Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Am I just a wimp or are you guys Superman?

.44 Magnum Titanium revolvers that weigh 28 ounces, .357 Magnums that weigh under 20 ounces, .454 Casulls, .480 Rugers, .500 Linebaughs, .500 S&W.



I�ve been shooting .44 Magnums since 1973, in mostly Ruger Suger Blackhawks of 7 �� and 5� barrels, but have had a smattering of Redhawks with both barrel lengths and one Super Redhawk. Had a 4 5/8� .45 Colt Blackhawk as well that I�d load up. Got a Ruger SP-101 .357 which is a fat toad of a heavyweight compared to most snubbie revolvers. All of these �medium power�, �relatively heavy� revolvers had one thing in common. With regular full power loads they all kicked like freaking mules!



Am I just a wimp or or do the rest of you guys bully WWF wrestlers for fun? I mean, fine, no problem, it�s a free country and shoot what you want, but do you really, really enjoy long range sessions with the above mentioned super lightweights and/or behemoths? I know what 20 rounds of 22/2400/250 cast from a Super Blackhawk will do to my nerves, I can�t even imagine what touching off a full box of .454 Casulls from a 5 �� Freedom Arms would be like.



I�ve met Brian Pearce on several occasions and physically he is a pretty big fellow, and he mentioned the pain he underwent testing the new .500 S&W. I figure if a die hard revolver afficionado like him has trouble taming one of those, what about the rest of us mortals?



Not trying to pick a fight (especially not with anybody who actually relishes watching the bones of their wrists and forearms vibrate violentlyon every shot <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ), but just wondering how much these things actually get shot vs. bought. Plus how many people, and be honest here, really enjoy shooting these things vs. gritting your teeth and suffering through it.



Signed,

.452 caliber, 250 grains at 1000 fps is all I need (or want anymore!)





P.S. Please, don't edumacate me about "working up" to these things - I've been an NRA certified pistol instructor for a long time and a big bore revolver shooter for 32 years now so I know all about developing recoil tolerance. Anyway, not trying to start anything, just making conversation, plus, I honestly want to know how many folks actually enjoy shooting these things? (I know of a 6 pound .458 Lott you might be interested in <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

Jim, I am with you. There is a line you cross at some point and you leave fun on the other side lol. tom

Putting those monster hangun cartridges in a lite weight gun is like a 6lb 300 wby. fun to talk about , not bad to shoot once, but they won't do anything for your shooting abilities.
I've shot 454's and am not that impressed.
I agree with you if a 250 gr 45 slug trotting along at 1000 fps won't get the job done, probably should have used a rifle in the first place.

I've been shooting handguns since the late 1940s, in matches and for fun, from a cap-and-ball 1860 Colt and several .22 LR autos and revolvers to the Lee Jurras "howdah" pistols (which made the .45-70 Contender seem like a .22 LR by comparison). I may not have shot the mildest, but I've certainly shot the nastiest. The fun definitely ends at some point long before the cartridges stop getting bigger. For several decades now, I don't shoot anything for fun that isn't fun to shoot. I know what I can handle with some skill, and I know what's fun -- and of course the difference.

From the outside watching and listening, it seems that some "handgunners" get their jollies not by shooting their big handguns but by impressing others with what monsters they own -- untamable by mere mortals -- and I have to wonder how many of them are striving to convince themselves that their cojones did indeed descend. Some, of course, are thus misled into assuming (and reaching for) "norms" that are definitely far beyond the norms of human tolerance and enjoyment.

When Roy Weatherby introduced his huge .460 cartridge -- a near-clone of John Buhmiller's big .45 wildcat -- he got a flood of orders for the .460 rifles that added-up to a pile of back-orders and some long waits for delivery. The demand for the ammo wasn't nearly so great.

Make a five-ounce titanium .900 Tyrannosaurus derringer, and there'll soon be a small platoon of machos salivating to shoot it (or to say that they do) and crow about it.

Jim, I'm 5'10" and 200 lbs. Been shooting for over 35 years. I own and have extensively fired a .330 Dakota, a .450 Marlin (both in rifles), and a .44 Magnum (a revolver) made of scandium/titanium. These are not fun guns to shoot, but none of them have ever caused significant pain or harm to my body that I know of. Yes, if you go through 60 rounds of .450 Marlin or .330 Dakota, you will feel like quitting for the day, but recoil sensitivity is largely in the mind, I think. Any adult male more than 150 pounds should be able to fire any of these weapons at least a few times without any significant pain or damage to themselves, if they know how to properly shoulder/grip them. From the bench or in prone are the two most likely ways to be injured by them, but even that way, a few rounds shouldn't be a problem. The hardest kicking handgun I have is the scandium/titanium S&W .44 Magnum. I fire it with the wood grips, and it is a bit much if you go over 50 rounds in one session, but certainly nothing to be afraid of to fire off a few rounds with. This is an example of a gun that is designed to be carried a lot, and fired a little. No one is expected to spend a day at the range shooting a .44 magnum that is so lightweight it feels like it's made of wood. For that, a nice all steel K-Frame .357/.38 or a Government Model .45 is what you want. The only reason for owning that .44 is because you might otherwise decide not to carry a sidearm on a hunt, due to the weight. This one is so light, it will hardly be noticed, and provides a backup that is always handy and able to handle of lot of situations.

Hawk, It may be in the mind, but after trying the Linbaugh and the new Smith I will stay with my 5" pinned barrel 29 as "Biggest and Baddest" handgun in my selection of "shootable handguns! I ain't a wimp, but I don't like getting hurt when doing the shooting. In fact with the exception of keeping current on the 29 I shoot .22lr and .38 spl most followed by .44spl. Biggest rifle I have ever owned and used is a 45-70 1886 Winnie. Next is a 30-06 in a Mauser action.

Grandfather Fountain (in his 90s at the time) complained mildly about some discomfort or other.

"Aw, Dad," my mother said, "that's all in your mind!"

"Yeah, Honey, that may be," he said, "but the effect's the same."

When I bought my FA 454 several years back, I just knew that I had to have some of the 300gr Winchester factory loads. Boy Howdy! There may be those out there that can shoot them accurately out of a 4 3/4" revolver, but I am not one of them. Maybe one or two shots, but that is it. I finally settled on the 270gr. Leadhead bullet and 22gr of 2400. It is about all the power I can use and be effective. I have found myself carrying a Ruger flat top that Clements converted to 44 special. It is a heck of a lot more fun, surprising accurate, and I don't catch myself with my eyes closed when I touch it off.

Too much recoil is not too much fun.

S

My fun threshhold is at my old 6 in M29 .44 Smith with Keith loads or my .45 LC 5 1/2 in Blackhawk hotted up. I've shot a 7 1/2 in .454 just enough to know I don't want to buy one, and have no interest at all in the .500 S&W. More power to those who like them, but it ain't for me.

No raptors or tyrannosaurs in these parts for many millenia, and I feel certan my .44 will protect me from anything else long enough to get to my double rifle <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have a buddy that insist on shooting the "real stuff" all the time in his packin' revolvers. I try to explain he could get lot more enjoyment and more trigger time if he would load down a little or try a few specials now and again, but he insists on "practice like you play"... carry the big stuff shoot with it.

I tried this one time with a 3 1/2" 45 Colt Vaquero I picked up for a packing gun. I stoked up some 255 hard casts and and a bunch of H110, and 50 rounds in, my little finger hurt so bad from the bottom of the grip frame smashing into it, I couldn't hold a single action properly for a month. It still hurts if it's cold out.

I ain't skert of much, but I'll take a lot of fun with moderate magnum loads or specials, and save the big stuff for the critters that go bump in the night.

2 Crow

he nasties thibng I ahve shot so far is a Smith Mountian gun in 44 mag. It actually tore the flesh off of the web of my hand. JJack bought it and likes them.
I can shoot a 4 5/8"Blackhawk in44 mag with some pretty stiff loads and they don't bother me much. but I have to admit, they are not my perception of fun.
For my fun loads and shooting 300-400 rounds in a session, I load up a cast 158 gr, r.n. in a .357 case, using 4.3 grains of either W231 or Universal clays. In the 44 I use 8 grs of same.

I shot enough of the heavy loads that I had to have surgery on my elbow and hand. NOT FUN.

Jim, of those you listed, I have no problem with the SP101 .357 - if you toss the factory grips and put on some Hogues. I can shoot mine all day with your average .357 load.

But the others...well, I've played a little with the FA .454, and I'm quite sure I'll not do it again. I've only fired one scandium gun - a .38, with +p loads - and it wasn't much fun either.

I suspect that, at 4.5lbs, the .500 S&W might not be too bad with the lighter loads - but I can't think of any reason why I would need one.

OTOH - the 28oz 44mag looks interesting, only because I know I could use it with 44spl loads with good effect. Probably would be better if they would produce it in .45LC.

Anyhow, I'm pretty much with you. Clearly, some guys buy guns for different reasons than you and I. If it keeps the cash flowing for the companies that also make the guns we like, I'm okay with that too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

-FreeMe

I've got a Freedom Arms .454 which is manageable because it is fairly heavy BUT I shoot almost all .45 LC mid range loads in it. I'm not in bear country and don't plan on getting drunk enough to see one.

It has been my observation that, with a few notable exceptions, (and I am not including the Real Hawkeye here, I've never seen him shoot and I'm sure he is a good shot)almost every one of the Bigger, Faster, Larger crowd are substituting power for accuracy. Many of these guys that I've seen on the pistol range shooting hot .44 mags or .454s shoot PATTERNS, not groups at 50 yards, with some misses on man size targets. How you manage to miss a 2x4 foot target at 50 yards is something of a mystery, but I've seen it done several times. I don't have as much empirical evidence on big bore rifles, but am fairly sure that holds true for many of those shooters as well. My Marlin .45-70s are somewhat hot but comfortable to shoot at 1800 fps with 350 gr bullets. Make that 2000 and they are a real pain, at least to my shoulder.

It's an old point, but a well aimed .30-06 (.45 LC) is a helluva lot better than a poorly placed .416 (.45-70).

Speaking of manageable sixguns, when Davids Clements converted one of my flat tops to 44 special we were discussing various calibers and we lit on the 10mm. He knew that I had always loved the 10mm and had owned all of them at one time or another. He casually mentioned that the Ruger flat top (he knew I had a second one stashed) made up into a dandy 10mm. Capable of the hottest loads. If you retain the aluminum grip frame the weight is really not bad, of course slightly less than the original 357 chambering.

Anyone have any thoughts about this combination? That poor ole flat top sure seems to want out of the safe. Originally I was going to have H. Bowen do something with it, just to have one of his customs. Now I don't know.

S

Other than just wanting a 10mm , would there be any real advantage over the 41 mag or a 38-40?

Ranch, the short answer is no. I have got one of Ruger Buckeye 10mm/38-40's. Barrel too long, frame too big. I had a SAA in 38-40, and currently do have a clone SAA in 38-40 that Jim Stroh worked over, but the 38-40 is a pain to load for. A good SAA carries great though. What I was really thinking about was the easy carrying of the flat top and the 2000 rnds of 10mm brass I have got laying around. I already have everything to run 10's through the Dillon. I suppose that is the over riding factor. I don't have anything like that much brass in 41 mag.

S

Well sir sounds like you got your answer then. But contemplating new/next gun is always fun. Let us know how the 10 turns out.

I really enjoy shooting my .41RemMag guns even with very heavy hunting loads. Seems that I can just go and go and still want more, 200 round sessions were light afternoon relaxation times after supper. 1500 rounds weekend shoots happened at least once a month at the house. That is what it used to be like before all the surgery now I have been relegated to a mere 20-30 rounds a month. Even as much as I like the .41 RemMag I could never warm up to the .44RemMag. Have a Smith 29 that has been in the safe so long that it thinks it is dead. Have a 14 inch Contender in 45-70 that only my oldest son shoots, 5 times were more than enough for me. I also have some .41 wildcats that are a bit much, .41GNR#2 is a short session gun and my .411JDJ also falls into that category. Funny thing was that the .41RemMag never hurt me but it sure messed things up in my right wrist.:(

Keep in mind, I never said those guns were my fun guns. In fact, I said they weren't fun to shoot. A bit much. They do have thier place, however, and I have never hurt myself shooting them, as I know how much is too much. For all day shooting, there are much better and more enjoyable calibers.

It seems as I get older (51) I don't handle recoil as well as I did when I was in my 30's
I had a 3 screw Ruger 45 that I loaded hot, and just loved it. The baddest "kicker" I had was a 3" Lou Horton special- 41 mag. With Sierra 170's at 1500 FPS this gun was straight in the air after tuching one off!
Nowdays my Kimber Tactical 45 with aluminum frame is about all the recoil I enjoy. I can still get an 8 shot clipfull to cut the same hole at 10 yds. off hand, but have to really concentrate to do it!
Virgil B.