Shot My First .44 Magnum Today, Uh... WOW

[cmort666]

Originally posted by glypnir:
I've just ordered some Pachmayr Presentations for my .44 Mag.

Normally I just fire a few rounds from mine just before I leave the range.

Just to keep all those semi-auto guys in their places.

The only thing I've heard louder on our range was a guy with a High Point .45 with a muzzle break. Of course my .44 could always get through six round without a stoppage...

 

[Andy Taylor]

This is why my .44 magnum revolvers seldom see anything but specials anymore. I usually only shoot the magnums through carbines these days, but have been toying with the idea of a SA Ruger in .44 mag. The rolling of the single action grip in your hand upon recoil greatly reduces felt recoil. Some people put rubber grips on the SA's but they just serve to increase felt recoil on such a weapon. IMHO.

 

[Andy Taylor]

The only thing I've heard louder on our range was a guy with a High Point .45 with a muzzle break. Of course my .44 could always get through six round without a stoppage...

Youv'e obviously never heard a Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine. And very light recoil too.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I am not a regular .44magnum shooter, but I use a rubber grip that covers the back strap.
Jimmy

 

[wbraswell]

My 29s carry small Pachmeyrs when I go to the range. I took my little cousin shooting the other day. He just got back from his 2nd tour in Iraq. He's a Navy Corpsman. He's interested in guns, and doesn't know much about revolvers, so I took a Colt Government Model .45, a SAA, a Model 13 and my favorite 629 4". He really got a kick out of the first three, then I shot the .44 with 240 gr. Win. full house loads, reloaded it and handed it to him. He liked it, but it did intimidate him. He's a small guy. I never saw where he hit, it was too much fun watching him while he shot. I got him an NRA membership for his birthday. He wants my 13, he can't have it.

 

[kennyb]

i concur with the shooting gloves...they do helpa lot....as to 44 mag.recoil...blast a dozen rounds through a 500 mag.then go back to the 44...you will think you are shooting a 38sp

 

[gunsmith11]

Surprised no body mentioned the .41 mag. In my opinion it will do anything a .44 mag will do ,,,,love my M58 and the 657

 

[Smithfan]

With grips that fit the shooter well (and we are all different)...

Exactly.

I hope the Pachmeyers work for you, but they may not. Composition (rubber, wood, whatever) is less important than good fit. In my own case, I have nice wood target frips for show on my 29 Classic, and always change back to Hogue Combats for the range.

The Hogues don't look as nifty, but they fit my hands a heckuva lot better, and that makes all the difference.

If you've shot your .44 with full-house loads much, you may also have noticed that there is a considerable difference in perceived noise and concussion in indoor ranges v. outdoor -- at least, that's my experience.

Bill

 

[bmhiii]

I got the Pachs really cheap and they're the same as I use on my M28, so I thought I'd start there. If they don't do the trick, I'll go to plan B (whatever that is)....

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Originally posted by tom turner:
However, if anyone has ever shot that rare, 1st year or two little Thompson Center Contender .44 Mag with the 6" octagon barrel you'll soon wonder what could possibly hurt more. I traded mine off FAST.
T.

I still have my 10" tapered octagon barrel. It certainly does get your attention!! I always 'thought' wanted one of the 6s. The 12" 45/70 isn't even as bad as that one with full loads.

 

[84CJ]

I have one of those old 10" oct. 44 mag and 10" oct 30/30. I think the 30/30 is worse.and extremly loud. That thing scares the crap outa me. It hasn't seen the ligth of day in years.

 

[minuteman]

I have one of those old 10" oct. 44 mag and 10" oct 30/30. I think the 30/30 is worse.and extremly loud. That thing scares the crap outa me. It hasn't seen the ligth of day in years.

Yep, had the 44 and 30-30 barrel in the Contender. Tried about three different types of grips, non worked very well. Keith loads in the 44 hurt after a while, but I believe the full house 30-30 was worse, made my wrists hurt after a couple rounds. My 29 is a pleasure to shoot compared to the Contender.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Originally posted by Gatofeo:

Frankly, I've seen darn few shooters who can accurately fire the .44 Magnum with full-power loads.
Oh, they may brag about shooting their .44 Magnum and getting great groups, but odds are it's with less than full-power loads.
Heck, I only keep one box of full-power loads on hand myself, just for the occasional demonstration like above.
I shoot lead 240 or 250 gr. semiwadcutters at 900 to 950, or so, mebbe 1,000 fps. Can't see much point in revving it up just to shoot tin cans or rocks at long range.
But once in a while, it's fun to drop in the full-power stuff to be reminded what the ol' girl can do.

I heartily agree with this statement. The great majority of my .44 loads are a ~260 grain LSWC between 900 and 1100 fps. At 1100, the recoil is very manageable, and I am comfortable shooting anything that walks, crawls or flies in my area. From target shooting to hunting, that's where it's at.

And since the S&W Forum membership cannot exist without pics:

 

[Bullman]

My only .44 magnum was a 5 1/2 inch Redhawk. I shot specials and even store bought loads and I thought it was pretty cool. Then my brother in law loaded up some fire breathing 180 grain loads and after a couple of cylinders of that my hand was bleeding. It was then I figured out that I didn't not need that much gun. I have stuck with .357s and 10mms since for my power guns.

 

[flop-shank]

My favorite carry gun is a 5" .44 magnum and it's stoked with full power loads. My guess is that the .44 Magnum can be shot well by most any young, strong, male shooter. They just have to really want to, and that takes a lot of practice.

 

[bmhiii]

Originally posted by flop-shank:
My guess is that the .44 Magnum can be shot well by most any young, strong, male shooter.

Well, I fit 1 out of 3 of those qualifications.

I will shoot it more, no doubt about that.

 

[geronimo]

There really just ain't nothing like shooting a Dirty Harry gun..Really need to invest in some rubber grips though..Not for me of course

;But rather for the little woman

 

[7tenz]

If there's one thing I like shooting as much as my 10mm's it's the 44 mags. Neverr tried anything bigger or even the 329 scandium. Been tempted, and also considered a 454 Casull. If you need something larger, you need a rifle IMO.

I let other people try it, and ability to control it has nothing to do with sex, size, or physical strenght. Some can, some can't. I found that if I tell them to hold it centered in the web of the hand, they tend to have a much more favorable impression overall.

 

[Crazy K38]

I am betting that if you shot the 44 first you would have LOVED the recoil on that 40 s&w. I have the SW99 in 40 and just like you I love mine

 

[bmhiii]

The recoil on the 40 S&W was minimal to me. I saved the M29 for last because I anticipated my reaction would be "OK, that's the way to end my time at the range..."