Pros and Cons of shooting next to the guys with a .44 mag

S

sigcurious

New member
I was at the range today, some guys at the counter were discussing what to rent, and they decided on a .44mag. 'Lo and behold! They ended up in the lane next to me.

Pro: Made me really really focus on not flinching

Con: It's really really hard to not flinch when that thing goes off in the next lane! Even if they shot a couple seconds before my shot I would flinch my shot.

Only issues I've had with flinching before was my first time shooting a .45 thinking it was going to recoil way more than it actually did, fixed that pretty quick. But the blast from the .44mag in the next lane I couldn't really over come.

Any tips on ignoring/getting used to people shooting the big stuff next to you?
 
Yeah, start "accidentally" shooting their target. They'll get so nervous that they'll move. :D
No, really though, it's good practice to shoot next to a big boomer, although not much fun.
 
For ordinary handguns the 30 carbine and 32 magnum muzzle blast is far more disturbing than a 44 mag. Handguns shooting rifle cartridges are even worse. and of course any of these with a muzzle brake make for a fun session !!
 
I usually move if possible. The 5.7 is another loud handgun that makes me a little edgy, but the worst was when I had to qualify for my CCL next to a guy shooting a 4" 500 S&W. My instructor understood why I backed off the firing line a bit to reload, and then waited for him to reload before I rattled off the 8 out of my .357. If you want to get used to that, get a buddy with a big rifle, go shooting at long range, and sit next to him and spot for him.
 
I really like shooting the five seven though! :D (wish I owned one) Although I've never been next to one being shot, from behind the trigger at an indoor range it definitely seems the muzzleflash is as big as some of the larger magnum calibers.

Definitely need to get outdoors soon, but Im not even sure where to shoot outdoors in my new location, much less have shooting buddies yet.

I would move, but I figure with only 16 lanes and it being indoors, better to adapt to being close to the big guns than try and move all the time. Even with plugs and muffs people at the other end with big things are loud, but I've never been so close as to feel the concussive force from the blast.
 
This happened to me a month ago.

It threw off my shooting so I waited for him to reload.

Something else that happened, the target carrier stops about 6" in front of the line. If you are firing with your arms extended, the pistol ends up about 6 or so inches in front of the line also.

I was reaching for my target when he shot off a round, I was about 3 feet away - 3 feet directly to the left of his pistol and it stung my hand. I didn't have any marks on my hand but I felt the blast.

I'm not sure if that was coming from the space between the cylinder and the forcing cone or coming laterally from the muzzle blast out of the barrel. But it did sting for a second.
 
I also thought "I'm glad most of the bad guys carry crap guns like Davis and Raven in 25-32 caliber because I never wanna get shot with a f-ing 44 magnum!
 
It is hard for me to get over the muzzle blast too. I just use it as a focusing drill on overcoming the flinch. Almost impossible, but I try hard.

Or, I pull out the other gun case and join him with my PowerPorted 629!:D
 
Everytime I go a range i still flinch (more like a jump) from the person next to me, sometimes it's a bit embarassing but most times I think its exhilarating. When I am scared I do it batman style and shoot my 4in 29-2 single handed. If youre afraid of bats go live with bats
 
I'll agree that shooting next to a .44mag is good practice if it makes you aware of your flinch - my bet is that whether you know it or not, you're probably flinching a bit when shooting your gun, whether alone or net to a thunderboomer, so it'd be a good thing for your own shooting to get over it.

To get over it?

Your experience shows you that people flinch more to muzzle blast than actual recoil. Recoil may be heavy, and in some cases, uncomfortable, but muzzle blast (assuming proper ear protection) won't hurt you, yet it's what we most often flinch from. Interesting, no? It says the flinch is coming from the subconscious, which believes muzzle blast will hurt, and it's the subconscious mind that really underlies performance.

First, as silly as it sounds, know you're at a shooting range, you're going to hear muzzle blast, and it won't hurt you. Your conscious mind may know that, but your subconscious doesn't. Try to be as physically relaxed as you can while at the range, focus on your shooting, and not anyone else's.

Second, your subconscious is worried about recoil & muzzle blast because you're (i.e. your conscious mind is) griping & typing about the guy with the .44mag next to you, so your subconscious agrees. Your subconscious mind doesn't do "don'ts" - it only does "dos", and your conscious mind is telling it to worry about the guy next to you. As Lanny Bassham describes, think of your conscious mind as a periscope on a submarine and your subconscious as the engine which powers the sub to what it sees through the periscope.

Third - maybe rent a .44mag yourself? Forget about nice tight groups - just relax, aim downrange, relax, focus on the front sight and pull the trigger smoothly without flinching. And did I mention relax? Enjoy the experience, and let your subconsciousness realize there's nothing that's going to hurt. It's not a bad drill to do with your own gun, btw.
 
Find a new place to shoot where you're not jammed up against other people. Preferably outside. Indoor ranges will cause damage to your ears and your lungs. I will never shoot on an indoor range again after seeing some of the crap that happens there.
 
Instead of just renting the 44 magnum...

If I knew when people were going to break into my house - I'd rent the guy with his 44 magnum to wait in my living room and I'd go to bed with my double hearing protection.

:) zzzzZZZZ
 
I shoot a .44mag at the indoor range. It definitely gets noticed by people. However, I try to show some courtesy and shoot it with the next lane vacant or between other people's reloading and whatnot.
 
Also, I like to breakout the Redhawk when is somebody is bragging about their "powerful .45 and blah, blah, blah." The .45acp is a GREAT cartridge (arguably the best ever) for it intended purpose BUT it's definitely not going to do any of the silly stories you hear about it.
 
If I'm flinching without big things going off next to me it's so minor it doesn't effect my groups/POI more than my inexperience, 1 inch groups on good days, 2 inch groups on average days at 7 yards, not great but I figure small enough if Im shooting those without fliers, I'd notice a flinch. In comparison the flinching from the .44mag was causing me to throw my shots a good foot down and to the left on my target, hits on the hip area when aiming at the COM on the silhouette. I do think that renting the .44mag would be a good idea though, get some more exposure to it on my terms vs the guy next to me blasting away with it.

@Drail unfortunately shooting outdoors on a regular basis is not an option where I live, just to get out of the city/burbs would take over an hour, if there's no traffic at all. Times like this I miss living in Nevada.
 
Count your blessings.

My friend and I shoot at an outdoor range with covered firing line.

When he shoots next to me, I get his 22 rimfire brass all over my tabletop, gun case, etc. When he shoots his 45 ACP it shows up in my 22 groups, so I try to put my shots between his.

Once, after a good snowfall, I and several other shooters got the roof snow dumped on us by the concussion of his 4" S&W 500.

Adjust your shooting, your expectations and count your blessings. We live where we can gather and shoot liberally and sociably.

Lost Sheep
 
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