Not gonna do it

[notsofast]

I won't be shooting magnums very much at all. Unfortunately my hands are arthritic and losing strength so I will shoot my 44 magnum but with specials instead of mag shells, same goes for my .357's, it'll be .38 specials. I don't load my ammunition so I'll be buying less powerful shells. I think it'll be just fine.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have had to move in that direction myself the last couple of years. I even set up my favorite .45acp for low power bullseye loads. It is irritating, but you get used to it.

 

[Fishinfool]

Used to get a kick out of shooting magnum loads when I was younger. Still do, but they seem to hurt more...

Probably 85% of my handgun shooting is cast lead at less than 1000 fps. Much less taxing for general shooting, and those model 27's and 29's start feeling like oversized K-38's.

Larry

 

[Empe]

I enjoy shooting .357 magnum rounds in my Ruger Blackhawk but then I don't have arthritis in my hands either and if I did I'd switch over to a steady diet of .38's .
Actually I have been enjoying my .22 rimfires quite a bit more lately . I have semi auto handguns and rifles , lever actions, bolt actions and a very nice S&W Model 17 revolver all in .22LR.
No recoil or muzzle blast and relatively inexpensive to shoot as well.

 

[notsofast]

I'm looking to go to a S&W 22 revolver myself.

 

[Empe]

I'm looking to go to a S&W 22 revolver myself.

If you like S&W revolvers you will like the Model 17/K22 models.

 

[Bald1]

HSM has good light loads

 

[Patrick L]

I probably shoot 1000 light specials (both 38 & 44) to every box of magnums I shoot. In fact, my .44 is a pre 29, so I baby her. I shoot 1 box of fairly sedate magnums (250 Keith at 1250fps) a year. I load up 50 rds, around September/October I start shooting 5 rounds a week getting in shape for deer season. I end up with 10 rounds left for season. Whatever is left is what I start practicing with the following September/October.

I don't feel the need to baby my 357s, but I still shoot way more 38 wadcutters out of them.

 

[robrossk]

Same here. I gave up magnum loads and 10mm a couple years ago. Bilateral carpal tunnel surgery does a serious number your hands.

 

[HKSmith]

I gave up full power magnum loads a few years ago, especially .454 Casull. I'm fortunate not to have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, but at age 82 I find the muzzle blast overwhelming. I still enjoy reloading and shooting 4000-5000 rounds per year, but at about 900 ft/sec instead of 1400 ft/sec. The paper targets can't tell the difference.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I have made the same changes in recent years. Being a lifelong reloader the ammo supply issue has been easier to handle than shopping for what I need.

The "sweet spot" for me has been around 90% of full power loadings.

I also tend to avoid the smaller and lighter weight handguns. I enjoy the all steel K-frame .38 Specials much more than the alloy-framed airweights. .357 magnum use is limited to K and N frames. I don't remember the last time I used .44 magnum ammo; must be at least 20 years ago.

73 years, surgeries to wrist, elbow, shoulder (2) with permanently damaged rotator and tendons. Osteo-arthritis is a daily reminder to take things easily.

 

[gwpercle]

Do what you can do enjoyably ... and

... Keep On Keeping On !

Not a thing wrong with shooting Specials ... I even load 41 Specials for my 41 Magnum ... because they are more fun to shoot !
Gary

 

[chief38]

While I do not have any wrist issues, I don't shoot much magnum ammo either. Once in a while I will get the urge to shoot a few mag's but normally use standard velocity and non Mag. loads for paper punching. I see no reason to wear a gun faster, make more noise and cost me more money just for the extra recoil.

 

[AJ]

I won't be shooting magnums very much at all. Unfortunately my hands are arthritic and losing strength so I will shoot my 44 magnum but with specials instead of mag shells, same goes for my .357's, it'll be .38 specials. I don't load my ammunition so I'll be buying less powerful shells. I think it'll be just fine.

I broke my wrist of my right hand years ago. Up until that time I shot a M29-2 with a 4 inch barrel. After the break healed everytime I shot with .44 Magnum loads, I got pain up my arm emanating from the wrist area. Went to .44 Special loads and the pain ceased. Now I have arthritis in that hand and wrist. I wear a tight fingerless glove and a wrist brace when I shoot anything except .22 LR. Getting old, used and abused sucks!!

 

[BabaBlueJay]

You guys are scaring me, as a young gun shooting the spiciest 357 magnum I can find out of my 686 snub and having a blast. Guess eventually I need to prepare myself to switch to 38 special, at least I can dial it back if need be

 

[pistolpete10]

I'm 79, hands are a wreck. Soon will only be able to shoot .22s I guess. Even 9mm hurts now. Getting old kind of sucks.

 

[tom2]

I had a six inch stainless Smith 44 mag at one time. Sold it like a fool. Long before the prices went to the moon. I never bought factory magnum ammo for it. I always handloaded with cast lead and the power level was about 44 special as I enjoyed shooting paper without the extra drama. That thing would print tiny groups all day long with those lead loads. Was fun but I used to have a case of gun traderitis and now could not swallow current prices to regain some nice stuff.

 

[AJ]

I'm 79, hands are a wreck. Soon will only be able to shoot .22s I guess. Even 9mm hurts now. Getting old kind of sucks.

I will be 73 my next birthday. I wonder what the future holds for my shooting and a lot of other things!

 

[clang444]

Try out a model 625 or other .45ACP revolver. Big bore fun with reasonable recoil.

Lower ammo costs too.

 

[AJ]

Try out a model 625 or other .45ACP revolver. Big bore fun with reasonable recoil.

Lower ammo costs too.

I have a 625 in .45 ACP and a 25 in ,45 Colt. Load the 25 rounds a bit lower than max. Both are fun to shoot.

 

[Claymore33]

Unless you live & work in grizzly territory, you do not need to shoot Full House Magnums . I load & shoot .44 special and .41 special most of the time in TEXAS. Works well on HOGS.

 

[pharmer]

I shoot .357 out of 6" 27's or 28. 640-1 not so much. Same with .44 mag, bigger gun=less punishment Joe

 

[A10]

In my younger days I was a magnum happy fool. I still enjoy shooting the occasional magnum round, but most of my shooting is specials or semiautos these days. I still find 10mm and .45 acp pleasant to shoot, and 9mm still feels like a .22. My one .380 is an LCP Max, and I'm only good for about 25 rounds at a time with that one. She barks a bit......

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I have made the same changes in recent years. Being a lifelong reloader the ammo supply issue has been easier to handle than shopping for what I need.

The "sweet spot" for me has been around 90% of full power loadings.

I also tend to avoid the smaller and lighter weight handguns. I enjoy the all steel K-frame .38 Specials much more than the alloy-framed airweights. .357 magnum use is limited to K and N frames. I don't remember the last time I used .44 magnum ammo; must be at least 20 years ago.

73 years, surgeries to wrist, elbow, shoulder (2) with permanently damaged rotator and tendons. Osteo-arthritis is a daily reminder to take things easily.

79 here, but no serious problems yet. However, full-house .44 Magnum is not for play anymore, and I strongly endorse the recommendation for steel over aluminum. I do still play with a Model 43, and stand ready to downgrade to CB Longs when necessary.

 

[AlHunt]

Same with .44 mag, bigger gun=less punishment Joe

Exactly. 3 1/2 pounds of Super Redhawk soaks up a lot of that full boat 44 mag recoil. Maybe some day I'll have to cave in and use 2 hands.

 

[Green Frog]

Because of recoil concerns, my K22 and K32 will probably be two of the last handguns I would ever sell in my dotage, which seems to be approaching more rapidly than I expected.
Froggie

 

[AJ]

79 here, but no serious problems yet. However, full-house .44 Magnum is not for play anymore, and I strongly endorse the recommendation for steel over aluminum. I do still play with a Model 43, and stand ready to downgrade to CB Longs when necessary.

Longs are getting hard to find here.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

75 next month, traded my last .45 10 years ago. Arthritis in both wrists and both thumbs. For carry I'd like a 340PD but know my 442 is about as light as I can go. I have found that J frames with the two finger synthetic grip fits perfectly. It aligns with hand/wrist/arm all in a straight line and shooting doesn't bother me. I have 3 J frames with those grips.

Same perfect alignment with a Glock 42. I can't shoot any double stack Glock. It grips off to the right and turning my wrist the recoil goes right into the arthritic joint.

I shoot my qualifications with the slowest wadcutters and FMJ's I can find. Same thing with practice. And yeah, I buy .22's by the case. Gotta do, what you gotta do.

 

[gwpercle]

You guys are scaring me, as a young gun shooting the spiciest 357 magnum I can find out of my 686 snub and having a blast. Guess eventually I need to prepare myself to switch to 38 special, at least I can dial it back if need be

Enjoy it while you can ...
I tried my best ... but ...
You don't stay young forever !
Gary

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Enjoy it while you can ...
I tried my best ... but ...
You don't stay young forever !
Gary

I will I understand I will get up there eventually. I am 36 and keeping up with my volleyball players that I coach I find myself getting winded more than I used to. Luckily I have a 22 rifle and NAA mini revolver that is not too bad on recoil and shooting 38 out of the 686 is very light on recoil. I guess I need to keep working on my fitness so I can enjoy them as long as possible.