doc2rn
Member
Remllez beat me to it, Hogue grips are the key to taiming the beast. I am recoil sensitive and wouldn't think of shooting the .44 MAG without a Hogue on it.
1st time shooting a .44 magnum
- Thread starter Toe Fat
- Start date
- Status
Salmoneye
Member
The 'best' (and that is relative) after market Gumby grip for the SBH that I ever found, was the Uncle Mikes #59001...
I hate anything 'finger groove'...
I hate anything 'finger groove'...
BullRunBear
Member
I put Hogue monogrips on the Redhawk and Blackhawk in 45 Colt. The original grips were too small for my hands. I get much better control and less perceived recoil.
I did the same on the Model 29 (mid-80s) for another reason. The supplied wood grips looked great but were oversized and the checkering would tear up your hands. The rubber grips work much better. They tame the 44 magnum recoil. Since I shoot 90% 44 special reloads to 10% magnum rounds, I can use that Model 29 all day, comfortably. (Or until I run out of ammo.)
Jeff
I did the same on the Model 29 (mid-80s) for another reason. The supplied wood grips looked great but were oversized and the checkering would tear up your hands. The rubber grips work much better. They tame the 44 magnum recoil. Since I shoot 90% 44 special reloads to 10% magnum rounds, I can use that Model 29 all day, comfortably. (Or until I run out of ammo.)
Jeff
I know I've told my similar story on these boards before, but I'll repeat it again.
I don't own a .44Mag and one day I bought a box of 20 rounds at my local range and rented their S&W .44Mag, N-Frame. I forget the exact model.
After 6 rounds my hands were hurting. It took everything I had to finish out the box and return the gun. 'Never again.
I don't own a .44Mag and one day I bought a box of 20 rounds at my local range and rented their S&W .44Mag, N-Frame. I forget the exact model.
After 6 rounds my hands were hurting. It took everything I had to finish out the box and return the gun. 'Never again.
zxcvbob
Member
I have a 7.5" Ruger Bisley-Blackhawk in .45 Colt. I like shooting magnum-class loads in it (255 grain bullet @ 1300 to 1400 fps) but I only like shooting a few at a time, after a dozen I start flinching. I think the problem might be the checkered rosewood grips on it. I have smooth walnut grips too, but the rosewood are so pretty I can't bring myself to take them off. 
If I back-off to 1050-1100 fps it's a joy to shoot, and that's still a pretty stout load. There's no reason you can't download .44 Mag a little -- try 240 grain cast bullets with about 10 grains of Unique, or 11 to 12 grains of Herco.
If I back-off to 1050-1100 fps it's a joy to shoot, and that's still a pretty stout load. There's no reason you can't download .44 Mag a little -- try 240 grain cast bullets with about 10 grains of Unique, or 11 to 12 grains of Herco.
Gtimothy
Member
Magnums are a BLAST to shoot! They can horrible if you fight what the gun wants to do when it fires. I said fight not control. If you try and stiff arm a 44 MAG, it's going to beat you up, and I don't care how big you are. Follow through is the key! It will also help your shot placement!
One way around the recoil is to use 180-185 grain bullets at high velocity.
Match the jacket and bullet design to your target.
Lee Jurras used this method, along with excellent accuracy, to take about every game animal around. He could also put a cylinder on a playing card, at 100 yards, on a good day. He used a death grip on the .44, with this level loads,
and shot more .44 magnum then probably anyone alive.
Helps to have your own ammo company.
Match the jacket and bullet design to your target.
Lee Jurras used this method, along with excellent accuracy, to take about every game animal around. He could also put a cylinder on a playing card, at 100 yards, on a good day. He used a death grip on the .44, with this level loads,
and shot more .44 magnum then probably anyone alive.
Helps to have your own ammo company.
Confederate
Member
Yeah, the same thing happened to a petite 110-pound friend of mine. She started out with a .22LR, went to a .38, then a .357 (Ruger Security-Six), then a .44 mag (Redhawk). She handled all of them with nary a problem. I think one reason is that men think it's a macho thing and they approach it that way. Women approach it completely different. If they don't like it, they just walk away from it.
Back in the 80s, no one complained about the recoil from a .357 in a Security-Six or a S&W 66. That's because the only other choice was an N-frame Smith. Skeeter Skelton and Bill Jordan never complained. And Elmer Keith? He didn't shoot that sissy lil' caliber (even though he developed it). Now unless a guy's got a Smith 686 or a Ruger GP-100, he complains about recoil.
The .44 mag isn't a caliber most people shoot for enjoyment. It's a hunting round. As a defense round, it's not as good as some .357 loads. It penetrates well, but its heavy and I never enjoyed shooting it. Still, if you want to put meat in the freezer, there's a lot of incentive to master it. Many women, though, don't seem as bothered by it as men and they either like it or they don't.
Back in the 80s, no one complained about the recoil from a .357 in a Security-Six or a S&W 66. That's because the only other choice was an N-frame Smith. Skeeter Skelton and Bill Jordan never complained. And Elmer Keith? He didn't shoot that sissy lil' caliber (even though he developed it). Now unless a guy's got a Smith 686 or a Ruger GP-100, he complains about recoil.
The .44 mag isn't a caliber most people shoot for enjoyment. It's a hunting round. As a defense round, it's not as good as some .357 loads. It penetrates well, but its heavy and I never enjoyed shooting it. Still, if you want to put meat in the freezer, there's a lot of incentive to master it. Many women, though, don't seem as bothered by it as men and they either like it or they don't.
Valkman
Member
[QUOTEThe .44 mag isn't a caliber most people shoot for enjoyment.][/QUOTE]
I do! I generally load 240gr flat nosed bullets over 18.5gr of H108 and it is not punishing at all. I'm shooting a 6.5" S&W 629 which has a pretty good rubber grip on it but last time out shot some rounds with 22gr of H108 and they were "stout" I'd say but neither me or my SIL had any problems shooting them.
I do! I generally load 240gr flat nosed bullets over 18.5gr of H108 and it is not punishing at all. I'm shooting a 6.5" S&W 629 which has a pretty good rubber grip on it but last time out shot some rounds with 22gr of H108 and they were "stout" I'd say but neither me or my SIL had any problems shooting them.
bluethunder1962
Member
Same here. It peels the skin off my hand. I just shoot specials now instead of mags. But I haven't been out shot by a woman though.......HEHE. Just kidding.
icanthitabarn
Member
I don't have a .44, but know a S+W is way less comfortable than a SA.
Iron Sight
Member
Houges on my Super Blackhawk 44 mag
icanthitabarn
Member
Salmoneye
Member
These are Uncle Mikes #59001 that my SBH used to wear in the woods:
Iron Sight
Member
Grips on my Smith & Wesson 44 mag. The gun came new with the grips. Need to get it out more.
mje
Member
I've been told that the classic SA grip allows the pistol to rotate upward, absorbing some of the recoil. This does seem to be my experience. I've also noticed that most shooters tend to grip a pistol so the recoil is directed into the web between the thumb and index finger, instead of having it directed into the pad of muscle below the thumb. This makes a huge difference with magnum calibers.
doubleh
Member
I still remember my first experience with a 44 mag. Friend of mine bought a Blackhawk and invited me to shoot it. I managed a whole cylinder full. I was young and tough but quickly found I wasn't as tough as I thought. That triggerguard was murder on the middle finger. I never shot it again butt hen Ruger brought out the SBH with the dragoon style triggerguard and I bought one. No more swelled up, sore trigger finger---ever. Now I have arthritis in my wrist and my 44 mag shooting days are behind me. I still shoot some fairly stiff 44 special loads and they don't bother me.
The trick, for me anyway, was learning not to fight the recoil and I did that with quickly. Just let it roll. On another note I shoot a Blackhawk in 357 mag and it's a sweet gun that doesn't bother my wrist and does not bruise my finger either. I also shoot a Single Action Army clone in 45 Colt and it doesn't bother the arthitis much but it does beat on my middle finger enough to become unpleasant after awhile. All three have standard shaped wooden grips.
I never shot it again butt hen Ruger brought out the SBH with the dragoon style triggerguard and I bought one. No more swelled up, sore trigger finger---ever. Now I have arthritis in my wrist and my 44 mag shooting days are behind me. I still shoot some fairly stiff 44 special loads and they don't bother me.The trick, for me anyway, was learning not to fight the recoil and I did that with quickly. Just let it roll. On another note I shoot a Blackhawk in 357 mag and it's a sweet gun that doesn't bother my wrist and does not bruise my finger either. I also shoot a Single Action Army clone in 45 Colt and it doesn't bother the arthitis much but it does beat on my middle finger enough to become unpleasant after awhile. All three have standard shaped wooden grips.
- Status
