.44 Magnum first shots - I'm hooked

[SQLGeek]

I've become a bit revolver obsessed over the past few years. Thanks to a buddy of mine, I've gotten the chance to try several different ones in .38, .357, .45 Colt, .45 ACP & 10mm. I have acquired a couple myself, a Model 27-2 and 28-2. And I have also obsessed over working up various .357 loads for these guns.

Never had I tried a .44 Magnum until last weekend when we met up to go shooting again. He brought a 3" 629 for me to try with both .44 Magnum and hot .44 Special loads.

.44 Magnum is quite unlike anything I've ever shot before. It simply screams. It actually hurt. One cylinder of it and I was ready to be done. He had me try some .44 Special and even with hot loadings, that was pretty fun. The big, clean holes on the paper were kind of cool.

We shot some other things and then he encouraged me to try another cylinder of .44 Magnum. I didn't want to but he might have called me names. OK, fine, I would do it. Another cylinder and I now had a blood blister.

No, I'm done for sure now. I don't like .44 Magnum. Another cylinder of .44 Special though and I was thinking maybe this isn't the end of the world.

I shot some 9mm and .22 for a while. OK maybe six more of the .44 Magnum beasties.

Well I'm now bleeding and my hand hurts. I'm flinching too. Switch to one more cylinder of .44 Specials and I've stopped flinching and actually produced a decent group at 10 yards.

We finish out the day with some .22 and I'm laughing due to the lack of recoil.

It's been a week and I find I want to shoot .44 Magnum again. I've been idly browsing revolvers online and researching recipes in my reloading manuals. Maybe I can find a 29-2 to match my other -2 guns. I think I'm hooked.

Semi-related, here's a pic of my two -2 guns.

 

[Slamfire]

If you find a Ruger Superblack in 44 Mag your hand will be doing better, and you will have a lot of fun.



The one problem I have with the square back trigger guard is that it draws blood from the support hand. However, Ruger makes a 44 Magnum Single Action Revolver with a rounded trigger guard, and that's what I would get, if I were buying one for the first time



https://ruger.com/products/newModelSuperBlackhawkStandard/models.html

 

[The Glockodile]

You need to Double Deagle in Gold, even if in .44 Magnum!

That's one of the prime examples of vulgar ostentatiousness in the firearms world, a rite every one must pass through!

 

[Targa]

If I could have only one gun, it would be a .44mag. If you reload for it there is nothing better in my opinion.

 

[SQLGeek]

If you find a Ruger Superblack in 44 Mag your hand will be doing better, and you will have a lot of fun.

View attachment 1034895

The one problem I have with the square back trigger guard is that it draws blood from the support hand. However, Ruger makes a 44 Magnum Single Action Revolver with a rounded trigger guard, and that's what I would get, if I were buying one for the first time

View attachment 1034896

https://ruger.com/products/newModelSuperBlackhawkStandard/models.html

I've been rolling that option around in my head too. Plus it would scratch the itch I have for a single action revolver. Something to ponder for sure.

 

[TarDevil]

Pretty brave, shooting .44 Magnum with a 629. I'd love one of those guns but I think I'd stick to Specials. I'm too old for that stuff!

 

[LoonWulf]

I've been rolling that option around in my head too. Plus it would scratch the itch I have for a single action revolver. Something to ponder for sure.

I have a gp100 for 44specials.....the SBH runs a full case of h110

 

[brunowbe]

44 magnum is my favorite caliber to shoot, welcome to the fold OP.

 

[Riomouse911]

Nice! Sounds like you’ve jumped in boots first and are hooked.

As the guys said, the .44 is very versatile. With one and a reloading kit you can do just about anything from punching cans to anchoring a bison.

Once you pick one up let us know what you think.

Stay safe.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Ruger Superblackhawks are the best .44 Mags if you know how to properly roll a Single action in your hand. They are my favorite cartridge revolver.

 

[Seedy Character]

Sold my SBH because of square trigger guard knuckle busting.
Found a BH in .44mag with round trigger guard.
I'M MUCH BETTER NOW.

Actually have 7, in different calibers.
Get a Blackhawk, you will be hooked.

 

[Milt1]

Try a Ruger Redhawk before you buy a Blackhawk. The key to shooting a Redhawk for me is the have a light grip and let the Redhawk recoil on it's own without trying to manage it. I can shoot one all day long like that!

 

[.308 Norma]

The key to shooting a Redhawk for me is the have a light grip and let the Redhawk recoil on it's own without trying to manage it. I can shoot one all day long like that!

My wife says almost the same thing about shooting Ruger 10.5" Super Silhouette .44 Mags. She puts it like this: "Hold it firmly, line up the sights, squeeze the trigger, keep the sights lined up as the hammer falls, then just let it buck."
BTW, my loving wife is only 5'1", and less than 120lbs. But in the basement bedroom, she has a whole shelf lined with trophies from her IHMSA days. She won those trophies with her two .44 Mags shooting 220gr Sierra "Silhouette" bullets over 22grs of 2400. She wore a left-handed batters glove with the trigger finger cut out of it to protect her hand from some of the recoil, and I can't remember how many of those things she wore out.
On the other hand (no pun intended), my wife carries a .380 (Smith Shield EZ) because she can't handle the recoil of even a 9mm in that small of a pistol. She struggles with arthritis in her thumb joint nowadays that is most likely the result of the thousands of full house .44 Magnum rounds fired in IHMSA competitions and practice for them.

 

[Walkalong]

My .44 Mag. Doesn't get shot as much as it used to, getting old.

 

[tommy.duncan]

Try a Ruger Redhawk before you buy a Blackhawk

I agree, I have a Redhawk and a Super Redhawk. Both shoot really good.

If only shooting REALLY hot 44mag go with the SRH. The redhawk is a solid choice. If you want to stick with 44 special the GP-100 is a great shooter too.

 

[357 Terms]

Took her out today in the rain.
240grn plated. 1150fps.
Tackdriver

 

[bangswitch]

.44 Magnum is quite unlike anything I've ever shot before. It simply screams. It actually hurt. One cylinder of it and I was ready to be done. He had me try some .44 Special and even with hot loadings, that was pretty fun. The big, clean holes on the paper were kind of cool.

Well I'm now bleeding and my hand hurts. I'm flinching too. Switch to one more cylinder of .44 Specials and I've stopped flinching and actually produced a decent group at 10 yards.

It's been a week and I find I want to shoot .44 Magnum again. I've been idly browsing revolvers online and researching recipes in my reloading manuals. Maybe I can find a 29-2 to match my other -2 guns. I think I'm hooked.

If you like .44M, you'll love .41M . All the bang, much less of the pain. Only issue is finding the ammo, unless you reload. And oh, the .41M isn't a pretender, it's actually .410 diameter. The .44M tries to squeeze a little more in with its name, it's only .430.

 

[paul105]

This is the .44 I shoot 2 or 3 times a week S&W M69 (2.75" 5 hot L Frame .44 Mag). Only average 20 to 30 rnds each outing but goes with me every range trip to keep my hand in. For whatever reason, the Super Blackhawk mangles my naughty finger knuckle.



Paul

 

[LoonWulf]

Sold my SBH because of square trigger guard knuckle busting.
Found a BH in .44mag with round trigger guard.
I'M MUCH BETTER NOW.

Actually have 7, in different calibers.
Get a Blackhawk, you will be hooked.

Ya know i was concerned that the sbh was gonna smash up my knuckles, but i THINK im shooting it like @.308 Norma wife recommends and the guns rolling the guard up over my fingers.....hasnt smacked me yet.
Not as much of a thumb pad pounder as my gp100 either.

I still want one of those big frame blackhawks tho, ive never seen one out here and i think they look cool. Want a bisley hunter also.....want, want, want.....lol

 

[JDeere]

I love the .44mag in the right combination. I have a Super Blackhawk Hunter with the Bisley grip and love the way it shoots with full house loads. Instead of rolling back I get more of a push back recoil. I can run 50 rounds of full house loads in a range session and love every minute. I had a Super Redhawk and sold it after getting the SBH. I don't need double action trigger in .44mag. I also have a Henry BB in .44 mag and run the same loads in both.

 

[SQLGeek]

Thanks for the comments, everyone! The discussion around SBHs reminded me that I had been looking at the SBH Hunter a while back in .44 Mag. Anyone have any experience with those?

I do know from my own experience that the Ruger Bisley grip and I don't seem to get along well. I shot one a while back several times chambered in .45 Colt that had some hot loads in it and it bashed my middle finger knuckle up pretty badly. I didn't notice that issue with the plow handle style grip.

Pretty brave, shooting .44 Magnum with a 629.

The 3" barrel was the killer I think. Brave isn't quite the right word for it...stupid is probably a better one!

If you like .44M, you'll love .41M . All the bang, much less of the pain.

I've heard this quite a bit. I have considered adding a .41 to the stable as well. As always, time & money deficiencies.

This is the .44 I shoot 2 or 3 times a week S&W M69

Now that is brave! I love the look of those but afraid they would be quite painful.

 

[jnichols2]

I was 70 years old when I first shot my new Ruger Redhawk.
I got some good advice.
Don't stand straight, lean into it. Don't lock elbows, let a slight bend absorb the shock.

I still wasn't fully prepared for the first shot. No adverse recoil, no pain.
But, the wave of power that washed over me was awesome. I never knew I had that much adrenalin.
I emptied a 50 round box of heavy magnums. 20 more .44 Specials weren't quite the same.
Afterwards, I was physically and emotionally drained. I later added a S&W 29-2 Dirty Harry gun to my collection.

I still love to shoot both of them.

 

[Seedy Character]

I love my .41mag

 

[cfullgraf]

Never had I tried a .44 Magnum until last weekend when we met up to go shooting again. He brought a 3" 629 for me to try with both .44 Magnum and hot .44 Special loads.

Yes, the 3" barrel on a 44 Magnum will get your attention when shooting full power rounds.

4" barrels and up are more manageable.

While I can, I do not care to shoot many full power loads any more. I load my 44 Magnums to about 950-1000 fps with 240 cast SWC bullets. Plenty of fun at the range.

You have to learn how to shoot full power loads. Get used to the recoil and noise. Work out anticipating the recoil to get rid of the flinch.

 

[jnichols2]

Crouch low, keeps your center of gravity low.
Lean into it. I saw a 250 lb guy topple on his kiester because he over tipped backwards.
Slight bend in elbows.
Squeeze your grip until your hands tremble.
Loosen grip only till your hands stop trembling.

Above all, have fun.