329 Recoil with 44SPL

[quickdraw03]

I understand that the 329 has vicious recoil with 44 magnum full house loads. How bad is it with more gentle 44 special cowboy pressure loads?

 

[neubert500]

Don't know about cowboy

I have no idea about the Cowboy loads, however my 329PD is fine with regular 240 grain LSWC loads. Downright enjoyable. Due to it's light weight it is not as smooth as my 21-4 but I certainly do love it.

 

[dla]

I understand that the 329 has vicious recoil with 44 magnum full house loads. How bad is it with more gentle 44 special cowboy pressure loads?

If you are worried then buy a 357mag instead. It seems silly to buy a big HE-MAN 44 mag only to load it down to a 22lr - better to just buy something you're comfortable with in the first place.

 

[quickdraw03]

If you are worried then buy a 357mag instead. It seems silly to buy a big HE-MAN 44 mag only to load it down to a 22lr - better to just buy something you're comfortable with in the first place.

The 357 in an ultra lightweight revolver has a reputation for being brutal. My question is simple: would shooting moderately loaded rounds in a 329 be enjoyable or unpleasant. I think a normal weight 44 with full loads is a much different level of recoil than a 329!

 

[J-FRAME]

With 500 S&W Hogue grips and a 240/250 gr bullet-7.5 grs Unique in magnum cases at just over 900 fps it is nice to shoot BUT is still not a all day shooter/ range gun.But my wrists are old and tired so I limit my shooting. You might be different.

 

[BobR1]

I happen to have a couple Night Guards.
I have the 10mm 310NG, as well as the K Frame 38 Special +P 315NG. Full House 10mm Reload are on the Top End of Tolerable in this light a handgun in my opinion.

I think you are on track with 44 Specials in the 329. Shooting full power 44 Magnums in that light weight a revolver is way Brutal. You can adjust out what you are shooting in it with some experimentation with loads.

Anyone who thinks a 329 with Full House ammunition is Fun to Shoot probably has Whips and Chains in the basement.

Bob

 

[j6721]

I put the X-Frame grips on mine and shoot 240gr .44 magnum factory hollow points. Sure, it recoils but nothing like the majority of people on this website seem to think it does. It is a great gun to carry all day. I use a Galco summer special IWB with mine.

 

[Simmer down]

I put Ahrends on mine that did not reduce the felt recoil. I tried all sorts of loads and prefer 200g lead with light Titegroup charges. A death grip will take away most of the sting.

 

[cmort666]

I don't have one of those guns, but I keep the Speer 200gr. Gold Dot Specials in my 4" 29-2 exclusively. With those, it's very pleasant (and accurate) to shoot, but nobody not engulfed in flames from head to toe would thank you for giving them a couple center of mass.

I imagine that they would be both effective and easily controlled in the smaller gun.

 

[Bart 44]

I understand that the 329 has vicious recoil with 44 magnum full house loads. How bad is it with more gentle 44 special cowboy pressure loads?

Having limited experience with some 300gn full power loads in the 329 I would say a cowboy load would be no problem. Changing the grips will make a big difference.

Dennis.

 

[quickdraw03]

With 500 S&W Hogue grips and a 240/250 gr bullet-7.5 grs Unique in magnum cases at just over 900 fps it is nice to shoot BUT is still not a all day shooter/ range gun.But my wrists are old and tired so I limit my shooting. You might be different.

That's very helpful feedback! Thanks.

 

[stu1ritter]

I put the X grips on my 629-3 and the change was dramatic. Really took away a lot of the shock of the magnum loads.
Stu

 

[Realzebub45]

I shoot some upper end (according to Hornady manual) reloads in my 369NG .44 spl. in both 200 and 240 gr. and they are not too bad. With hard synthetic grips, the heavier 240 gr. loads are about all I want in that light a gun. The stock rubbers are more recoil absorbing.

I will not be buying a 329 NG to shoot hot mags out of.

 

[CWH44300]

Mine live on a diet of 9gr unique and a 250K, them light special loads will be fine

 

[blueknight7]

A Charter Arms .44 Special, Bulldog 3" barrel weighs 21 oz. Its not bad at all, with Winchester 200 gr. Silvertips. A S&W 329PD weighs 26 oz. I don't see any problem whatsoever.

I have never shot anything that light in my 329PD. But, if the Charter Arms isn't going to tear your hand off. A 5 oz. heavier handgun, with decent grips is not going to hurt you.