not bad. A medium load in my 629 recoils a bit harder than a heavy load in my 686. I find that the lightweight 357's are worse if shooting magnums.

Full house 44mag loads aren't for everyone but i think they are fun.

Depends on weight & barrel length.
My 629 Classic 5" has the full barrel lug and is a sweetheart to shoot even with stout Magnum loads.
My 629-4 w/ 3" barrel, with the same loads, is like holding onto a grenade.

Bruce

I get more enjoyment out of my Smith .500 than any other. If you master the recoil of the .500, all others are no problem. And I love my .357 and .44 mags. UHHH, and my .41mag, 10mm in my 610 revolver, .38-44 outdoorsman. Enjoy the recoil.

I'm 68 years old and when I was in my 40's I used to reload full house 44 mag rounds with a 230 grain bullet to really at the top of the load limit. I'd go to the range every other week and shoot a 100 rounds of them and it didn't bother me. Now I shoot my 44 mag once in a while and about 3 cylinders full is about all I enjoy compared to shooting 100 rounds of 45 ACP out of my Model 25-2 and wishing I had brought more 45 ammo with me to the range.

I also shoot my 357 Magnum less then I did when I was in my 40's and especially with my 27-2 with 3.5 inch barrel. I get more enjoyment shooting my 6 inch 686 no dash and the muzzle blast and recoil are far less with it.

I guess getting older either makes you wiser or turns you into a wimp.

I shoot for fun.
I can shoot a 500 or a .44 mag but it is not a fun shooting session--and--limited.
If I had a place where I could have my own range, shoot at the targets of my choice or could walk and hunt/shoot at the critters I wanted, I probably would own both--just for fun.
As it is, limited to paper, no fun targets and a bunch of folks---well I have no use for them.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

The 44 mag can be a difficult gun to shoot well and can hurt if you don't do a few simple things.

First off it is not as bad as some folks have made it out to be. It is very loud so proper ear protection can go a long way towards preventing a flinch or closing of the eyes. Changing out the sharply checkered, wooden grips to a set of recoil softening synthetic grips that have a more ergonomic shape will help a lot.

Then there is ammo. There is a good selection of factory ammo for the 44 magnum. If you are recoil sensative don't start out with full house stuff. You can always go to 44 special and work up from there. You can acquire the skills of handling magnum recoil by slowly working up in intensity and practicing with the gun. If you reload the possibilities are endless. A great caliber for the reloader.

Then there is the gun. The 29 is a beautifully made revolver that is wonderful to hold in the hand. Just cocking the hammer back and listening to the cylinder lock up like a bank vault and wiping down that mile deep bluing is enjoyable beyond description. I would suggest you find 29-2 and purchase it. I had a 29-3 which was a good solid version and for shooting I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Personally, I would stay away from current production as quality control seems to be a low priority with S&W at this time.

Go get you a 44 maggie, you'll enjoy it.

Bought my first 44 mag recently. A 4" 629 with Pachmayr gripper grips. I love it and can't believe I have been missing out on the pleasure and versatility of the 44 mag all these years. You can shoot it with hot loads or not. As far as shooting 44 specials in the mag, I don't reload and have not found 44 specials to be as available as the mag rounds and they are not cheaper. If you shoot low power 44 mags you will accomplish the same thing. Bought some new 240 grn semi wadcutter mags from Georgia Arms. They are very accurate and a pleasure to shoot. Buy the S&W 44 mag. You will not regret it.

To be honest I find my 629 classic 5 inch more fun to shoot than a Ruger LCP !!!!!!!

Recoil is largely subjective. Some shoot monster guns and actually enjoy it. Others flinch at a medium frame 38's kick.

I admit that I find the 44 Magnum unpleasant to shoot. I have a 6.5" M29-2 that I have owned since 1985 and I doubt that I have shot more than 150 rounds through it. I own it mostly because I feel like I should have one.

I know where there is a Model 29 silhouette model with a 10 inch barrel if you are into field artillery.

I myself loved shooting the .44 Magnum but with the nerve damage in my left hand and arm am not sure how much I will love it now. Granted I shoot right handed and could shoot the .44 one handed, but I want to be accurate and was never that great one handed with the Magnum, certainly not like I am with my .357 and .38-44. I have had several .44 Magnums over the years, a couple of Smith & Wessons and a couple of Ruger's and can tell you that I really just plain enjoy shooting the .357 Magnum more. The recoil never bothered me as long as I had the right grips on the gun. I really think though that my most pleasant shooting .44 Magnum was my Ruger 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum once I lightened up the springs. My favorite carrying .44 Magnum though was my Model 29 4-inch gun. I don't know if i will ever be able to shoot another one again, its hard to say.

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Vaya con Dios

my experience is a bit different...

A 4" 29 with factory targets, I can shoot it well with specials and light loads. However when you get to a real magnum load it bites me every time. What happens is that the trigger guard slams my middle finger on my right hand (I am a righty) Ive tried different hand holds and still the same result. Its hit me so hard that Ive gotten bruised and a few times a big lump on my finger that hurts for a week. Its taken all the joy out of shooting that gun. Would different grip help, maybe, I just stick to lighter loads.

My 6" 57 41 mag, I can shoot anything and not get the same result, although really hot loads, It can come close it seems. The 4" Mountain Gun again in 41 mag, isnt as bad as the 29, close but manageable.

Now, I have one other 44, a Ruger Super Blackhawk its got a 10" barrel. I can shoot all the full 44 loads in that with no trouble

I have pretty large hands and I think that might be part of the problem, I dont know for sure. I do know that I dont want to experiment with the 4" anymore, ouch!!

If I find a 6inchish 629, I will try it out. Maybe one of the ported models