44. Magnum

M

michealolga

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Hi. I have a 13 year old son who loves guns. We both own Ruger Gp-100s and he was wondering if he could get a 44. magnum. He can shoot the hotter rounds with no difficulty.He's looking at the Taurus Raging Bull guns. Do you think it's too big of a gun for him? I'm not educated very well in these kind of things. Thanks!
 
It is difficult for anyone but you to answer that question. At 13, with .357 experience, probably! But hand size, grip strength, and other physical factors become important due to recoil.

I may be wrong, but I believe the Bull is ported. That will reduce recoil, but increases sound.

On second thought at age 70 I'm no physical beauty and I handle .44 Mags (unported) all of the time. I have a SW 629 and a SW 29-2, both excellent shooters. If there is a range available where he can try a .44 Mag, that would answer your question for you. :)

Regards
 
Good Advice here...........

Best advice I can give you is what has been said already. Go to a gun shop with a range and try one out.
My friends 15 year old daughter shoots my SW Model 629 with out any problems. So much for macho caliber... :D
Anyone that tries can shoot them in my opinion....its just that many do not find them fun. Like me.
I keep it for the great feeling it gives me when I am out camping in rural areas of Colorado where bears, coyotes, and mountain lions are not uncommon. :eek:
 
I think that the people who do not find shooting a 44 mag fun is the people who thnk that they have to shoot full power loads in them to be shooting the 44 mag and this couldn't be further from the truth. Even mediumish loads will suffice for 99% of wilderness SD encounters and be a whole lot more fun to shoot. If you don't put too hot of loads in it too soon, he'll actually like it and be able to get good with it. At the same time he'll have lots in reserve that he can grow into.

I'd look at the Ruger offerings before the Tauri.
 
Thanks guys I will have to take him somewhere to try one.Also has anyone seen Taxi Driver or Dirty Harry? I'd like to buy myself one of those guns from those two movies.I Know that the DH gun is a smith and wesson model 29 but I can't find it anywhere.Can anyone give me a link?
 
Dirty Harry .44

Smith doesn't make the model 29 anymore (except a nontraditional looking Performance Center gun) - so if you want a new in box one, it will take some luck to find one that is still on someone's shelf. Here's a link to a 6" half lug stainless model 629, a modern version of the "Dirty Harry" gun:
http://www.firearms.smith-wesson.com/store/index.php3?cat=293607&item=831415&sw_activeTab=1
163606_item.jpg


Clint with his .44:
dirty_harry_2.jpg

This will bring up all current S&W .44s:
http://www.firearms.smith-wesson.com/store/index.php3?cat=293607&sw_activeTab=1
 
Agreed...the best thing to do is let him TRY a 44 Magnum before you whip out the checkbook. In my experience, being able to handle a 357 Magnum is somewhat more of a challenge than a 44 is. The 44 absolutely does recoil more...but IMHO the muzzle blast of true 357 Magnum loads is harder to deal with than the recoil of the 44. Kind of reminds me of a friend of mine who was concerned about his son's flinching when firing a 30-06. He decided to get a 25-06 for his son because it recoiled less. What he didn't realize was that the 25-06 was actually louder! And his son's flinching got worse! I think your son can handle a 44 Magnum. It's just a matter of finding the right gun for him. A Ruger Super Redhawk digests hot loads quite well...and all things being equal will recoil less than 29s/629's will. Good luck to both of you!

Danny
 
Hi again one thing I failed to mention. When my son shoots 357. rounds he often complains about how much they hurt his hand. He describes it like he's falling on his hands. Thanks again for all your help!
 
Hmmm...if he's complaining that the .357 "hurts his hands", you will definitely not ease the problem by letting him handle a .44. At 13, he's growing like wildfire, and his bones, tendons and other "parts" are not settled into place. Frankly, I'd be a bit concerned that too much recoil at that age would induce problems further down the line, like when he's 45 and early arthritis or other ailments start to set in.

I don't have a problem with .357 or .44 recoil, even with the stiffer loads, but I didn't start shooting them until I was almost 30. I'm 53 now. The horse is out of the barn with the .357 as far as your son is concerned, but I think I might try to back him off a little for a few years, maybe switch him to .38's or 9mm's. Also, make sure that his grip is correct, and he's not trying to control the recoil with just one wrist and forearm. Just my 2 cents...
 
I'm reading Unintended Consequences and the average built hero at age ~13 is shooting a few hundred 44mags per session. Granted, the characters in that book tend to be rather high on the achievement scale, but the book's well researched when it comes to firearms.
 
Simplest progression is to a Ruger SuperRedhawk.
The GP-100 uses the same grip, only the gun/cartridge will be BIGGER.
Get a Hogue rubber or Pachmayr Decelerator grip ( whichever fits his hand better ) and he should 'grow' into the .44 with no change in operational characteristics for the guns.
Good Luck.
.44 is good stuff! :D
 
If he hurts after shooting a GP-100 then moving up to a .44 magnum will make things worst. Remember you are still dealing with a child and they are always in a hurry to do something. The .44 should be out of the question untill he can handle the GP-100.
I'm reading Unintended Consequences and the average built hero at age ~13 is shooting a few hundred 44mags per session.
Click to expand...
Hopefully you are joking by referring to a fiction novel. Unless they are downloads few grown men shoot a few hundred .44 magnums per session.
 
Today's .44 mag should be fine for an experienced shooter of any age.
Stick with factory 240 gr loads though.
They tend to run 25-~ 30% slower than they did in days gone by.
The big 3 - Rem/Win/Fed all load the 240 grain offerings to 1180 fps.

Classic "Keith" grade 240/250 grain loads used to push 1450/1500 fps.

Unless they are downloads few grown men shoot a few hundred .44 magnums per session.
Click to expand...
Probably due to cost more than anything else.
300 rounds of factory .44mag is about $300.
Even my handloads are in the neighborhood of $.25 each.
 
I don't think a Raging Bull is for a 13 year old...the gun is huge and it weighs over 50oz


anyways I'm getting one :) , but I'm not 13 ;) ...
 
Hi again. He wanted me to ask what the best gun he can get for around $500. Also he wants to know how the recoil is on the lighter rounds.


Thanks,
Michealolga
 
Seems to me that that a heavy gun shoting 44 specials could be the ticket. No need to explain the difference to the y'un now.

I don't claim to see the sense in, but another reason to buy a gun can't always be ignored.
 
The .44 Magnum is a great time. But I would not exactly classify it as a good plinking and target handgun unless you are putting some .44 Special or “lighter” loads through it. Of course some people like to fire it only to see if they can withstand the recoil. Kind of a waste of money, but some do it. Magnum ammo isn’t cheap by any means to go and waste. When I first began shooting my .44 Magnum I was shooting PMC Ammo 240 grain loads through it. My M629-1 6” has rosewood grips. Within 50 rounds I had a quarter-sized blister on the web of my hand between my thumb and index finger. It was simply too much recoil for a day of enjoyable range shooting. Switching to UMC 180 grain loads was like night & day. So the ammo has everything to do with it. So does firing with rubber grips versus wood.
 
Carbine is right regarding availability of the SW 29. However try the auctions at http://www.auctionarms.com and http://www.gunbroker.com. I bought this 29-2 about 6 weeks ago for $530.00 and it is worth every penny. I also have a SW 629MG and the action doesn't come close to my 29-2...Close your eyes and you'd swear you were cocking a Colt Python...
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Big bore love!!

SWEEEEEEEEEET heater, Bullrock!! I have a blue steel 4 inch 29 that was made in the 60's and I wouldn't part with it for love, money or juju!! :D
 
I think if he can handle a 357 even reasonably well, then he can start learning the 44. Just buy light loads for it.

The best gun (IMO) that he could get for 500 is either a good used S&W mdl 29 or variant, or a new Ruger Redhawk. We have both and its really preference.

44 mag is one the easiest rounds to handload for btw. It seems like almost any old concoction of powder & bullet works good has been my experiance. You can totally grab all the versatility of the 44M by handloading, and with cheap lead too. Make whatever loads you want to at a fraction of the cost of store bought. I've loaded 180's so light that there was zero muzzle rise (and still with a good gas seal!). They would NOT hurt his hand.
 
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