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

[CH47gunner]

Depends on weight & barrel length.
My 629 Classic 5" has the full barrel lug and is a sweetheart to shoot even with stout Magnum loads.
My 629-4 w/ 3" barrel, with the same loads, is like holding onto a grenade.

Bruce

 

[kdailey]

I get more enjoyment out of my Smith .500 than any other. If you master the recoil of the .500, all others are no problem. And I love my .357 and .44 mags. UHHH, and my .41mag, 10mm in my 610 revolver, .38-44 outdoorsman. Enjoy the recoil.

 

[fyimo]

I'm 68 years old and when I was in my 40's I used to reload full house 44 mag rounds with a 230 grain bullet to really at the top of the load limit. I'd go to the range every other week and shoot a 100 rounds of them and it didn't bother me. Now I shoot my 44 mag once in a while and about 3 cylinders full is about all I enjoy compared to shooting 100 rounds of 45 ACP out of my Model 25-2 and wishing I had brought more 45 ammo with me to the range.

I also shoot my 357 Magnum less then I did when I was in my 40's and especially with my 27-2 with 3.5 inch barrel. I get more enjoyment shooting my 6 inch 686 no dash and the muzzle blast and recoil are far less with it.

I guess getting older either makes you wiser or turns you into a wimp.

 

[williamlayton]

I shoot for fun.
I can shoot a 500 or a .44 mag but it is not a fun shooting session--and--limited.
If I had a place where I could have my own range, shoot at the targets of my choice or could walk and hunt/shoot at the critters I wanted, I probably would own both--just for fun.
As it is, limited to paper, no fun targets and a bunch of folks---well I have no use for them.
Blessings

 

[Joe in SC]

The 44 mag can be a difficult gun to shoot well and can hurt if you don't do a few simple things.

First off it is not as bad as some folks have made it out to be. It is very loud so proper ear protection can go a long way towards preventing a flinch or closing of the eyes. Changing out the sharply checkered, wooden grips to a set of recoil softening synthetic grips that have a more ergonomic shape will help a lot.

Then there is ammo. There is a good selection of factory ammo for the 44 magnum. If you are recoil sensative don't start out with full house stuff. You can always go to 44 special and work up from there. You can acquire the skills of handling magnum recoil by slowly working up in intensity and practicing with the gun. If you reload the possibilities are endless. A great caliber for the reloader.

Then there is the gun. The 29 is a beautifully made revolver that is wonderful to hold in the hand. Just cocking the hammer back and listening to the cylinder lock up like a bank vault and wiping down that mile deep bluing is enjoyable beyond description. I would suggest you find 29-2 and purchase it. I had a 29-3 which was a good solid version and for shooting I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Personally, I would stay away from current production as quality control seems to be a low priority with S&W at this time.

Go get you a 44 maggie, you'll enjoy it.

 

[KCOG]

Bought my first 44 mag recently. A 4" 629 with Pachmayr gripper grips. I love it and can't believe I have been missing out on the pleasure and versatility of the 44 mag all these years. You can shoot it with hot loads or not. As far as shooting 44 specials in the mag, I don't reload and have not found 44 specials to be as available as the mag rounds and they are not cheaper. If you shoot low power 44 mags you will accomplish the same thing. Bought some new 240 grn semi wadcutter mags from Georgia Arms. They are very accurate and a pleasure to shoot. Buy the S&W 44 mag. You will not regret it.

 

[6mmman]

To be honest I find my 629 classic 5 inch more fun to shoot than a Ruger LCP !!!!!!!

 

[Art Doc]

Recoil is largely subjective. Some shoot monster guns and actually enjoy it. Others flinch at a medium frame 38's kick.

I admit that I find the 44 Magnum unpleasant to shoot. I have a 6.5" M29-2 that I have owned since 1985 and I doubt that I have shot more than 150 rounds through it. I own it mostly because I feel like I should have one.

 

[David LaPell]

I know where there is a Model 29 silhouette model with a 10 inch barrel if you are into field artillery.

I myself loved shooting the .44 Magnum but with the nerve damage in my left hand and arm am not sure how much I will love it now. Granted I shoot right handed and could shoot the .44 one handed, but I want to be accurate and was never that great one handed with the Magnum, certainly not like I am with my .357 and .38-44. I have had several .44 Magnums over the years, a couple of Smith & Wessons and a couple of Ruger's and can tell you that I really just plain enjoy shooting the .357 Magnum more. The recoil never bothered me as long as I had the right grips on the gun. I really think though that my most pleasant shooting .44 Magnum was my Ruger 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum once I lightened up the springs. My favorite carrying .44 Magnum though was my Model 29 4-inch gun. I don't know if i will ever be able to shoot another one again, its hard to say.

 

[wheelgun28]

my experience is a bit different...

A 4" 29 with factory targets, I can shoot it well with specials and light loads. However when you get to a real magnum load it bites me every time. What happens is that the trigger guard slams my middle finger on my right hand (I am a righty) Ive tried different hand holds and still the same result. Its hit me so hard that Ive gotten bruised and a few times a big lump on my finger that hurts for a week. Its taken all the joy out of shooting that gun. Would different grip help, maybe, I just stick to lighter loads.

My 6" 57 41 mag, I can shoot anything and not get the same result, although really hot loads, It can come close it seems. The 4" Mountain Gun again in 41 mag, isnt as bad as the 29, close but manageable.

Now, I have one other 44, a Ruger Super Blackhawk its got a 10" barrel. I can shoot all the full 44 loads in that with no trouble

I have pretty large hands and I think that might be part of the problem, I dont know for sure. I do know that I dont want to experiment with the 4" anymore, ouch!!

If I find a 6inchish 629, I will try it out. Maybe one of the ported models

 

[Brian41]

As already said it depends on the gun and the grips. My hardest kicking .44 mag is a 3 inch 629 backpacker model. It has S&W rubber grips on it and they help with felt recoil. I've shot some heavy loads in it and although they have a stout recoil it is manageable in my big hands.
I shoot magnum light handloads in it mainly but some full house loads as well as that is what I carry in it as a woods gun.
My Super Blackhawk is a very mild gun to shoot with rubber grips and even hot hunting loads. My 100# ex-wife could handle it just fine and was a good shot with it.

I've come to prefer the .41 mag though over the .44 mag. Much less recoil and near the same ballistics as the .44 mag. I don't even mind shooting my 57s with the factory grips and the Blackhawks have even less felt recoil. You do almost have to reload for them though as factory ammo is harder to find and runs even higher than .44 mag ammo I've found.
I'd stick with .44 mag if I wasn't reloading my own.

 

[StatesRightist]

I agree on the 41 magnum, it's my favorite. Self Defense loads are very manageable. You can load it up to almost .44 levels with a 260 grain loads for Bear etc. I carry a Mountain Gun for CCW in the winter comfortably. 41's were called the perfect law enforcement weapon for a few years, until the Semi Auto took over the market.

 

[Lefkiguy]

My first 44 magnum was a 629, 6 1/2" barrel, and I could shoot more accurately with that gun than my brother's 6" Python, which is 357 Mag. I had a 5" 629 with full under lug that hurt to shoot, both recoil wise and trigger chewing on my finger, it had hogue rubber grips. I sold it, and replaced it with a 629 3", which I changed the factory stocks (round butt, with finger grooves) to a Kurac coke profile smooth target stocks (round to square) which shot beautifully, less felt recoil than the 5" gun, and no chewed on finger. I bet if I still had that 5" and changed the stocks, probably would change my opinion of it.

 

[C.S.63]

Hearsedriver,
There are an awful lot of nice 29s and 629s out there, Take your time the right one will find ya, be forewarned "N" frames-29/629s are addicting.

carl

 

[Ol' Deadeye]

The only time I've ever shot a .44 it was a Dan Wesson with the 8 inch barrel similar to the one shown.

I have no clue how the recoil compares with the Mod 29 but to me, the recoil from this gun was not noticeably more than when I shoot my Mod 28-2.

It was dead on accurate I'll say and did have one hell of a blast when it went off. Personally, I loved it!

 

[michael thornton]

shoot 50 rounds or 454 then go back to the 44 mag and its a piece of cake! the sharp checkered targets on my 4 inch no dash 629 have got blood a time or two

 

[drewjh]

I have large hands too, and had the same experience shooting With the stock target grips on a model 29. The trigger guard would bruise my finger every time. Switching to a grip profile that puts your finger farther away from the trigger guard solves that problem very quickly and will make shooting your 29 much more pleasant. My 6" 57 was doing the same thing, had to switch those grips too.

my experience is a bit different...

A 4" 29 with factory targets, I can shoot it well with specials and light loads. However when you get to a real magnum load it bites me every time. What happens is that the trigger guard slams my middle finger on my right hand (I am a righty) Ive tried different hand holds and still the same result. Its hit me so hard that Ive gotten bruised and a few times a big lump on my finger that hurts for a week. Its taken all the joy out of shooting that gun. Would different grip help, maybe, I just stick to lighter loads.

My 6" 57 41 mag, I can shoot anything and not get the same result, although really hot loads, It can come close it seems. The 4" Mountain Gun again in 41 mag, isnt as bad as the 29, close but manageable.

Now, I have one other 44, a Ruger Super Blackhawk its got a 10" barrel. I can shoot all the full 44 loads in that with no trouble

I have pretty large hands and I think that might be part of the problem, I dont know for sure. I do know that I dont want to experiment with the 4" anymore, ouch!!

If I find a 6inchish 629, I will try it out. Maybe one of the ported models

 

[PA Reb]

I've read this whole thread and the best advice I can offer to you "hearsedriver" is this ~ Go get yourself a .44 magnum and enjoy it, period! I guarantee you'll love it and, at the very worst, you can always sell it if you don't. Personally, I currently have four 29s / 629s in different barrel lengths but have owned and fired every barrel length made by S&W. I can say without a doubt, from the shortest to the longest, none of them are that bad to fire once you get the hang of it. The one pictured below is my pride and joy - 29-2, 6 1/2" barrel with a "S" prefix.

 

[Schmidty]

A lot of good advice on here. My personal experience and recomendation, start with smaller calibers and work your way up. When you get to a .44, start with specials and work up to light factory mag loads. I found Magtech .44 Mag very mild. Keep working your way up. Soon, you'll have fun. I have a 4" 629, I shoot one handed at steel plates at 25 yards, sometimes with my off hand too, full power ammo. You get used to it. I like the "boom", it is fun knocking those plates off the berm with serious authority.

 

[Stainless44]

My son just turned 12...and he put 5 cylinders of 44 Mag downrange yesterday. His chief complaint was that the gun was so heavy.

I consider it them to be the funnest handguns I own.