So I shot a .44 magnum for the first time yesterday...

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Glock19Fan

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Hello.

Finally after several months of waiting, the local range finally had their .44 magnum fixed (I dont know what was wrong with it in the first place). It was a Ruger Blackhawk 7 1/2 inch barrel.

My first shot Iwas really nervous, becuase of all of those stories you hear about people getting knocked in the head with them, but, to my suprise, the recoil wasnt bad at ALL, in fact I could control it pretty easily with both my strong and weak hand.

The ammo was just cheap WWB, but I still dont think the full power stuff would be that bad.
 
Shoot 50 rds............

and then say that. Seriously, it may be fine for you, but I like to shoot....a lot. I couldn't handle it. Good luck and stay safe.
 
My first experience was with a Blackhawk with the 4 5/8 inch barrel and some 210 grain JHP ammo. 5 rounds was enough for me! It took many years before I would even consider shooting 44 magnum, but after shooting a 6 1/2 inch barrel Taurus model 44, I decided it was the gun that gave me the bad impression. I now have a S&W 29-3 for light to medium loads and a Super Redhawk for hot loads in 44 magnum.
 
Winchester White Box is not weak ammo. I've run it across a chrono, 5 shots averaged 1305, with no shot going over 1310 or under 1300. This was the 240 grain load.
That said, I prefer the 240 grain hollow point Federal American Eagle load, (Fed. Red Box), it shoots well in all my .44 Mags.
 
I've always felt that .44 recoil isn't so bad. 50-rounds of full-power stuff is quite a sitting though, and the blast and flash usually get me a little jumpy before the end. Try shooting it with .44 Specials for the ultimate fun though. You'll laugh every round!
 
The good news is. your first .44mag experience was with a single-action revolver. It has been myu expperience that those "soften up" the recoil pretty significantly. That plow-handle grip "rolls" the recoil.

Try it again in a double-action revolver and I bet it'll be a little less pleasant.
 
Good for you. You found out for yourself that all this talk about recoil is just a bunch of hoopla. It is an American tradition: people who have never fired a gun in their lives can tell you all about recoil. People who don't know one end of a gun from the other have all heard about "kick". Yet, if you want to shoot, you find out it is all just dramatics. A revolver rises up from vertical a few inches. A rifle pushes on your shoulder.
Even in this thread, most of the people posting refuse to allow you to believe that your experience was real. They demand it to be traumatic. Why ? I have no idea.
 
I'm pleased to see you have a big bore! I love them and Ruger makes a fine gun! My 7 1/2" .44 Mag Redhawk is my favorite Ruger, a pussycat to shoot Winchester .210 gr Silvertips in and it battles for my most accurate revolver with those cartridges, lethal for game too! ;)
 
I'm with RCL. The WWB loads are not light. But shooting 50 of them? No problem.

That said, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed shooting the .44. I like both of mine. I would say that 50 rounds through either my S&W 629 or my Taurus M-44 is an average trip to the range.

I also agree with the poster that suggested the .44 spl loads. They're a pleasure to shoot.
 
It has been my expperience that [Single Actions] "soften up" the recoil pretty significantly. That plow-handle grip "rolls" the recoil.

Try it again in a double-action revolver and I bet it'll be a little less pleasant.
Click to expand...

+1

The saw handle grip of the S&W types will get your attention in the recoil dept. YMMV, Imho, etc.
 
Hello.

I am not too familar with Ruger handguns, but this gun was DA/SA, so I guess that would make it a Redhawk? It has wooden grips if that helps any. I was shooting single action the whole time BTW, and my friends kid (who is only 13) didnt seem to have any problem shooting it two handed, although he didnt seem all that excited to shoot it one handed. ;) It was pushing him back though, almost to the point of knocking him off balance.

Since there were 3 people shooting in all, I only got in 3 or 4 cylinders, but I still doubt that I would be in pain after 50 rounds. One handed shooting was pretty easy.

Last summer we rented a .38 special (I know it was a Ruger 4 inch but not sure on the model. I think it was a SP101), and with WWB the recoil surpised the crap out of me (becuase prior to that the only guns I ever shot were .22 and .22WMRs). From what I remember, it was just as hard as the .44 to shoot. The .44 was easy IMO becuase it has more recoil and less muzzle flip, and I think I do better with recoil than with muzzle flip.

BTW the .44 was very accurate!

And im not that big, 5' 9'', 175 pounds. I do workout quite a bit though, so maybe that had something to do with my ability to control recoil.

I definatly look forward to getting a big bore handgun, although im not sure which one. I do intend on reloading it too. I cant wait to see how the .500 magnum is!

I might wait until the price of used .500 S&Ws go down before I choose which one I want to get.
 
RCL- Thanks for the report on the ammo. I remember looking at Winchesters web site when I bought the ammo and seeing velocities advirtised at less than 1200 (1180 IIRC)?, so I assumed that it was weak (becuase I know it is capable of pushing 300 grain bullets over 1200 FPS).
 
In my mis-spent youth I bought a new Super Blackhawk for $116. I bought a box of Norma 240grain tri-clad ammunition. I fired only half of that box my first trip out shooting the revolver.

By the time I got home, my 5'2", 120Lb, 58 year old Mother could have out gripped me.

Things improved with time, age, and practice, but that first session with Elmer's favorite cartridge was most memorable.

RAZ

:what: :what: :what:
 
In my mis-spent youth I bought a new Super Blackhawk for $116. I bought a box of Norma 240grain tri-clad ammunition. I fired only half of that box my first trip out shooting the revolver.

By the time I got home, my 5'2", 120Lb, 58 year old Mother could have out gripped me.

Things improved with time, age, and practice, but that first session with Elmer's favorite cartridge was most memorable.

RAZ

:what: :what: :what:
 
although i have 4 .44 mags, SBH, SRH, and 2 of SnW's 29's, i find the .41 mag to be my favorite and i have 3 of those, 657, BH, and Taurus snubby. when i want to feel the power, i put my earthquake reloads in Rugers .44's and raise some dust. if you get the chance, try a .41. it is a pussycat and still a formidable round. if you get to liking recoil, start with the .454 Casull and work up to the .500. "they" say a .500 snubby will satisfy most folks. i can believe it.
 
Ah, another convert to the "Clap of Thunder" club. Congratulations and I hope it brings about a long career of buying and shooting .44's. :)

I have the Super Blackhawk with a 7 1/2" barrel and find it quite enjoyable to spend a couple of hours at the range and put 100 rounds downrange.

Just remember, as said before, the .44 magnum chambered handguns can also shoot the .44 special which is milder in recoil but, in my area, more expensive to buy . . . or maybe I just haven't looked hard enough.

Kinda makes you wonder about the stories you hear where the "burly man" once fired a .44 magnum and it kicked back and split his skull open . . . pure bunk.
 
Welcome to ''hand cannon city'' LOL.

Well ... .44 mag is gettin there - next you'll have to ''graduate'' to .454 and similar!! I keep thinking - time I designed a ''Hand Cannon'' Club logo !! :p

Everyone tells me I am ''compensating'' for something! :D
 
I still want a .480 Ruger. I know it's not as popular as the .454 but I don't care. It's one big, fat ass cartridge that packs big punch and has less recoil than the .454. :)

I would rather have it in a Redhawk than SRH, although a SRH in 5 1'2 to 6" would be work for me. Add a Marlin .480 Lever gun and you would have a great pair. ;)
 
happy old sailor,

I have a .41 OM Blackhawk, but I have gotten used to the whomp & stomp of the .44.

Latest problem is the ejector rod housing stud pulled loose from the barrel.

I really don't want the revised, lawyer approved, moron resistant, new clockwork installed in my smooth as glass Old Model Ruger. Therefore I am hesitant to send it back to the factory for repair. Maybe I could just send the frame & barrel?

RAZ
 
My best friend gave me a Model 29, 8 3/8 for my 50th birthday. Some friend, huh???

WWB was pretty stout...back of the trigger guard beat-up the back of my middle finger pretty good if I forgot to bear down on it. Going to replace the stock grips with Pachmeyer's and load my own down a smidgen.

Been shooting a Model 57 8 3/8 for 20 yrs and love it to death.

N frames are my first true love in handguns!!!
 
First time I ever pulled the trigger on a .44 Mag it was a 6.5" Colt Anaconda. Put about 100 rounds of WWB and about 100 rounds of the guy's handloads through it. Recoil, while definitely there, was not bad. To be honest, a little .380 pocket pistol I owned several years ago was much worse.
 
Rented a BFR .45-70gov and paid for ten rounds of 405gr @$$busters. I was the first guy to rent it, and it had been up on the shelf for two months. I drew a bit of a crowd behind the glass, seeing a crazy guy with that thing. I did momma proud and was putting them in the black, but the concussion and recoil was nothing to sniffle at(more like a big woosh that a huge bang). Slow fired the first five, reloaded and cut loose with the last five as fast as I could work the action on that monster. Had fun, itch was scratched, and I'll try not to do it again.
 
Everyone tells me I am ''compensating'' for something!
Click to expand...
Big bore, loooonnng barrel. Yep. All the signs are there. You seem to have plenty of company, though. :p
 
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