No Longer a .44 Magnum Owner...
- Thread starter RidgwayCO
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blatzpac
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I like to load special strength loads for pleasue shooting, and have found that using trail boss in magnum cases works well, eliminates the need to have two different cases on hand, as well as no sooty band in the chamber to scrape out from using special length cases. The .44 mag. has got to be the most versitile caliber I own, .38/.357 being second.
stevieboy
Member
Here's my dilemma: I LOVE shooting .44 magnums but I can't justify owning one. I have several friends with 629s or 29s and I always get to fire a few cylinders from their guns when they bring them to the range. It's just sheer enjoyment to light off a few of those rounds and I greatly appreciate the accuracy of the guns. But, on the other hand, I'm not a reloader and I just can't bring myself to justify the expense of buying .44 magnum commercial ammo at close to a buck a round. So, I remain a wannabe, content to fire my wimpy .357s.
millbilly
Member
I have several 44 mags and am always looking for more......can you have too many ?
DonD
Member
Yep, the best solution is to keep the .44 Mag and buy something bigger to keep it company in the safe so it won't be lonely. Don
beemerphile
Member
Send them all to me. I have a 29, 329PD, Redhawk, Blackhawk, and 1894 Marlin. Just today added an Anaconda. That is not enough. Must... have... more!
m657
Member
"So, I remain a wannabe, content to fire my wimpy .357s".....
and the S&W lord sayeth...."hammer all your 357s into potato planting tools and go forth seeking proper instruments with the number "4" prominent unto itself, that thy house shall prosper".....
and the S&W lord sayeth...."hammer all your 357s into potato planting tools and go forth seeking proper instruments with the number "4" prominent unto itself, that thy house shall prosper".....
Allen-frame
Member
What an interesting thread so far. I hope i don't kill it.
It has caused me to take stock .And I've read each and every comment.
I own 5 44 special revolvers. A 44 H.E. 2nd. a 6.5" 624 ,,a 3" model 24.
and a pair of 696s'.
Then I have 4 44 Magnums , a 3" 29-3 ,and 3 model 629s' all 4"ers.
That said I just Tuesday loaded 500 44 special brass I had with
180gr. j.h.p.s over 6.6grs. of Universal for 800 f.p.s.
and only 150 44 magnum using 240 l.s.w.c.s over 10.5 gr. unique.
I will shoot the specials much more readily than the magnums.
It's simply more enjoyable.
BUT ,,,then again ,I have embraced the 460 Magnum, and am now
handloading for it ,and shooting it at the range more often.
After shooting full house 460s , the 44 magnum is just a pussycat.
But , there is still so much to love. Just the history alone ,,
after all ,the 44 Magnum was born the same year I was ,1956.
Regards , Allen Frame
It has caused me to take stock .And I've read each and every comment.
I own 5 44 special revolvers. A 44 H.E. 2nd. a 6.5" 624 ,,a 3" model 24.
and a pair of 696s'.
Then I have 4 44 Magnums , a 3" 29-3 ,and 3 model 629s' all 4"ers.
That said I just Tuesday loaded 500 44 special brass I had with
180gr. j.h.p.s over 6.6grs. of Universal for 800 f.p.s.
and only 150 44 magnum using 240 l.s.w.c.s over 10.5 gr. unique.
I will shoot the specials much more readily than the magnums.
It's simply more enjoyable.
BUT ,,,then again ,I have embraced the 460 Magnum, and am now
handloading for it ,and shooting it at the range more often.
After shooting full house 460s , the 44 magnum is just a pussycat.
But , there is still so much to love. Just the history alone ,,
after all ,the 44 Magnum was born the same year I was ,1956.
Regards , Allen Frame
WoodsCustom
Member
I honestly don't see how a Handgun owner can sleep without owning at least ONE S&W 44 Magnum.
I feel sorry for you buddy.
WC
I feel sorry for you buddy.
WC
500 Magnum Nut
Member
To add to my earlier post, ammo is so darn expensive today, to enjoy shooting 44s 357s or 500s learn how to reload. I reload for everything and I seldom shoot full power loads in any of my guns. I don't see the need to test the limits and damage one, let alone have a hammer stick in my forehead...
I run 10.3 Unique on a 240 gn jacketed bullet. One hand pleasure out of an N frame! The Hodgden H110 is top end stuff that hurts to light off...
I run 10.3 Unique on a 240 gn jacketed bullet. One hand pleasure out of an N frame! The Hodgden H110 is top end stuff that hurts to light off...
Stainz
Member
I have both a 4" & 6" 629. I load lots of .44 Magnum cases - with 'Special' loads. They'd rate as 'wimpy/Nancy-boy' loads - Herr Keith would be ashamed. He wouldn't even rate them as '.44 Russian Magnum' loads. The fact is, I still have some of the four boxes of real Magnums folks have given me over the years. To insure I don't load my Magnum cases 'hot', I still use regular Fed LP primers - not Magnums. My .44 Russian, Special, and wimpy-Magnum loads are happy.
Why did I buy new 629s? Try to find affordable - and in good shape - 624s! I bought 24s - even a new Heritage 24... SS has spoiled me. Plus - when I get a wild hair, I can pop a few 'real Magnums' after those mild Magnums. I think a 629 makes good sense in everyone's safe. Just get it out and shoot it - even with Russians and Specials - fun!
Stainz
Why did I buy new 629s? Try to find affordable - and in good shape - 624s! I bought 24s - even a new Heritage 24... SS has spoiled me. Plus - when I get a wild hair, I can pop a few 'real Magnums' after those mild Magnums. I think a 629 makes good sense in everyone's safe. Just get it out and shoot it - even with Russians and Specials - fun!
Stainz
WoodsCustom
Member
One of the funniest days of my life was when me and another friend were shooting our 629's with 44 specials. Another friend was watching us and said "I always heard how bad 44's kick ! And here you guys are wacking away like it isn't nothing!"
I told him that a 44 was a girls gun...I loaded up 6 240 grain 44 Magnum Barn burners up and handed it to him. He lit off 3 and said...
"Guys, I don't know how you do it !!!" We were rolling on the ground laughing.
My buddy (With Tears in his eyes) handed him his 629 with specials and said "Here, try this one."
That guy had a blast shooting up all our bullets, he loved the 44 Magnum with Specials and he loved knowing all he had to do was load up the "Big Boys" for the power. He shot a few more of them and laughed and laughed.
He went to the gun shop and Bought a 629 that day. He LOVES that S&W! Its the only handgun he owns.
WC
I told him that a 44 was a girls gun...I loaded up 6 240 grain 44 Magnum Barn burners up and handed it to him. He lit off 3 and said...
"Guys, I don't know how you do it !!!" We were rolling on the ground laughing.
My buddy (With Tears in his eyes) handed him his 629 with specials and said "Here, try this one."
That guy had a blast shooting up all our bullets, he loved the 44 Magnum with Specials and he loved knowing all he had to do was load up the "Big Boys" for the power. He shot a few more of them and laughed and laughed.
He went to the gun shop and Bought a 629 that day. He LOVES that S&W! Its the only handgun he owns.
WC
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i must agree...every smith stable needs a host of 44 mags.as well as the 44 special
Marshall 357
Member
I dont have one yet,but I hope to get my 8 3/8'' bbl 29 out of lay a way by the end of the month! Next on the Hit List is a 41 Magnum.
WVfishguy
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Me too.
My right hand (thumb joint) is deformed from, among other things, shooting .44 mags from a Ruger Super Blawkhawk.
Oh, to be young again. I had older guys warn me, but...
Now, just about everyone I see at the range loads their .44 mags down to .44 Special. In fact, when I shoot hot loads of H110 or 2400 out of my N-frame 357s, the .44 guys are always a bit freaked out.
I have little desire to shoot full .44 mags anymore. And as for as I'm concerned, this 57 no dash is a .41 Special:
And this 629 no dash is also a .44 Special:
However, once in a while the magnum bug bites, so I load hot rounds for this Ruger Redhawk (my wife bought this for me).
Stainz
Member
My .44 'Specials':
Yeah, I know... the RH two are my 629s. They change grips frequently... sporting .500 Magnum Hogues when 'real' Magnums are in the plan.
About recoil and age... one can develop carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis problems early when they have employed their hands in repetitive motion use over the years. I am a retired teacher - holding chalk tightly - like pens when I graded work - didn't help. Retired, I started wood turning, a then 20+ yr hobby, with abandon - gripping those chisels, scrapers, gouges, etc, tightly. I retired in '95 - and, afterwards, I made 12k+ pens and thousands more of other teeny objects by hand on my wood lathes. I was shooting my first DA revolver, a new Ruger 7.5" SRH in .454 Casull, during the last of this. I had to quit my retirement job - I did 26-29 art and arts & craft shows a year - due to my worsening wrists and hands. Soon, the big boomer got those .454 cases reloaded at .45 Colt levels. Lately, I have been buying .357M/.38 and .22 revolvers... I will still enjoy shooting. Therefore, my 629s see wimpy loads!
Stainz
Yeah, I know... the RH two are my 629s. They change grips frequently... sporting .500 Magnum Hogues when 'real' Magnums are in the plan.
About recoil and age... one can develop carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis problems early when they have employed their hands in repetitive motion use over the years. I am a retired teacher - holding chalk tightly - like pens when I graded work - didn't help. Retired, I started wood turning, a then 20+ yr hobby, with abandon - gripping those chisels, scrapers, gouges, etc, tightly. I retired in '95 - and, afterwards, I made 12k+ pens and thousands more of other teeny objects by hand on my wood lathes. I was shooting my first DA revolver, a new Ruger 7.5" SRH in .454 Casull, during the last of this. I had to quit my retirement job - I did 26-29 art and arts & craft shows a year - due to my worsening wrists and hands. Soon, the big boomer got those .454 cases reloaded at .45 Colt levels. Lately, I have been buying .357M/.38 and .22 revolvers... I will still enjoy shooting. Therefore, my 629s see wimpy loads!
Stainz
I have but 1 .44MAG, a Ruger SBH with the 7-1/2" tube. Bought it thinking I might use it for whitetail in Pa but never did. I've probably put maybe 100 rounds through it.
So, I don't shoot it much. I'm not particularly recoil sensitive - but my problem is just having too many calibers to contend with! Every so often I start to look at what I have & think I should trim it back to just a few different calibers, & concentrate on stocking up on ammo for just those few.
That said, when the right deal comes along for a nice pre-lock 4" (preferred) or 6" M29 & I have the $$, I'll buy it & sell off the SBH.
So, I don't shoot it much. I'm not particularly recoil sensitive - but my problem is just having too many calibers to contend with! Every so often I start to look at what I have & think I should trim it back to just a few different calibers, & concentrate on stocking up on ammo for just those few.
That said, when the right deal comes along for a nice pre-lock 4" (preferred) or 6" M29 & I have the $$, I'll buy it & sell off the SBH.
mikeruns
Member
I also have one 44 mag- Ruger SBH 7.5". I shoot it enough to have fun, haven't hunted it, but take it out to camp when we go, but when hiking I carry a Spd-six 357 or my M58 41 mag or a 40 S&W, so 44 special is not so special to me.... no disrespect to the 44 spc, just superfluous to my needs as my safe really flows heavy with 357's for some reason... oh yeah... "I love them!" So I guess I follow a different train of thought on the subject.
Sportsterguy
Member
Now were talking. The most underrated round ever IMO. Will do everything the .44 mag will do with the right bullet and load with less recoil.
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