ouch my S&W 44 mag hurts

[rhartwell]

I have a model 29 6 inch barrel. I love to use 44 special in it but I tried it in the white box 44 magnum. Wow. I don't mind recoil but this thing hurt. I have the rubber grips on it. I am 5'6" and I weight 170. I fired one round and that was enough for me. What am I doing wrong? Is there a better grip that I can get? The rubber grips I put on are a lot smaller then the wood grips. It kind of feels a little funny with the rubber grips after the wood ones that it came with. What do I do? Sell it?

 

[NinjaFeint]

Start reloading and create the round that works for you. Bump up from .44 Special "power" in small increments to see where balance of big bang and comfort lies for you.

 

[7.62 Nato]

I had grips on my m29 that didn't cover the backstrap and would move when firing hot (Corbon) loads. I would get bit every shot. Try new grips.

 

[Oro]

You have a couple of options:

1) Make sure your grip is correct - if you are holding it one handed, too loose, or too high it can make it much worse with magnums.

2) There are a few type of rubber grips - from soft to firm, some larger and smaller. Do you have a pic of your gun so we can see what type of grips are on it? You may want to try a different brand/style.

3) Wood also works - smooth wood that is hand filling and distributes the recoil more widely throughout your hand and fingers.

 

[rmfnla]

Smaller grips will generally make recoil feel worse since there is less area to distribute the recoil force.

Try to find something that fits your hand well; this is more important than the grip material.

 

[Starter52]

I like Hogue rubber grips for my Model 625, but I prefer Pachmayr's Gripper rubber grips on magnum N-frame revolvers.

I know some folks don't like open-back, finger-grip rubber, but they work great for me. They are the most comfortable grips I've even found for shooting a Model 29 with full house loads.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I shot a 44 mag........ONCE.

I'm convinced that round is made for a leveraction carbine, not a pistol.

 

[PT1911]

come on guys... with a correct grip a 44 mag is a pleasure to shoot out of a properly sized revolver.

I remember the first time I shot one... had been shooting 45 acps that day.. boom, plank/dank (sound of bullet hitting plate and plate falling), boom, plank/dank....
I was loving every minute of it... then the 44 mag..

BOOOM.... no plank/dank, but the plate was down....hmmmmm.. try this again...
BOOOM.... still no plank/dank.... the damn thing hit so hard I didnt get to see the plate fall...

 

[Rodentman]

I have a 329NG which weights about 29oz. I got the Hogue grips from S&W that they use on their X frame revolvers. Recoil is substantial but not painful. I enjoy shooting it. I also have a Ruger Redhawk 4" and Super RH 7.5" and they are fun as well. Much heavier though. I think it is important to hold the grip tightly. Any space in the grip, or if your grip is loose, it will slap you.

 

[myg30]

My 44 blackhawk shoots softer than my 629 does. I tried rubber and wood both. Full power 240g loads are a bit stout but the 300g wrist snappers are painful !!! Lots of good advice above, if all else fails shoot 44specials from it.

Merry Christmas all,
Mike

 

[mete]

While I can shoot 9mm, .40, 45, without the gun moving in my hand with elbow locked I can't with the 44 mag.To make it much easier I shoot the 44 mag with elbows bent a little . When I shoot the elbows bend more ,acting like a shock absorber without the gun moving in my hand . This is much more comfortable !

 

[Otis311]

I shot my brothers 6.5" m29 a few times. Never found it unbearable.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

It's the nature of the beast. No it's not pleasant touching off a full house magnum from a smith as the recoil comes straight back in your hand as opposed to a ruger which turns while recoiling which isn't as bad.

Try different grips and download it.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Really.....think this through

its a .44

MAGNUM


It's going to hurt.

 

[Walkalong]

Get a 5.5" Redhawk. I have both. Recoil is much milder in the Redhawk than the S&W M-29.

 

[David E]

I disagree with the pronouncement, "It's going to hurt."

With proper grips and technique, it should NOT hurt !

 

[friscolatchi]

I have my handgun shooting career backwards....

Started with the 629 6.5 shooting 240's - developed a flinch.
Then thousands of 9mm, 22, 38/357 now back to 44m and using the advice
gleaned in THR, much much better in 44m. At 25 yds 4 inch groups, and much less flinching. With that being so I bought the 4" mtn gun, and shooting that better each outing.

The folks that provide advice have a treasure trove of knowledge, especially from Oro, Armed Bear to name a few. Don't give up on the gun if you like it and have a use for it. Try the x frame grips, they'll help. Just don't give up.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

If you're out at the range plinking and having fun, not practicing for carry or trying to shoot fast, there's no point in trying to control the recoil. Don't use a high grip, don't keep a death grip on the gun. Let the gun rotate in your hand, and keep your elbows unlocked and use your arms as shock absorbers. If I'm trying to control recoil or shoot quickly, my 8 3/8" 629 only comes up 30 degrees or less. If I'm just shooting one shot at a time, I'll let it and my arms come up to 90 degrees. I can shoot it all day doing that.

Something else you can try - go to Walmart or your local sporting goods store and find a cheap pair of bicycle gloves. They're fingerless and they have heavy gel padding in the palms. Wear those while you shoot, makes it very comfortable. I did that for the first 600-800 rounds through my 629 before I figured out a better revolver grip.

 

[rhartwell]

I will get the gloves and try the stance.. What are x grips

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

The grips smith and wesson puts standard on the x frame guns. (500 and 460) They're pretty much the same as the standard n-frame rubber grips, except there's a strip of rubber covering the backstrap that serves to soak up recoil. You can find them on the Smith & Wesson site.

 

[Russ in WY]

If your not reloading then U-R-SOL. If you shoot the Full up factory stuff. Spl is hard to find these days it seems. I reload & have a pair of 44's. I also cast some. I like the Kieth 429421, 245 gr Semi-wadcutter. Load 14 grs in spl case & 16 grs in Mag case of 2400. Can plink with that load all day, Pain free & is very accurate at 25 -50 yds. My 2¢... Russ.

 

[Action_Can_Do]

One round is not a serious attempt. You probably had an improper grip.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What are x grips

The grips smith and wesson puts standard on the x frame guns. (500 and 460) They're pretty much the same as the standard n-frame rubber grips, except there's a strip of rubber covering the backstrap that serves to soak up recoil. You can find them on the Smith & Wesson site.

Sorry I have to disagree but the "X frame" grips are not like the N frame grips at all. The X frame uses a K/L grip frame and the same grips as K/L frame revolvers, not N frame grips. The Orange and Yellow "Tamer Survival Grips" used on X frame revolvers WILL NOT fit on an N frame revolver.

If you are set on changing the grips on your M29 give a look at Pachmayr Decelerator Grips. BUT, I feel the problem might be something other than the grips.

 

[vikz]

I love shooting my 629 and i'm only 5'7 145lbs, i guess i got use to it or i learned how to hold it properly..

 

[jad0110]

The rubber grips I put on are a lot smaller then the wood grips. It kind of feels a little funny with the rubber grips after the wood ones that it came with. What do I do?

Well, why not try it with the wood ones? Do you still have them? If they fit your hand right, you will likely experience less felt recoil that you did with the rubber ones.