I picked up a Taurus M44 .44 mag in stainless steel last weekend. The price was right (a bit over $300 NIB). It has a 3" barrel, so it is definitely a snubbie to me.
Feels okay in the hand, though after 50 rounds the space between my thumb and first finger was starting to get sore. It is not ported. But I have grown used to shooting my compact .45 ACP, so recoil only seemed a bit more brisk and "stiff" to me. I was amazed that it didn't kick more.
This is my first .44 mag. It fit my requirements because it is short and powerful (and cheap). I needed small revolver in the minimum caliber for griz for backpacking. I could not find any pre-agreement (or post-agreement for that matter) S&W .44 mag with a barrel short enough. I would have been okay with a 4" barrel, but no larger.
Anyways... though my experience is limited, I believe Taurus to be a decent gun for the money. So, after all these disclaimers (yes a Taurus is good enough for me, yes I am comfortable with a short-barreled .44 mag as a backup to my can of pepper spray, etc...) here are my questions:
1)Any advice or technique on improving accuracy with this gun (in addition to putting thousands of rounds through it)?
2)Until I begin to reload (soon I hope), any advice on the best factory loads to buy for use against bear?
And I'm sure I'll have more as time goes on. Thanks a bunch...
Feels okay in the hand, though after 50 rounds the space between my thumb and first finger was starting to get sore. It is not ported. But I have grown used to shooting my compact .45 ACP, so recoil only seemed a bit more brisk and "stiff" to me. I was amazed that it didn't kick more.
This is my first .44 mag. It fit my requirements because it is short and powerful (and cheap). I needed small revolver in the minimum caliber for griz for backpacking. I could not find any pre-agreement (or post-agreement for that matter) S&W .44 mag with a barrel short enough. I would have been okay with a 4" barrel, but no larger.
Anyways... though my experience is limited, I believe Taurus to be a decent gun for the money. So, after all these disclaimers (yes a Taurus is good enough for me, yes I am comfortable with a short-barreled .44 mag as a backup to my can of pepper spray, etc...) here are my questions:
1)Any advice or technique on improving accuracy with this gun (in addition to putting thousands of rounds through it)?
2)Until I begin to reload (soon I hope), any advice on the best factory loads to buy for use against bear?
And I'm sure I'll have more as time goes on. Thanks a bunch...