New 44 magnum Owner Questions

Just reload 240 gr lead SWC slugs at 900 fps for most of your shooting.

That is what I do. DPX 225 gr stuff for deer and hogs, and lead reloads for practice.

Deaf
 
Deaf, doesn't the recoil and POI differences between those two loads make it hard for you to switch back and forth accurately?
 
For the average handgunner, even when hunting for deer, standard velocity, readily available anywhere, factory ammo in a .44 mag is all one will ever need. The likelihood anyone really needs that $2 a pop boutique super fast/magic bullet ammo, is pretty small.
 
At one time, the most common .44 Mag to see on a dealer's shelf was a virtually new S&W along with a box of ammo with 44 live rounds and 6 empties.

Congratulations, and good luck! You are in what is almost a "perfect storm". First revolver, .44 Mag, and Taurus. You have jumped into the deep end of the pool, the learning curve is steep. Many people find it simply too steep, and lose interest.

Recoil of "full house" .44Mag in lighter guns (including the original S&W M29) ranges from brutal to physically painful for most people. The stock grips on the S&W (and similar DA revolvers) actually increases the effect for many people. Sharply checkered grips can tear the skin from your hands.

There are roughly 3 levels of load for the .44 Mag. .44 Special (very pleasant to shoot), "midrange" loads (Silvertips, etc, which are still comfortable to shoot) and "full house" loads which for most people are outside the "pleasant and comfortable to shoot" zone.

Net reports of Taurus products seem to be in one of two categories. Either they are a decent gun for the price and work well, OR they have a problem that requires multiple trips back to the factory, seemingly endless hassles, and sometimes doesn't get fixed at all. Seems to be a coin toss which kind the gun you get in your hands will turn out to be. Good Luck.
 
44_AMP said:
Recoil of "full house" .44Mag in lighter guns (including the original S&W M29) ranges from brutal to physically painful for most people.
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After I replaced the stock grips on my S&W69 L-Frame .44mag (about 37oz empty) with the "#500 recoil-absorbing" grips, I've found the full-spec .44mag loads (DoubleTap and Underwood) to be acceptable in recoil ... certainly not nearly as bad as mid-range .357mags (Federal 158gr "Hi-Shoks") in my 11oz S&W360sc ... THAT'S pain! I DO use a fairly low grip-hold, with fairly relaxed (un-rigid) hands and joints, and that might lessen the perceived recoil (at the expense of muzzle-rise, which is acceptable to me).
 
Deaf, doesn't the recoil and POI differences between those two loads make it hard for you to switch back and forth accurately?
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Doyle,

Not really. My POI is set for the 225 DPX. The 240s are so close I use a slight hold 'down' with the SWC stuff.

The DPX 225s are not full magnum (at least they don't kick like fully loaded 240s.)

Deaf
 
first make sure you have the back strap covered with a rubber grip, you will appreciate that tid bit of info.

I took my 629 MG 4" out yesterday.... all the .44 spl loads I shot were made to order for this gun... they were 240gr. hand loads ranging from 850 to 950~ fps (had two different loadings). this gun is a 4" pencil type bbl with a half under lug.

the magnums, well the 180gr. Remington jsp really rip out of the gun, lots of percussion but manageable recoil. the wwb 240gr. were slower but noticeably more recoil. I have a stock S&W grip that looks identical to the Hogue grip that does not cover the back strap. it looks nice but sucks for magnum shooting.

a mid-powered magnum or amped up special load is perfect for this gun, full house magnums are easily do'able if you have the right grip, which I do not; that will be remedied soon enough.

I imagine a 6" bbl with a full under lug reduces the recoil considerably.
 
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here are my .44 special loads.

240gr.SWC on top of 4.7 gr. trap 100. this is my 3" Charter Arms bulldog load averages about 750 fps from the 3" bulldog bbl. from what I could remember.

240gr.SWC on top of 6.4 gr. unique. averages a little over 800 fps from the 3" bulldog bbl from what I could remember but I do remember this is a bit much for me from the bulldog but perfect in my MG.

out of a 4" MG I imagine they clip along at close to another 100 fps.
 
those that say the taurus model 44 cant handle hot loads do not know anything about the gun. I had one it was a great gun it handled lots of my hot loads, 21.5 grains of 2400 pushing a 240 jhp. quite a hand stinger no doubt. in a moment of weakness a friend talked me into selling it. I regreted that move for a while. but I now have both a redhawk and a blackhawk in 44 mag, and wont be selling them. go enjoy that model 44 they are great guns. and I'm not a taurus fanboy, had several bad ones and wont ever buy another. but as said the model 44 was a good one.
 
If my math is right, I'm loading 50 rounds for about $2.50, that's $20.00 for a pound of Unique and $30.00 for a 1,000 primers. I cast bullets from free tire weights and have brass I've picked up or saved from factory stuff I used to shoot. That's $50.00 for a 1,000 rounds. I like a 240 grn SWC and 7 grns of unique. That load has a very mild recoil no leading and is accurate enough for plinking. Magnum loads cost more. I use the same bullet and 23 grns of IMR4227.
 
I bought a S&W Model 29 44 mag several years back I don't think shot a box of mag thru it. I shot quite a bit of 44 special If I was hunting I use the mag but other wise I see no need.

I got a 44 spl on my hip Old Charter Arms bulldog . I think 44 special will work for my SD needs.
 
First Revolver and a 44 mag to boot.

Having a 44 mag revolver as a first revolver is a receipe for developing a flinch. Just decide that you WILL learn to shoot it and keep at it.

But try to go easy on yourself and be determined to shoot the revolver well. Just keep shooting and don't shoot to the point that you are fatiqued as you are mostly just making a lot of noise at that point.

Shoot at about 10 to 15 yds until you get comfortable and then go out a bit further. I like to be able to see my holes without walking up to the target.

I would suggest that you look to GA Arms for their factory ammunition when it is available. They have their cowboy loads that are around 850fps as I recall. In 41 mag, I find them a bit too wimpy. I mean, why shoot a 44 (or a 41 mag) unless they are at least moderately powerful? The sweet spot between power and abuse in the 41 mag are loads around 950-1100 fps for me. My guess is that the 44 mag will be similar.

I wouldn't even bother with Buffalo Bore type loads unless you have a specific reason for doing so beyond just trying them out. Which I suspect you will eventually do for the experience if nothing else.

Wear a glove if you find the loads a little much.

Save your brass. You will eventually reload if you shoot much.
 
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I bought an S&W 29-4 like new in box for $200 in 1997 without even picking it up, because it was worth twice that.

Then I was a 44 mag owner, so I went to the range and bought an expensive box of ammo.

I got both hands and both feet in position, ready for huge recoil, and got 22 rimfire recoil.

So I went back and complained and they sold me ANOTHER EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE box of 44 mag ammo.

I got both hands..... 22 rimfire recoil again.

Time to start handloading 44 mag.
240 gr JHP 24 gr H110 and I got Goldilocks recoil.

In 1999 I bought a Ruger 44 semi auto carbine for $180, because it was worth twice that.
The same loads worked perfectly.
Then I shot some 300 grain cast that Leaded up the muzzle and it peeled back like a banana.
I put a 444 Marlin barrel on it by cutting off the rear of the chamber, drilling a gas hole and welding on a gas block.
I am only going to shoot 240 gr JHP 24 gr H110 in that rifle now.

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I have a Taurus M44, a Smith 29-2 and a Super Redhawk. Full house loads can be punishing in the Taurus, and a bit less so in the Smith but with more muzzle flip since it is not ported. The full magnum loads are comfortable with the SRH, which is Magna-Ported; that's the only 44 I own that I would shoot any number of full house loads with and not start wincing after a dozen or two. That said, I load 44 special regularly, or I light load with 44 mag cases to a level in between special and magnum. An Xtreme 240 plated RNFP over 5.5 grains of Clays/Clay Dot is a very nice load, and very accurate. About $.12 per bullet, less than $.02 per load of powder and $.03 per primer means about $8.50 a box of reloaded cartridges. Not sure how long the cases will last, but they have been reloaded a couple of times and I haven't had one split yet.
 
44 magnum

first i dont reload. but have been reading about powder coat. have any of you tried it with this round. seems like it ups the muzzle velocity quite a bit without leading the barrel on other rounds?
 
If you want to shoot a lot very cheaply, shoot lead cast bullets. You can cast your own, as I have and will do more of, or you can buy it in bulk boxes at a very low cost. 500 bullets run you around $60 from the right vendors. Casting your own is fun but, by the time you factor in your time, it isn't a whole lot cheaper than buying lead bullets already casted, unless you are getting your lead for free. If you buy a couple hundred brass, expect $55 in that. A case of Magnum Large Pistol primers is $35. A pound of powder will run you $25-$30. It will load about 320-350 rounds. So you have spent basically $20 for the first hundred rounds minus the brass cost. Don't figure it in the initial cost as it will be used over, and over, and over, and over, etc... But, by the time you reload those brass over and over you will very easily get that cost down to $8-$10 per hundred counting the brass cost.

So, it is not just cheaper but, loads cheaper. Plus, you can load that stuff the way you want. Light plinking loads or heavy hammer heads. The 44 mag is a great cartridge to load for and one that is really only affordable to shoot if you load for it. Don't anticipate buying it to shoot this caliber. It is hard to find at times and very, very expensive when you do. There is zero reason to own a firearm of any center fire cartridge and not reload for it for lots of reasons. The 44 takes the top of the list as it is a very powerful, expensive caliber to shoot. And, a lot of people have them. So, roll your own and shoot as much as you want very cheaply. You have to deprecate the cost of that brass over the life of the brass to really get a true estimate of how much more affordable reloading really is. And you will always have boolits too. :) Good luck. it is fun and, you will enjoy it. God Bless
 
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