Recoil Expectations

[Phil3]

I own a 9mm CZ 75 SA semi-auto, have shot a 45 ACP semi, as well as 38 Special and 357 Mags in a 4" Ruger GP100, but never anything more powerful. I have been looking for a big bore revolver, and am trying to get an idea of recoil on these vs what I have shot. None of the above weapons were bothersome to me, the only one that kicked a bit being the 357 Mag followed by the 45 ACP.

How might recoil in a 357 Mag w/4" barrel, compare to a 53 oz. Ruger Super Redhawk 7-1/2" barrel, shooting moderate load 44 Mags? Or the 48 oz S&W 629 w/6" barrel? I would expect 44 Specials out of that gun to be pretty tame.

I may shoot 100 - 200 rounds at a time, so this can not be something I shoot a few dozen rounds and park due to my hand hurting.

- Phil

[TheBundo]

44 mag isn't all that bad, and in fact, never was the "most powerful handgun on earth". Shooting a 454, 460, 480, or 500 is a major leap from a 44 in pain

[leelaw]

.44mag on either of the above described revolvers won't be terrible at all.

[22popnsplat]

Recoil is very subjective , what is feirce for some is pretty tame to others . Different gripframe shapes transfer the felt recoil in different ways . My personal favorites are the freedom arms and the ruger bisley for the heavy loads .

[Twinspool]

It took me a few hundred rounds to get really comfortable with my S&W 629. I had only shot a Single six, model 19 and a Glock 22 previously.

Once I was pretty dang good with the .44 mag, I couldn't resist and got one of THESE I LOVE it.

You may as well be wielding the hammer of Thor. And yow, it is a handful. Hand it to someone who has never tried one before and you're guaranteed an expletive after the first shot.

Try before you buy.

[CSACANNONEER]

I have a mental problem with .44mags. I tend to flinch when I shoot them. But, as long as the grips fit your hand right, the recoil is not bad. Again, I know where my problem is and it's not the recoil. It's my anticipation of the recoil that is my problem.

[gef]

I've been shooting for years and even today after a dozen round of .44mag I'm done. I will shoot the .45 auto, 9mm or 357 all day long without a problem but I'm done after the dozen .44 mags. I can control the .44 mag and hit with it put not for prolonged shooting, Geoge.

[CHS]

I think everyone who's into guns should have a big-bore revolver.

I've got a Ruger Super Redhawk .44mag (7.5" barrel) and it's a dream to shoot. Definitely lots of recoil, but the size and weight of the frame plus the hogue grips soak up a lot of it before it hits your wrist.

It's a very fun and accurate gun. My 110lb GF even enjoys shooting it.

[brassburnz]

I've shot .44 Specials out of Model 29's and Blackhawks. The recoil isn't so bad, but I always seem to develop a nice flinch after doing so. I used to own a 5 inch stainless Redhawk that would beat me up when shooting full house PMC 240 grain ammo IIRC.

I shoot left-handed, and something in the way the Redhawk torques during recoil would actually chew up my trigger finger, even with a solid two-hand hold. My friend had a .44 Desert Eagle that I could shoot without too much discomfort, and those rounds were loaded very hot. He gave me a couple of rounds and said they would be OK for the Redhawk, but don't shoot them in a Smith because the Smith won't take it.

[Phil3]

Hadn't thought about developing a flinch, which would be possible. I checked out recoil data I found on www.chuckhawks.com. The data takes into consideration gun weight and load. No question, a middle of the road 44 Mag load in a heavy gun hits about 2 - 3 times as hard as what I have been shooting. Not sure I want that! I like to improve my accuracy, and shoot a lot. Given the possibility of developing a flinch, to say nothing of the shocking cost of 44 Mag ammo ($0.45/shot!), maybe I am best served sticking with the 357 Mag. I can shoot 44 Specials for lighter recoil, but seems wrong to have a hand cannon to shoot lightweight stuff.

- Phil