.44 Magnum recoil vs. .357?

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Panzerschwein

Panzerschwein

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Hello everybody! I've owned a Ruger GP100 .357 magnum for about a year now, and I love it. It's the 6" stainless steel version and it weighs about 45 oz. I find that shooting full-house magnum loads is not uncomfortable in this gun. If I really concentrate, I can put them in a tight group that really isn't much wider than standard .38 special groups. This is however, somewhat challenging for me but I feel that I'm getting better at it every time I go to the range. I am not a new handgun shooter, and I have the basics down pat. Shooting max power .357 ammo (from the likes of Double Tap etc.) out of this gun is the most powerful handgun I've ever shot though, and this makes me wonder because...

Well, I want my next handgun to be THIS.

It's a Taurus Model 44. This is a .44 magnum revolver with a 6.5" full-lug barrel that is ported. From what I've read, the porting does work well to decrease recoil. The gun weighs 52 oz, 7 oz heavier than my 6" full lug GP100.

What I'm wondering is how much greater recoil I can expect, roughly, from this gun. I would use the Taurus mostly as a range/fun/plinking gun and I want it solely because I want it. This would not be an "all the time" range or target gun, my GP100 fills that niche, but I have always wanted a .44 magnum since I was a kid. I am however, not willing to sacrifice my shooting skills because the gun will kick so much I could develop a flinch. I would shoot mostly regular factory/bulk .44 magnum loads in it, nothing ultra hot.

So in a nutshell, what kind of recoil can I expect from a Taurus Model 44 with a 6.5" porter barrel firing .44 magnum, versus a Ruger GP100 with a 6" full-lug barrel firing .357 magnum ammo? Will it be to much?

Thanks for your time!
 
I'd recommend this calculator to start with. Pull up the Hodgdon reloading site for sample loads for .357 and .44 magnum, and calculate in the GP100 and Taurus weight by using an oz->lb calculator.

I've found it to be pretty spot on in regards to recoil of Revolvers.

I own a .357 SP101 and have shot a Taurus Judge in .45LC. The Taurus had more of a solid "whack" to it, whereas the .357 has more of a "shove".

It's pretty simple to imagine as well - you're moving an object roughly 150% heavier than the average .357 projectile at 80% of the speed. The porting will probably counter a lot of the muzzle lift, but it doesn't always negate the rearwards recoil - and with your big-bore cartridges, more of the recoil comes from the sheer weight of the projectile being fired, and this recoil often goes straight back.

Also, without opening a can of worms, keep in mind that Taurus revolvers are best bought after a THOROUGH inspection. Frankly, I'd keep your eyes peeled for a used S&W and spend just a little bit more money on the Smith.

Or do it right and get a Redhawk .44... ;)
 
I've shot my buddies, Ruger BH. .357 and his RH .44 mag. Both are VERY loud, high pressure rounds. The increase mass of the Red Hawk seemed to absorb some of the extra push.. some .. Chances are if you like full power .357s you'll be happy enough with the .44M but if you can try one.. always the best.
 
Recoil from full power loads in a 6" GP100 is not that harsh, so you will notice a substantial increase in recoil, but it will be manageable out of a gun that weight.

Good luck
 
I've owned a S&W 629, Ruger Redhawk and Ruger Super Redhawk as well as a Ruger GP-100.

The .44 mags recoil substantially more.

You have to learn to 'roll with the recoil' with .44 mags rather than fight it.

I would advise you to rent one, if possible, before buying.
 
I would advise renting a 44 as well. A 44 from a Redhawk was quite tolerable for me, but from a Vaquero not very comfortable. FWIW, 357 from a 3 inch GP100 was nice for me as well.
 
CraigC said:
.44 is heavier, .357 is faster.
Click to expand...
Actually, bore AREA determines velocity...which means a .44 caliber will ALWAYS be faster than a .357 caliber for a given chamber pressure, all other variables being equal.
This is based on the "Combined Gas Law." which basically states that for a given total pressure, exerted equally in all directions, the greater surface area receives a greater total pressure.
This is why in REAL LIFE .44 magnums outperform .357" calibers hands down. This is also why very small increases in chamber pressure for .451" calibers result in MUCH FASTER bullet speeds.
 
A .44 Magnum will have roughly double the recoil of a .357 Magnum. I had a 6" 629 for a while and with full power ammo it was definitely more of a handful than my 4" 586 is. The math of recoil energy works out to about a 2 to 1 ratio of recoil to payload/velocity increases. A 50% increase in bullet weight (158 to 240 grains) nets about a 100% increase in recoil energy. Same thing happens with velocity increases too.
 
You had better rent one I have a S&W 624 that I load to magnum specs and a Uberti Cattleman. If you have arthritus you aint gonna like the 44 magnum even in my heavy cattleman it is a stout load double the pressure easy.
 
Actually, bore AREA determines velocity...which means a .44 caliber will ALWAYS be faster than a .357 caliber for a given chamber pressure, all other variables being equal.
This is based on the "Combined Gas Law." which basically states that for a given total pressure, exerted equally in all directions, the greater surface area receives a greater total pressure.
This is why in REAL LIFE .44 magnums outperform .357" calibers hands down. This is also why very small increases in chamber pressure for .451" calibers result in MUCH FASTER bullet speeds.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the lesson but the question was about recoil, not bullet velocity.
 
I had a KGP-141 and never really shot it well, using 158gr SP I didn't think recoil was excessive.

The KSRH-7 .44mag I owned shot a lot more accurately and recoil wasn't excessive using 240gr SP but the first time I fired it I was surprised the concussive pressure was so much greater than the .357mag, I could only guess it would be worse with a ported gun.
 
+1,2 and 3 on the concussion. I'm not really all that recoil sensitive and I don't even own a 44 but I have shot plenty of them. I couldn't even imagine shooting one of these in an enclosed room!

Of course they do it in Hollywood all the time so it must not be a problem.
 
I had a gp100 and I currently own a m44, both EXACTLY as you describe. The 357 had recoil but is very manageable for full house loads. The 44 will be a little more but not much as the gun in heavy and those ports do their job extremely well. My 44 has taught my friends how to shoot big bores as the recoil is cut in half by the porting (I also had a 629-6 unported, it got sold really quick as recoil was terrible)
 
Your first impulse will probably be a surprisingly sharp and violent recoil from the .44 Magnum. However, if you continue to master the gun you will find it not so unpleasant after all.

As to .44 Magnum, there are .44 Magnums and then there are .44 Magnums. My own battery consists primarily of Ruger Super Blackhawks, with 7 1/2" barrels. I've put in excess of 10,000 rounds down most of these and find the recoil to be plent acceptable. A lot depends on the gun, barrel length and weight, and the gun's grips. I find those rubber grips to be very harsh on my hand, while a good pair of wood grips to be very comfortable, especially the "plow handle" grip of a Single Action.

Bob Wright
 
As said by other posters, it is a substantial difference between the two. I have a Colt Anaconda and a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 mag as well as a sp101 and a gp100 in .357. I'm not very recoil sensitive, but the 44's get uncomfortable fairly quickly. It doesn't stop me from shooting them/hunting with them but I definitely don't use them as plinkers unless I am mad at my hands/wrist and feel they need to be punished. That being said, my .44's are extremely accurate and fun to shoot in moderation. Much like how you shoot 38 special out of a .357, you can shoot .44 special out of a .44 mag.
 
If you reload, I think the .44 can be loaded with unequalled versatility. Most of the time I shoot low to midrange lead bullet loads, and in my 629 they are downright pleasant. On the other hand you always have the option of loading up some whompin-stompin loads for hunting or just range fun.

If you're constrained to factory ammo, I don't think I would go with a .44 it will be expensive and more punishing.
 
I've had both the Ruger GP100 4" .357 and a Super Blackhawk in .44 Magnum, no less than the 10.5" version at 55oz. Even with the extra weight, the .44 kicked significantly harder. It's been a long time and maybe memory is playing tricks on me, but I'd say that even my SP101 in .357 doesn't seem to twist the wrist quite as much as the .44 did.
 
Regarding your flinch concerns, I am of the view that shooting rounds both below and above the round in question can help with flinch issues. After you shoot a few 44 mags and learn that, while they recoil harder, even they are not physically painful, you may find .357s to be less intimidating*.

*I don't mean that your conscious self is intimidated or frightened, but, rather, your reflexive subconcious - the place from which flinches arise!
 
As a young man just getting into handguns and reloading, I was enthralled by the recoil of my Virginian Dragoon and Ruger SRH. Then I bought a 686 and was amazed at how less the recoil was, a little disappointed really. What I came to realize as the years went by is there is a lot of fun to just shooting them without going full magnum. The 44 magnum will recoil more furiously than your 357, but you don't have to shoot magnum loads all the time. I can't recall the last time I shot a full on magnum load in any of my revolvers.
 
Do you really need a .44 magnum?

I used to be revolver guy and just had to have a .44 magnum. Did I need one? Nope. I don't hunt and don't currently live in Bear country. I got the gun because I wanted it. I took it to the range and shot 12 rounds. I put the gun back into my case, took it home, cleaned it, and promptly sold it. I lost about $175 when I sold it when you factor the shipping. Big mistake. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

If I absolutely needed a .44 magnum, I would have gotten better grips. That probably would have helped cushion the recoil, a bit. Even tame .44 magnum recoils a lot more than .357 magnum. Given the recoil, and the cost of ammo, it just wasn't worth it to me. It was not fun as everyone on gun boards said it would be.

Some people on these boards will go on and on about shooting powerful cartridges. To me, they are nuts and some of them just might be compensating for something. If you need a .44 magnum power level, knock yourself out. If you don't absolutely need a .44 magnum, don't bother.

As I mentioned earlier, these guns are also very expensive to "feed". I'd rather use that money buying cartridges that I will actually shoot. My gun budget isn't high enough to allow for guns that I don't need and wouldn't shoot.

If you decide to get a .44 magnum, just get a used revolver. There are a lot of stupid people like me that buy the things and sell them after shooting a few rounds. If you are like me, you won't shoot the gun very often and it will end up being a safe queen.

To me, .357 is as high as I'd ever care to go with handguns. If I move to a remote area that has a lot of grizzlies, I might rethink my position. Until then, I'm perfectly happy shooting 9mm, .45 acp, and .22 lr.
 
I have owned a couple of Ruger Blackhawks in the past and currently own an S&W 629 with a 4 inch barrel. It is my favorite revolver. I reload and shoot mostly moderate 44 mag loads, along with a bunch of 44 specials. I do load and shoot a few full power 44 magnums each month and enjoy shooting them sparingly. In my opinion, there is a substantial increase in felt recoil between full power 357 magnum and full power 44 mag. You do learn to "roll" with the recoil, but, at least in my experience, the trigger guard really gives my top grip finger a painful whack. I have meaty hands, so it's hard to prevent this, even with a really firm grip. If you want to watch a brief video showing how you handle hard recoil, go to John Linebaugh's website.
 
I have a 4" 586 357, and a 4" 629 44 mountain gun. They are 2 different worlds. The 44 stuns the senses the 1st time you fire it. And I haven't found any grips that don't hurt. But, the 586 weighs 46 oz loaded and the 629 weights 44.5 oz loaded! A 6" 629 would be better, and I was able to hunt successfully with with my much heavier Redhawk. Try before you buy!
 
I took it to the range and shot 12 rounds.
Click to expand...
Nobody wakes up in the morning, decides to become proficient with a .44Mag or larger, buys one and becomes so that afternoon. It takes a lot of hard work and practice to be able to shoot the big bores well with any consistency.


Big mistake. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.
Click to expand...
It ain't for everybody, that's for sure.


To me, they are nuts and some of them just might be compensating for something.
Click to expand...
People that make comments like that are just displaying their own insecurity. I've been shooting the .44Mag since age 16 and never thought I was "compensating" for anything. Do you look down your nose at everybody who can do something you cannot?


As I mentioned earlier, these guns are also very expensive to "feed".
Click to expand...
Very few are wealthy enough to be able to do enough shooting to become proficient with ANY chambering without handloading.
 
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