jessegpresley
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My first firing of a 44 Mag.
- Thread starter jessegpresley
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armybass
US Veteran
While those newer wood grips do look really good I think they are kinda hard to get a good hold of. Could make .44Mag recoil a bear. I am sure you could find some rubber grips to help with that recoil a bit.
I have a 629 Classic (6" barrel) and the rubber grips make recoil very bearable! I load light loads for it so my son can shoot it.
I think he likes to shoot it mostly just because it is a .44 magnum, but after all, that is why I got it in the first place!
I think he likes to shoot it mostly just because it is a .44 magnum, but after all, that is why I got it in the first place!
alaskavett
US Veteran
Might I suggest you try some milder .44 Special ammo and look at some different rubber grips? Build up to the recoil and you will eventually become used to it. Nice gun that just needs shot a bit. Kyle
Got a 629 Carry Comp 44 Mag with the 3" barrel. Took it to the range for the first time tonight. My first 44 round from a wheel gun (previously shot a few out of a guys Desert Eagle a few years ago).
Barely got through a cylinder. Those grips hurt like hell. Not a very pleasant experience. I never found myself being recoil sensitive until tonight!
Put it down after just 5 rounds and moved on to the Hi-Power 9mm and Nighthawk Custom .45. I hadn't shot my Hi-Power in years; forgot how much fun it is.
Shoot a dozen or so rounds with one hand, and it will get you accustomed to the 44 mag. more quickly. Some pachmayr grips will help, and if your trigger has those nice deep serrations use some sportsman's tape on your trigger finger.
S&W putting boot grips on a short barrel .44 Magnum makes about as much sense as the proverbial screen door on a submarine or the handgun laws here in California.
Do yourself and your hand a big favor, kick those to the curb and go find yourself a set of Hogue round butt grips for an N-Frame.... and stick with .44 Spl. There are a number of good self defense loadings like the Corbon 165 grainers that would certainly serve you better in that gun, solid performance with less punishment, I've used them in my 3" barrel 24-3.
Do yourself and your hand a big favor, kick those to the curb and go find yourself a set of Hogue round butt grips for an N-Frame.... and stick with .44 Spl. There are a number of good self defense loadings like the Corbon 165 grainers that would certainly serve you better in that gun, solid performance with less punishment, I've used them in my 3" barrel 24-3.
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SW357Addict
Member
I just purchased and shot my first .44Mag. It has a 5", full underlug barrel with Hogue grips and I find that it is right at the threshold between comfortable to shoot multiple cylinder fulls and only able to shoot 6 or 12 shots. Shooting full-house .44Mags in your subby with those grips would terrify me. I would go with .44SPL in your gun unless you switch to some Pachmayer or Hogue grips.
EdK
Member
One thing to keep in mind is that the 44mag is more than Elmer was wanting. So with that in mind I load his version of warm 44 specials in my MG. In heavier, longer barreled 44mags I go full tilt for hunting.
When I was young and in my 40's I use to shoot a lot of 44 mag full house loads with an average range session being about 100 rounds. Now 20 years later I rarely shoot the 44 mag and when I do it's with 44 special loads. Shooting a short barreled 44 mag is not a lot of fun and can lead to bad shooting habits.I definitely get some rubber grips and shoot 44 special rounds to work up to shooting the 44 Mag full house loads.
By the way a few years ago I sold my Browning HP and I still regret the sale and miss that gun.
By the way a few years ago I sold my Browning HP and I still regret the sale and miss that gun.
m657
Member
Agree with the 44 special comments.
My own 629 3" RB/wood combat grips is a dream with the Special loads. Amazing how different a beastie it is from a Hogue grip 4" 629....which is at the edge of the pleasure/accuracy thresh hold for me with moderate 44 Mag loads. Hot loads in the 4" are doable but far less accurate....and more so in the 3".
Those boot grips are mighty handsome....for display purpose. If you can't shoot well using them, better find something else that works for you.
The Power Factor of a typical cast SWC 240 grain 44 special/mag load at 950fps is 218...which is more than adequate for most purposes in daily use, along with being quite accurate and pleasant to shoot.
Bump up to 240 gr mag @ 1200 fps for 288 PF, and I get far less accuracy and far less pleasure.
Strive to find your best use of a fine 44 mag without crippling yourself.
My own 629 3" RB/wood combat grips is a dream with the Special loads. Amazing how different a beastie it is from a Hogue grip 4" 629....which is at the edge of the pleasure/accuracy thresh hold for me with moderate 44 Mag loads. Hot loads in the 4" are doable but far less accurate....and more so in the 3".
Those boot grips are mighty handsome....for display purpose. If you can't shoot well using them, better find something else that works for you.
The Power Factor of a typical cast SWC 240 grain 44 special/mag load at 950fps is 218...which is more than adequate for most purposes in daily use, along with being quite accurate and pleasant to shoot.
Bump up to 240 gr mag @ 1200 fps for 288 PF, and I get far less accuracy and far less pleasure.
Strive to find your best use of a fine 44 mag without crippling yourself.
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My 629PC 2 5/8" has those identical grips. They are narrow in profile and on the short side, leaving one's pinky more-or-less dangling. They are primarily for a gun that will be carried much and shot seldom. Having said that, I've shot mine quite a bit and have decided, at least for now, to leave them on there. I'm not sure why as I am not going to CCW with that gun, but I do want to keep it as compact as possible, and putting on bigger grips, while it may improve the ergos, will also increase the size.
If I plan to shoot more than, say, 15-20 rounds with mine, I wear a glove. I have also modified my grip somewhat. I keep a firm grip on the gun with my strong hand with my thumb held lower than is typical for me......I usually use an IPSC-style grip, but not with this gun! My support hand is held loose, less firm than I might do with other handguns. When the gun recoils the support hand generally doesn't recoil with it, the gun moves up in just the strong hand. For some reason I find that makes it less painful.
One of my friends who shot the gun found that the checkering on those boot-grips rasped his palm. I've not found that personally. But the thing is definitely a handful.
If I plan to shoot more than, say, 15-20 rounds with mine, I wear a glove. I have also modified my grip somewhat. I keep a firm grip on the gun with my strong hand with my thumb held lower than is typical for me......I usually use an IPSC-style grip, but not with this gun! My support hand is held loose, less firm than I might do with other handguns. When the gun recoils the support hand generally doesn't recoil with it, the gun moves up in just the strong hand. For some reason I find that makes it less painful.
One of my friends who shot the gun found that the checkering on those boot-grips rasped his palm. I've not found that personally. But the thing is definitely a handful.
Vulcan Bob
Member
I feel your pain, the only time I fire full house 44 mag's is out of a six inch or longer barrel, I use hot 44 spcl round's out of my four incher. Those boot grip's hafta be brutal. If you want full power another set of grip's are in order.
exfebee
Member
The same Boot Grips were on my 627 snubby when i got it. My Ring & Pinky fingers hung over the bottom of the grips. Didn't feel right even. Looked around some & got a set of S&W Combat Finger Groove grips. They were just too "fat" & didn't feel right either. Then i found that S&W had a set of finger groove grips on their 5 inch 627. So called up S&W.. got a pair of those. Boy they feel just right. Not "fat" & not too short. You might think about these. S&W's price was $49.00 plus shipping. The Product Code is: 414170000. They are the N-Frame & will fit on your's as well. All the best.
Carl
Carl
Nice looking 44.
I agree with using lighter loads for most purposes in these short 44's.
Think of it this way, a 45 ACP shoots a 230gr bullet at @ 810 to 830fps or a 185 gr bullet at @ 950 or so, out of most Govt. models.
So I would fine a load with similar ballistics for your short 44 for "serious urban" use, and maybe even a lighter load for "fun" shooting.
If you carry the gun in the "bear" woods you will probably find that the Federal 300gr Cast Core actually has less felt recoil than the standard full power 240gr 44 Mag loads.
For non bear woods the Buffalo Bore 255 gr hard cast SWC 44 SPECIAL, or tha same in a handload, load is most likely plenty powerful enough for most uses.
A 240gr cast bullet, in a 44 mag case, over 8 to 9gr of Unique would make a pretty good field load.
I would load 5 gr of Bullseye for my "plinkers".
I agree with using lighter loads for most purposes in these short 44's.
Think of it this way, a 45 ACP shoots a 230gr bullet at @ 810 to 830fps or a 185 gr bullet at @ 950 or so, out of most Govt. models.
So I would fine a load with similar ballistics for your short 44 for "serious urban" use, and maybe even a lighter load for "fun" shooting.
If you carry the gun in the "bear" woods you will probably find that the Federal 300gr Cast Core actually has less felt recoil than the standard full power 240gr 44 Mag loads.
For non bear woods the Buffalo Bore 255 gr hard cast SWC 44 SPECIAL, or tha same in a handload, load is most likely plenty powerful enough for most uses.
A 240gr cast bullet, in a 44 mag case, over 8 to 9gr of Unique would make a pretty good field load.
I would load 5 gr of Bullseye for my "plinkers".
OP
jessegpresley
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Carl, I ordered 2 pair on account of your earlier post. They haven't arrived yet, much to my chagrin.
MTKTM, you're a badder dude than I am! No way could i get through 15-20 with a shorter barrel. That 629 UDR does look awesome, though.
Sounds like I might need to invest in some shooting gloves.
Thanks everyone for your sage-like words of advice.
MTKTM, you're a badder dude than I am! No way could i get through 15-20 with a shorter barrel. That 629 UDR does look awesome, though.
Sounds like I might need to invest in some shooting gloves.
Thanks everyone for your sage-like words of advice.
Marshall 357
Member
Why dont you do a Dirty Harry,use a light special it will give you better control and less recoil than a 357 magnum with wad-cutters. LOL!!! Nice looking 44!
That is a beautiful gun. I'm sure you will find the right combination of grips and ammo and you will never part with that beauty. I use hogue monogrips on all my big boomers. They are not pretty but neither am I. They help an old man like me.
