Shot my first 44 magnums tonight...

[MikeChandler]

**Please Note Thread Date Before Replying**

I have enjoyed shooting 44 specials through my 629-1, and decided to up the ante tonight. At the range I picked up a box of PMC 240gr TCSP, and gave it a whirl.

It's amazingly more stout; my hand smarted, and I found myself adjusting grip between shots. After 18 rounds I was done for the night. With 44 magnums it's right on the edge for me in manageability. I stopped as I was starting to flinch.

I'm using some ahrends retro combat smooth (no finger groove) grips. They work great with the 44 special. Would finger groove grips work better with the magnums? Or do I *need* to go rubber?

 

[MikeChandler]

This is a 4" gun btw., and I have read about recoil issues with this length. Below are the Ahrends grips I was using tonight.

 

[jt1]

Grips are a very subjective thing. Depending on your hand shape, a different grip could be a lot more comfortable. Ahrends are beautiful, but they don't work for me, while Hogues fit my hand perfectly. Rubber soaks up some of the recoil, but doesn't look as nice.

Most people think a 4" 629 is pretty snappy with full power loads. Maybe you could find some intermediate loads and get used to them before going full power. If you develop a flinch, your shooting will go downhill fast. Most of my 44 shooting is with cast loads, 240 grn at a little over 1000 fps. I only shoot full power loads about 10% of the time.

That's a nice looking 629-1 !!!

John

 

[CWH44300]

Finger grips work best for me on the short barreled guns but on the really hard kickers (329's) I have to use goodyears or I'm constantly readjusting my grip on the gun. I use mid range loads (250@950) for daily use and save the full power loads for when they're needed. That's a great looking sixgun, enjoy it

 

[spaniel]

I have only shot a 329, but have experienced the difference between grips on that gun, which can only be more pronounced than on a 629.

The wood grips are indeed beautiful, and since I would consider them borderline with Specials out of the 329 it's probably pleasant from the 629. The 329 is unshootable without a 500SW grip with real Magnums, IMHO, but no problem with that grip. When I get a 629, I'm sure I would opt for a rubber grip covering the backstrap if I intended to shoot Magnums out of it.

It's not just the material but how the grip fits your hand. As much as I like my SW I have to say the N-frame grip is not the most comfortable design I have shot, and I feel it focuses more of the recoil impulse into a small spot in the webbing of the hand than other makers' designs. I've never had such an issues with my Taurus guns carrying more rounded grips, for example, which seems to spread the force more broadly into my hand.

Even with the snappy 329, without finger grooves, I have no issues with the gun shifting in my hand between shots. IMHO if you go to rubber you may not need them, but if you really want to stay with wood them may help you hold the gun in position better.

 

[AveragEd]

If you think those 240s were snappy, don't bother trying 180s. When I bought my first 629, a 6.5" Classic, I bought some Hornady XTPs in both bullet weights to see which one the gun liked better. I handload all my target ammo but since I only shoot full-power loads for hunting, I just use factory loads for that.

While the 240s are pretty stout in the recoil department, the 180s could be called violent. A cylinder-full was enough for me and I'm not terribly recoil-sensitive. I have a T/C Contender in 7-30 Waters, a .30-30 Winchester necked down to .284", and it is pleasant to shoot by comparison.

For punching paper, I handload 240-grain lead semi-wadcutters for my .44s at about 950fps and it is a comfortable load to shoot.

Ed

 

[TAROMAN]

Good advice from all. Caution that you don't develop a flinch, too.

Great arguments for handloading. I, too throttle them back to about 1000 f/s.
Back in the day, I hunted with an 8-3/8" 29-2.
These midrange loads with hard 240 grain bullets would shoot clean through a deer.

 

[team sidewinder]

For me shooting full house 44mag loads the " rubber " black S&W grips that came on my 629-6 5" barrel worked great at helping reduce felt recoil. But I just had to have the S&W rubber " Tamer " orange grips S&W sell on thier website. Really there is no difference in the rubber factory grips that came on my 629 and the " Tamer " grips that I put on except the color. Both these rubber grips do cover the backstrap and IMHO that helps reduce felt recoil also. The orange S&W Tamer grips might have a slightly tackier rubber providing a better grip but it isn't much different. With the backstrap covered grips it does make for a little longer trigger reach but my hands are small and it isn't a problem for me.

BUT I do love the looks of good wood grips on a nice gun. I am not that much into looks anyway or why else would I put those ugly orange grips on my gun other than to get a better grip with less felt recoil ( which isn't all that bad anyway ).

 

[Texas Star]

If your hand is large, you might try Herrett's Jordan Trooper grips in smooth wood. A friend had those on his M-29 and they reduced recoil effects tremendously, while allowing greater control.


If the grips are checkered, you may see the imprint of that checkering in your hand for awhile after a shooting session.

A .44 Magnum is not meant as a target gun. It is meant to hunt suitable game or to save your life if attacked by a large animal. If you fired 18 rounds without getting a bad flinch, you're good to go!

 

[MikeChandler]

The 500 grips on the S&W site are all for a round butt. My 629-1 is of course square butt. I've never cared for the feel of the hogue monogrip, though it looks like I will have to try it. It still has an open backstrap.

How about Pachmayrs? Finger grooved Ahrends?

The Jordan Troopers look interesting - I am not too excited about the whole custom order custom cut thing to just try them. That's a lot of cash.

--- I will be opening a thread on 44sp p+ in magnum brass.

 

[KLNC]

I know what you mean. I've only shot .44 magnums once, with a big Smith--7 1/2" full lug 629. I did shoot about 15 just to say I'd done it, but that was enough. I figured why not have fun with .44 Specials instead of torment with the mags. I know some on the forum love shooting the mags, and as one poster said their purpose isn't really at the range. But definitely not my thing. (do like the .44 mag guns though.)

 

[snowman]

Mike,

I'm sure that you are an experienced shooter, so I don't want to offend you here; but to satisfy my curiosity, may I ask if you are allowing the gun to rise/roll as it recoils? I always just let my .44s go where they want to, and it eases the jolt considerably. If you were trying to take down a charging bear, you might not have the time to do that; but on the range or under other safer circumstances that's how I recommend that people shoot the large caliber heavy kickers. Utilizing that practice I usually fire around 30 rounds at least when I am using my .44s, without ill effects. But then I don't have a 4" gun; they might behave differently.

Andy

 

[jessegpresley]

The first time I ever shot a 44 Mag was when I got my 629 Carry Comp with the 3" barrel and wooden boot grips... launched a cylinders worth of 240gr and that was more than enough for me.

 

[one eye joe]

I USUALLY shoot .44 Spls out of my 629 Mountain Gun. I use the Ahrends pictured below. I HAVE shot .44 Mag out of it, but on a limited basis, w/o a problem. As I don't reload, I don't spend money shooting factory .44 Mag at the range to punch holes in paper. That's NOT what the .44 Mag was designed for. You will have to shoot a bit of .44 Mag hunting ammo @ a range to zero the weapon before taking it afield, however. A simple inexpensive cure (around $40.) would be a set of Pachmayr grips that cover the backstrap, for when you are inclined to shoot a full box of .44 Magnum. Fingergrooves may aid a bit in control, but do nothing to dampen felt recoil. A pair of Past shooting gloves, or a similar product will help you also...PAST® Shooting Gloves (Professional)

 

[AveragEd]

As I don't reload, I don't spend money shooting factory .44 Mag at the range to punch holes in paper. That's NOT what the .44 Mag was designed for.

Perhaps you should take up the very enjoyable and rewarding hobby of handloading ammo for your guns. I like to shoot all my guns, including the "hunting" ones, so target shooting is how my .44s get fired 99% of the time. There ARE target competitions for big-bore handguns, after all.

Ed

 

[one eye joe]

Perhaps you should take up the very enjoyable and rewarding hobby of handloading ammo for your guns. I like to shoot all my guns, including the "hunting" ones, so target shooting is how my .44s get fired 99% of the time. There ARE target competitions for big-bore handguns, after all.

Ed

Too late in the game for me, Ed....

 

[team sidewinder]

Ooops. I forgot about that they were only for the round butt.

The 500 grips on the S&W site are all for a round butt. My 629-1 is of course square butt. I've never cared for the feel of the hogue monogrip, though it looks like I will have to try it. It still has an open backstrap.

How about Pachmayrs? Finger grooved Ahrends?

The Jordan Troopers look interesting - I am not too excited about the whole custom order custom cut thing to just try them. That's a lot of cash.

--- I will be opening a thread on 44sp p+ in magnum brass.

 

[Jetpilot47]

629 3 in.

ishoot my 3 in. 629 with karl nill master series grips and can control the little hand cannon with ease.

 

[MikeChandler]

Mike,

I'm sure that you are an experienced shooter, so I don't want to offend you here; but to satisfy my curiosity, may I ask if you are allowing the gun to rise/roll as it recoils? I always just let my .44s go where they want to, and it eases the jolt considerably. If you were trying to take down a charging bear, you might not have the time to do that; but on the range or under other safer circumstances that's how I recommend that people shoot the large caliber heavy kickers. Utilizing that practice I usually fire around 30 rounds at least when I am using my .44s, without ill effects. But then I don't have a 4" gun; they might behave differently.

Andy

No offense is taken at all! I have no experience with this kind of handgun recoil whatsoever.

Using proper recoil handling should I be able to shoot this gun all day with the wood grips pictured? Without damaging the web of my thumb? I would not be surprised if I was using poor technique. I've never had training for high power handguns.

I've shot thousands of rounds of 45 acp and 357 - but they are nothing compared to this.

 

[MikeChandler]

ishoot my 3 in. 629 with karl nill master series grips and can control the little hand cannon with ease.

From where do I obtain these wondrous grips?