Compare Recoil of .44 spc to .44 Russian to .44 magnum?

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dentodoc

New member
I have never shot a .44 special or a .44 magnum. I would like for someone to give me an idea as to the difference in perceived recoil with the .44 special as compared to the .44 magnum. How is the perceived recoil difference in say a 3 inch barrelled handgun? I have shot a .357 numerous times from a 3 inch S & W model 65 with different bullet weights, as well as .38 specials +p.
I guess I'm looking to check out a 3 inch S & W in .44 magnum caliber, but only seriously shoot .44 specials from it. Advice, please! What about .44 Russian caliber recoil, cost, and availability compared to .44 special and .44 magnum rounds?
 
Hi Dentodoc,
Don't know about the .44 Russian but difference between .44 Spc and .44 Mag is night and day! Shooting .44 Spc is like shooting a super light .38 wadcutter target load in a heavy .357 revolver. There is very little recoil. Shooting full power .44 Mags will get your attention instantly! Lest you think I don't like or shoot .44 Mags, that is my favorite gun. I have four S&W M629's and shoot them regularly. My full power load is 250 gr cast bullet at 1400+ fps and field load is 210 gr cast bullet at 1100 fps. Bought some .44 Spc for my wife to use in house gun because they have way less recoil than my field loads.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
A lot of it is going to depend on how hotly loaded the .44 Magnum is.

Recoil levels can go from "that's peppy" to "HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF _*(&^%()*&^)(&*$#()*&^)(&%()*&$%()*&^()*&$#()^()*&$!!"

.44 Special and .44 Russian, as originally loaded, have virtually identical ballistics, so recoil is going to be similar.
 
I'm with LHB1: The difference between the Special and Mag are night and day. I can shoot Specials until I'm sick of being at the range, but after 50 Mags I'm done. I will say, however, that I can find .44 Mag ammo much cheaper than .44 special ammo. I have posted this question before, but if anyone has a good lead on .44 special bulk ammo, then please share.
 
I'd suggest that you buy a box of ammo for each, and then find a shooting buddy with a 4" S&W Mountain Gun. Tell him you'll give him the left-overs if he'll let you shoot a couple of cylinders of each load through his revolver.

Then you'll know first-hand, and you won't have to ask for subjective opinions.
 
As an admitted short barreled S&W M29-629 fan, I can tell you from experience that the heavy .44mag loads are no fun to shoot after 100 rounds or so. I can't tell you about the .44 Russian, but .44spl velocity stuff (200gr @ 800-900fps) is a pussy cat out of these guns. Even the +P defense stuff isn't bad. Recoil levels are dramtically increased with the magnum rounds as is muzzle flip on an unported short barreled gun. Get the shorty .44, shoot the hell out of it with .44spl (or reduced velocity .44mag handloads) and enjoy. Break out the full house stuff when you want to scare your shooting buddies or make a scene at the indoor range.
 
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