Unless you live & work in grizzly territory, you do not need to shoot Full House Magnums . I load & shoot .44 special and .41 special most of the time in TEXAS. Works well on HOGS.
79 here, but no serious problems yet. However, full-house .44 Magnum is not for play anymore, and I strongly endorse the recommendation for steel over aluminum. I do still play with a Model 43, and stand ready to downgrade to CB Longs when necessary.I have made the same changes in recent years. Being a lifelong reloader the ammo supply issue has been easier to handle than shopping for what I need.
The "sweet spot" for me has been around 90% of full power loadings.
I also tend to avoid the smaller and lighter weight handguns. I enjoy the all steel K-frame .38 Specials much more than the alloy-framed airweights. .357 magnum use is limited to K and N frames. I don't remember the last time I used .44 magnum ammo; must be at least 20 years ago.
73 years, surgeries to wrist, elbow, shoulder (2) with permanently damaged rotator and tendons. Osteo-arthritis is a daily reminder to take things easily.
Same with .44 mag, bigger gun=less punishment Joe
79 here, but no serious problems yet. However, full-house .44 Magnum is not for play anymore, and I strongly endorse the recommendation for steel over aluminum. I do still play with a Model 43, and stand ready to downgrade to CB Longs when necessary.
You guys are scaring me, as a young gun shooting the spiciest 357 magnum I can find out of my 686 snub and having a blast. Guess eventually I need to prepare myself to switch to 38 special, at least I can dial it back if need be![]()
Enjoy it while you can ...
I tried my best ... but ...
You don't stay young forever !
Gary
I’m “just” 50 but had open heart surgery 8 years ago. Getting my chest cracked for a six way bypass didn’t make recoil enjoyable. I still shoot 44’s, but I keep my 44 Magnum’s dialed down to about 1100fps with 240gr SWC’s from 4” 29’s. I can handle that, but not many.
I recently whipped up some 300 grain loads for my 44 mag Henry’s. 1225fps from the 20” barrel and 10 rounds was enough.
I still really enjoy the big bores, I just tone them down to “light magnums”.
After 8 years, I would think that recoil should not bother your chest. I had my first open heart in 1958 at the age of 7. I learned to shoot at 10. Joined the Corps at 17 and stayed for 24 years. I had my second open heart in 2014 at the age of 62. I don't shoot much .44 magnum, but that is due to a wrist I broke pretty good. It won't take many magnum loads before I have pain up and down the arm. I shot IPSC with a M1911 in .45ACP for years and now Arthur visits most days in my right hand. I wear a shooting glove and a wrist brace and shoot every Friday. If the chest is still bothering you, then maybe you should talk to your doctor.