So....Just how wicked is the .44 Magnum ?

Brian41 · #51 01-21-2012, 10:38 AM

As already said it depends on the gun and the grips. My hardest kicking .44 mag is a 3 inch 629 backpacker model. It has S&W rubber grips on it and they help with felt recoil. I've shot some heavy loads in it and although they have a stout recoil it is manageable in my big hands.
I shoot magnum light handloads in it mainly but some full house loads as well as that is what I carry in it as a woods gun.
My Super Blackhawk is a very mild gun to shoot with rubber grips and even hot hunting loads. My 100# ex-wife could handle it just fine and was a good shot with it.

I've come to prefer the .41 mag though over the .44 mag. Much less recoil and near the same ballistics as the .44 mag. I don't even mind shooting my 57s with the factory grips and the Blackhawks have even less felt recoil. You do almost have to reload for them though as factory ammo is harder to find and runs even higher than .44 mag ammo I've found.
I'd stick with .44 mag if I wasn't reloading my own.

StatesRightist · #52 01-21-2012, 11:35 AM

I agree on the 41 magnum, it's my favorite. Self Defense loads are very manageable. You can load it up to almost .44 levels with a 260 grain loads for Bear etc. I carry a Mountain Gun for CCW in the winter comfortably. 41's were called the perfect law enforcement weapon for a few years, until the Semi Auto took over the market.

Lefkiguy · #53 01-21-2012, 11:38 AM

My first 44 magnum was a 629, 6 1/2" barrel, and I could shoot more accurately with that gun than my brother's 6" Python, which is 357 Mag. I had a 5" 629 with full under lug that hurt to shoot, both recoil wise and trigger chewing on my finger, it had hogue rubber grips. I sold it, and replaced it with a 629 3", which I changed the factory stocks (round butt, with finger grooves) to a Kurac coke profile smooth target stocks (round to square) which shot beautifully, less felt recoil than the 5" gun, and no chewed on finger. I bet if I still had that 5" and changed the stocks, probably would change my opinion of it.

C.S.63 · #54 01-21-2012, 11:42 AM

Hearsedriver,
There are an awful lot of nice 29s and 629s out there, Take your time the right one will find ya, be forewarned "N" frames-29/629s are addicting.

carl

Ol' Deadeye · #55 01-21-2012, 12:19 PM

The only time I've ever shot a .44 it was a Dan Wesson with the 8 inch barrel similar to the one shown.

I have no clue how the recoil compares with the Mod 29 but to me, the recoil from this gun was not noticeably more than when I shoot my Mod 28-2.

It was dead on accurate I'll say and did have one hell of a blast when it went off. Personally, I loved it!

michael thornton · #56 01-21-2012, 02:24 PM

shoot 50 rounds or 454 then go back to the 44 mag and its a piece of cake! the sharp checkered targets on my 4 inch no dash 629 have got blood a time or two

drewjh · #57 01-22-2012, 08:22 AM

I have large hands too, and had the same experience shooting With the stock target grips on a model 29. The trigger guard would bruise my finger every time. Switching to a grip profile that puts your finger farther away from the trigger guard solves that problem very quickly and will make shooting your 29 much more pleasant. My 6" 57 was doing the same thing, had to switch those grips too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelgun28

my experience is a bit different...

A 4" 29 with factory targets, I can shoot it well with specials and light loads. However when you get to a real magnum load it bites me every time. What happens is that the trigger guard slams my middle finger on my right hand (I am a righty) Ive tried different hand holds and still the same result. Its hit me so hard that Ive gotten bruised and a few times a big lump on my finger that hurts for a week. Its taken all the joy out of shooting that gun. Would different grip help, maybe, I just stick to lighter loads.

My 6" 57 41 mag, I can shoot anything and not get the same result, although really hot loads, It can come close it seems. The 4" Mountain Gun again in 41 mag, isnt as bad as the 29, close but manageable.

Now, I have one other 44, a Ruger Super Blackhawk its got a 10" barrel. I can shoot all the full 44 loads in that with no trouble

I have pretty large hands and I think that might be part of the problem, I dont know for sure. I do know that I dont want to experiment with the 4" anymore, ouch!!

If I find a 6inchish 629, I will try it out. Maybe one of the ported models

PA Reb · #58 01-22-2012, 12:24 PM

I've read this whole thread and the best advice I can offer to you "hearsedriver" is this ~ Go get yourself a .44 magnum and enjoy it, period! I guarantee you'll love it and, at the very worst, you can always sell it if you don't. Personally, I currently have four 29s / 629s in different barrel lengths but have owned and fired every barrel length made by S&W. I can say without a doubt, from the shortest to the longest, none of them are that bad to fire once you get the hang of it. The one pictured below is my pride and joy - 29-2, 6 1/2" barrel with a "S" prefix.

Schmidty · #59 01-22-2012, 03:00 PM

A lot of good advice on here. My personal experience and recomendation, start with smaller calibers and work your way up. When you get to a .44, start with specials and work up to light factory mag loads. I found Magtech .44 Mag very mild. Keep working your way up. Soon, you'll have fun. I have a 4" 629, I shoot one handed at steel plates at 25 yards, sometimes with my off hand too, full power ammo. You get used to it. I like the "boom", it is fun knocking those plates off the berm with serious authority.

Stainless44 · #60 01-22-2012, 03:06 PM

My son just turned 12...and he put 5 cylinders of 44 Mag downrange yesterday. His chief complaint was that the gun was so heavy.

I consider it them to be the funnest handguns I own.

mikeruns · #61 01-22-2012, 05:36 PM

my experience has been mostly with factory ammo which for the most part is pleasant using win, rem, fiochi & mag 240 gr jack hp's & sp's.
Most of these push around 1200-1300 fps and while the boom is hefty, it is not uncontrollable or nasty.... with one other factory load from rem, the 180 jsp's -those little guys push over 1600 fps and really get my adrenaline pumping with flash and bang as the 7.5" bbl on my sbh goes vertical with considerable snap. I don't find those pleasant to shoot, but I have shot enough to keep the shots in the black. The Smiths are wonderful from my time with two of them both stainless early 80's guns, one a 6" the other a 4". Would really recommend the 4" and I miss mine. I've said before that my Ruger sbh is fondly called my horse pistol with the square back trigger guard that can be used to konk out seattle slew's lights if I run out of ammo and he steps in a badger hole snapping his strut..... :-> (disclaimer: no steeds were hurt in posting this analogy)