How do you actually enjoy a Magnum caliber revolver?

[Grayfox]

I like the .357 Magnum. I have no problem with full power loads out of a L or N frame gun. With K- frames it starts getting kinda iffy. I have absolutely no desire to ever shoot it out of a J-frame.

The .44 Magnum is a different story. I own one Model 29 because it was left to me by a dear departed friend. He was a true recoil junkie and loved the full power .44s. Honestly, I do not like shooting this gun with full magnums. I rarely shoot it. I'll take it out to the range maybe once every few years and run a few rounds through it just to honor my lost friend.
OTOH, I'm a huge fan of the .44 Special and .45 Colt rounds. They'll do anything the magnum will and with a whole lot less buck and roar.

 

[PHS327]

If I'm not mistaken the Bulldog is a relatively light gun. I shoot factory 44 mag from my 37.4 ounce model 69 and it's a pleasure. It's an L frame and most, if not all N frame 44 mag revolvers are heavier. However, I look for loads that are no more than 240 grains at 1000 fps. There are several. Defender ammo, HSM, Armscor, Choice ammo, grizzly ammo, come to mind. They are what I would call hot 44 specials in a 44 mag case.

 

[jaymoore]

I shoot Magnum revolvers mostly for the features and extra weight, but very rarely with factory magnum loads or equivalent. Nasty stuff. Even my 200m Big Bore IHMSA silhouette and deer hunting loads are a bit wimpy. Not that the deer nor steel Rams can tell.

If you want a great big bore revolver to use highly effective factory loads, try .45 Colt! A 25-5, -7,-9, or -15 or their stainless variants are excellent.

 

[StrawHat]

Are there any good old smith and wesson that were designed for target shooting?

Just did some research k22, k38

See also the 45 ACP Models 1950 and 1955.

Kevin

 

[M1A4ME]

You shot 650 rounds of 44 magnum in one weekend? Did you find you enjoy 44 mag out of m29 more or 357 out of m586?

I can't tell you which one I liked the best.

The 586 is, to this day, the most accurate magnum handgun I've ever shot. Recoil was less than the M29. The barrel is longer on the 586. Only had iron sights in those days so having good eyes was important at that time. I also never worked on developing loads just for the M29. I already had the Ruger and everything was loaded for it. The M29 shot that stuff pretty good but it may have done even better with loads specifically developed for it.

That first weekend it had the factory wood grips on it. My right thumb knuckle/joint (the one in the middle) swelled up big enough it was easy to see the difference between it and the left hand/thumb. Took weeks to go down to normal size. Wasn't sore. Just swelled up. I think the Pachmayrs took care of that but I never put that many rounds through it in a short period again.

The last time I considered buying a revolver it was one of the 5" M629's. I wanted one pretty bad for awhile but not at the prices the dealers wanted to charge for it.

 

[zeke]

In moderation.

 

[gwpercle]

I enjoy my model 58 S&W 41 Magnum ( that's it in my avatar) by casting lead bullets and handloading .I can make light target 41 Special loads with cast wadcutter bullets and they are pure pleasure to shoot .

If You enjoy shooting ... any revolver caliber , my advice is get into reloading ... Make your ammo the way you would like it .

I cast bul;lets and reload ammo for every firearm I own .
Never a shortage of any ammo I would like to shoot .

Gary

 

[Yendor357]

I think the only Magnum you’re going to enjoy is a 22 magnum. Maybe a 327 Magnum. And that’s ok. Shooting a Magnum is an unnatural act. lol Noise, fire, recoil, literally in the palm of your hand is something you have to deal with.

A Magnum is going to recoil. So let it. Firm grip in the strong hand. Vice grip in the off hand. Somewhat relaxed arms. Oh, and double up on hearing protection.

 

[Brian Parrish]

Important!

Yeah. A challenge is something I can get behind. Thank you. Everyone is giving good advice. Maybe I should rethink about that m57 but there are so many choices if I go 357 instead.

When shooting the 44 Magnum, I forgot to mention, it is better to articulate the elbow during recoil rather than the wrist. This may take some getting used to but it is worth the time. I suspect that those who are so sensitive to recoil do not know this. When you fire it, listen to your body for what is actually bothering you. You may see that the violent snap of the wrist is what is doing it.

Best!
BrianD

 

[Chrisj357]

Last post on this. Honest opinion. I bought my M-19 in 1982 and started shooting.357 and never stopped. Factory .357 was hotter then compared to now. The recoil with factory loads was never uncomfortable. I started hand loading some stronger stuff that stung a bit but I still shot quite a lot of them.

Today with the 4” 686 and current factory .357 rounds the recoil is hardly worth calling significant.

My wife who is maybe 100 lb soaking wet shoots .357 from her Rossi (weighs about the same as my M-19) and doesn’t complain about uncomfortable recoil.

Bottom line. If .357 recoil is too much for you then shoot something else but that’s your preference. The recoil from .357 factory loads from a 4” 686 or larger is just normal handgun recoil. If you don’t like it that’s fine more ammo for the rest of us.

 

[GypsmJim]

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.

A 57 may be the only S&W .41, but there are others out there. Maybe you might like a Ruger Blackhawk .41.

.41 is a cult thing. Once you buy one you'll probably buy another.

Regardless, based on all you've said, it looks like your main interest is target shooting. That being the case you don't need a magnum. Like many have said, you need to reload. My heavy magnum loads are for deer hunting, but the mild ones I use at the range. That's the advantage of a magnum - you can go either way. Even if you don't hunt, you're ready for the future if you do.

 

[Model19man]

Model 19 is K frame?
How many rounds of 357 Magnum do you shoot in a range session? a box of 50?

Yes my Model 19 is a K frame. Typically I might shoot 50 rounds but I have been known to shoot 100 some times. I used to shoot maybe 150 when I first bought it. Those were typically my reloads with 2400 or W296 and 110 or 125 grain JHP's. I was addicted to loud and fireballs.

Nowdays I typically shoot 158 grain lead SWC's with either Unique or Green Dot. No interest in fire balls or loudness any more.

 

[GypsmJim]

First, making your own ammunition is not my cup of tea; I'd be afraid to shoot anything that I made.

Not my cup of tea is understandable. Fear is another story.

Reloading is a very rewarding hobby. I realize that it takes working with explosives, but there are step-by-step manuals that lead you thru the process. It isn't dangerous unless you chose to not read the book. Like any task, not following directions is what leads to trouble.

Personally I'm afraid to watch the neighbors cut their grass. A whiny little kid always insisted that she ride on Mommy's lap while she was driving the lawn tractor. Well, she started fidgeting and when she fell off he leg went under the mower. Common sense goes hand in hand with following directions.

 

[Cal44]

I have a 657 classic hunter. It has a 7" full to lug barrel barrel.

For plinking at the range I shoot 41mag cowboy loads and they are no problem.

But shooters very widely in recoil sensitivity.
.

 

[Ameshawki]

Not as much as I used to. The hands just don't deal with it anymore. Shoulder isn't much better.

 

[TAROMAN]

Had to chuckle on this one.
Visiting a LGS. Like new 329PD in the case.
Owner said "I'm selling this one for the third time."
Included was a box of 44 magnum factory loads, 12 missing.
First owner fired 6 and returned it.
Second owner - same result.
No, I wasn't the third!

 

[scout II]

I like the .41 magnum. I have S&W model 57's, and 58's, a Ruger, a Freedom Arms, a Taurus, and also a Marlin and Henry lever action rifles. They make .41 special ammo now if you want something lighter than the magnum version. If you hand load, you can adjust it to your liking, heavy or light or somewhere in between loads.

 

[GypsmJim]

I like the .41 magnum. I have S&W model 57's, and 58's, a Ruger, a Freedom Arms, a Taurus, and also a Marlin and Henry lever action rifles. They make .41 special ammo now if you want something lighter than the magnum version. If you hand load, you can adjust it to your liking, heavy or light or somewhere in between loads.

Your comment piqued my interest. I started reloading .41 Spl a couple of years ago when Starline came out with brass. At the time I could not find any loaded ammo.

A google check shows only a couple of manufacturers (that I never heard of before), plus at $1.30 or so a pop that's too rich for my blood. I don't see any commercial stuff being sold by the majors (Win, Fed, etc.)

 

[CH4]

I find em more enjoyable in small doses.

 

[The Norseman]

Enjoy Magnums

How do I enjoy shooting S&W Magnums?

First getting rid of wood grips, Second put S&W
synthetic rubber grips on, and third I reload for
all my Revolvers.

High velocity, High pressure cartridges does
nothing for me. A Lead cast bullet going
800-850 or 900 feet per second does a lot
of penetration and bone breaking.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.