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Old January 11, 2013, 05:08 PM   #1
CurlyQ.Howard
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.44 Magnum

I'm considering the acquisition of a .44 magnum, but as I also want my wife to shoot it I need to know what commercial ammunition is available that an average sized woman could shoot but not fear shooting. So, if you could recommend any specific lower power .44 loads, please do. Thanks.
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Old January 11, 2013, 05:29 PM   #2
1-DAB
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44 special will shoot from a 44 mag.

that may not be the ideal gun for her. have you considered a 22LR rifle or pistol. way cheaper to shoot and learn on.
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Old January 11, 2013, 06:03 PM   #3
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They make 44 Speical Cowboy Action ammo that is pretty mild, it would work just fine in your 44 Mag for the Miss's.
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Old January 11, 2013, 06:27 PM   #4
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Whatever model of .44 mag you're considering...ideally you should try and shoot one first, if you haven't, just to make sure its what you really want...

The heavier guns ...with longer barrels...mean less recoil / weight is your friend in this recoil issue. But shooting a lower velocity round ..in .44 spl..and the lightest bullet you can find at the slowest velocity is the type of round you'll need for her to get used to this gun.
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You should buy what you want....but hopefully you've at least considered .357 mag's as well...lots of nice guns in .357 mag as well..and a lot "tamer" to shoot ( in .38 spl's )...
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Old January 11, 2013, 07:41 PM   #5
CurlyQ.Howard
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Well, she's fired both a .22 long rifle and a Beretta m 92 9 mm and had no problems. Before we get her a firearm, I want to have her try a variety of them. I've shot a .44 myself, and I want her to try it as well. Part of our current problem is the dearth of firearms available in the marketplace. I must have phoned 12 different retailers today but only got one possible lead. Thanks for your answers.
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Old January 12, 2013, 01:03 AM   #6
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There are Soooo many options....

I just picked one of these up - S&W 629 performance Center.
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File Type: jpg 629pc.jpg (20.9 KB, 69 views)
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Old January 12, 2013, 03:59 AM   #7
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My buddy's 5'4" wife shoots my .44mag better than he does. What's between your legs doesn't affect shooting ability.
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Old January 12, 2013, 07:24 AM   #8
kimbers rule
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My daughter has been shooting my 44 flattop ruger with 44 special since she was 11 years old. She still loves it and never did get to flinchy.
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Old January 12, 2013, 07:54 AM   #9
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My 18 y/o daughter loves to shoot my (for now) S&W 629 with 44 special type loads in it.

Main thing is to get what she likes and can shoot. Include her in the buying process!
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Old January 12, 2013, 08:08 AM   #10
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Just get something with a barrel of 4 inches or less. A full framed 44 will shoot specials very nicely with minimal recoil.
You don’t say how experienced your wife is in shooting. Whatever you do don’t hand her the gun for the first time with magnums. Had a neighbor do that with a 357 magnum. First round she ever fired out of a gun. She never wanted to shoot a gun again.
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Old January 12, 2013, 08:59 AM   #11
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I fully intend to have my wife shooting as much as she likes; it's flat out good for her self image as well as great fun for her. Also, she's really a novice. The last time out was her first time out, but the more she shot the Beretta 9mm, the better she got (last ten were all dead center making one big hole - only 35 feet, but still it impressed me a lot). It was great fun for me too as seeing her confidence grow and results improve told me she was hooked. As for the S&W 629, I might just be getting one.
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Old January 12, 2013, 09:09 AM   #12
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44 Specials are soft shooters. My 8 year old son loves shooting my Super Blackhawk with specials. He does quite well with it. And he's a scrawny little guy.

So if it's a 44 magnum that you want, I wouldn't let anyone talk you out of it. It's a great caliber that's very versatile. And the 629 is a sweet revolver.
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Old January 12, 2013, 08:43 PM   #13
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Gdawgs,
Thanks. Also, you must be quite proud of your son; he is the all American boy!
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Old January 12, 2013, 09:21 PM   #14
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+1 to the cowboy action .44 special loads.

That said, consider taking up reloading. I shoot very comfortable loads in .44 mag that I couldn't otherwise find in commercial ammo.
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Old January 13, 2013, 09:12 AM   #15
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Not to change your mind, but buy her her first gun. Make it her choice and her gun. Just make sure it’s a well thought out choice and something she can shoot well and control it (clear jams in a semi).
You’re changing her from a semi to a revolver. My first choice for her first gun is a 22LR. Something like a Ruger MKll. I just bought a can of 4000 22 LR for the price of four boxes of 44special factory.
Being cheaper, a lot cheaper she will want to shoot even more. Then when you have her really hooked she’ll want you to buy MORE GUNS AND MORE GUNS and then, it’s a win win situation.
Women are smarter than we are, and in most cases they are, when we let them think so.
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Old January 13, 2013, 09:39 AM   #16
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For clarification, we already have a .22, a Hi Standard Sentinel. If she wants the Beretta, that's what she'll get. She also really likes the FN 5.7, but likely we'd have to purchase one for her without the opportunity to rent one to try it out. I fully intend to have her shoot a variety of firearms before any purchase. And, if she wants her gun in pink and can get it, that's okay too.
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Old January 13, 2013, 11:30 AM   #17
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Nanuk,

I love the 629PC, It's definitely high up on my want list.
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Old January 15, 2013, 09:24 AM   #18
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Another for the .44spec. I used them for years in a SuperBlackhawk for practice.
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Old January 16, 2013, 06:16 PM   #19
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My wife and I both have 629 44 mags with 4" barrels. She shoots 240 gr. and handles it pretty well. Told her we could get her lighter loads or 44 specials and she said no. She wants to shoot the magnums. She shoots as good as I do.
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Old January 16, 2013, 06:24 PM   #20
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Comfortable grips are a MUST when shooting the 44-or anything else, IMHO.
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Old January 16, 2013, 08:35 PM   #21
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My buddy bought his wife a Walther PPS 9mm. He bought himself a S-Blackhawk. Wife likes the SBH with mag loads over the PPS (trigger is painful).
So get her to the shop if your intention is for it to be her weapon. If you have a place that does rentals around that would be even better. Both of the pistols you mentioned are very mild recoil. Not to say your wife would have an issue with recoil, but they are much diferent than a mag revolver.
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Old January 16, 2013, 10:58 PM   #22
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Lots of 44 mag ammo is loaded plenty light for anyone to shoot. Blazers are generally very soft shooting. George arms makes some 240g round points that fire at 1000fps which would be soft shooting as well. I started shooting 44 mag when I was 10 years old and some of my younger cousins were shooting at that time as well. Unless you are getting hot loaded hunting rounds the 44 mag is a pleasure to shoot.
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Old January 16, 2013, 11:35 PM   #23
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Back when I bought my .44 Mag Ruger Redhawk with a 7.5 in barrel (why did I ever sell it), I also bought a box of Remington UMC .44 Mag ammo, and braced myself for the recoil, I nearly fell forward on the first shot, the ammo was pretty mild and the heavy gun soaked it up, I let my wife shoot it, she fired 6 rounds (actually better than I did) and said, "Hmmph neat" and walked back to the house.
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Old January 17, 2013, 10:11 AM   #24
CurlyQ.Howard
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Well, we've got a gun show coming up, so we ought to have an excellent chance to see what's offered.
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