thoughts on a 44 mag as a first handgun purchase

[gkitch]

Yes: get a S&W Revolver

You could not get a better first handgun than a S&W revolver. That said, unless you get a smokin' deal on a 44 Magnum it would be less than optimal in many ways.
As a non-reloader and non-wealthy young guy, you will shoot and enjoy a 22, 38, or 357 magnum much more readily.
A 357 Magnum with a 4" to 6" bbl and adjustable sights is the most versatile handgun there is. Factory 38s are inexpensive and plentiful. Light 38 target loads are good on small game without destoying much meat and full house 357s are adequate on deer sized game. The 125 Gr 357 is a statistically proven manstopper as well.
My best advice is to put yourself in the market for a good older L-frame or N-frame 357 magnum. Finish and bbl lenght can be a matter of personal preference.

 

[Jitterbug]

If you reload the .44 makes a fine choice, although components can cost you more then .357 just due to the weight and amount of metal in the bullet.

I'm not new to .44's but it's been many years and I just picked up a new 4" 629, I started out with some 240 LSWC loads running from 800-900 fps to get reacquainted with it.

Sweet loads, minimal recoil and inexpensive.

The new 629's have a new rubber grip that covers the backstrap, at first I wasn't too impressed due to the extra length of pull to the trigger and was thinking of picking up a set of the old style open backstrap Houge's, but after shooting some heavy loads I'm now pleased with it and for now the grip is staying.

Nothing wrong with a .357 either and has been pointed out, .38 level ammo can be purchased over the counter at a decent price, which I don't believe is the case with .44 in ether Magnum or Special.

As a young college guy, if you're really counting every penny and if it were me I'd probably start with a good used .357.

I owned a 4" 686 for many, many years (still kicking self for selling it) and as gkitch pointed out it's one heck of a versatile gun.

And if you're really pinching penny's there is nothing wrong with a good .22, everyone should own at least one.

 

[Stu454]

A 4" .44 Magnum Smith is a great do-all gun, if there is such a thing.

Handloading keeps the ammo costs down, and allows you to load from mild to wild in the recoil and power departments.

It can be a CCW with the right belt, holster and clothing choices.

Just be careful to start with milder loads, as the heavy ones will cause you to flinch.

 

[PA Reb]

If you want one, keep this famous little saying in mind - "Just Do It!"

The very first revolver I ever fired and then purchased way back in 1975 was a .357 magnum. Our old friend Harry Callahan had been on the big screen chasing Charles "Scorpio" Davis for a few years and I decided I just had to have one of those "beasts"! I had trouble finding one around here (remember when there was no internet?) at the time because of the craze the movie had created. Eventually, I found a 29 with an 8 3/8" barrel so I bought it. Long story even shorter - no problems with recoil or anything like that. I remember thinking "what's all the fuss about?"

So, don't worry about reading what me or other shooters think. You seem to have a good understanding on what it takes to shoot handguns and you will learn to deal with everything including the cost of shooting, recoil, and finding a comfortable set of grips. Go for it man and don't second guess yourself or ever look back!

 

[williamlayton]

All I can think about is that a flatbelly 20 something year old guy has absolutely nothing to worry about recoil wise. That comes later when your body tells you so.
My body has told me so.
I may be looking at a 44mag at the age of 70+ but it is going to have to be bigger than a 4 incher----then again---I may not get a .44 mag---who knows--this is an on again, off again debate I have with myownself.
Blessings

 

[senecaap]

The magnum is a fine choice. The recoil is not as bad as some make out and if you don't like it you can switch to .44 special loads, which are (to me) much easier than a .40 or its ilk, though .44 Special has been harder to find and more expensive than .44 mag around here.

I also think the .44Mag is a better and easier to shoot round than the .357, especially if said .357 is in a K/L frame configuration. To me the 4" 29 is one of the best all around pistols there is.

Last of all, if the .44 Mag is what you want, just get it, you will not be happy till you get what you want, even if you get a gun that is superior.

 

[Jitterbug]

I'm in lousy shape, just south of 60, thin build with girlie hands and wrists.

With the mild 800-900 fps 240 grain LSWC loads the 4" 629 is a pussycat, it just purr's, I could enjoyably shoot it all day and by reloading I can afford to.

I just tried some 280's at a clocked 1179 fps the other day, and they where not bad at all. Honestly I think a 442 loaded with 135 grain Gold Dot +P is worse.

And so isn't a Glock G27 in 40 caliber with warm loads.

Just me and my personal opinion, but I would agree that the 4" 629, is a do it all gun. Carries concealed in a Simply Rugged Pancake very nicely on a 1 1/2" Gunbelt.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

A few of the posts seem to be written as though there were no such thing as .44 Spl loads. A standard-weight .44 Mag revolver does NOT recoil a lot with .44 Spl loads, assuming that the grips fit the user's hand. Handloaded, the .44 is not much more expensive than the ".38." Factory, of course, it is.

If you want it, and it can be made to fit your hand, get it.

 

[Dodobird1589]

thanks for all the responses. I would like to hunt with it as i am a hunter, i also hunt moose in vermont when i get a tag and plan on traveling to big bear country to hunt someday so i feel it would be a very good all around piece. Also on another note the 4 inch 629 costs the same as a 627 pro albeit ammo costs are more expensive. i think i will get some 500 mag hogue grips for it though because those cover the backstrap and will help ease me into it. for reference im 6 foot 1 215 pounds so i think i will be able to tame the recoil. i appreciate all the input and hope to hear more. By the way my CT pistol permit came today i will be going to the gun shop tomorrow to order my 629, youve convinced me

 

[gr7070]

i think i will get some 500 mag hogue grips for it though because those cover the backstrap and will help ease me into it.

X-frame (the 500) and N-frame (629) grips are not interchangeable. Get some better N-frame sized grips if you wish, though.

 

[Old cop]

What do you intend to use the gun for? This may be the easiest way of answering your own question.

 

[Larry from Bend]

There's nothing like a .44 to nudge someone into reloading. Once you do that, you can shoot 240 grain bullets from 700 to 1400 fps. A .44 (handloaded) has something for everyone; may as well start with one.

 

[arjay]

Bought a Ruger Super Blackhawk as my 1st handgun about 25 years ago.Worked out just fine.Never shot a 44 special through it.Did some dry fire practice whenever I started flinching.Bought a Colt Government a year later and thought it was quite easy to shoot accurately lol.

 

[El Dorico]

Think BIG young man.... Grab hold of that bad boy, and light up the night. But be warned; once you go big, small is never enough.

 

[MTKTM]

As a young man just out of college and the Army way back in 1972, I wanted one of the just released Model 66s. There were almost no SS guns on the market then and they were in huge demand. For that matter, all S&W revolvers were hard to get and had, for years, often sold at a premium over MSRP, especially magnum calibers.

Well, I couldn't find the 66 but one day found a nice 67, brand new, reasonable price, and I bought it. As a mere 38 Special, it wasn't the gun of my dreams by any stretch, but it ended up serving me well and I still have it.

But if you love guns, this is just the beginning of a journey. 30 or 40 years from now you'll most likely have a bunch of nice guns and will look back fondly at that 44, if that's what you end up getting. My point is that if you don't get the "perfect" or "ideal" gun with your first purchase, no big deal, you'll still be getting a very nice gun (just as I did) and there are lots more where that one came from!

As a number of guys mentioned earlier in the thread, handloading is a huge boon to shooting, at multiple levels, not just economic, although that is certainly a big one. I'm continuously surprised by how many shooters and avid gun lovers/shooters do not handload. I cannot imagine loving guns and not reloading. I strongly suggest that any new shooter take it up at the earliest possible opportunity.

 

[scooter123]

X-frame (the 500) and N-frame (629) grips are not interchangeable. Get some better N-frame sized grips if you wish, though.

This is NOT true concerning the 500 Magnum Monogrip, it fits the N frames just fine. In fact I found the 2 that I recently ordered for my 610 and 625 JM for fit perfectly. However, both feature the round butt grip frame.

Concerning recoil. I shoot the 40 S&W a lot and have never understood why so many consider it "snappy". One poster in this thread referred to it as being "vicious". Personally, I found the 357 Magnum to be a bit painful when I first tried some in my then brand new model 620 and that was simply because the grip it was shipped with is just too small. Once I mounted the 500 Mag monogrip on the 620, shooting 357 Magnums went from painful to envigorating. It also made the 40 caliber seem quite tame in comparison.

Now, concerning the model 629 and recoil. First, you'll want to check local Hunting regs before you commit on that 4 inch barrel length, some states mandate a barrel length longer than 4 inches for Handgun Hunting. Second, when loaded with 44 spl. the model 629 will be a real creampuff to shoot. In fact in terms of "feel", it will feel similar to the 40 caliber in a heavier steel framed semi auto.

That WILL NOT be the case with the 44 Magnum. The 44 spl. generally carries about 300 ft.lbs. of muzzle energy and the 44 Magnum can run to 1000 to 1500 ft.lbs. of muzzle energy with most commercial loads. That is a giant step up in terms of shear power and I would suggest just a bit of trepidation when trying the 44 Magnum the first time. I would also suggest not trying any 44 Magnums until you've replaced that standard factory grip with something larger to help cushion the recoil, otherwise it will hurt.

 

[batmann]

I see nothing wrong with making a .44 M you first revolver purchase. The key things to look for are comfort, balance and durability.
Comfort means being able to put grips on that take much of the recoil out, similar to the X-frame grips I have on my.44M Mountain Gun and still reach the trigger. Grips make a huge difference in the way you shoot.
Balance means I personally don't like a barrel heavy gun and I find a 4-6" barrel balaces better for me, but you may find that you like a heavy barrel. If possible, shoot some different lengths and you will see what I mean.
Durability, get a S&W or a Ruger Super Redhawk, shoot factory loads or reloads within normal specs and you will have a handgun that will outlast you. There are some really 'hot' loads out there, but unless you are in Griz country, you won't need them.
Just one more thing, as your first .44 M handgun, I would get a DA revolver over a SA. The cowboy style seems to have a 'harder' recoil than DA's due to the grip design and they operate only with the hammer cocked with takes a little getting used to.

 

[Neumann]

The recoil on a .44 magnum is neither painful nor unmanageable in a steel-framed revolver. I wouldn't extend that description to a 26 oz scandium 329PD, however.

The big question is why you want one. It is to OWN one and maybe dress up like Dirty Harry, for hunting, or self-defense. The latter is questionable. The muzzle flip is considerable, making a followup shot too slow. This is compounded if you shoot DA (the typical SD mode), because your grip is typically lower and offset than for SA.

For most people, the best "first" revolver would be in .357 Magnum. The recoil is half that of the .44 Mag, but the muzzle energy is up to twice that of a .45 ACP or .40 S&W. Despite the relative bulk over a auto, a 4" (or shorter) is easily concealable and well-suited for SD.

Revolver ammunition is very expensive, regardless of the caliber. It's not available in bulk like common auto loads, and costs nearly twice as much. On the plus side, it is easy and inexpensive to reload. You never lose brass in the grass, and a revolver will tolerate a much wider range of loads.

 

[Mountain-drew]

Just my thoughts on purchasing a 44 magnum as a first revolver. I've had no problems shooting my model 29-10 6.5" barrel with the stock grips. I'm average built (5'10", 165 lbs), have medium sized hands and the grips are actually quite narrow. I've found after several years of shooting magnum rounds that it's more mental than physical. With a proper revolver grip it's not going anywhere. I find sometimes it's actually easier to shoot one handed.

After you shoot a few boxes of ammo you'll know what to expect. It's not going to flip out of your hand, your wrist isn't going to break, it's not going to recoil and hit you in the head. It's doesn't even flip up that much. The recoil is more of a straight push barkwards than a barrel flip so follow up shots are easy than you think.

As far as ammo cost, it's cheaper to shoot my revolvers than my semi-autos. Every time you load the revolver and step up to the lane it cost about approximately $3.72 (6 x $0.62), to shoot my Glock 22 around $6.00 (15 x $0.40). You'll find the revolver will slow your range shooting down too.

I think of the 44 magnum as a fine wine and a semiauto like a case of beer. You slow down and enjoy the 44 magnum. Sipping and savoring the fine aspects of every moment.
The semiauto you buy the ammo in bulk and shoot with a few buddies, not remembering every shot but enjoying the evening as a whole.

 

[MMA10mm]

Thoughts on 44 magnum as first handgun purchase
experienced with rifles and have shot many 40 cal pistol rounds (i realize the stark difference from a 40 cal). i know recoil will be heavy but ive always found people make recoil out to be worse than it is whether its been a 12 gauge or a 300 win mag. im just entertaining the idea of getting a 44 first instead of a 357. do you guys think that is a good or bad idea.

If this is your first handgun OWNED, you're making a big mistake, in spite of the fact that I love the S&W 44 mag and received my first as my High School graduation present. (By the time I graduated, I was a fair pistol shot, a reloader, a bullet caster, and owned several handguns and a few long guns.)

Your first handgun owned (eat, sleep, shower, etc. with it 24/7), should be a .22, or if you're really well off, a 38 or 9mm. That first handgun should be shot so much your fingers wear out from reloading it. You need to buy ammo, lots of it, and spend your time grounding yourself in the fundamentals of marksmanship, so that you can later move on to bigger calibers or higher-capacity handguns.

Starting with a forty, let alone a 44 is doing a disservice to yourself, at this stage. Find a nice Mod. 17 (I think Smith just came out with a 10-shooter version), and shoot a brick of 22s per week for a couple months, and you'll be on your way. Start with a 44 with factory loads, and you'll build yourself a flinch that you'll play heck trying to overcome later. I'm working with our newest officer on this, because we issue 40s, and this officer had ZERO experience, they've got a really good flinch, unless I slow down and talk them through it shot-by-shot. If we'd start them with a 22, this wouldn't be so hard...