Question about 44 mag recoil

[Jim NE]

I also recently bought a (used) SBH Ruger, 10.5 inch barrel. I'm not in bear country, but if I was, I figure the extra long barrel could get Buffalo Bore .44 Specials up to velocities that could generate close to 900 ft./lb.s of muzzle energy.

The thing is, I used to have a SBH just about like this one years ago, but modified and with porting, and I didn't like the porting at all. With .44 mag cartridges, the noise and blast offset any advantages, IMO.

I plan on shooting .44 Special. If I start shooting magnums a lot, I'll probably end up getting some grips like these:
http://www.baileysonline.com/shop.axd/ProductDetails?item_no=GSP 12987&utm_source=googlepla&utm_medium=cse&id=138482420905&gclid=CJGGw5W53tMCFQa4wAodfX4L5g

 

[Gordon]

Checkered grips won't roll like that but have their own unpleasant sensation , Rubber Pachys will solve problem cheap and ugly,Bisley grip frame is the way to go as is Magnaporting which on a 4 5/8 gun all but eliminates the muzzle rise.

 

[Hanzo581]

What type of ammo are you guys shooting that's hurting your hard shooting a heavy Ruger Blackhawk?

 

[Blkhrt13]

I run a model 29 trail boss. It has a three inch barrel with a full underlying and non fluted cylinder. With out the Pachmeyer grips I don't think it would be as fun to shoot. I have heard it said it like slapping a brick wall. But my friend is quite diminutive and used to a nine. It has no ports. It does rise a bit. But the grips keep it from twisting.

 

[Damon555]

What type of ammo are you guys shooting that's hurting your hard shooting a heavy Ruger Blackhawk?

I've loaded some ammo that will make most average shooter shy away from the 44 mag pretty quick......

The load on the far left is a 180 grain XTP pushed by 30 grains of H110 and the load on the far right is a 310 grain WNFP stoked with 20.5 grains of H110....these 2 loads are serious business and if you don't have the technique down they will hurt you......even if you know what you are doing they can still bang you up pretty good with the factory grips.

 

[RPZ]

First, I have "stalked" these forums for a number of years, but have never actually been a member. I have found a lot of useful information by reading what others have contributed, so when I was searching for answers to my question, this forum was naturally my first choice.

I purchased a 4 5/8 Ruger new model Super Blackhawk in 44 mag last year because I was looking for something to carry while hiking, and because I've always wanted a 44 mag and wanted something I could go out to the range and have fun with. I know there are other options, but I'm a big fan of the Ruger SA revolvers, having shot several Vaqueros in the past. I'm not new to the 44 cartridge, but I wouldn't say I'm a veteran either. --Side note: my first experience with a 44 mag was when I was about 13 or 14. My stepdad and I were at the range with his 6" 629 and he loaded up 5 specials and one magnum, spun the cylinder, then handed it to me and said, "Good luck!" with a huge grin on his face. I think I probably flinched on every load in anticipation of the one dreaded magnum load. Haha, a very fond memory indeed.--

Anyway, the issue I am having is not so much the recoil of the gun being "too much" but it's how the gun recoils. Like with any SA revolver, the gun to "rolls" back after firing due to the shape of the frame. In smaller calibers this has never been a problem for me, but with the 44 mag I've been having a hard time controlling just how far it goes, and have gotten a few nice hammer bites around the webbing between my index finger and thumb.

I am certain that this is a problem with my technique and/or grip, and was hoping others could chime in with advice on how to manage this. I do believe that I'm keeping a firm grip on the revolver, but I'm also not white knuckling it either. I have read elsewhere that you shouldn't fight the recoil, but let it work with you. How exactly is that accomplished?

Thanks in advance for your replies! I'm glad to finally be a member of the community that I have learned so much from over the years!!

I can not tell you what the "cure" is with the Blackhawk cowboy grip. All I can do is recommend selling it and buying a Redhawk, the "standard" model with about a 5" barrel, not the one with the frame extension barrel shroud. I had one years ago when I lived in Alaska, kept it loaded with 300 or 320 grain hardcast lead bullets. I could empty that thing at a few yards as fast as I could pull the trigger into a pretty decent group at close ranges. Slower fire I could obtain tighter groups out to about ten yards. The rolling effect is not present and recoil recovery was the only factor shooting double action for quick followups.

 

[Rodentman]

The only 44 I've been bothered by is my S&W Nightguard which weighs I think 29 oz. I use spls in it and mild loads. Someone gave me a box of Buffalo Bore 440g lead rounds for my 500 mag. I fired one. Not sure if I'll fire the others. Brutal, by my standards anyway. I am 67 and after typing and mousing for work for 42 years I want to be careful with my hands. A session of heavy duty shooting (DE, etc) leaves me with a sore shoulder and elbow too.

 

[H&R Glock]

Therez no sense in beating you or your gun with heavy loads unless you are going into dangerous game country. My most pleasant loads are with the X-Treme 200 grain plated bullet and 8.7 grains of Red Dot. My Smith 29 is ported and I can shoot without ever flinching due to recoil. Full house 44's on my range are no fun.

 

[Paladin7]

You can work up with lighter loads to learn how best to handle 44 Magnum Recoil, but that cowboy grip is not the best for such a hard kicking handgun. Hogue or Pachmayer grips will help, but I'm not a fan of their aesthetics... Magnaporting the barrel will help, but it will increase blast and noise, so not for me. The best bet is to convert it to a Bisley Grip Frame, hammer and trigger. I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley 3 3/4" Barrel (Lipsey's Special Edition). This gun with the Bisley grip makes shooting 44 magnum no problem at all. I would recommend the Bisley as the best option...

Let us know how you make out...

 

[svtruth]

Personally, I endorse Mrs. .308s admonition to accept the recoil, also, those "ugly" rubber grips are great, I have them on my Redhawks in .44 mag and . 454; I used to have a Bisley in .44 mag and it was no problem with those graceful grips.
Good luck

 

[Varminterror]

Redhawk grips don't fit my hand well, as the grip neck is too thin, so those have been the only 44mags which I could say have ever hurt my hand. I'd sooner run a hundred rounds of 454c through an Alaskan with compact Lett grips than run half as many through my Kodiak Backpacker without a Tyler T grip giving me more to hang onto.

I run 300 XTP Mags seated to cylinder length over 22.0grn H110/W296 (over book) in all of my 44mag Vaqueros and Super Blackhawks, as well as my RH's (with T grips) and SRH's with nary a complaint on recoil. The fireball out front is impressive, as is the killing impact on game.

 

[Dokk]

I appreciate all the replies, lots of great advice. I think I'm going to start out by buying a few boxes of 44 spl. and seeing if I can get a better feel for it. I've only fired about 50 rounds through it so far, so not really enough to be used to the gun. I'll probably also invest in a pair of shooting gloves, or just go with the batter's glove idea and see if that changes anything.

Down the line, if the above options don't work, I'll look into changing grips, and maybe eventually porting the barrel. The grips would be my last option, if porting were cheaper; I just hate to lose the look of the stock rosewood. As long as I can learn to manage the roll, I won't mind the recoil, it's just the darn hammer bite that is getting me.

I guess one more cheap option to try might be to strap a few bandaids on beforehand. It just occurred to me earlier when I was watching Hickok45's channel. That could save me some cash, and allow me to keep the grips. We'll see, only time will tell how this plays out.

Thanks again for all the great tips!

 

[Mn Fats]

I thought I was doing something wrong when I shot my super blackhawk for the first few boxes. I was. I went and bought some nice rubber grips for it and the recoil bit me in a way I didn't care for. I went back to the beautiful original wood ones and learned how to let it "roll" in my mits. It works for me. Plus I like wood on revolvers. Im not knockin any who doesn't. Do what works.