Hardest handgun to shoot well?

The closest to this level of self abuse I've ever come was .357Sig through a subcompact Glock.

What?!:eek::confused:

My G33 is down-right mild with Speer Gold Dot factory ammo. I've loaded some pretty stout loads and the recoil still doesn't compare to even mid-range 357mag and 44mag loads in full sized guns.
 
1. My friend's snub firing .357s.
2. My other friend's Ruger Blackhawk .44 magnum firing full power loads.
3. My S & W Model 27 firing 125 gr. .357s while wearing the original target grips.
 
I sold my Ruger SP101 because it was very difficult for me to shoot accurately. I now just have one revolver left, an old J-frame and it is definitely the worst shooter I have.
 
Any gun that doesn't fit you well will be very difficult to shoot well. A former co-worker's Glock 23 was downright miserable for me to shoot, the bottom of the trigger guard painfully whacked my middle knuckle with each shot. I also once owned a Taurus 445 snub in .44 Special. The combination of the small grips and hellacious muzzle flip of a 200+grn bullet from a 2" barrel made the gun very difficult to shoot well (the DAO trigger didn't help either). My S&W M21 was also difficult to shoot even with mild factory ammo until I replaced the factory grips with a set of Houges.
 
Nagant revolver, seven DA shots, reload, seven more. Elapsed time: 2hrs;):D;)


They're not bad as something funky to put holes in paper with though. Virtually no recoil, accurate (SA), and the many "What the?" looks I get from some of my not so gun savvy friends.
 
Shoot a .454 Casul Ruger Alaskan....

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years ago my friend bought a Thomson Center Contender with a 45-70 barrel just because he wanted the largest caliber handgun he could find. After three shots he was finished, I only lasted one shot. We both missed our target and were missing skin on our thumbs.

I recently loaded up some 300 gr. hot loads for my .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk. Well, I discovered that I am too old for that and am now back to the old 255 grain lead bullet going about 800 fps.
 
S&W Scandium framed 13 oz .357 with full power loads. As I once read, shooting one is akin to "opening the door of your late 60's Oldsmobile, putting your hand in the door frame, and slamming the door. Then do it again."
Having owned three Scandium .357s and a '68 Olds 98 convertible, I have done the former repeatedly (but not the latter). I find the description fairly accurate. About four years down the road, my wrist still hurts. I no longer own one. Imagine that. :)
 
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S&W Scandium framed 13 oz .357 with full power loads AKA 386

I still have mine and use it for back packing.

Not bad it you put the 500mag grips on it. I still don't shoot more then 7 rounds of 357 at a time with it.


Doug
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Bad guns

My S&W model 629-9 44 mag 8 3/8 inch barrel stomps me. I have small hands and can't shoot more than ten times or so with it accurately. I also have a Smith 38 special snub nose air weight...can't remember the model off hand but it has these tiny grips on it and even when I put rubber grips on it it will still tear the meat off between my thumb and pointing finger. Heck my Ruger security six 357 doesn't kick anything like these other two pistols but it does fit my hand well.
 
It seems the consensus is centered around snubbie revolvers with magnum loads. I couldn't agree more.

My most painful box of ammo was 357 magnum out of a snubbie. I also happen to have an S&W 500 -- but with a 10.5" barrel, and that is downright pleasant by comparison.

The only thing difficult with the S&W 500 in 8+ inch barrels is how heavy it is. Your wrist and arms will get tired from holding the gun out at arm's length long before the palms of your hands get tired from the recoil. That and/or your ears may be begging you to stop. Even with 350gr loads (that's on the low end for the S&W 500), the noise is a bit much if you are at an indoor range.
 
(1) would be a S&W 340 PD with anything approaching 357 loads. Even 38spl +P is brutal.

(2) would be a S&W 329PD with full-house 44 magnum loads.

(3) is a Kahr P45 with 230 grain Hydrashoks

I was surprised the 44 would be easier to shoot than the 38, but the mass of the gun and the surface area of the grips makes a big difference.
 
C-96 BroomHandle Mauser.

Funky ergonomics and tiny sights make it a challenge to shoot well. With the shoulder stock attached, it's quite a bit better, but then, it's not really a handgun anymore, is it?:confused:

Andy
 
My 360 PD with 158grain 357s packs a punch. I carry it daily but in a trip to the range only fire about 25 round and my fun is over.
 
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