How do you actually enjoy a Magnum caliber revolver?

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maxxer2

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I tried 357 Magnum and didn't enjoy it. I also tried 44 Magnum and didn't enjoy it either. I had some fascination with 41 Mag and was seriously thinking about getting a 6" model 57 but luckily I tried out a 6" 629 and realized that I totally didn't enjoy 44 Magnum so I canceled my order of model 57 because I read that recoil for 41 Mag is not much better than 44 Mag. I have read some quoted no difference at all (.410 vs .429) whereas others claim about 15% less recoil which is just not quantifiable mentally.

So my question is how do people enjoy those Magnum revolvers? I know shooting 44 special is way more comfortable in a 44 Magnum revolver (same with 38 out of 357) but it just feels weird to buy a heavy revolver and only shoot the other cartridge. I know if I reload, I can download the load but that also means that shooting factory magnum is just not fun? I mean there are people who seem to enjoy those guns/calibers but how?

I know that even shooting 44 special out of my Bulldog can be hard in my hand (I've replaced factory grip with Pachmayr and Hogue and they help a little) but shooting 10mm out of S&W 610 is actually fun.

I'm torn between getting possibly a 586 L-Comp (supposedly better recoil?) or a 57 but I'm just worried I won't enjoy either? I guess I can "man" it up? Note that I'm a 6' guy but the bulk of the felt recoil is in my right hand so my height or weight doesn't help.
 
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My only thought is you can't enjoy what you don't enjoy. I have bought many 357 not to be pounding out thousands of magnum rounds but because you can shoot what you like softer reloads, 38 specials or full house magnums.

When I go to the range, I will usually shoot a few mags then back off to the lower recoils rounds. No shame in recoil sensitivity and I am in your camp that shooting 100 44 Mags would require icing after and probably create a nasty flinch.

Just my thoughts FWIW.
 
You enjoy a Magnum revolver by making your own ammunition----tailored to YOUR likes.

I, for instance, have fired exactly ONE round of factory .44 Magnum ammunition---40-50 some odd years ago. It was right then and there I vowed to come up with something civilized----and ACCURATE!! That turned out to be 18.5 grains of 2400 behind a 205 grain SWC with a gas check. I was later told that was a hot load for a .44 Special, but nowhere near a Magnum. I didn't care---it was civilized; and 4" 6 round groups at 100 yards says it's accurate.

There are those in the "Mine's bigger than yours" crowd who profess to enjoy the thunder and lightning guns. I understand that because I'm the same with cars--- and each and every one of us has the right to be a little bit nutty!

Ralph Tremaine
 
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First, you need rubber grips that fit your hands. While S&W Target grips are more comfortable than Magnas, at least for me, nothing beats rubber for soaking up recoil. I shoot mostly reduced velocity target loads in .357 and .41, but with the right grips 50 rounds of magnums in either caliber isn't a problem.

I shoot about 20% Magnum and 80% target loads. With .357 you have the option of shooting .38 specials with the ability to step up to Magnums occasionally. Rather than shoot .38s through my .357s I reload my target .357s to .38 special velocity. There aren't any factory .41 reduced velocity loads. My .41 target loads are loaded to .45 ACP velocity.

My only .44 is a lever action. The .41 is the Magnum sweet spot for me.
 
Llowry got it right. I don’t enjoy pickles. So I don’t eat pickles. Just be content shooting .22 and .38 revolvers. I love my 44mags. I never shoot 44 spl. I probably shoot mine more than most. Once a month on avg. Recoil doesn’t bother me. I always shoot factory ammo because I don’t reload. Who knows, 10 years from now I may feel differently.
 
I shoot an 8-3/8" 629 44 Mag at the monthly Metallic Silhouette matches held from spring through fall. The targets are steel plate animal silhouette cutouts. They are placed at 50, 100, 150 and 200 meters. The rams (think bighorn sheep) at 200 m. weigh 54 pounds each.

There are 40 targets, 10 at each distance. You get one shot at each target, hit or miss. No makeup shots. The targets have to be knocked over to count as a hit. Hitting a target that doesn't fall is counted as a miss. I usually shoot 2 rounds (80 shots), sometimes 3 rounds (120 shots). The point here is that a load with robust terminal ballistics is required to get a good score.

My load is 18 gr. of H4227 behind a 300 gr. Hornady XTP, for a muzzle velocity around 1050 FPS. I'm getting 5 to 6 inch groups at 200m. The recoil on these loads is similar to a 44 Special, and I don't have any recoil discomfort either during or after a match, even after shooting 120 of them in one day. I will normally score 35 to 39 with the rare 40 out of 40. No flinching. That is how I enjoy shooting a 44 magnum.
 
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The weight and balance of the revolver as well as the stocks can make the difference between being tolerable to shoot versus uncomfortable or even miserably painful to shoot. My 640-1 is not fun to shoot with full power 357 Magnum, but I did not buy it as a fun shooter. I shoot it enough to be proficient, but that's it.

My four inch Model 19-3 is far more pleasant. More weight, better balance, but with either Pachmayr rubber Presentation grips or Herrett's wood Shooting Star stocks. Both styles fit my hands exceptionally well and help manage the recoil.

For the most comfortable full power 357 Magnum shooting, that honor goes to my Ruger GP-100. It has a six inch barrel and full under lug. It is heavy and balances muzzle heavy. The factory grips also fit my hand exceptionally well. This makes it a pleasure to shoot.
 
I've been owning and shooting handguns for going on 60 years and during that time I have almost always owned at least one revolver chambered for the .357 magnum cartridge and can honestly say the I haven't fired over 50 rounds of that cartridge during that time. I always shot .38 special rounds loaded at light to medium. It's just nice to have the option is you so desire.
 
When my Dad got old enough that his venerable Parker Double 12 was too heavy to carry any more, he went to the LGS to buy a Model 29. The Sales Person shifted him to a Model 57. I developed loads for him that he could handle. He was proficient enough for deer hunting.

I inherited the gun. Last year when my made changed to the range, they prohibited Magnum anything. I bought some .41 Special brass (a wildcat) and developed loads for that. Easy, peasy, comfortable and accurate.

No matter what you shoot, reloading is the answer. If you don't want to do that, for whatever reason, stick with rimfire or target loads .38. Lots of options.

On another note, I shot .44 Magnum handguns for deer for many years. I just got it in my head that I wanted a Thompson Encore in .308 Rifle. BOY, what a kick that gives. My scope even has 4 sets of rings, not 2. I changed out the std. wooden grips for Go0dyears (oh I hate rubber handgun grips), but it made the gun comfortable to shoot. (off season I put the wood back on so it doesn't make my collection look awful.....LOL)
 
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maxxer2 said:
I tried 357 Magnum and didn't enjoy it.
Click to expand...

Not sure what your issue is. I bought a Model 19 new in 1981. I still have it and love shooting 357 Magnum rounds from it. I don't shoot any 38 Special rounds. I don't find the 357 Magnum rounds very intimidating, they are pretty pleasant actually.

I did have a Model 57 and a couple of Model 29's and a Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 Magnum. Those were fairly unpleasant to shoot so I sold them.
 

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So it looks like maybe I'm just misunderstanding what people are saying. It looks like even for those who enjoys magnum rounds, they don't go shoot 100 rounds of 357 or 44 mag in one setting.

Right now my solution is to planning to shoot 327 magnum in sp101 instead of 357. I wonder whether 357 out of 586 L-comp would be fun enough but can't test it because none of the ranges around me have it for rent.
 
When I was in my 20’s I had a M29 (44 mag) with 8-3/8” barrel.
Bought it for pig hunting. Fired a few hundred shots before selling off. The N frame with 8-3/8” barrel was very manageable.

Have M686, M28, M520 and M649, in 357 mag. All but the J frame are manageable. The J frame (M649) shoots 38 spl only.

And now retired and in my mid 60’s I enjoy shooting 22lr in handgun and rifle. Easily on the wallet and body.
 
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Model19man said:
Not sure what your issue is. I bought a Model 19 new in 1981. I still have it and love shooting 357 Magnum rounds from it. I don't shoot any 38 Special rounds. I don't find the 357 Magnum rounds very intimidating, they are pretty pleasant actually.

I did have a Model 57 and a couple of Model 29's and a Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 Magnum. Those were fairly unpleasant to shoot so I sold them.
Click to expand...

Model 19 is K frame? You are the second person I heard that 357 is not bad from 19. I think someone else said he prefers 19 over 686, which is weird for me because 19 is K frame and 686 is L frame which is heavier?

How many rounds of 357 Magnum do you shoot in a range session? a box of 50?
 
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