Does .44 Mag get any easier?
- Thread starter Pond James Pond
- Start date
Remington Ammo
I was at the range to day and picked up a box of Remington 44 mag 180 gr JSP ammo. I thought the lighter bullet may help recoil.
It did help very much with the recoil. I don't know why but it was much louder than any other ammo I have shot in this gun. If recoil is an issue for you try and get this ammo. I could shoot it all day.
Get the shooting gloves the other members have talked about. I got the Cabelo's shooting gloves http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clot...4792580&WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104001480 Not cheap but they really help.
I was at the range to day and picked up a box of Remington 44 mag 180 gr JSP ammo. I thought the lighter bullet may help recoil.
It did help very much with the recoil. I don't know why but it was much louder than any other ammo I have shot in this gun. If recoil is an issue for you try and get this ammo. I could shoot it all day.
Get the shooting gloves the other members have talked about. I got the Cabelo's shooting gloves http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clot...4792580&WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104001480 Not cheap but they really help.
Pond,
I'm glad you have adjusted your grip and are now enjoying the shooting more. Personally I still take a high on the gun grip with my Ruger Super Redhawk but I guess I'm a little more recoil resistant than others. I'm sure as I get older I'll grip the gun lower and let it roll more than I am now.
In any case keep the revolver you have and just practice with it. Load some lighter loads (bullets and powder) for less recoil while practicing and load heavier/hotter loads for bear defense.
Good luck.
I'm glad you have adjusted your grip and are now enjoying the shooting more. Personally I still take a high on the gun grip with my Ruger Super Redhawk but I guess I'm a little more recoil resistant than others. I'm sure as I get older I'll grip the gun lower and let it roll more than I am now.
In any case keep the revolver you have and just practice with it. Load some lighter loads (bullets and powder) for less recoil while practicing and load heavier/hotter loads for bear defense.
Good luck.
Pond James Pond
New member
Thanks for the pointers folks.
Blackhawks in Estonia? No, none. But to be honest I just like the idea of them in principle due to the fewer moving parts and lower weight, but I am happy with my RH. The only SA I've seen for sale here is a Vaquero.
I already have a pair of shooting gloves, luckily and they've already shown their worth when trying the new grip position.
For bears, I can get .430 310gr bullets from Midway Germany (assuming they ship to me), but I don't know if .430 is OK for a .44 barrel: need to reseach, and don't know how to slug a bore. Casting looks like fun, if a bit hazardous to my health!
Finally, regarding bears, it seems the local population, whilst big, are far more afraid of us they we of them (although I may come close to that!!), unless it is a mum with cubs.
By far the bigger risk are rutting male elks. They'll make an antler ornament out a passer-by in the blink of an eye and think nothing of it!!
Blackhawks in Estonia? No, none. But to be honest I just like the idea of them in principle due to the fewer moving parts and lower weight, but I am happy with my RH. The only SA I've seen for sale here is a Vaquero.
I already have a pair of shooting gloves, luckily and they've already shown their worth when trying the new grip position.
For bears, I can get .430 310gr bullets from Midway Germany (assuming they ship to me), but I don't know if .430 is OK for a .44 barrel: need to reseach, and don't know how to slug a bore. Casting looks like fun, if a bit hazardous to my health!
Finally, regarding bears, it seems the local population, whilst big, are far more afraid of us they we of them (although I may come close to that!!), unless it is a mum with cubs.
By far the bigger risk are rutting male elks. They'll make an antler ornament out a passer-by in the blink of an eye and think nothing of it!!
My arms also move about the same as the video posted by WebleyMark [?], while standing. The only significant difference I noticed in a quick once-over was that my right hand thumb tends to rest on top of my left-hand thumb, as they both point forward. This is probably a result of my use of my right-hand thumb on the safety of my 1911s. Is there any reason to switch to my left hand thumb over the right? I don't feel like developing completely different grips for every handgun I own. I want to try to be as uniform as possible.
James, I'm glad you are getting the gun to work for you. The .44mag is a fun load. I'd keep a .357mag over the .44mag if I could only have one, but I would be sad for decades after the sale.
I was thinking of revolvers and shooting techniques this weekend while I was [not] at the range. I got a .22lr revolver last summer and couldn't hit anything as precisely as I wanted to. It felt inaccurate. After close to 1000 rounds through it I finally started to allow it to 'roll' in my hand like a revolver, instead of treating it to the grip I used on my .22lr semi-auto, or my other semi-autos. My group sizes became consistent, closer to POA and smaller!
I just don't shoot the revolvers enough to remember the differences in grip unconsciously. I have to consciously think about it.
With the .44mag I just don't even try to treat it the same as a 9mm. I go with it instinctively. But you know something? A guy at the range let me shoot his .454 Casull Freedom Arms revolver and I decided to stick with the .44mag instead of 'man-ing up' to get something even more powerful. I can shoot a box of .44mag ammo but 12 rounds of .454 Casull was uncomfortable [like 75 rounds of .44mag for me].
BTW, for the comment on the lighter bullet. I have fired the 185grain .44mag bullets too, but usually they have a higher velocity. The 185 grain .44mag ammo I've found has always been listed as more powerful than the 'standard' .44mag ammo. So lighter may have less mass moving, but usually faster and louder.
I found my POI was off a couple inches with the 185 grain ammo and had to be adjusted. I don't know if that was mechanical accuracy or shooter-induced jump/flinch/climb/etc due to the extra power/volume. All I know is that the POI was different than with the standard 240 grain .44mag ammo I normally us.
James, I'm glad you are getting the gun to work for you. The .44mag is a fun load. I'd keep a .357mag over the .44mag if I could only have one, but I would be sad for decades after the sale.
I was thinking of revolvers and shooting techniques this weekend while I was [not] at the range. I got a .22lr revolver last summer and couldn't hit anything as precisely as I wanted to. It felt inaccurate. After close to 1000 rounds through it I finally started to allow it to 'roll' in my hand like a revolver, instead of treating it to the grip I used on my .22lr semi-auto, or my other semi-autos. My group sizes became consistent, closer to POA and smaller!
I just don't shoot the revolvers enough to remember the differences in grip unconsciously. I have to consciously think about it.
With the .44mag I just don't even try to treat it the same as a 9mm. I go with it instinctively. But you know something? A guy at the range let me shoot his .454 Casull Freedom Arms revolver and I decided to stick with the .44mag instead of 'man-ing up' to get something even more powerful. I can shoot a box of .44mag ammo but 12 rounds of .454 Casull was uncomfortable [like 75 rounds of .44mag for me].
BTW, for the comment on the lighter bullet. I have fired the 185grain .44mag bullets too, but usually they have a higher velocity. The 185 grain .44mag ammo I've found has always been listed as more powerful than the 'standard' .44mag ammo. So lighter may have less mass moving, but usually faster and louder.
I found my POI was off a couple inches with the 185 grain ammo and had to be adjusted. I don't know if that was mechanical accuracy or shooter-induced jump/flinch/climb/etc due to the extra power/volume. All I know is that the POI was different than with the standard 240 grain .44mag ammo I normally us.
.430 diameter bullets should work well. The .44 magnum is not really a .44 caliber gun, neither is the .44 Special. .430 bullets were intended to be used in .44 magnums.
The .44 magnum should have been named the .429 Magnum but I suppose that the people who invented it thought that .44 Magnum sounded better.
.44 Magnum barrels can fairly commonly run anywhere from .429-.432", so .430" isn't a bad choice for cast bullets (you typically want 1-2 thousands larger in cast bullets than jacketed). In my experience, Ruger .44 barrels tend to be a touch looser than S&W, so you're probably going to want at least .430" bullets if no .431" or .432" (I learned this the hard way after leading the bejeezus out of a Redhawk barrel with .429 cast bullets).
Also, while 310gr or heavier bullets will certainly do the job on big, toothy animals, I kind of question the need. A good hardcast SWC in the 240-260gr range loaded over a nice healthy charge of whatever powder you like and/or have available will penetrate very well, recoil less, and require little or no adjustment of your sights.
Also, while 310gr or heavier bullets will certainly do the job on big, toothy animals, I kind of question the need. A good hardcast SWC in the 240-260gr range loaded over a nice healthy charge of whatever powder you like and/or have available will penetrate very well, recoil less, and require little or no adjustment of your sights.
A 250gr SWC at 1400fps (not all that difficult to do in a .44 Magnum, particularly a Ruger) has only slightly less momentum than a 170gr .30-30 at 2200fps (50 vs. 53). Also, bullet shape has as much to do with propensity to ricochet as weight and momentum do. Round-nose bullets seem to be the worst about ricochets while those with flatter noses like wadcutters and SWC's seem to be much less likely to 'glance off.'
Given the above, a good, stout 240-260gr SWC .44 Magnum loading should have much trouble making it through the skulls of anything but the very largest animals.
Edward429451
Moderator
I gave an Elk a finishing shot in the forhead once with a 300 gr Keith boolit @ 1400 fps.
it was memorable and (IMO) quite apparent that I could have had the 245 Keith and been just as good.
it was memorable and (IMO) quite apparent that I could have had the 245 Keith and been just as good.Pond James Pond
New member
One final update!!
Well, today, I shot my Redhawk once more, but this time with the new grips: a set of Butler Creek rubber grips for the Redhawk.
I got them from Numrich who wouldn't mail them to Estonia (EU member state) but would send them to the UK (where handguns are, by and large, illegal)
Not Numrich's fault: it is USPS policy: apparently Estonia is a den of iniquity...
They cost me $14, but had to pay an additional $22 because it was a non-US order....
All the same, they still cost me less than I would have paid here.
Anyway, these had been recommended to me, and I can see why.
For only $14 state-side you get really comfy grips: not too firm, not too soft, with a fully encased backstrap, subtely checked palm contact area, and a slimmer overall width, making them also easier to hold one- or two-handed (I have average palms, but slightly short fingers).
Nor are the contours and finger grooves overly pronounced.
Definitely a good investment.
To cut a longer story shorter, I fire 50 .44 Mags today. The most I had fired before was 25 and I had felt it for days!!
Prior to this thread and implementing its advice I had only really gone through a dozen before thinking "OK! I want to switch to the 9!!"
However, today, I switched to the 9 because I had run out of ammo, not out of patience or nerve-endings!!
If reloading works out for me, I can see this revolver becoming my favourite gun to shoot. That is pretty amazing when I think I was close to selling it.
All that from a change in technique!!
(I was shooting next to a squad of policemen in training today: I got quite a few glances: big-bore revolvers are quite rare here.... Then they saw my groups: at 25m, I can hit the paper, but that is about it: more practice and sight adjustment needed: they were all flying to the left! Now where is that Lee press?!)
Well, today, I shot my Redhawk once more, but this time with the new grips: a set of Butler Creek rubber grips for the Redhawk.
I got them from Numrich who wouldn't mail them to Estonia (EU member state) but would send them to the UK (where handguns are, by and large, illegal)
Not Numrich's fault: it is USPS policy: apparently Estonia is a den of iniquity...They cost me $14, but had to pay an additional $22 because it was a non-US order....
All the same, they still cost me less than I would have paid here.
Anyway, these had been recommended to me, and I can see why.
For only $14 state-side you get really comfy grips: not too firm, not too soft, with a fully encased backstrap, subtely checked palm contact area, and a slimmer overall width, making them also easier to hold one- or two-handed (I have average palms, but slightly short fingers).
Nor are the contours and finger grooves overly pronounced.
Definitely a good investment.
To cut a longer story shorter, I fire 50 .44 Mags today. The most I had fired before was 25 and I had felt it for days!!
Prior to this thread and implementing its advice I had only really gone through a dozen before thinking "OK! I want to switch to the 9!!"
However, today, I switched to the 9 because I had run out of ammo, not out of patience or nerve-endings!!
If reloading works out for me, I can see this revolver becoming my favourite gun to shoot. That is pretty amazing when I think I was close to selling it.
All that from a change in technique!!
(I was shooting next to a squad of policemen in training today: I got quite a few glances: big-bore revolvers are quite rare here.... Then they saw my groups:
at 25m, I can hit the paper, but that is about it: more practice and sight adjustment needed: they were all flying to the left! Now where is that Lee press?!)Shooting about any of the magnum handguns for a lot of people is a acquired taste . Not a lot of people enjoy it. Think of it like someone who sits on the couch drinking beer and watching ESPN for years then decides to get in shape one day and goes for a 1 mile jog he ant gona like it!! Same thing with shooting low recoil hand guns then jumping to a magnum.
I have been shooting the 44mag for around 35 years. Still remember the first time I pulled the trigger it about came out of my hand. Had to have one! That got me started in another great hobby reloading. Then that took me to casting. Both made shooting cheap enough to do a lot of it. (like training for that jog) Now I have three 44s and only shoot magnum loads. Hang in there I think you gona get hooked !!
I have been shooting the 44mag for around 35 years. Still remember the first time I pulled the trigger it about came out of my hand. Had to have one! That got me started in another great hobby reloading. Then that took me to casting. Both made shooting cheap enough to do a lot of it. (like training for that jog) Now I have three 44s and only shoot magnum loads. Hang in there I think you gona get hooked !!
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Pond James Pond
New member
I'd forgotten about that diagram.
Whilst the recoil is no longer intimidating, I sure some of those could do with some work.
And there I was thinking it was the sights being mal-adjusted... a bad workman always blames his tools: shame on me!!
The "spray" of 240gr bullets was in a wedge between7 o'clock and 11 o'clock. Some in the black, but most not....
So some of those may well do with closer examination. BTW, what is "follow-through" in the top left quadrant?
I did notice that the barrel was not very steady and I'm much more accurate with my Glock, so perhaps it is also down to muscle stamina, keeping that big lump of metal steady at arms' length: motorbikes and inattentive drivers make for large medical files in the orthopaedic department...
Ok Pond James Pond take a look at this. http://www.shootingwiki.org/index.php?title=Pistol_Fundamentals It will explain follow through plus some other good pointers. Sorry took so long to get back but just spent 3 days with no pewter & no phone just beer and food and the dog Yee-Haaa !! Wouldn’t take much for me to be a hermit..
Pond James Pond
New member
Thanks for the great link. I'll be poring over that over the next couple of days!!
As for the delay: quite understandable.
I very much enjoying stuffing two perky dogs in the sidecar, loading the panniers and disappearing into the forest for a few days away from the throng!!