First .44 what should I expect?

[cmort666]

Well I just traded my neighbor for a 29-8 .44 mag Mountain Gun. I am going to trot it out to the range on Saturday. I have shot 1 .44 before but it was an 8" something Smith hunting gun with full lug. Can someone enlighten me. I will be shooting some 240 gr. soft point Winchester white box. Let me know. Thanks.

That's the most powerful factory .44 Magnum ammunition that I've ever shot. In my 4" 29-2, it's downright painful. I HIGHLY recommend that you get yourself some kind of rubber grip which covers the backstrap.

I sold my gun to a friend in the early '90s and didn't get it back again until a few years ago. It always had a "spitting" problem, so I ran through about a box and a half of Winchester White Box testing various repairs by my smith and S&W. When I got it back, it had magnas on it. I didn't even bother with those. I found an extra set of targets and shot it with those. Brutal just doesn't do the experience justice. I then was able to switch to a set of Pachmayrs. That improved things to very uncomfortable.

I mostly shoot Specials in the gun and always have. With those, even the Speer 200gr. Gold Dots, it's very pleasant to shoot.

 

[mississippi revolverman]

Agree with everyone else. Pratice with the 44 special and fire a cylinder of magnum to see the difference. When I hunt with my 44's never feel the recoil on a magnum round. Probably to wound up at the moment.

 

[H Richard]

If you plan to shoot it much, (and you should), plan to reload. There are numerous loads available and it is one of the most accurate calibers around. A good stout 44 Special load will leave you smiling and you will want to take it to the range every week.

 

[batmann]

Once you shoot it, the very next thing you will want to do is order some X Frame Hogue's from S&W. These are the same grips that are on the 500 and 460 Mags. They cover the back strap and will make the MG much more comfortable while shooting.

 

[4inch357]

"Don't let the hype get to you. It's not that bad with the WWB 240s. It's definitely not a plinker, but it's not that bad."

In a Mountain Gun...........it's that bad! (any full power load is though)

 

[NFrameFred]

The beauty of the 44 mag is you can load it from mild to wild. For most of us, killing steel plates, tin cans, and paper silhouettes does not require loads that stone bruise the palm of your hand. But there are those types who, because they have it, must shoot nothing but "manly" loads. Just like the guy with the muscle car and a big block that has to wear down the tires every time he pulls out . . . to each his own.

The 44 hits hard and makes a big hole, even with milder loads; but it has the ability to belch fire, death, and destruction if you want or need it to.

I love my 29's and my favorite has always been the 4" barrel. To be honest I have never noticed that much difference personally between the 4 and 6 inch tubes for accuracy, recoil, and muzzle blast, though some claim to. I've owned and shot them in all barrel lengths and once you have 44-itis you are well and truly hooked. Lots of gun and lots of fun.

 

[Shuz]

.44 magnum

In order to become proficient with any revolver, you must shoot a lot to stay in practice.
In order to shoot a lot, you need to reload, unless you've got more money than most of us to spend on ammo. I have many Smith and Ruger .44's and prefer the 4 to 5 inch bbls. A great load I use in my Mtn Gun 629 is Lyman's 429421 and 7.5g of Green Dot(or 8.5g of Unique) in a .44 magnum case. With Hogue grips, I can shoot this one all day and not have my hand pounded so it hurts. Good luck with your new toy!

 

[Poohgyrr]

There are pistols that kick more; try an SSK handcannon for one. . But, the S&W .44 Magnum is a classic for good reason, it works well.

That said, expect more recoil, and more muzzle blast.

Reloading is a very good friend to your paycheck.

The .44 Special is a great round.

Congrats!!

 

[Sportsterguy]

Compared to that 8 inch full lug Magnum that you fired, planning on the recoil with that Mountain Gun being "brisk."

+1. I use double hearing protection and a Past shooting gloves for the hot loads with the factory grips. Makes the session fun versus coming back with ringing ears. A good set of Pacs or Hogues that cover the backstrap will make a WORLD of difference on felt recoil.

Congrats and have a blast!

SG

 

[Blaidd]

I've LOVE my 4" 629. I've shot everything from 200gr .44 spl cowboy loads all the way up to hot .44 mags. The best thing is to let the recoil ride and a good Hogue grips. I reload my .44's now so you can pick your flavor of round. FWIW, my dad after shooting my 4" 629 ran out and picked up a 6" 629 for his trip to Alaska this year.

 

[paigecm]

I do reload. Maybe I will look at .44 spedial rounds to look at reloading. I guess I will have to get a set of rubber grips that cover the backstrap... Oh well this weekend it is full power and wood grips. I will let you know how it went or hurt!!!!

 

[sixdeuce]

44 Loads

Over the years, I have come to find the following kinds of loads for 44's:

1) The rocket loads that are awesome in power but that most of us cannot hit
with, especially without regular practice.

2) The midrange 44 loads that most are accurate with and are failry useful

3) The 44 special loads that nearly all like for extensive taget practice and plinking.

4) The 44 shot loads for snakes and birds that make a 44 pistol great for pigeons
and rattlsnakes at close range.

Afet you get over the hand cannon loads, try the others and, in my opinion at least,
you will find the 44 (particularly in the Model 29) to be an extremely useful and
versatile cartridge. Have Fun!

 

[smith revolver cop]

grab yourself a box of .44 specials too...and a good set of earmuffs....
I normally shoot specials in my .44's saving the big mags for more serious work but it's still fun to Pop off a few rounds of the hotter stuff....

Great advice. The .44 mag is a hot round. Fun to shoot a couple of cylinders full, but pretty punishing after that. Shooting the .44 special is a joy. I have a 29 in 8 3/8" barrel, and it's just a *****-cat to shoot with specials... feels like even lighter recoil than a .38!

 

[Nightowl]

Just remember that shooting lead Specials will leave a lead ring buildup in the chambers that needs to be throughly removed before shooting magnums. Although I sometimes shoot Specials in magnum chambers, I prefer to load magnum cases with lighter loads for the .44 Magnum and shoot specials in .44 Special chambered guns.

It IS a great all round revolver and great fun. Every shooter should have at least one!

 

[cmort666]

Just remember that shooting lead Specials will leave a lead ring buildup in the chambers that needs to be throughly removed before shooting magnums. Although I sometimes shoot Specials in magnum chambers, I prefer to load magnum cases with lighter loads for the .44 Magnum and shoot specials in .44 Special chambered guns.

It IS a great all round revolver and great fun. Every shooter should have at least one!

I always clean my guns thoroughly after using them, so I don't have any such problems.

I use low volume powders, mostly Bullseye and Unique. Smaller volume cases work better with them.

 

[ENH]

You should expect a lot of fun and versatility.

 

[Frank V]

You will really like the .44 Specials in that 29! Congratulations. Frank

 

[SharpshooterOPD]

What everyone else said! The one thing I notice with my Mountain Gun is more torque than with my other 29/629's when I shoot full power loads. That being said, I think the Mountain Gun platform and the 240 SWC/7.5 gr Unique (aka the Skeeter Skelton load) is a match made in Heaven. Enjoy!

HRF

 

[Joed49]

I have several .44's that I shoot. Doing my own reloading I like 15.0 gr of 2400 with a 250 gr LSWC. This one you can shoot for awhile with no damage to you.

To be honest I haven't shot 1 .44 mag factory round in any of mine.

 

[stevieboy]

I've fired my friend's .44 magnum Mountain Gun with relatively light loads. He's put X-frame Hogues on the gun and, with them, shooting it is absolutely painless. The felt recoil is about equivalent to the recoil on my 27 when I fire 125 gr. magnum rounds through it.