44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

Is there a way to tame the recoil on a handgun w 44 magnum?
(I have a 357, but have not shot a 44 magnum for over 20 years.)
Perhaps there are heavier revolvers or longer barrel lenght, or, less hot loads
(I don't want 44 special, it is 1/3 the power.)
Perhaps I can borrow a 44 magnum and practice with it before buying...
By the way, my 357 is quite tolerable in terms of recoil.
Be well.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

Find a nice used Ruger Redhawk

http://www.ozarkguns.com/Revolvers/R...edhawk/54L.jpg

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

The 44 Mag is not as bad as most folks make it out to be. I shoot a 629 S&W all the time will full on loads.

A lot of people dislike the massive report......I use foam ear plugs under my Peltor muffs.

One way to take recoil and keep energy ("power") is to use lighter, higher velocity bullets.....recoil is really a function of conservation of momentum......mass x velocity bullet = mass x velocity of gun......get a heavy gun...or get lighter bullets. Yes - velocity will go up.....but since energy is a function of velocity^2...the velocity will not increase as much as the mass decreased....thus less recoil.

With lighter mass bullets - you will give up penetration....but the 44 mag has plenty.

Standard weight bullets are 240 grains...but I've seen them as light as 180 grains.....158 grain is the standard weight of a .357 mag....

Like I said...a big revolver goes a long way to reducing recoil.

Last note - I've seen this happen a few times...and it is nasty/ugly....if you are tempted to use 2 hands....keep the support hand only on the grip area of the gun...brace the shooting hand only. I've seen finger tips lost from newbies holding the frame of the gun up by the cylinder to barrel gap....40,000+ PSI gas escapes and it cuts deep into hands and fingers....blows off finger tips and nails....infections can then take even more meat off for good.

I've seen this happen 3 times in my life of shooting - it is nasty.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

Agreed, the Rugers are nice.. But you never know you might be able to find a nice used Colt Anaconda out there.. :ok:

http://www.vintagepistols.com/images/anaconda-3.jpg

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

That's a heck of a lot of steel ya got there! :ok:

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

I shoot 44 Magnum in revolver and lever actions all the time. It is one of my favorites (and out of a rifle is very comparable to normal 30-30 Winchester loads). 44 Mag out of a handgun can be a beast if you are not used to it, for certain. It is something that you do get used to after you shoot them for a while. If you don't plan on carrying concealed - get a heavier revolver with a longer barrel (which will help soak up felt recoil). Besides for revolver weight, the best way to tame the 44 is to reload for it and find a load that is a little tamer than a standard magnum, but stouter than a special. If you don't reload then the only other way to tame the 44 Magnum is to shoot 44 Specials or 44 Magnum cowboy loads (which are identical to 44 Special but use the same case as the 44 Magnum, which I recommend for avoiding issues with chambering 44 Mags after shooting lots of 44 Special)

I wouldn't knock the 44 Special - it is a great round. I don't really shoot them too often, but they are very similar to 45 ACP in ballistics. If you do need to go with a heavier load for handgun hunting - then it is still available to you. Hornady's Flex Tip bullets (LEVERevolution) pack quite a wallop - 1410 FPS, 993 ft-lbs energy out of a revolver :36_1_25:

I agree with EE, Ruger is the way to go for a new 44 Mag revolver. Luft97's Colt Anaconda is one that I wish was still in production, though!

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

Here are some ballistics:

0.44 Special
336 ft�lbs (456 J)

0.357 Magnum
574 ft�lbs (778 J)

0.44 Magnum
1,250 ft�lbf (1,690 J)

There seems to be a huge gap between 44 special and 44 magnum energies.

Perhaps a magnum round at 357 range of energies (778 Joules) would be interesting for home defence.

Be well.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

Typically, for store bought ammo, I usually shoot Magtech or Winchester 240 Gr JSP - both of which are 1,180 FPS and 741 ft-lbs. Which load were you looking at with 1,250 ft-lbs? That seems like a pretty hot round, at least hotter than what the usual factory loadings are.

The 44 Special at 336 ft-lbs is pretty similar to 45 ACP which is usually around 356 ft-lbs. Both will get the job done with nice big chunks of heavy lead.

Personally, I think 357 magnum is more than enough power for any kind of self defense. If you miss, the 357 magnum is going to be punching some holes through walls - so it is something to think about. 44 Magnum could be overkill. If you are also interested in handgun hunting or just like shooting big bore - then it is a great choice. For in the house shooting I am a big fan of slow, big and heavy. I like the 44 cowboy loads out of a rifle for in home defense because ballistically it is pretty close to a 44-40 loading - which is more than enough to get the job done. A shotgun with buckshot also seems to get the job done as well, which is what I prefer.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

Have the barrel ported.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

This will take aprox 50% of felt recoil out if done correctly.

My Mountain Gun---S&W629 with 4" tapered barrel wears Pachmire Decelerators. These rubber grips cover the back strap and really help with the beating.

Takes the beating out of the 2nd Cylinder of Mags. I can go 20-30 without wondering if its going to get fun:36_1_25:

Best way is to load up 44 specials. They rock !!!!!!

E-A

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

I'll second the rubber grips. Reduced loads with a heavy frame will tame recoil significantly.

This is a very challenging caliber to become proficient at shooting well.

A complete riot though. Never ceases to entertain.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

The best thing to do is to try lots of different style guns, such as both Ruger and Smith double-actions and a few single-actions. The grip frame makes a huge difference as does the grip material. Longer, heavier barrels help cut down on muzzle rise, making recoil seem less. Porting can reduce felt recoil, but will increase perceived muzzle blast. That may be a bad trade-off because louder report can be perceived by the body as more recoil.

My first .44 Magnum was a Ruger Redhawk. With the stock grips, I got a blister on the palm of my strong hand within 50 rounds from the screw hole. Changed the grips to Hogue wood grips and the problem went away. Grips and grip frames need to fit YOUR hands.

For me, I like the Freedom Arms grip frame for handling the big boomers. I shoot an FA 83 in .454 Casull with less perceived recoil than a .44 Magnum in an S&W M629. That is just me; you may find the opposite to be true.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

*HEAVY frame* less recoil
*Longer barrel* less windup on the wrist

That said, I can shoot a Ruger 44 Super blackhawk with an 8 1/2" barrel with one hand, granted my whole arm moves up but it's very smooth and easy to fire (my wife can shoot it easily).

I luv Rugers and believe them to be the best 44-mags on the market..........and prefer stainless above all.

:beer:

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

I'd second that.

It doesn't 'reduce' recoil but it redirects it.

Porting my barrel was one of the best things I did to improve aim, wear and tear.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 135gr. Nosler Jacketed Hollow Point.
Ballistics : 1600fps / 767 ft.lbs. - Glock 20

Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 165gr Remington Golden Saber Hollow Point
Ballistics : 1425fps/ 744ft./lbs. - Glock 20
1175fps / 506 ft lbs 100yds Glock 20
Glock 29 - 1360fps

Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 200gr Wide Flat Nose Gas Check Hardcast
Ballistics : 1300fps/ 750 ft./lbs. - Glock 20
1105fps / 542 ft lbs 100yds Glock 20
Glock 29 - 1240fps
**Note-The 200gr BTB penetrates 25" in pine boards.

Caliber : 10mm
Bullet : 230gr Wide Flat Nose Gas Check Hardcast
Ballistics : 1120fps/ 641 ft./lbs. - Glock 20
1008fps / 519 ft lbs 100yds Glock 20
Glock 29 - 1075fps



Ill take 15 (G20) or 10 (G29) with quick reloads over 6 any day. Just sayin. Bx3

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

If you don't mind throwing shells everywhere yeah.

There are certain situations where I'd much rather have a revolver capable of firing in single action than one of my glocks. Not to mention I wouldn't recommend 10mm to someone unless it's a fun gun and not the only pistol they owned. But to each his own.

Re: 44 Magnum Recoil Question
 

While I have great respect (and still own) for wheel guns in .357, .44 on up........limited capacity and longer reloading times must be considered. The reliability issue is also no longer an issue as most auto loaders are just as reliable if not more so.

I can only think of two instances where "throwing shells everywhere" is an issue. The first would be the inconvenience of having to pick them up for reloading (not really an inconvenience) the second would be not wanting to leave any evidence (could be a major inconvenience:wink:).

10mm for fun? Thats what a .22 is for my friend. A 10mm is meant for business. I have been carrying one for almost ten years now and whether a two legged or four legged problem, I have never been under gunned. In fact I would go so far as to say that if you only wanted/could own one gun, the 10mm can not be beat. From 135gr (limited penetration ie..interior wall)to 230gr (maximum penetration ie..bear), you cant get much more diversified than that in a handgun.

Not to bash the .45 as I am still a fan of that round as well but notice that the 10mm still has more energy at 100yds than a .45 at the muzzle. Flame on!:biggrin:Bx3

BTW a colleague of mine took an 800lb record black bear with a 10mm Kimber last year.