thoughts on a 44 mag as a first handgun purchase

[Dodobird1589]

experienced with rifles and have shot many 40 cal pistol rounds (i realize the stark difference from a 40 cal). i know recoil will be heavy but ive always found people make recoil out to be worse than it is whether its been a 12 gauge or a 300 win mag. im just entertaining the idea of getting a 44 first instead of a 357. do you guys think that is a good or bad idea.

 

[Ken NC]

Gosh just seems expensive (ammunition-wise) to me. With the 357 you can back off to 38 special at reasonable cost. With the 44 magnum you can back off to 44 special, but I understand the 44 special is expensive. But maybe you hand load.

Otherwise, a lot would seem to depend on frame size, barrel lengths, and grips.

 

[JCS&W]

I see no problem with you getting a .44 mag as your first handgun. You have experience with weapons, but I have to say that the rounds for that piece are expensive. I love my .44, but I shoot my .357 and .38 more often simply due to the cost. Quite frankly, I shoot more .38 than .357 rounds. But there is no doubt you will love the .44 mag.

 

[Snowbandit]

As you claim to be experienced with the 40, which is known to have pretty vicious recoil, you will probably do okay with the 44. Unless you reload or just won the lottery it's going to be expensive though.

 

[Dragon88]

Do you reload?

 

[fyimo]

The 44 Mag is a great round and if you are experienced with high recoil it shouldn't be a problem. It also helps if you reload to cut costs and to tailor the rounds to suit your specific revolver.

 

[diamonback68]

Do you reload?

Good point. 'Cause if you don't it gets real expensive real fast unless you reload.
You may have shoot a 40, but I would advise you to go to the range and rent a 44 Mag and shoot it at least a box full in one session, then make up your mind. Barrel length of which 44 is going to make a big difference too.

 

[tbury]

Do you reload?

This is an important point. 44 ammo can not compete price wise with 38 spcl. I have several revolvers in 38 spcl, 357 mag, and 44 mag, I shoot more 38 and 44 mag than 357 mag. If you can handle .40 s&w you can handle the .44 mag. So what to get depends on the economics of your situation and what you want to do with the handgun.

 

[Roboto]

If I were you I would never buy a .44MAG revolver because it will make you start saying things like "make my day" or "feeling lucky punk". Just kidding, go for it. The .44MAG is awesome!

 

[Dodobird1589]

no i dont reload, but once i get my life in order ( i just graduated college) i plan on reloading. i was planning on the 4 inch barrel and renting one at the range sounds like a great idea i was thinking that myself

 

[617X10]

The first handgun I ever owned was a 1911 style (Kimber) .45ACP. Most of the advice you might hear on a forum will tell you to start out small and work your way up, but the way I see it you should get the gun you want to shoot and learn how to shoot it as well as you can. In other words, the more trigger time you have the better you will shoot. That's why I still shoot a 1911 better than any other type of handgun I own. Recoil is also a funny thing. In my opinion, the more you think about it the worse it feels. I shot a 10mm Glock the last time I went to the range, and from the reputation figured it would be like trying to shoot a lightweight .357 Magnum. It had no more perceived recoil than the Glock 21 (.45 ACP) I previously owned.

 

[wrhk33]

I have a .40S&W and the recoil is nothing compared to the 44Mag.
The only thing softer than the .40S&W is the 9mm or .38. I have found that the grips on the .44mag make a big difference. The big target grips feel the best during recoil to me because they are so wide at the back. I have a set of Hogues that feel great until the rounds goes off. They are narrow in back so they are painful to use. Sometimes I can only shoot 10rds and I'm done due to the pain. Other times I can shoot 50rds but then the cost is painful.
44s start at about 36.00 a box. I still love to shoot the 44mag, 44 specials are even more fun.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I'm not seeing a problem here. You plan on reloading eventually, you like 4" - what's not to like?

Grips become important with such a revolver, proper fit is crucial. I bought, as have others, 44 mag's used with a box of shells where 6 shells were missing. Owner takes out his new roscoe, shoots a cylinder and puts it away until they sell it.

The reason for so many excellent deals on slightly used 44's is IMO, improperly fitting grips. Hurts to shoot, you won't shoot it.

Check out Hogue, Ahrends and others for a grip that fits YOUR hand. Factory wood grips fit no human as best as I can tell.

Even wood grips work well if they fit your hands.

As to ammo, find some midrange loads for practice, something like a magnum, but a low velocity version. Might be less expensive and more useful than Spl ammo.

Until you reload, you'll be at the mercy of factory fodder, but once you get set up to load, you'll be able to fully exploit your new roscoe.

Just a side note... consider casting too.

 

[Cpo1944]

My fav revolver is a 629 with a 3 inch barrel . It can be concealed and I find it to be more than accurate enough. I have a Crimson Trace laser grip on it , and really enjoy shooting from the hip as well as aimed shots with the sights.
Hickock.45 has a good review of one just like it on his youtube websight.
Check it out he can teach you a lot about various calibers and gun types.

 

[Cpo1944]

629 3 inch

photo of my fav revolver.

 

[VaRecon]

Would definitely go with 357..

Though it really depends on what model you're interested in. Heavier guns like a 29, 629, etc are much better on the recoil than say a 329NG.
I made the foolish choice of getting the Scandium snub-nosed before I was proficient with the higher caliber and ended up losing some money trading it for something I can use well.
If you feel comfortable with the big bore go for it, but ammunition for 357/38 is a lot cheaper and more then enough bang for the buck.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Re-read Snapping Twig's post. Just about everything is there. As long as you can get it to fit your hand, and you intend to reload (or happen to be very well off financially), the .44 is fine.

 

[stevieboy]

I'd see no reason not to buy a .44 Magnum if you're prepared to freight the cost of magnum commerical ammo or if you reload.

As for recoil, it is MUCH more than a .40 S & W semi. It can be tamed, however. You just need to find the right set of grips. Shoot with the wrong grips and the experience will be miserable. With the right grips, it will be a pleasure, albeit a very noisy pleasure.

What's right? That depends totally on you, the way your hand is shaped and how you grip the gun. There are a few people on this forum that swear by the big wooden target grips that Smith used to put on their K and N-frame square butts. For me, shooting with those grips in anything more powerful than .38 is sheer agony because the wood at the top of the grips digs into the base of my shooting hand thumb.

I do best with Pachmayr Grippers or Decelleraters. These are phenominally ugly grips, about as ugly as anything out there. But, they fit my hand perfectly and allow for extended pain free shooting sessions. I say function over form, and that's why I shoot with the Pachs.

 

[gr7070]

no i dont reload, but once i get my life in order ( i just graduated college) i plan on reloading.

Personally, I think that's a bad idea. Unless you will be in a high-paying starting job I wouldn't get.

Get something you can shoot a lot more often at much better price. Better to shoot a 38 often and still can shoot the .357 if wanted. Or a 9mm. Or a .45.

But, hey, it's your money.

.44 is a fine caliber, but unless it fills a use, like hunting, that another caliber can't fill as well it can wait.

 

[Sportsterguy]

A .40 really doesn't begin to compare to a 240 gr. .44 factory round in the recoil dept. The magnum has WAY more recoil and is very loud. As many have said get a set of good grips (rubber Hogues) that cover the backstrap and purchase a PAST shooting glove. The combo will make shooting that .44 a enjoyable versus a painful experience. Also recommend double hearing protection to protect your ears and keep you from yanking on the trigger. My first S&W was a model 6" 57, .41 mag as it was cheap compared to a 4" .44 mag I was looking at back in 77 at the ripe age of 17. Best money I ever spent on a S&W as it's still going strong after two trips to the doctor as I shot it loose.