44 Magnums

[smithers599]

Just for fun, every once in a while we take our .44s to an indoor range with targets on pulleys. (Scottsdale Gun Club, C2, Ted's)
Print this picture: https://occupy835wydr.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/the-grizzly-bear-snarling.jpeg
or one like it, and crop it until the bear's face fills an 8 1/2 x 11 paper.
Put the bear face out at 45 or 50 feet (depending on the speed of the target carrier), set the new distance for 3 feet*, load up with your bear country loads, go to low ready, then press the target Go button. Try to get as many shots into the bear's face as you can before he gets to you.
It is a real adrenaline rush!

* The reason you set the target to come to 3 feet instead of 0 is that there is a tendency to fire the last shot and set the target on fire.

 

[shooter444]

I can say the same to our sodium intake as well. After I run a copper jacketed bullet through my 44 after running let say 20 lead bullets down range it only takes 1 patch to clean my bore. So in one day of shooting 100 rounds of lead and maybe 20 rounds of copper jacketed bullets it takes maybe 4 to 6 patches and you never knew you shoot any lead. Sometimes I get the ich and stick a bore scope in just to see. Nope, no lead. The lead is cheap but the jacketed bullets are way more fun. I thought about buying a couple of cap and ball 44's just to get the
Josey Wales affect. It would be neat IMO to get 2 Italian Colt Walker - .44 caliber or something close but in 44.

When I got into LEAD, I was very lucky,... a guy taught me that if my barrel is leading up,... the boolit SIZE, or ALLOY, or LUBE, or any combination of those three, needed to be addressed. Not a simple task, no quick solutions here, but, when you get the right combination,.... there is no leading. I clean my lead shooters about once or twice a year,... unless I am putting them up in storage, then I clean and oil.

Sizing bores, ordering custom molds, casting your own alloy mix, and making up an effective lube recipe,... isn't for everyone!

In fact, if I knew before hand, of the time and money dedicated to such, I would have never, ever, started!!! :violin:

 

[Elk34]

I looked into a good smelting pot at one time. It used propane and was something to see. But like you said the money and time just was not on my side.
O and the patience just isn't there anymore either.

 

[MarkItZero]

I can say the same to our sodium intake as well. After I run a copper jacketed bullet through my 44 after running let say 20 lead bullets down range it only takes 1 patch to clean my bore. So in one day of shooting 100 rounds of lead and maybe 20 rounds of copper jacketed bullets it takes maybe 4 to 6 patches and you never knew you shoot any lead. Sometimes I get the ich and stick a bore scope in just to see. Nope, no lead. The lead is cheap but the jacketed bullets are way more fun. I thought about buying a couple of cap and ball 44's just to get the
Josey Wales affect. It would be neat IMO to get 2 Italian Colt Walker - .44 caliber or something close but in 44.

While the Walker can definitely be a blast, the 1860 Colt Army or the 1858 Remington New Army are better 44 options for new black powder shooters.

 

[Elk34]

I will look into them.

 

[Nev]

Grew up in AZ, gone 20 yrs, finally moved back in March. Was in Anchorage for two years before getting back. Did a lot of research on Alaska outdoor/hunting forums for what to carry for our outdoor adventures when I was up there. Ended up with the beefier frame Redhawk 5044 with the 4.2" barrel. It's a beast. Love it. Likely overkill here in the deserts where most my time is spent, have other carry options. But for now I'm keeping it.

 

[shooter444]

I don't believe in the concept of "over kill". I have been a 44mag guy for more decades than I wish to admit.

The only thing I have come to realized, about 44's,... is that my taste for makes, models and specs have changed,... that's all!

Welcome back to Az,... enjoy!

 

[Harrier]

I've been selling off some of my 44's and keeping my 357's mainly because of the recoil and I also had guns I never shot... but I'm keeping the S&W 629 4" Mountain Gun, the 6" 629 Classic with reddot and the Marlin 1895 lever...
Now I'm debating over selling the 629 6" and a 29 8 3/8"... I rationalize that the Classic has a red dot so i need the regular 629 for its open sights and the 8" would be good for silhouette shooting (if I ever do that).... if someone comes along and waves cash under my nose i may succumb to the temptation... oh what to do...

 

[h8pvmnt]

My first Handgun i bought in 1985 was a Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk 44 Mag with a 10" Barrel. I don't know why i went with the 10" barrel. I guess as a youngster i must have thought bigger is better. I carried that giant revolver on multiple deer hunts and javelina hunts. It was with me anytime i was out in the woods. I still own the revolver today. Don't shoot it much but still cherish it. Then i got to shoot a 4" S&W model 29 and my mindset changed. Today i own more revolvers than one man needs. I prefer the single actions still to this day. But i tend to only use and carry those with barrels in the 4-6" range. I have 2 original Colt type Single Action Army revolvers and i find them very pleasing to own and shoot. My favorites are the Ruger Vaquero, Montado, Birdshead single actions in .45 colt. While i still own and shoot 44 i have come to appreciate the 45 colt. In a lever gun i prefer the 45-70 for hunting. I have never shot the 444 marlin but i think it is a great cartridge.

 

[shooter444]

Ditto, on 45 Colt caliber! A step up, because of bullet selection, over 44mag,... imo. And with all the latest calibers coming out, ie, 460, 480, 500 etc,... the 44mag seems to be left behind, to be appreciated by those who feel it is quite powerful enough, and, by those getting a little flinchy with the bigger bores!

As a reloader, the bigger bores, with their massively larger bullets, that can be loaded DOWN,... has been on my horizon for awhile now.

But, there will always be a spot for a 44mag in my safe.

 

[Pale Rider]

The older I get the more I've gone to 44 special loads for the 629. Easier on my nerves and I'm just more accurate. Still load magnums for the lever gun though.

 

[storage_man]

I've been selling off some of my 44's and keeping my 357's mainly because of the recoil and I also had guns I never shot... but I'm keeping the S&W 629 4" Mountain Gun, the 6" 629 Classic with reddot and the Marlin 1895 lever...
Now I'm debating over selling the 629 6" and a 29 8 3/8"... I rationalize that the Classic has a red dot so i need the regular 629 for its open sights and the 8" would be good for silhouette shooting (if I ever do that).... if someone comes along and waves cash under my nose i may succumb to the temptation... oh what to do...

I have the same problem with recoil, and that is why I kept the Desert Eagle. Its more controllable than the .38 special S&W I have. Some body has a .44 mag Smith up for sale with a 4.2" barrel, but I keep telling my self "Don't do it". All it going to do is hurt you.

 

[shooter444]

That's the nice thing about reloading,... you can custom load for recoil by weapon weight, and, or, barrel length. I never had to down load much for Ruger's with 7.5 barrels, or longer. Even with 310grn full house Hammer Head commercial loads! I just got tired of carrying long barreled revo's in the mountains! As I stated above,... 44's are great,...when I adjust the make and model to my ever evolving taste. I like 5" at the longest, and, 3 " as the shortest, for my back country revo's.

 

[lostdog99]

I have had the Ruger Super Blackhawk 7.5 inch, S&W 629 (around 7.5 inch also), currently have a Ruger Super Redhawk 7.5 inch.
Zero problems with any of them. Sticking with the Sup. Red . . .I like the double action for potential self defense, it takes heavy mag loads all day long (I occasionally need to let it cool off . . .but that is me). I like that it shares trigger components with the GP-100 family and trigger kits work well and are easy to find.
P.S - I love the porting from Mag-Na-Port. I highly recommend it if your 44 is going to be a heavy use piece.

I am with you Flash. I miss the days when people didn't buy guns for cool, or macho, factor. They knew their firearm and how to manage it. I have had some walk into the shop, hold up a gun, and say "I need ammo for this". They had no idea of the make or caliber of their firearm. . . .
Any gun CAN be safe if you are.

 

[Bullzaye]

I love my Smith's, my Rugers...*and* my Dan Wesson's. I'd hate to have to pick just one to keep.

My Ruger is a 5.5" Redhawk. Shoots like a dream. Love the bbl. length too...I think more manufacturers should make 5" bbls. I do have a 5" M.29, but I haven't had the chance to shoot it too much yet. I love the interchangeable bbls. on the Dan Wesson's, with the 4" Full Underlug and the 8" FU being my faves.

Guess I'm not much help! :confusion-shrug: