Back in the day (early 1980s) I shot a bunch of Bullseye pistol with my Model 27-2 and full power 158 grain .357s. I didn't know any better, actually did OK and made the competitors around me somewhat miffed because of the noise and concussion.
How do you actually enjoy a Magnum caliber revolver?
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I'm guilty. I'm another who doesn't enjoy the boom, flash, recoil of a full house magnum gun. Never did really. Heck, I don't really enjoy a 9mm anymore, and find myself shooting a 380 a lot these days. The only revolvers I've still got are a S&W Model 18 (22 LR), and a couple of Colt Pythons that don't see anything but 38 wadcutters. I'll leave the big boomers to others.
jtcarm
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With the right grips, K-frames are just fine with magnums. Even the snubs.
I haven’t run 50 rounds of magnums in a range session in a while, but could do it, no problem.
Grips are harder to find for my Security Sixes, so I run Hogues. In a range session of 20 rounds or more, the uncovered backstrap will raise a flap of skin from the base of my thumb. I keep a golf glove with the trigger finger cutout for long range sessions.
Magnums are not EDC for me. I carry them when I visit my rural property in case a hog needs killing. EDC are .38 specials in a 3” K-frame.
I’ve said this many times, but for me, .44 magnums are best suited to SA revolvers, or DAs that are heavier than the S&W N-frames. These have included a Ruger Redhawk (with Pachmayr grips) and a heavy-barreled Dan Wesson (I really miss that gun.)
There's no substitute or mass and barrel length, for making hot magnum loads "enjoyable".
So for 44 magnum I have an Anaconda with a 6" barrel. 357, I have a short barrel K frame but I handload to light magnum loads. For full power 357 I'm going to purchase a Python or Smith L frame with a 4.25 or 5" barrel.
So for 44 magnum I have an Anaconda with a 6" barrel. 357, I have a short barrel K frame but I handload to light magnum loads. For full power 357 I'm going to purchase a Python or Smith L frame with a 4.25 or 5" barrel.
The "Cool Factor" of magnums probably comes from the movies. The recoil seems to have to be managed by those that carry them as part of their jobs.
Years ago, I had a j-frame Model 60 (.357) and I wore a shooting glove and shot about 50 rounds out of is. When i tried to take the glove off, it was stuck. Turns out the blood from the web of my right hand from the recoil fused my skin to the glove. That was more or less it for me. I'll fire a magnum here or there now, but I don't consider it "fun."
Years ago, I had a j-frame Model 60 (.357) and I wore a shooting glove and shot about 50 rounds out of is. When i tried to take the glove off, it was stuck. Turns out the blood from the web of my right hand from the recoil fused my skin to the glove. That was more or less it for me. I'll fire a magnum here or there now, but I don't consider it "fun."
scruffy
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For me, shooting .357 magnum fired through a K, L or N frame with a 3" or longer barrel is fun. I love listening to the ping and watching steel plates move at 25 yds. Shooting .44 magnum through an N frame with 4" or longer barrel and watching steel targets dance is BIG fun! Cost and a touch of arthritis are the only things that prohibit me from doing it too often. I use stock rubber on all my magnum guns.
That said I had two .357 J fames, (PD360 and M640) that were too much for me when shooting magnums. Got rid of them both as I hated practicing (a necessity for J-frame if you carry) and stayed with my Airweight 642PC and SS Model 60-3 and .38 special or .38+P.
That said I had two .357 J fames, (PD360 and M640) that were too much for me when shooting magnums. Got rid of them both as I hated practicing (a necessity for J-frame if you carry) and stayed with my Airweight 642PC and SS Model 60-3 and .38 special or .38+P.
Chrisj357
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Exactly the same. Couldn’t have said it better
.38SuperMan
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Magnums didn’t used to bother me but I’m 76 with hand and wrist arthritis so my magnum days are pretty much over. Anyway I don’t hunt and beating my joints up just isn’t fun. The pain I experience for a couple days after isn’t worth it.
I reload and shoot mostly 38 special, 32 Long and 22 rimfire. If I do shoot 357 or 44 mag I load way down and I’m talking minimum safe loads with lighter bullets and only shoot 6 to 12 rounds.
I’ve done a lot of experimentation and found combinations of bullets and powders that are noticeably milder to shoot and that’s what I stick to.
My 357 mag and hot 45 LC rounds are reserved for my lever guns. No problems with my shoulders so if I get the urge to feel the power it’s in my lever guns although most of my lever gun shooting is plinking with mild 38 specials and low pressure 45 LC.
My issue with recoil isn’t just with magnums. I now rarely shoot 45acp at least more than a couple magazines full. I shoot for enjoyment not pain and get as much or more fun out of lighter loads. Or 22LR’s.
I reload and shoot mostly 38 special, 32 Long and 22 rimfire. If I do shoot 357 or 44 mag I load way down and I’m talking minimum safe loads with lighter bullets and only shoot 6 to 12 rounds.
I’ve done a lot of experimentation and found combinations of bullets and powders that are noticeably milder to shoot and that’s what I stick to.
My 357 mag and hot 45 LC rounds are reserved for my lever guns. No problems with my shoulders so if I get the urge to feel the power it’s in my lever guns although most of my lever gun shooting is plinking with mild 38 specials and low pressure 45 LC.
My issue with recoil isn’t just with magnums. I now rarely shoot 45acp at least more than a couple magazines full. I shoot for enjoyment not pain and get as much or more fun out of lighter loads. Or 22LR’s.
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Shooting gloves help tremendously with that middle finger problem. Grip Swell makes a great glove that has an extra pad on the middle finger and a nice pad on the palm. I always use mine with the big bores, up to and including 500 S&W Magnum.
If you are set on magnums, one suggestion is the heavier the gun and longer the barrel the more of that recoil that gets soaked up.
I would also suggest grip size/shape/material matters a great deal. My first 686 ate my hands up and caused blisters with extended magnum use due to the checkering texture and the size of the square butt grips being too large for my hands. When I got my 686-3 with round butt smooth combat grips (and a shorter barrel) even with less weight the recoil is almost not even noticed now.
If those things still don't make it enjoyable, maybe magnums just aren't your thing, which is fine. There are plenty of other great cartridges to choose from thankfully.
I would also suggest grip size/shape/material matters a great deal. My first 686 ate my hands up and caused blisters with extended magnum use due to the checkering texture and the size of the square butt grips being too large for my hands. When I got my 686-3 with round butt smooth combat grips (and a shorter barrel) even with less weight the recoil is almost not even noticed now.
If those things still don't make it enjoyable, maybe magnums just aren't your thing, which is fine. There are plenty of other great cartridges to choose from thankfully.
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I am comfortable shooting .357M from medium or large frame revolvers. A frequent carry choice is a 3" 686+, which weighs 38 oz dry. OTH, even .38 SPL in a 24 oz J-frame is unpleasant, and hard on the knuckles. Besides the weight, the choice of grips is important. First, they must fit your hand, with the proper trigger reach. Secondly, they must be wide enough to distribute the recoil across your palm. I find good wooden grips with a palm swell most comfortable at the range. Rubber grips require less re-positioning, but may chafe your hand after a long session. The best compromise may be a set of checkered G15 grips. What a pity Kim Ahrends is no longer in the business.
The only thing that makes shooting .44M tolerable, is you hand loses most of its feeling after the second cylinder full. If I were to carry, outside of brown bear country, it would be .44 SPL.
The only thing that makes shooting .44M tolerable, is you hand loses most of its feeling after the second cylinder full. If I were to carry, outside of brown bear country, it would be .44 SPL.
It's related to masochism. Some folks enjoy getting kicked in the crotch, some like to shoot the hottest rounds they can find. (They probably laugh if they hit their thumb with a hammer, too.) No one will think you're a wuss if you aren't like "those" guys.
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It never occurred to me to shoot reduced loads; I used the Hornady FMJ over stout loads of 2400. My buddy & I went out in the country and shot 100 every Saturday for many years. Our silhouette course was once a month. My accuracy was similar to yours. The good old days.
I enjoy shooting magnum revolvers with PAST gloves and proper fitting grips. I also shoot contenders with them. I started milking at age 5 by hand and stopped at age 15. Much of my work had me dealing with 24" iron pipe wrenches. I have a large, meaty hand because of those activities.
My former boss had me shoot his 500 and 460 Smiths as a verification of their sights. I found them uncomfortable to say the least, as the grips didn't fit me well. His 454 was much better. He is a collector who wants the biggest and loudest.
For me it is all about fit.
My former boss had me shoot his 500 and 460 Smiths as a verification of their sights. I found them uncomfortable to say the least, as the grips didn't fit me well. His 454 was much better. He is a collector who wants the biggest and loudest.
For me it is all about fit.
silicosys4
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On the rare occasion that I shoot magnum level .357 loads, I pick either big and heavy.
Or bigger and heavier.
Mass is the remedy for recoil. Truth be told, magnum level loads aren't really fun for me any more out of mid size and smaller guns. Even the N and L frames get mostly .38 special and I sold my last magnum K frame last year.
Same with .44 magnums. Mostly see a diet of specials, some magnums. Half of my .44 magnums are unfired safe queens that I enjoy collecting but don't particularly enjoy shooting.
Or bigger and heavier.
Mass is the remedy for recoil. Truth be told, magnum level loads aren't really fun for me any more out of mid size and smaller guns. Even the N and L frames get mostly .38 special and I sold my last magnum K frame last year.
Same with .44 magnums. Mostly see a diet of specials, some magnums. Half of my .44 magnums are unfired safe queens that I enjoy collecting but don't particularly enjoy shooting.
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USBP SW
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In my youth (now the distant past) I shot high octane .357, .41 and .44 ammo. I own the .500 but I have never fired anything other than my powder puff loadings. I have become much more recoil sensitive as I got older, now the best way to shoot heavy recoil rounds is in someone else's hand. Currently, the center fire revolvers that I truly enjoy shooting are a .38/44 Outdoorsman and a model 25-2, both with mild loads.
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Just go borrow or buy a S&W 329PD (scandium frame, titanium cylinder) and shoot 2-3 cylinders of full house 240 gr .44 mags out of it on occasion. That thing is vicious and will recalibrate your threshold for magnum revolver recoil! Then when you go back to shooting your "normal" weight all-steel .357s and .44s, they will feel like shooting a .38 Spl in comparison! I love my 329PD for what it is, a lightweight packing gun for woods carry that packs a punch on critters, where I'll be carrying it more than shooting it. But it's no fun at all to shoot! I find it's roughly equivalent to shooting my much heavier FA M83 .454 Casull in terms of what my hand feels.
All joking aside, as was mentioned, what the revolver is chambered in doesn't tell the whole story about the shooting experience. The grip design and mass of the gun makes a huge difference! My 6" 586 L frame and 5" 627 N frame .357s, my 5" Colt Python .357 and my 6" Colt Anaconda .44 mag are all fairly pleasant to shoot due to their weight and the fact all have hand-filling grips that help spread out recoil energy.
All joking aside, as was mentioned, what the revolver is chambered in doesn't tell the whole story about the shooting experience. The grip design and mass of the gun makes a huge difference! My 6" 586 L frame and 5" 627 N frame .357s, my 5" Colt Python .357 and my 6" Colt Anaconda .44 mag are all fairly pleasant to shoot due to their weight and the fact all have hand-filling grips that help spread out recoil energy.
I like shooting a powerful firearm....some. And not quite as much as I used to. Don't TRY to make yourself like something if there's tons of cartridges that you enjoy. I shoot mostly 9mm pistols/carbines, .223 and 7.62mm x 39. I have a grand time with those. I shoot lot of target to stiff .38 loads in my 686. I still like to shoot full magnum whatever, just not so much. I've never had a problem with recoil, even .44 Mag. A few cylinders worth is fine.
My 20 year old 629 Mountain Gun is getting a lot of love these days. When I first shot it I too asked myself "Why did I buy this?" Turned out for me it was all about proper grip and recoil control. I shoot only factory ammo: Winchester 44 SPL, PMC 180 Gr, WWB 240 Gr and Remington UMC 180 Gr so far. UMC is the most fun. The flame spills out to the adjoining lanes. I'm 76 and have arthritis in both thumbs but my J Frame 442 actually gives me more trouble. No figuring YMMV. When it stops being fun I'll quit it.
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