How do you actually enjoy a Magnum caliber revolver?

[JohnRippert]

If you don't enjoy it then don't shoot magnums. Take it down to wadcutters if that helps it to be fun instead of painful. I am 5'9" and 170lb with pretty big hands and my favorite revolver to shoot is a 4inch Model 19 with 158gr magnums. I like the thump I get in my hands when I shoot it. None of my .357's have ever had any .38 Special in them since I got aholt of them. I do not think that enjoying magnum rounds is something that can be learned. Either you do or you don't.

 

[shil]

I, personally, don't mind the recoil because I know I'm shooting a powerful revolver. Recoil and flinch can be mastered. The source of discomfort for me is the top of the stocks. The base of my thumb at the joint takes a beating. When it gets too distracting, I stop shooting a magnum, somewhere between 25 and 50 rounds with a .44, and switch to something more gentle. Who enjoys pain? Rubber grips don't do it for me. I'm currently in the market for suitable shooting gloves. Bottom line: if magnum revolvers cause you discomfort and you don't handload, there's plenty else to shoot. By the way, I love the .22 LR! No disgrace in that. Shoot on and be safe!

 

[otis24]

I like my magnum (.357) not because I will shoot a lot of magnum rounds, but because I can load serious rounds for serious jobs/problems. When a serious threat arises you aren’t going to notice the recoil. The rest of the time you can shoot .38s or .38+P. It’s about options/diversity.

 

[AveragEd]

I only skimmed through the previous posts but as others have mentioned, handloading ammunition tailored to your comfort level is mandatory if you are going to practice with your gun - and remember, "practice makes perfect."

For the .357 Magnum, I load 158-grain cast lead semi-wadcutters over 6.0 Grains of SR4756 powder - it has been discontinued for years but there are newer propellants that will work just as well. In the .44 Magnum, a 240-grain SWC over 10.0 grains of SR4756 does the trick for me. And both loads are gun- and shooter-friendly, meaning that you won't expose your guns or yourself to the abuse of full-house magnum loads. The two revolvers I shoot at paper the most are in the photo below.

Ed

 

[Gamecock]

Back in the day, I had a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Shot .44 magnum just fine. But I found accuracy was better with .44 SPC.

Sold it; bought M29 - like many others. Shot 3 magnums in it; stopped. Haven't shot a magnum cartridge in it in 40 years. Missed the old SBH, bought a Redhawk. Shoulda bought another SBH.

I am recoil averse. I shoot Specials for fun, and load them up hot for SD. Hot .38 and .44 Special are plenty good for SD. I have no fear shooting hot loads in them; they are made for magnums.

 

[Tanners Owner]

I like the versatility magnums provide, but prefer shooting specials (38 & 44s).

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

Reactive targets… think two liter bottles of water
.22 is a snooze
Specials… better, but still meh
All the fun is in the magnums!
Laugh all you want about the fun I’m having!

 

[bedwards]

I have the 19-3/357 29-2/44mag 629-1/44mag Dan Wesson 357mag and Super Redhawk in 454. I love them all, but the ones that are a handfull are my EC9s and my Hellcat micro both 9mm. The big guns kick but the little guns bite.

 

[biku324]

If you want a big pistol to make big holes, consider a 625-8. With 45 Auto Rim +P factory ammo or handloads, you can humanely any deer or antelope that ever walked. Normal velocity 45 ACP makes everyday shooting a joy.

Just don't ask me to give up 357 or 41 mags.

 

[Tinkertech]

Did someone say recoil on a S&W500 4" was too much?

Speak up, I can't hear you............

 

[Chrisj357]

Did someone say recoil on a S&W500 4" was too much?

Speak up, I can't hear you............

I suppose if the recoil from .357 out of a 4” 686 is too much. That person definitely won’t like full power .500 rounds out of a 4” S&W 500!!

I love it

 

[daveyc]

do NOT try to fight the recoil. do not lock your elbows. ¨ride¨ the recoil up. you can get used to it that way. use your elbows and shoulders like shock absorbers. also, do no grip the gun too tightly. give it the same grip you would give a hammer. I know that does not feel tight enough, but your reflexes will grip that gun as soon as it recoils.

also double up on hearing protection. the blast created by these guns can be missapropriated as recoil.

 

[rwsmith]

I love shooting my 686...

...and a few .44 mags, but I've noticed recently that I don't enjoy it quite as much as I used to. I want to keep it up to maintain proficiency, but I'm not shooting as many as used to. Nowadays, I shoot mostly heavy .38 loads out of it, most of the time.

As a note: I think that what happens as we start getting older, if you don't keep shooting magnums and stop being used to them, you gradually get a little more magnum shy. In the words of Clint Eastwood (the movie title evades me) When you say, 'I'm getting old" it's more like 'old habits'. That's the reason I want to keep shooting some full bore rounds. To keep from falling into old habits.

 

[Gamecock]

Had annual Medicare wellness visit with doctor today.

Didn't tell him I am recoil averse. He probably doesn't have anything for it, anyway.

 

[LVSteve]

Weight and rubber grips are essential to enjoying magnums. My 6" 686 Plus has Hogues on and is a hoot to shoot with 125 gr Remington JHPs. Big batwings of flame from the cylinder gap and a long muzzle flash along with a penetrating report. The Vegas tourists love it. Do I shoot that ammo from my 3" 65 with Compac grips? Heck NO!!! That is a 38 Special +P gun. Maybe a few Blazer aluminum 158 gr rounds, they are not loaded to full house levels.

I have one 44, a 5" Ruger Redhawk with big, thick Pachmayr grips on it. I have yet to shoot commercial 240 gr JHPs, but even with the rounds I have shot I ride the recoil by allowing my elbows to pivot. Seems to work for me. This will be alien to those who like to shoot 9 mm semi-autos at speed where locked arms are essential.

 

[Repeater]

For me...lots of the "Special" caliber for the day plus 5-20 of the Magnum caliber (unless it's .22 Magnum!)
My wrists thank me for it!

 

[375hh1973]

Im not much of a revolver guy, most of my handguns are semi autos.

That being said, one of my favorite guns is my 5" 629.

I have no use for wood grips so it wears Hogue rubber finger grooves.

Bought it for a woods gun. Carry and shoot factory 240gr for that. Weight of the gun plus the comfy handles makes it enjoyable.

I keep Underwood .44 specials in it for an additional house gun or when I wanna carry a revolver in town.

 

[Buford57]

When I was a cop the 357 Magnum was not fun from a 19 so I got a 27 when we were authorized 357. When the L Frame came out in 1981 I was first in line to get one. It tames the 357.

I shoot a box of 50 357 Magnums at the Range along with a box or two of 38 Special and/or a box or two of 22 LR.

I started with a 4" M28 and stayed there. My BUG was 2" Colt Lawman. Mustang rubber grips on the S&W, factory grips with a Tyler on the Colt. Both were tolerable with magnums. Late last year I bought a 4" 586. Even with 40 additional years and arthritis it was tolerable. S&W targets never fit my hand, so it now wears Hogues. I'm betting it will be a pussycat next trip to the range.

Another thing: if you're shooting for enjoyment, shoot what you enjoy. I consider shooting enough full bore defensive ammo from my EDC to stay competent the price of safety, but the thrill of recoil and muzzle blast wears off faster than it used to so most of my range time involves .38 target loads and .22s. My mother's maiden name was not de Sade.

 

[BC38]

Semi-soft rubber grips with a covered backstrap, a very firm grip on the gun, and not "locking" my elbows is what works for me.
I like Pachmayer Gripper and Presentation grips for magnums.

 

[DonD]

I've been shooting magnum handguns for nearly 60 yrs.

I've been shooting 500 S&Ws since they came out. Have had 5, down to 2 keepers an original and a Performance Center 6" barrel.

I enjoy seeing what they do on targets and no they don't make me sore or hurt. A usual range session is probably 4 cylinder fulls of medium heavy and maybe 30 rounds of fun light rounds with Trail Boss powder.

If you want something that hurts, try one of the 45 Colt derringers. What a nasty little pig. Don