Are there any good old smith and wesson that were designed for target shooting?
Just did some research k22, k38
Just did some research k22, k38
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How do you actually enjoy a Magnum caliber revolver?
- Thread starter maxxer2
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Thank you. Now the question is which magnum to get it going. 357 is probably the cheapest to get ammo wise. 44 I can use the special ammo I already saved up for my Bulldog. 41 is unique but also means I literally have only one model of gun (57 with 6" barrel) and very limited ammo choices.
20 years ago I bought my 4" 629-1, then found a random box of factory ammo for it at the next gunshow. I was pretty excited to head to the range and try it out.
BOOOOOM! The loud blast and large concussion were joined by a foot-long flame coming out the muzzle. "What the heck did I just buy?" I'm thinking, while finishing off the cylinder. Definitely not fun! During reloading a guy a few lanes over even came up and asked if it was a .500 magnum. Well, after maybe 4-5 cylinders I was done.
I went back to the show and mentioned the performance to the seller, who acknowledged it was a hot load. I then purchased some with a little less "oomph" and came to appreciate the difference.
The gun was already wearing a set of Goodyears (Hogue) so I started wearing a pair of fingerless weightlifting gloves until I could get a pair of Past shooting gloves. Those have really helped a lot.
I won't punish myself by overdoing it at the range and I have no desire to impress anyone. To me, the purpose is staying proficient and just having fun, regardless of caliber. If you don't enjoy it, you won't want to shoot it. But try some lighter loads and shooting gloves.
Todd
BOOOOOM! The loud blast and large concussion were joined by a foot-long flame coming out the muzzle. "What the heck did I just buy?" I'm thinking, while finishing off the cylinder. Definitely not fun! During reloading a guy a few lanes over even came up and asked if it was a .500 magnum. Well, after maybe 4-5 cylinders I was done.
I went back to the show and mentioned the performance to the seller, who acknowledged it was a hot load. I then purchased some with a little less "oomph" and came to appreciate the difference.
The gun was already wearing a set of Goodyears (Hogue) so I started wearing a pair of fingerless weightlifting gloves until I could get a pair of Past shooting gloves. Those have really helped a lot.
I won't punish myself by overdoing it at the range and I have no desire to impress anyone. To me, the purpose is staying proficient and just having fun, regardless of caliber. If you don't enjoy it, you won't want to shoot it. But try some lighter loads and shooting gloves.
Todd
As perhaps somewhat of an aside, shooting .38 Specials/.44 Specials out of their respective Magnum revolvers is all well and good----if----if you're satisfied with what I'll call "practical accuracy"---your rounds hit the paper.
Ultimate accuracy, all ten/X ring, is not to be expected---so says my machine rest several years back.
Ralph Tremaine
Ultimate accuracy, all ten/X ring, is not to be expected---so says my machine rest several years back.
Ralph Tremaine
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I enjoy any non-planetwrecker magnum (including 357, 41, 44) by shooting at 50 to 100 yard targets. You have to focus on grip, trigger, front sight more than close-in shooting. I also use ear plugs under quality muffs. You'll get accustomed to recoil and will become more and more comfortable as your long-range groups shrink.
My suggestion would be to limit range sessions to not more than 50 magnum rounds. Fatigue breeds discouragement.
My suggestion would be to limit range sessions to not more than 50 magnum rounds. Fatigue breeds discouragement.
StrawHat
Member
I grew up reading Elmer Keith so I had several S&W Model 29s of various dashes and barrel lengths.
It took me a few years but I figured out the 3” barreled one was no fun to shoot nor easy to carry. The 8 3/8” barreled one was sold within a year of purchase. Way too unbalanced for me. The 4” was easy to carry and fairly accurate. Ohio wanted a minimum of 5” of barrel so I got a 6”. Hunted with it for a few years. Practiced with it enough so out to 100 yards, I was confident. Hunted with a buddy who carried a S&W M25-5. I noticed that with similar shot placement, his deer dropped faster and closer (less tracking) than those hit with the magnum. It bugged me enough that I borrowed his revolver and used it for a couple of hunts. With me on the trigger, the hits would be identical to what I would have done with the 44. Using the 45 long Colt, the deer indeed dropped faster and closer. I figured he was using Linebaughs loads and asked him. Nope, 260 grain bullets from the 454424 mold. What velocity? The manual showed 950 fps from a 6” barrel.
I soon bought a Model 25-5, 6” barreled revolver. I also had a Model 25-2. What I found was a 240 grain wadcutter at 850 fps really dropped deer, practically in their tracks!
I have sold all my magnums. Now, I do have a few 45 ACP revolvers and use them for most of my shooting.
Kevin
It took me a few years but I figured out the 3” barreled one was no fun to shoot nor easy to carry. The 8 3/8” barreled one was sold within a year of purchase. Way too unbalanced for me. The 4” was easy to carry and fairly accurate. Ohio wanted a minimum of 5” of barrel so I got a 6”. Hunted with it for a few years. Practiced with it enough so out to 100 yards, I was confident. Hunted with a buddy who carried a S&W M25-5. I noticed that with similar shot placement, his deer dropped faster and closer (less tracking) than those hit with the magnum. It bugged me enough that I borrowed his revolver and used it for a couple of hunts. With me on the trigger, the hits would be identical to what I would have done with the 44. Using the 45 long Colt, the deer indeed dropped faster and closer. I figured he was using Linebaughs loads and asked him. Nope, 260 grain bullets from the 454424 mold. What velocity? The manual showed 950 fps from a 6” barrel.
I soon bought a Model 25-5, 6” barreled revolver. I also had a Model 25-2. What I found was a 240 grain wadcutter at 850 fps really dropped deer, practically in their tracks!
I have sold all my magnums. Now, I do have a few 45 ACP revolvers and use them for most of my shooting.
Kevin
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I’m 62 years old and I shoot full house 44 magnums a lot with one hand. I just don’t fight them and I have no ill effects from it.
I’ve got a Ruger Alaskan in 480 Ruger and a Taurus raging bull in 454 and can shoot them the same way just don’t fight it let it happen and you’ll find out it’s not all that unpleasant. I enjoy it.
And I’m not a big guy either.
Tom
I’ve got a Ruger Alaskan in 480 Ruger and a Taurus raging bull in 454 and can shoot them the same way just don’t fight it let it happen and you’ll find out it’s not all that unpleasant. I enjoy it.
And I’m not a big guy either.
Tom
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
This ^^.
I have 4 .357M's (2 K's, 2-1/2" and 4" and 2 N's, both 6") and two .41M's (6" M57 and 4" M58) that get regular range rotation. I load them to just barely subsonic MV's (around 1150-1200 fps) and they are fine. I occasionally put a couple of cylinders full of full magnum loads just to remind myself what it's like. I stick with 158's in the .357's and 210's in the .41's. Actually the only S&W revolver I own that isn't a magnum is my M25-5, and it's a mellow shooter anyway.
I have a 686 that I shoot full magnum loads in, don't mind the recoil as much as the muzzle blast. When I went up to a .44 Mag. I went to a BFR for the extra weight and this really helped the recoil. At 79 I don't shoot as much as I did but the recoil is easy to handle if you do it right. On a side note, I handed my 686 to my 10 year old grandson with a .38 Special in it and he liked it and wanted to try a .357 Magnum round. He touched it off and turned around and said "Oh yeah!".
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Not sure I can tell you why I like the heavy barrels. I've shot both and don't like the tapered barrels. Just the "feel" I guess. The 57 shoots really well for me. Maybe I just like it because it's different. But it's close.
And before those---as in pre-war, the M&P Targets (K frame, .38 Special).
Do a little more research of The Long Shooters, those whose competitions went out to 300 Yards-----and you'll find the M&P Targets were the favorites.
If you become curious enough to go looking for one, look for one from the early 1930's on to 1940---those with the "2 screw" sights (S&W's first that absolutely, positively will not "shoot loose")--------and are infinitely adjustable----none of this "one click moves the point of impact 1/2" at 25 yards" business with the later "Micrometer" sight-----ONE FULL TURN of an adjusting screw on the the "2 screw" moves POI one inch for each ten yards of range---just what you need for driving nails, lighting matches, blowing out candles, or murdering Bumble Bees!
Ralph Tremaine
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abigails&w
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For me
I am recoil sensitive too. To me .357 Magnum felt big recoil only until I tried .44 Magnum. Talking for both full power factory loads (I do not reload and try to only buy top quality ammo). After .44 Magnum in N frame, .357 Magnum to me in L frame felt like a comfortable, cracking sounding, fast round with negligible recoil.
I also shoot .357 Magnum in J frame but there I try to use only low recoil (glorified .38 Specials +P) rounds and not too many.
If I were you, after 44 I would try again 357. Or, simply shot .44 Specials and .38 Specials if you enjoy that most and just scrub well those longer Magnum cylinder chambers if you don't have Special chambered revolvers. Life is too short to not try to fully enjoy target shooting. From a defensive application point of view, precision trumps power.
I am recoil sensitive too. To me .357 Magnum felt big recoil only until I tried .44 Magnum. Talking for both full power factory loads (I do not reload and try to only buy top quality ammo). After .44 Magnum in N frame, .357 Magnum to me in L frame felt like a comfortable, cracking sounding, fast round with negligible recoil.
I also shoot .357 Magnum in J frame but there I try to use only low recoil (glorified .38 Specials +P) rounds and not too many.
If I were you, after 44 I would try again 357. Or, simply shot .44 Specials and .38 Specials if you enjoy that most and just scrub well those longer Magnum cylinder chambers if you don't have Special chambered revolvers. Life is too short to not try to fully enjoy target shooting. From a defensive application point of view, precision trumps power.
You’ve already got a .44 Special so buy yourself a nice 8-3/8” Model 29 and start reloading. Begin with light loads and METHODICALLY work your way up. Use magnum brass for your handloads as much as possible and keep your chambers clean.
I’ve found what matters most to me in terms of felt recoil are these three things - bullet weight, barrel length, and stocks. A 200 grain .44 Magnum is much nicer than a 250-280 grain, and an 8-3/8” gun is much more pleasant to shoot than a 4-inch, or even a 6.5-inch.
As an earlier poster mentioned, fatigue is your enemy. When you see your ability to hold and squeeze starting to deteriorate, stop. Twenty good rounds that hit the black are better practice than fifty that go all over the place.
Wood stocks look great, but when I shoot full-charge magnum rounds, I use Pachmayrs. My normal .44 Magnum loads for enjoyable shooting typically are a 230 grain cast SWC at around 900-1000 FPS, depending on the powder I have available. Sometimes I drop down to 200-210 grain and load about 100 FPS faster. With these loads, barrel length and stocks are not critical to me.
With the prices of powder, primers, and bullets these days, I shoot 25-50 rounds and try to make them count. I’ve enjoyed shooting .44 Magnum revolvers for what will be 56 years this coming August and this is what works for me. Good luck with whatever you decide.
I’ve found what matters most to me in terms of felt recoil are these three things - bullet weight, barrel length, and stocks. A 200 grain .44 Magnum is much nicer than a 250-280 grain, and an 8-3/8” gun is much more pleasant to shoot than a 4-inch, or even a 6.5-inch.
As an earlier poster mentioned, fatigue is your enemy. When you see your ability to hold and squeeze starting to deteriorate, stop. Twenty good rounds that hit the black are better practice than fifty that go all over the place.
Wood stocks look great, but when I shoot full-charge magnum rounds, I use Pachmayrs. My normal .44 Magnum loads for enjoyable shooting typically are a 230 grain cast SWC at around 900-1000 FPS, depending on the powder I have available. Sometimes I drop down to 200-210 grain and load about 100 FPS faster. With these loads, barrel length and stocks are not critical to me.
With the prices of powder, primers, and bullets these days, I shoot 25-50 rounds and try to make them count. I’ve enjoyed shooting .44 Magnum revolvers for what will be 56 years this coming August and this is what works for me. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Invictus357
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Think of it like a Lamborghini.
You buy it because they are the pinnacle of car design.
They also look amazing.
Sure, you can go 180 mph but not all the time.
Same goes for my 629.
I like that I could be shooting 44 magnum Garrett Hammerheads.
But for me, I'll drive in the comfy slow lane down 44 special avenue.
You buy it because they are the pinnacle of car design.
They also look amazing.
Sure, you can go 180 mph but not all the time.
Same goes for my 629.
I like that I could be shooting 44 magnum Garrett Hammerheads.
But for me, I'll drive in the comfy slow lane down 44 special avenue.
I have two .38 spls (a victory and K38) that I like shooting. But after a bit I started wondering about what i was missing in that bullet diameter… so I bought my buddies 586-0 and several boxes of factory .357.
Bottom line it was a not so pleasant eye-opener. I put the original magna’s in a box and replaced them with a set of target stocks. So much easier on my second finger. That was the first step….fast forward to my range trips: I now shoot a bunch of .38 specials at steel to enjoy the accuracy of my revolvers. And then finish with 2-3 cylinders of .357 and experience the equivalent of turning the stereo to “10” for a bit without too much damage.
A little bit goes a long way for me.
Bottom line it was a not so pleasant eye-opener. I put the original magna’s in a box and replaced them with a set of target stocks. So much easier on my second finger. That was the first step….fast forward to my range trips: I now shoot a bunch of .38 specials at steel to enjoy the accuracy of my revolvers. And then finish with 2-3 cylinders of .357 and experience the equivalent of turning the stereo to “10” for a bit without too much damage.
A little bit goes a long way for me.
Each of us have a different level of tolerance for recoil. Some men an women can handle the recoil of .44 magnum and greater cartridges with accuracy as you've seen in this thread. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm not one of them. I've owned three .44's and sent tham all down the road. My recoil ceiling is .357 in a K frame or my .45 colt blackhawk at sub 1000 FPS. I have nothing to prove and enjoy what I enjoy. If you want big power, give it a go. If you find that its not for you, nothing forces you to stick with it. Good luck with your endeavor.
First, making your own ammunition is not my cup of tea; I'd be afraid to shoot anything that I made.
Second item: I blew up a Model 19 with custom-made ammunition. It's not my cup of tea. Oh, I did say that.
Third: I completely dislike .44 Magnum caliber. I started disliking it decades ago. I dislike it to this very day. All of the happy comments about it just make me laugh.
Fourth item: .357 Magnum ammunition is fun to shoot in the right guns. It's really not enjoyable in lighter guns such as Model 19s, although it's not scary by any means, but in in L and N frames it's a hoot.
Fifth item: Shooting .44 Special ammunition in a .44 Magnum is totally enjoyable. I recommend it.
Sixth item: Same of .38 Special in .357 Magnum guns.
Now you know.
Second item: I blew up a Model 19 with custom-made ammunition. It's not my cup of tea. Oh, I did say that.
Third: I completely dislike .44 Magnum caliber. I started disliking it decades ago. I dislike it to this very day. All of the happy comments about it just make me laugh.
Fourth item: .357 Magnum ammunition is fun to shoot in the right guns. It's really not enjoyable in lighter guns such as Model 19s, although it's not scary by any means, but in in L and N frames it's a hoot.
Fifth item: Shooting .44 Special ammunition in a .44 Magnum is totally enjoyable. I recommend it.
Sixth item: Same of .38 Special in .357 Magnum guns.
Now you know.
Rich Richardson
Member
I had a M69 L frame and didn’t enjoy shooting magnum loads.
Sold it and bought a 629 5” Classic. Better but still not pleasant.
Sold it and bought a Taurus M44 4” that’s ported and comped from the factory. Pleasant to shoot even one handed and gets back on target quickly.
Sold it and bought a 629 5” Classic. Better but still not pleasant.
Sold it and bought a Taurus M44 4” that’s ported and comped from the factory. Pleasant to shoot even one handed and gets back on target quickly.
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