44 magnum - fun or not?!

[mugsie]

I'm thinking about purchasing a 44 magnum as I need something elst to reload and I thought the 44 would round out the collection somewhat. My problem is everything I read says it's right on the border of enoyable vs painful. I know I can reload 44 specials for it, but just like my 357's, I enjoy the oomph of hot loads occasionally. What's your experience with the 44? Can I spend a morning at the range with it and not feel it for days afterwards? I like big bore guns, don't mind recoil, but also want to have fun. If the 44 is going to be a chore, then I'll pass. Whats your opinion and can you recommend a gun? Thanks....

 

[Jet22]

Although I like Smiths, a Ruger Redhawk is as gentle to shoot with 44 Mags as most lighter 357s. A 6 or 8 inch Smith is not bad. You might want to stay away from the shorter barrels till you have some experience under your belt. If you have mastered the 357, you will enjoy the 44 even more!!

 

[P. Plainsman]

You bet it's fun. A sturdy, well designed .44 Magnum single action revolver like the Ruger Bisley will let you ride out the recoil without pain, even up to semi-stout factory .44 Magnum levels (like Black Hills 300 gr JHPs). I can shoot 50 rounds (ten cylinders -- I load all single action sixguns "old school") of that stuff through a Bisley without getting too flinchy. Extremely fun. The Bisley grip design is tops for recoil control.

On the double action side, my 4" S&W 629 is a bit of a handful with Magnum rounds. Beautiful and accurate revolver, but after half a box of 240 gr factory Magnums in that gun, I've had enough fun and am ready to go back down to Specials. I have a callous on the base knuckle of my thumb on my shooting hand, near the web of the hand, that I sometimes think of as my "629 scar." Not a big deal, though.

I find the Ruger Super Redhawk to be the comfiest DA .44 Magnum revolver for long strings of shooting. Lot of weight and nice cushioned grips. People swear by the Hogue monogrip on this gun. They are usually very accurate revolvers. They are often found with nicer double action triggers than you may ordinarily expect from Ruger -- try before you buy. You certainly aren't going to be concealing the SRH anywhere. It's a big hunk of iron.

Finally, as a handloader, you can easily cook up loads in Magnum cases that fall in the "light Magnum/heavy Special" range -- the sweet spot around 240-255 gr @ 1000-1100 fps -- and those should be pure sixgunning pleasure in any of the large-framed SA or DA guns discussed here. Enough push and power to let you know something "big bore" is happening, but easy to control in a big gun and not at all painful. Great way to spend a morning. (Can you tell I'm eager to start reloading .44 myself soon?)

As you shoot, have an occasional thought for the unfortunate souls out there who only envision Desert Eagles when they think of big-bore handguns.

 

[461]

It all depends on the gun. Just like your .357, shooting a full house .357 in a lightweight snubby will ruin your day just like a .44 out of a lightweight short barrel revolver. Put that .44 in a heavyweight like a Redhawk or even a Super Redhawk and it's a sweetheart. Single action guns are a great place for the .44 as well. Taurus makes the Raging bull in .44 and it's a reall pussycat to shoot too. Get the right gun and the .44 is all the gun you'll ever need. Note I didn't say ever want!

 

[Barr]

The .44 Mag is a great caliber to "plink" or target shoot with. Tailor the loads to what you find comfortable.

 

[slocum]

I have plenty of fun with my 629 5". I don't find it to be all that hard on me - 50-100 rds at a time is really no big deal. But I'm a pretty big guy and I can understand how one might get a little beat up if the gun flies around a bit more on discharge.

Come to think of it though, I did set a session limit of 100 rds just now didn't I? I don't think I'd do that with any other of my guns (save possibly for my 586 and 686 shooting magnums). I think you should try renting one and see for yourself. It's definitely a to-each-his-own situation.

s

 

[waumo]

Yes - get at least one

No handgun collection is complete without a 44 Mag. Personally I prefer the
S&W 629 6" but I also have a 29 8 3/8" and a 2" Taurus. Great cartridge to reload and shoot.

Full power 240 grain loads in the Taurus are a bit much

 

[Confederate]

I did not buy my 629, nor my Astra .44 mag, for fun. I bought the Astra because I didn't want to shoot the now-classic 629. The Astra had a beautiful stainless finish, pinned barrel and recessed chambers. It also shot and felt like the 629 for a fraction of the cost.

The real value of the 629 is that it's beautiful. And, alas, it's no longer made. Smith revolvers have now morphed into ugly utilitarian looking things. No stainless front sights, no flash chromed hammers and triggers and no stamped side plates. They'll do the job with their stupid little keyed locks, but they'll never have the class of the older models.

But the 29s were never really very fun for me to shoot. The .357s were for fun. If I were going hiking around bear country, I'd choose a .44, but only because it was called for. In most cases a .357 will do just fine.

 

[scott5]

Hello all,
I bought a used Dan Wesson 744 in 44 magnum and occasionaly shoot coyboy loads through it. They are 250gr SWC with 8.5gr. Unique.
This is a pussycat load that I introduced my sister to the 44 mag. on.

 

[MartinBrody]

44 Mag is very fun and versatile if you reload. Factory 44 Mag ammo is not fun after 25 rounds. If you didn't reload you could still enjoy it buying factory 44 Special ammo.

I started reloading when I bought a S&W 629 5 inch. It is great because you can load 44 Mag brass down to almost 44 Special and plink all day. But you can also experiment with the wide range of bullet wieghts and powders that have load data for 44 Mag. Bullet weights from 180 grains to 300 plus, as well as fast & slow powders. For reloaders it is a do everything round.

 

[SoCalShooter]

.44magnum FTW

I love shooting .44mag people at the range all wake up and pay attention and put their silly little 9's.

I have a .44mag by Ruger SBH 7 1/2in stainless hunter model

 

[10-Ring]

I like shooting the 44 mag from the larger DA wheelguns like the S&W's 29 & 629, the Colt Anaconda and Ruger's Super Redhawk. The few I've fired from SA wheelguns were not that enjoyable (mostly operator error).
IMO, w/ the right heavy frame & good technique, you'll be fine

 

[PaladinX13]

Definitely fun, but not enough for me to justify the cost when I'm just a recoil wuss.

 

[Hook686]

If you reload ...

... the .44 magnum (well some.44 magnums) is a dream. I shoot a S&W 629 6-1/2" ported Classic. While there are definately loads that make it a short visit to the range, both commercial and hand loaded, there are also very nice and easy loads, both commercial and hand loaded, that make the same trip a lot of fun. I typically shoot 200 .44 magnums, when I take it to the range.

 

[Majic]

Since you reload you know you can load it up or down to suit your shooting levels. Which model to get is irrelevant as you can adjust the load to your comfort level. You can get a heavy gun and run heavy loads or a lighter gun and run milder loads that will feel like the heavy loads in a heavy gun.

 

[runninmike]

FUN!

 

[Valkman]

Mucho fun to me, but I reload. I love my 629!

 

[sargenv]

I dunno, I'm waiting for the day when some person shows up to an IPSC match and shoots revolver division with full house 44 mags and speedloaders or even better moon clips.

The guys with the comped 38 supers will have nothing on that guy with the 44

Vince

 

[clarence222]

Get Bigger

I just recently bought a S&W 500 Magnumand a Freedom Arms 454 Casull and let me tell you the 44 does not even compare to either one of them. The power is amazing one either one of these, they are a little harder to handle but my 13 year old son loves to shoot both of them. I highly recommend anyone that wants a larger revolver to look at either one of the calibers they are simply amazing. The 454 will also shoot the 45 colt cartridge if you dont like the 454.

 

[LeonCarr]

I enjoy shooting and reloading the .44 Magnum, and I prefer the Ruger Super Redhawk in .44. On a recent range trip, I was sighting in the .44 Magnum, and also shooting my buddy's Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull. The guy shooting next to me on the range asked me what kind of pistol that was. I told him a .454 Casull. He said, "Everytime you shot that damn thing I felt like my nose was gonna bleed".

The .44 Magnum does not have quite the fun factor as a .454 or a .500, but the first time you explode a 3 Liter Coke Bottle full of water with your .44, you will be hooked.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Onty]

mugsie

“44 magnum - fun or not?!

I'm thinking about purchasing a 44 magnum as I need something elst to reload and I thought the 44 would round out the collection somewhat. My problem is everything I read says it's right on the border of enoyable vs painful. I know I can reload 44 specials for it, but just like my 357's, I enjoy the oomph of hot loads occasionally. What's your experience with the 44? Can I spend a morning at the range with it and not feel it for days afterwards? I like big bore guns, don't mind recoil, but also want to have fun. If the 44 is going to be a chore, then I'll pass. Whats your opinion and can you recommend a gun? Thanks....”

Since you reload, you might consider 41 Magnum. With 200-220 gr bullets at 1100-1200 fps, it will give you a nice oomph, but with moderate recoil. Especially if you shoot Bisley. I can shoot a hundreds of rounds in a single day without fatigue. Moderate blast, easy on hands, revolver and brass. If you look on number of forums, you will find that 41 owners are VERY loyal to this cartridge, and with a very good reason. See more here http://www.rugerforum.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/011376.html .

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I did something simular. I shot a round of ppc at one of the local shoots with my moon clipped 454 ruger alaskan Will full power 320 grain loads. SHot a 284/300 a little off as my average is about 293/300 but it still would have been good enough for 5th place. Guys on the line were volunteers and didnt pay for the line as it would be pretty hard to consentrate with that flame thrower going off next to you. guy on my right was the guy that usually beats me out and he shot a 280 with one complete miss!! It does show you though that a alaskan can be a viable defensive handgun. Ill tell you one thing its a dream to reload. Those big moon clip bundles just drop right in!! Recovery time is a little slower but it was easily shot within time limits.
QUOTE " I dunno, I'm waiting for the day when some person shows up to an IPSC match and shoots revolver division with full house 44 mags and speedloaders or even better moon clips."

 

[Stainz]

I bought a 629 Mountain Gun four years ago to shoot .44 Specials in. I made every round it ever fired since S&W test fired it, save a few chrono-ed Blazer 200gr GDHP .44 Specials and UMC 180gr JHP .44 Magnums (Hot!). I loaded mainly .44 Specials and Russians for it, as it was nearly perfect for them. Then, as I started reloading .44 Magnums to at best a moderate level, I found it's real calling. Ultimately, I replaced my 6.5" 24's with a new 6" (partial lug) 629, sporting the S&W .500 Magnum Hogue grips when I need 'emphasis', something I had a .454 SRH to do for many years. Ultimately, I replaced my 629MG with another new standard 4" 629, at only 2 oz more. While it shares the same hammer, trigger, and sights with it's 6" sibling, it does, oddly enough, differ from it. It's uncanny... I don't know which I'd keep, if one had to go.

I guess the 4" is more utilitarian - home defense, car defense, and woods carry are it's forte. The 6" is a great bullseye gun - fine for silhouettes, too. If I were to hunt, it'd get the exposure. I have a myriad of ammo I've made for both of them, and few rounds are real hotties. I find a 300gr LSWC at 800 fps from my 4" to be comfortable - even at 900 fps from the 6"-er - as all day plinkers. There is something about a 300gr .429" LSWC spanking a metal plate... even at 800fps. With those .500 Magnum Hogue grips, they are fine for all day use. Some days I just feel like a 240gr LSWC .44 Russian, barely breaking 700 fps and super mild, for fun, knowing it easily makes 'major PF' . The 629's are nice... both of mine now are newer models with The Lock, a non-issue here.

I also have a 4.6" SS SBH in .44 Magnum, which, brand new and uinfired by me, got a QPR Bird's Head Grip fitted. Super fun plinker... I did 'try' some of the hot UMC 180gr JHP .44 Magnums with that BHG - wow! It normally pushes that ball-like grip into your palm with recoil, and the muzzle flip causes the slick ball to rotate excessively in your hand, resulting in the muzzle ending up skyward, like an AA gun. With moderate .44 Specials and Russians, the grip is super, hot rounds, it is an experience. I like the SBH, but I'd still suggest a 4" 629 first. Good luck!

Stainz

 

[jamz]

I've got a 629-4 6", full lug and it's beautiful and fun to shoot. Suppose I can do 50 rounds until it stops being comfortable though. I haven't started reloading for it yet, have to pick up the dies and bullets, but I've been saving all my .44 cases.

 

[Legionnaire]

Ohh yeah! .44s are a hoot to shoot! I personally like Rugers, and have a scoped SuperRedhawk that I hunt with, and a SuperBlackhawk SA that I plink with. Both are great! If you want to make your hand tingle and don't reload, try some of Georgia Arms 200 gr JHP Deer Stoppers!