Dain Bramage
Member
I wanted to, I really did. But, then my .357 Blackhawk, Dan Wesson, and Winchester 94AE decided they liked to group best with 158g hardcast at max 2400 loads.
Waning interest in magnums
- Thread starter mashaffer
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I wanted to, I really did. But, then my .357 Blackhawk, Dan Wesson, and Winchester 94AE decided they liked to group best with 158g hardcast at max 2400 loads.
Loosedhorse
member
My interest has not waned--I love the big boomers--but I suspect that day will come.
I can tell you for sure, I am having more fun now with the .22 than I have since I was 10!
MCgunner
Member
So did my Security Six and, to an extent, my Smith 19, preferred .357 over .38 for accuracy. My SS shot about 4-5" with an otherwise accurate (in my Smith M10) wadcutter. THEN, I bought this Taurus 66, 1" at 25 yards accurate with .38 wadcutter OR 140 Speer JHP .357 magnum loaded with 17 grains of 2400. I traded the Security Six for a very accurate 6.5" Blackhawk and sold the 19. Kinda wish I'd kept the 19 (needed the money, I thought), but don't miss the SS at all. After that, I bought a 3" Taurus 66 at a gun show. That one will group the same loads into 1.5" at 25 yards from the bench. I'm a happy camper. The 3" gun is a CCW, the 4" is a hiking companion, and both see regular range visits. The Blackhawk is a hunting gun that's taken hog and deer. THAT one will dump a 180 Hornady into 4" at 100 yards with the iron sights when I ain't seeing double.
These are all benched, sandbagged groups.If your weapon doesn't like .38s, it ain't necessarily a law that .357s can't shoot .38s accurately. You just have to find the right gun.
Oh, BTW, I have a Rossi 92 carbine that loves heavy loads AND a 105 cast Lee SWC over 2.3 grains B'eye, 1.5" at 50 yards, good load for small game from the same gun I've shot deer with.
I used to own and shoot the 44 Magnum a lot. Elmer Kieth had the correct load as far as I was concerned and my M29-2 shot it well. It was a humdinger of a load. But I noticed my hunting partener was using a 45 long Colt, 260 grain lead bullets at +/- 900 fps. I told him he needed more than that for whitetailed deer. Not only did he get his deer that trip but with nearly identical shots, his load anchored the animal faster than my magnum. It only took me a couple more years to become convinced but I finally got rid of the Magnums and rarley load faster than 900 fps. And the deer are still dead, I just don't need to track them as far after the shot.
I have a 6.5" .357 Magnum Blackhawk that very well may be my favorite gun to shoot in my collection. That said, I might have put 20 magnum rounds down range compared to the several hundred .38 specials. Some of it is cost, most of it comfort. I will say, it SEEMS to pattern better with .357s than .38s The reason I like the Blackhawk so much is that I shoot it well, and it may be the most well rounded out-door handgun I own as I could load it with the hottest of the hot .357 rounds should I ever find the need to do so.
However, I still pack a .38 special snub nose every day. I just see no reason to go the magnum route (personal choice, of course). I like the .38 special. I shoot it well, I can afford to feed my gun often enough to stay a fair shot with it. There are a lot of different loads for it, but plain ol' jhp +p off the shelf stuff seems to work just fine.
I really don't have much interest in obtaining any more magnums unless its an SP101 in .357, and even then it could be an older .38 special and I would be happy as a clam. I just really like .38 snub nose revolvers
When I crave flash boom bang, I break out the black powder revolver. Maybe 15-30 cents a shot with all the smoke and fire and report you could ask for and none of the wrist straining. Messy but historic
The reason I like the Blackhawk so much is that I shoot it well, and it may be the most well rounded out-door handgun I own as I could load it with the hottest of the hot .357 rounds should I ever find the need to do so.However, I still pack a .38 special snub nose every day. I just see no reason to go the magnum route (personal choice, of course). I like the .38 special. I shoot it well, I can afford to feed my gun often enough to stay a fair shot with it. There are a lot of different loads for it, but plain ol' jhp +p off the shelf stuff seems to work just fine.
I really don't have much interest in obtaining any more magnums unless its an SP101 in .357, and even then it could be an older .38 special and I would be happy as a clam. I just really like .38 snub nose revolvers
When I crave flash boom bang, I break out the black powder revolver. Maybe 15-30 cents a shot with all the smoke and fire and report you could ask for and none of the wrist straining. Messy but historic
OldCavSoldier
Member
I'm like CajunBass....I love the .357 wheelies, but, shoot mid-range .38SPL out of them. Sometimes, when I want to educate a younger relative, I will load up some full-house
.357 loads and let them experience the rush, but, for me, these days, unless I am going far, far into the back country, non-magnums fit the bill.
And, yes, I'm still a little south of 60, so, age definitely has had a play. When in my 20's I LOVED to shoot anything magnum.....and I LOVED chasing pretty girls!! It was in my 30's that I wised-up and realized that the fun was in catching....and not chasing.....
(Youth is wasted on the young!!)
;-)
.357 loads and let them experience the rush, but, for me, these days, unless I am going far, far into the back country, non-magnums fit the bill.
And, yes, I'm still a little south of 60, so, age definitely has had a play. When in my 20's I LOVED to shoot anything magnum.....and I LOVED chasing pretty girls!! It was in my 30's that I wised-up and realized that the fun was in catching....and not chasing.....
(Youth is wasted on the young!!)
;-)
JFrame
Member
Oh my gosh...!!!
I have a renewed interest in shooting .38 special, and a new-found interest in shooting .45 ACP in a revolver...
You mean it's because of AGE????????
.
I have a renewed interest in shooting .38 special, and a new-found interest in shooting .45 ACP in a revolver...
You mean it's because of AGE????????
.
Magnums are alive and well
Everyone has their opinions but I enjoy shooting my 357 magnum (hence the name). I shoot 38s once in a while but my S&W 686 Plus with a 5 inch barrel handles the 357 recoil pretty well. I am in my upper 20s now and this was my first and is my favorite handgun. I also have a colt 1911 in .45acp which is also fun at the range. I shot all types of handguns and cartridges and the 357 is my favorite! I am not knocking any other cartridges, just saying the 357 can still hold its own against any of them
Everyone has their opinions but I enjoy shooting my 357 magnum (hence the name). I shoot 38s once in a while but my S&W 686 Plus with a 5 inch barrel handles the 357 recoil pretty well. I am in my upper 20s now and this was my first and is my favorite handgun. I also have a colt 1911 in .45acp which is also fun at the range. I shot all types of handguns and cartridges and the 357 is my favorite! I am not knocking any other cartridges, just saying the 357 can still hold its own against any of them
I have several 357s and like them. When I go down to the farm to hack around the creek and wander the brush, though, I find myself carrying a 624 or Charter 44 loaded with a couple of shot loads and some 750 fps Keiths. Much easier on the ears and a hole that starts out about how a 357 finishes.
BCRider
Member
Although I'm a bit older at 58 I've only been shooting for about 3 years now. So the intrest in Magnums and other heavy hitters is there but it's tempered at the same time by a touch of recoil sensitivity. That's probably the reason I like the big stuff loaded down a hair from full power.
One of my shooting buddys is a recoil NUT! One of his favourite plinkers is is .454 Casull Super Redhawk. He let me shoot a cylinder of it and frankly I was more than a little happy at the last shot. I think I'll stick to my just slightly downloaded .44Magnums.
One of my shooting buddys is a recoil NUT! One of his favourite plinkers is is .454 Casull Super Redhawk. He let me shoot a cylinder of it and frankly I was more than a little happy at the last shot. I think I'll stick to my just slightly downloaded .44Magnums.
tightgroup tiger
Member
I'll tell you what, I am wondering if it is age or the direction that revolver manufs have taken in the last 15 years that is turning people away from magnum calibers.
What I mean is the 357 magnum revolvers keep getting smaller and lighter as time go by. I was raised on Model 27s and 28 S&W Classics, you don't get alot of recoil from these or even a model 19.
My weekly shooter is a 1957 Model 28 that I bought used in 1980. I have run 50 rounds through it about every week or two ever since.
My newest 357 is a 1973 Model 28 that was almost new when I bought it last year. It will take the older 28s place if I ever wear it out.
These new smaller, lighter, revolvers would turn alot more people away from the magnum loads than the old classics would because of the heavy recoil that just isn't present in the old ones.
I may change my mind about this when I hit 60 in a few more years but I don't think so right now.
What I mean is the 357 magnum revolvers keep getting smaller and lighter as time go by. I was raised on Model 27s and 28 S&W Classics, you don't get alot of recoil from these or even a model 19.
My weekly shooter is a 1957 Model 28 that I bought used in 1980. I have run 50 rounds through it about every week or two ever since.
My newest 357 is a 1973 Model 28 that was almost new when I bought it last year. It will take the older 28s place if I ever wear it out.
These new smaller, lighter, revolvers would turn alot more people away from the magnum loads than the old classics would because of the heavy recoil that just isn't present in the old ones.
I may change my mind about this when I hit 60 in a few more years but I don't think so right now.
IdahoSkies
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This is kind of funny because I do think that in revolvers there is a bit of a magnum roll back. Tiger may have hit on the reason as the emphasis on carry and pocket style firearms has placed a premium on smaller and lighter weight guns.
I find this is the exact opposite in the pistol format, where there is (it seems to me) renewed interest in the 10mm, and greater push in the .357 SIG, and other high pressure rounds.
I find this is the exact opposite in the pistol format, where there is (it seems to me) renewed interest in the 10mm, and greater push in the .357 SIG, and other high pressure rounds.
Magnum Loads
I don't like shooting subloads in Mags due to carbon rings forming.
What I do is shoot 357 and 44 Mags that are commercially re-loaded way down from the max.Not exactly cowboy level,but not screamers either.
In my GP100 I fire hot stuff-it's hardly noticeable.
Every so often I shoot really hot 45 Colt loads in my Blackhawk-it's made to take them.`
I don't like shooting subloads in Mags due to carbon rings forming.
What I do is shoot 357 and 44 Mags that are commercially re-loaded way down from the max.Not exactly cowboy level,but not screamers either.
In my GP100 I fire hot stuff-it's hardly noticeable.
Every so often I shoot really hot 45 Colt loads in my Blackhawk-it's made to take them.`
Small Magnum Revolvers
Tiger-you're right about the small mags-just because they're safe with high pressure loads doesn't mean they are a good idea.
Scandium and titanium alloys don't handle the recoil of magnum rounds.Period.
I have a 27,a pre-28,a 28,and a Python.None are unpleasant with magnum rounds moderately loaded.
Tiger-you're right about the small mags-just because they're safe with high pressure loads doesn't mean they are a good idea.
Scandium and titanium alloys don't handle the recoil of magnum rounds.Period.
I have a 27,a pre-28,a 28,and a Python.None are unpleasant with magnum rounds moderately loaded.
Strykervet
member
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I like powerful loads but not exactly mags. I'm a very old 35 (I wore this body out FAST, just to find out you can't get it DX'd!) and I've had to give up the shotgun for defense and running altogether (though I'm hardheaded and I try now and again and always wind up in the hospital). I have arhritis sometimes, it is probably hereditary and will get worse. I'm too young for surgery, but by the time I will be old enough, I won't be of the same state of mind or body anymore --Catch 22. One day, I'll probably be one of those guys in a wheelchair with a MkIII for HD.
For the time being, I enjoy strong recoil that I can manage. When you can no longer manage it, it ceases being fun, I'm learning that. As a 14yo, I could manhandle a 12" .44 and I shot pistol grip shotguns like pistols. In the army, I shoulder fired 240B's, and as a SAW gunner, I ALWAYS shoulder fired it, I used it like a regular rifle, not a MG --I was pretty good with it and got stuck carrying it for a while too.
Now though I really like my AR's over the FAL's, 6.5mmG in particular; I can handle both but I hate getting ACOG brands on the forehead and the FAL loves giving them. Shotgun sits, it is a stocked breacher model and as likely to breach a door before it ever does anything else so I suppose it was an appropriate choice. I figure every house needs a M500 though, so...
For pistols, I can still handle my favorite of them all, the 10mm. It is like a half of a magnum. Lies between the .40 and the .41mag --since they don't make a .41 special, you could say it is like one. For those of you tired of mags but still don't want fufu loads, I'd suggest trying out the 10mm. Smith even makes one as a revolver, or made. You can load it from mild to wild, if you load you are missing out. It is also the only round with all these qualities in a semi auto pistol. The loads are so variable, the bullets such a high BC for a pistol round, bullet weights from 135gr. to 220gr. it really has something for everyone. I'm a bit biased here, I'm a ten fan, but I think anyone that tries it and gives it some time becomes one too. Lots of misconceptions about the 10mm, especially floating around on this forum.
For .357, I'm certainly not a fan of heavy loads in my 340PD. That thing is a punisher. The rest of my stainless ones aren't bad. I prefer to carry the most energetic load I can in any weapon for defense, but for target practice I prefer specials over magnums. Nice light specials.
I suppose getting old and getting to the point where you abandon all the big boomers is a slow transformation. Seems to be working out that way. Hopefully by the time I get real old, we'll get some non-direct energy weapons on the market with no recoil at all! But by the looks of it, we'll probably be getting a new and improved tacticool Judge instead, yuck.
If you get old enough, I suppose you can sit around at the table at the old folks home and play with Gauss guns and shoot at dominoes...
For the time being, I enjoy strong recoil that I can manage. When you can no longer manage it, it ceases being fun, I'm learning that. As a 14yo, I could manhandle a 12" .44 and I shot pistol grip shotguns like pistols. In the army, I shoulder fired 240B's, and as a SAW gunner, I ALWAYS shoulder fired it, I used it like a regular rifle, not a MG --I was pretty good with it and got stuck carrying it for a while too.
Now though I really like my AR's over the FAL's, 6.5mmG in particular; I can handle both but I hate getting ACOG brands on the forehead and the FAL loves giving them. Shotgun sits, it is a stocked breacher model and as likely to breach a door before it ever does anything else so I suppose it was an appropriate choice. I figure every house needs a M500 though, so...
For pistols, I can still handle my favorite of them all, the 10mm. It is like a half of a magnum. Lies between the .40 and the .41mag --since they don't make a .41 special, you could say it is like one. For those of you tired of mags but still don't want fufu loads, I'd suggest trying out the 10mm. Smith even makes one as a revolver, or made. You can load it from mild to wild, if you load you are missing out. It is also the only round with all these qualities in a semi auto pistol. The loads are so variable, the bullets such a high BC for a pistol round, bullet weights from 135gr. to 220gr. it really has something for everyone. I'm a bit biased here, I'm a ten fan, but I think anyone that tries it and gives it some time becomes one too. Lots of misconceptions about the 10mm, especially floating around on this forum.
For .357, I'm certainly not a fan of heavy loads in my 340PD. That thing is a punisher. The rest of my stainless ones aren't bad. I prefer to carry the most energetic load I can in any weapon for defense, but for target practice I prefer specials over magnums. Nice light specials.
I suppose getting old and getting to the point where you abandon all the big boomers is a slow transformation. Seems to be working out that way. Hopefully by the time I get real old, we'll get some non-direct energy weapons on the market with no recoil at all! But by the looks of it, we'll probably be getting a new and improved tacticool Judge instead, yuck.
If you get old enough, I suppose you can sit around at the table at the old folks home and play with Gauss guns and shoot at dominoes...
wanderinwalker
Member
Another +1 to tiger about the direction manufacturers have gone with smaller Magnum revolvers. I for one have no interest in shooting a .357 Model 60, or an LCR-357, or the Scandium framed flyweights. (Well, okay, maybe cylinder full, once.)
I have a .44 Magnum, a 6" 629 I picked it up lightly used for my 21st birthday present to myself. I rarely take it out to the range anymore. Once I'm done burning off the last of the ammmunition I have, I think it's going down the road. All of the flash, bang and blast of the big magnums doesn't appeal to me anymore.
Yet I find I do enjoy shooting .357s out of my 4" Model 19. They're a bit impressive and almost always bring the shooters around me to a halt, but I don't find them as "traumatic" as the .44. Still, I fire many more .38s, at least 10-1, if not slightly more than that. I did get asked once by a fellow younger than me if the ".357 kicked really bad?" I told him I don't think so at all, but I don't shoot it in extra small revolvers either.
Maybe it's not so much an age thing as a shooting experience thing. I'm 28 and have been shooting since I can remember, 10-12 or so. The funny thing is, in autoloaders, I've always been a "9 is fine", and now I'm coming around to appreciate how Special the .38 is in revolvers. Wonder what I'll be shooting when I'm 40?
I have a .44 Magnum, a 6" 629 I picked it up lightly used for my 21st birthday present to myself. I rarely take it out to the range anymore. Once I'm done burning off the last of the ammmunition I have, I think it's going down the road. All of the flash, bang and blast of the big magnums doesn't appeal to me anymore.
Yet I find I do enjoy shooting .357s out of my 4" Model 19. They're a bit impressive and almost always bring the shooters around me to a halt, but I don't find them as "traumatic" as the .44. Still, I fire many more .38s, at least 10-1, if not slightly more than that. I did get asked once by a fellow younger than me if the ".357 kicked really bad?" I told him I don't think so at all, but I don't shoot it in extra small revolvers either.
Maybe it's not so much an age thing as a shooting experience thing. I'm 28 and have been shooting since I can remember, 10-12 or so. The funny thing is, in autoloaders, I've always been a "9 is fine", and now I'm coming around to appreciate how Special the .38 is in revolvers. Wonder what I'll be shooting when I'm 40?
Strykervet
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Scandium and titanium revolvers don't handle the recoil of +P well either! I'm telling you, that 340PD is BRUTAL. Nobody who has one will disagree, and I mean nobody of any age! I got it when it first came out and I was still in the army. I took a buddy that was a glutton for punishment. He couldn't fire a box of 25 through it. I did, but it really hurt, my hand went numb, then it hurt worse later. This was with various mags.
The 158gr. Gold Dot, that is the WORST by the way. Like holding a firecracker. I don't flinch, but I sure am anticipating the recoil. Now my 125gr. light target load specials, loaded near minimum special data, those are very manageable in the 340PD. This is good to know, since if you are like me, you will still carry the most powerful load available regardless and tend to mostly practice with a softer one.
340PD is a good one to mention, it isn't like any other handgun. If you want a lesson on recoil, get one. You'll know more about the delicate points of recoil than Bubba knew about the "S'crimpin bidness" in Forrest Gump. It also has no peers, super light, super powerful, I hate shooting it and I'm not a fan of carrying it either, but I'd NEVER get rid of it --when I need a powerful light pocket piece, that is what I grab. I suppose I should carry a lidocaine patch for my hand in the other pocket, but I just thought of it, so...
But if you are recoil sensitive or hate recoil in general, do NOT get a scandium revolver, especially one with a titanium cylinder. You have to understand that is a very special specialty weapon. A great backup, whatever, but I wouldn't pick one with the intention of firing it a whole lot, at least not with full power loads.
My 686+ 6", I've been told I can never sell that one by my wife. She loves it. Specials are like .22's in it, and mags are very manageable. I bet their large frame .357 is even softer.
Finally, I did a load-up to compare velocities recently from my snub revolvers in order to find a good equilibrium for my wife regarding recoil and KE. So I loaded up a bunch of different specails, from mild to wild, and a bunch of different mags, from mild to wild. I loaded them such that some of the data from special to mag nearly overlapped, and I included several factory loads. What I learned is that from a snub, you will be at a serious disadvantage carrying specials vs. mags, but the specails weren't too bad out of longer barrels. But 125gr. moving at ~700fps just doesn't do it for me --.357 med. load will get about 1075fps, or similar to short barrel 9mm performance with a 124gr.
So what I recommend is to practice with the same bullet weights but lower charges (at close range the difference won't be enough to be concerned about) and carry the mags and only practice with them from time to time. Try and tailor your target loads to have the same POA/POI as you mag loads and you'll be good. Trust me, it works great.
bergmen
Member.
Well, I guess I'm bucking the trend here. I'm 62 and moving up the scale. I have loaded max loads for Blackhawk/Bisley in .45 Colt for many years and I'm up to .454 Casull now. I'm close to max loads on that but still sneaking up the scale. .357 Magnum - max loads here too.
I have a .300 WSM A-Bolt that I love (my kids love it too). My daughter gets disappointed if we leave a shooting session without a black and blue shoulder to show off to her friends.
A little is good, more is better and too much is just about right.
Dan
I have a .300 WSM A-Bolt that I love (my kids love it too). My daughter gets disappointed if we leave a shooting session without a black and blue shoulder to show off to her friends.
A little is good, more is better and too much is just about right.
Dan
MCgunner
Member
You might try cleaning your gun once in a while....just sayin'....
I never have a problem with carbon build up, but I scrub the chambers after every range trip.
jolly roger
Member
I used to shoot some HEAVY magnum loads in 44 and some large Contender calibers a LOT. Still don't mind hard kicking rifles. However...I have found at 53 my knuckles hurt a bit after shooting the big stuff. Age is starting to kick in just a hair...Hair? What's that?
gamestalker
member
As much as I hate to admit the truth, I am starting to have difficulty handling my magnum handguns. The other day while punching paper with my high powers, I took a few shots with one of my .357 mag. snubbies loaded with H110, and 158 gr. JHP's. I can still handle recoil fairly well, but the muzzle blast from heavy magnum loads is almost causing me to white out. You know that feeling when you've hit your head real hard?
Owen Sparks
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Magnums became a fad after the Dirty Harry movies in the 1970's. Now days everything has to be "tactical".
Same BS, different century.
Same BS, different century.
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420Stainless
Member
Me, I've got no use for anything beyond .357 magnum and .45 Colt. We don't have brown bear in Texas or New Mexico, where I hunt and explore. I have my revolver bases pretty well covered.
Pretty much where I'm at. I do have a .41 Magnum, but shoot light loads in it most of the time. I keep some Winchester 296 powder around for an occasional thrill though.
Yes, my M642 is just plain unpleasant to shoot with 38 +P loads. I much prefer to shoot a 6" K Frame with 38 Special loads.
351 WINCHESTER
Member
My .44 mag. was never fun with full house loads. I had a 2 1/2" s & w 66 that I tried to master d/a shooting with remington 125 magnums. Couldn't do it, but the gun made a trip to s & w for "repairs".
A 45 colt with cowboy loads is nice - very accurate, powerful enough for me and doesn't beat me up.
A 45 colt with cowboy loads is nice - very accurate, powerful enough for me and doesn't beat me up.
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