So....Just how wicked is the .44 Magnum ?

[C.S.63]

With the 44 mag Like others have posted alot depends on the grips and barrel length but the 44 mag also takes a little getting used to when firing it. But do not let all of this diminish the idea of buying one, If you reload all the better, The 44mag is an awesome round, Go for it

A little eye candy/ when I take this one to the range it gets Pach-presentation grips,

 

[StatesRightist]

+1 ColdSteel

A lightweight .357 is a bear, I carry mine with the Gold Dot SB ammo in it. A full power .357 in a J frame is not something I care to do again....but I also have to say the 300 grain rounds I fired out of a titanium gun was no joy either. The 500 MAG grips are a wonderful thing on any N frame magnum, I've got them on my .41 and .44 and recommend them.

 

[StatesRightist]

Agreed Dooman, .44 is a great caliber. You can load it up or make it a ***** cat with .44 spl. I'd say you are a smart man, there is no joy in a full power load in a J frame.

 

[orork]

A fun fact about power. Many folks think the .44 Remington magnum is the most powerful handgun. Probably from the Dirty Harry movies. I'd wager .454 and .500 may be stronger.

But at one of the ranges I shoot Bulls eye matches at, they have quite an overhead baffle system of 4'x8' sheets of plywood backed by what looks like 1/2" of rubber that looks like the stuff semi trucks use for mud flaps. The rubber stops every common handgun (not Thompson centers) except for the .22 rim fire magnum. Those blast right through the wood and the rubber sheets.

Food for thought.

 

[jspick]

I put off buying a 44 mag for years because my first experiance with a 44 mag was with a Ruger Super Blackhawk with the square trigger guard. It was not good. I now own several 44 mags and put grips on them that fit my hand. I even have a Ruger super blackhawk but with the rounded trigger guard grip frame which fits my hand much better. I really like it.

If you reload you can download the 44 mag to 44 special levels and shoot it all day long like a 22LR. I think it is the best, most versatile centerfire cart. there is. That is my opinion anyway.

John

 

[blackcloud45]

I would rather shoot my 29 (with smooth presentation grips) than a hot loaded J frame!

This! ^^^

I recently got a 29-10 and I admit it's a handful. I changed the grips to Hogues and it improved but it's still got a little kick. The weird thing is that the faster I pull the trigger, the tighter my groups get! Guess I'm thinking about it too much. It's definitely not unbearable though.

My scandium J frame 360 w/ 357's is a whole other story. Yikes!

 

[biquer]

No big deal. My SBH Bisley 7.5" and 6" Vaquero are among the most accurate revolvers I have ever shot. Always with full magnum loads, 23 grains H110 under 240 grain hard SWC cast or 310 grain SWC cast over 18 grains H110.
Never reduced loads. Why get a magnum and shoot specials?
Too much $$? Role your own.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

A fun fact about power. Many folks think the .44 Remington magnum is the most powerful handgun. Probably from the Dirty Harry movies. I'd wager .454 and .500 may be stronger.

But at one of the ranges I shoot Bulls eye matches at, they have quite an overhead baffle system of 4'x8' sheets of plywood backed by what looks like 1/2" of rubber that looks like the stuff semi trucks use for mud flaps. The rubber stops every common handgun (not Thompson centers) except for the .22 rim fire magnum. Those blast right through the wood and the rubber sheets.

Food for thought.

Yes, 44 mag is certainly among the most powerful, but THE most powerful, it is not.

454 Casull is a bit faster and harder hitting, but the 460S&W Mag, and 500S&W Mag make them both look like child's play. There was another lesser known 45ish caliber magnum I have heard of (but cannot recall the name right now) that is a bit hotter than the 454 Casull.

 

[Hearsedriver]

Well now I REALLY want one! I think the search begins for a blue Model 29 with an 8 3/8" Barrel. Unfortunatly, I do not reload but, checking prices at CTD, it doesnt seem any more expensive to shoot than a .357 Mag. I wouldnt be blowing through boxes of the stuff at the range anyway. Thats what the K-22 is for.

 

[nosreme]

Well now I REALLY want one! I think the search begins for a blue Model 29 with an 8 3/8" Barrel.

Virginia Arms in Manassas had one on consignment two days ago.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Well now I REALLY want one! I think the search begins for a blue Model 29 with an 8 3/8" Barrel. Unfortunatly, I do not reload but, checking prices at CTD, it doesnt seem any more expensive to shoot than a .357 Mag. I wouldnt be blowing through boxes of the stuff at the range anyway. Thats what the K-22 is for.

There are a couple M29's here in the classified section. One is a 4" and the other is 6".... And those are on the first page.. I didn't look farther in..

Good luck and happy hunting for your 29!

 

[tops]

I am amused that a lot of people say they enjoy shooting their .44 mag. but they shoot light loads. My thinking is even though the barrel and the cartridge says .44 mag. if is loaded down to 800 fps. you are only shooting a .44 caliber. The .44 mag. is in a different class. My opinion is a .44 cal. doesn't kick bad but a .44 mag. kicks like a mule and the shorter the barrel, the more kick. Larry

 

[gmiller0737]

All depends on what ammo you load it with,My 80 pound 12 year old son shoots My Ruger Redhawk with Reduced Power Hand Loads with no issues with the recoil, He does get tired of holding a heavy handgun up after a while,I will not let him shoot with Magnum Level Loads yet or for quite a few years in the future becuase he is just getting the basics of handgunning,For Me I practice plenty with the Reduced Power Loads and also shoot "Full House" Loads while the recoil is fairly stout it's far from extreme.

 

[bwelch47]

44Mag is a woman's Gun.

My wife, before she became ill with cancer, considered the 44Mag to be the ideal woman's gun. She carried a 3" SW 629 as a purse gun. BTW, she could place 6 shots into 2" group @ 25 yds. She owns 6 44Mags including her first one, A Ruger Super Blackhawk.

 

[StatesRightist]

I'm going to have to take the last post as humor...nice one...lol.

 

[arjay]

Depends on which end of the gun you're standing....

 

[2hawk]

......
If you reload you can download the 44 mag to 44 special levels and shoot it all day long like a 22LR. I think it is the best, most versatile centerfire cart. there is. That is my opinion anyway.

John

QFT
From mild to wild, if you reload. The ability to tailor such a wide range of loading is what really makes the 44mag shine.

My normal foolin' around and range load is 10gr of Unique, or a little less of Universal, under a 250 gr. Keith LSWC. Good for about 1100 fps, so not a real fire breather, but enough to do any job I need done. I can shoot this load all day, very comfortably. And accurate!

 

[glenncal1]

Hearsedriver- I have a long tube 29 and it is fun to shoot. My gun club has berms out to 500 yards and I like to shoot the 200 yard targets. Take the comments about proper fitting grips seriously, The standard S&W target grips fit my hand well but I wear a glove when shooting with them. I have a 6" 629 for woods carry that I have some Pachmyers on, they make shooting more comfortable.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I have at least a half dozen of them,I find them enjoyable, but I would not want to shoot several hundred rounds at a time.My grandson is 17 now, and has been shooting them for at least 7 years.

 

[ckprax]

I really enjoy mine. The recoil is stout but not bad. A medium load in my 629 recoils a bit harder than a heavy load in my 686. I find that the lightweight 357's are worse if shooting magnums.

Full house 44mag loads aren't for everyone but i think they are fun.