why does the 44 and 41 mag now get little respect

[rimrock]

I was down at the local bass pro gun counter and I was kind of window shopping , looking at the larger revolvers,when this guy shows up and says he wants a heavy caliber revolver for deer and hog hunts, so I start listening to the conversation a bit,the clerk reaches for a 8" 500 S&W revolver, the guys obviously never even held a decent magnum revolver , from the way he holds that one,but its also obvious that, thats far too large/heavy, and even he points that out, the clerk drops back to a taurus 454 cassul mag in a raging bull revolver which the guy seems to like, but he then asked about ammo cost and how bad the revolver will recoil.
The clerk asked him if hes ever fired a 44 mag revolver and the guy says, he has ONCE and it was not all that bad but it was about all he could handle, the lying S.O.B. clerk, tells him the 454 cassul is just a bit more recoil than a 44 mag, and ammo's just not much more. the guy then looks at the S&W 7.5" 41 mag revolver and picks it up and tells the clerk this feels great !,... do they come in 44 mag?, the clerk, tells him that the 41 and 44 mag are too under powered to be a serious hunting choice!hes better off with a 454 cassul, at that point I can,t help myself, I step up to the counter , look the clerk directly in the eyes and ask him how many larger deer and hogs HES killed???????, and point out that IVE used a 44 mag revolver for many years very successfully on both, animals ,with easily a dozen or more of each killed and the bullets tend to zip thru both sides and kill very effectively, so whats to be gained with the larger calibers???,I get a return look from the clerk that says I should LEAVE NOW!

thats the second time Ive had the clerks who don,t seem, to have much experience, push the more expensive guns as options, vs the the best values , or reasonable choices get pissed off at my advice.
I turn to the guy and tell him , don,t be miss informed a 41 or 44 mag loaded with the correct ammo is a truely effective choice, and while its true the 454 cassuls more powerful theres not much gained with that extra energy if its all expended on the ground past the game after the bullet exits...then walk away, Im reasonaby sure the clerks pissed but I don,t care.
with the correct loads and in skilled hands a 41 mag or 44 mag will prove very effective, if you think back a bit Im sure youll remember hearing stories of when the first 357 mag revolvers came out, the publicity, resulted in guys killing moose and black bear on hunts with even a 357 mag

I sure remember hearing stories of when the first 357 mag revolvers came out, the publicity, resulted in guys killing moose and black bear on hunts with even a 357 mag, theres no doubt a 41 and 44 mag exceed the 357 mag, in power when correctly loaded,and ive YET to recover a hard cast 300 grain 44 mag slug from ANY game Ive shot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.357_Magnum

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=30

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt44mag.htm

[Bushman]

Exactly, I had a .357 Magnum for a time, but a .44 Magnum does everything that I ever intend to need in a big pistol. I'm sure that some guys can shoot a .460 or a .454 or a .500 to utilize the extended range potential of those more powerful cartridges, but a .44 Magnum hits hard enough at the ranges where I am confident shooting it. We can use pistols here in the shotgun areas for deer, but to my way of thinking that should be a pistol round, not a rifle round fired from a bolt action "pistol". Moose and big bears have fallen to the .44 Magnum and it is about as much gun as most people can handle.

[DancesWithKnives]

My sidearm on AK rafting trips is a S & W 629 Trail Boss with some hardcast 320 gr. slugs at about 1075 fps. While I carry a Mossberg 590 with slugs as my primary weapon, if I shoot something with the 44 those 320 gr. hardcasts are going to penetrate deep and do a lot of damage.

I have a custom 500 Linebaugh revolver but the Trail Boss is a more handy size/weight and it's double action. I think it's an OK compromise for a backup, even in brown bear country.

[Hi Ball]

RimRock, I have always seemed to have a .357 caliber pistol starting back in the 60's with my Colt Python. I always had a sweet spot for the .41 magnum and thought many a time, the police should have been using this more in their handguns instead of the .38spl. and .357 mags.

However to answer your question about the .44 magnum and it's little brother the .41mag, being over looked by hunters, I believe a lot has to do with all the larger calibers and the publicity they have received. Now most of those who now have these hand "cannon's" can't really shoot them that accurately and this includes myself by golly.

A full tilt load out of my .460 Smith & Wesson is an eye-lifting excperience to say the least. I really can't handle much more than my .44 mag in the model 29 Smith & Wesson. To be honest my hand starts to hurt after shooting that .460 pistol, it is a heck of a smack on my joints. It makes for one heck of a conversation piece! I believe that the .44mag & 41mag will make a gradual come back for many hunters in years to come.

Also with hardcast bullets (having large metplate) they can handle a lot of big game out there in the woods and plains. I would have to say that there has been a rather big fade for those who like pistols, to purchase these rather heavy thumpers. I think that is starting to sloooow down as of lately.

[MOGC]

RimRock, I have always seemed to have a .357 caliber pistol starting back in the 60's with my Colt Python. I always had a sweet spot for the .41 magnum and thought many a time, the police should have been using this more in their handguns instead of the .38spl. and .357 mags.

However to answer your question about the .44 magnum and it's little brother the .41mag, being over looked by hunters, I believe a lot has to do with all the larger calibers and the publicity they have received. Now most of those who now have these hand "cannon's" can't really shoot them that accurately and this includes myself by golly.

A full tilt load out of my .460 Smith & Wesson is an eye-lifting excperience to say the least. I really can't handle much more than my .44 mag in the model 29 Smith & Wesson. To be honest my hand starts to hurt after shooting that .460 pistol, it is a heck of a smack on my joints. It makes for one heck of a conversation piece! I believe that the .44mag & 41mag will make a gradual come back for many hunters in years to come.

Also with hardcast bullets (having large metplate) they can handle a lot of big game out there in the woods and plains. I would have to say that there has been a rather big fade for those who like pistols, to purchase these rather heavy thumpers. I think that is starting to sloooow down as of lately.

Great post...

[swamp]

My sidearm on AK rafting trips is a S & W 629 Trail Boss with some hardcast 320 gr. slugs at about 1075 fps. While I carry a Mossberg 590 with slugs as my primary weapon, if I shoot something with the 44 those 320 gr. hardcasts are going to penetrate deep and do a lot of damage.

I have a custom 500 Linebaugh revolver but the Trail Boss is a more handy size/weight and it's double action. I think it's an OK compromise for a backup, even in brown bear country.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?pg=1&l=product_list&c=6

even buffalo bore only goes to 305 grain bullets in heavy 44 mag loads... I'd be afraid that trail boss would lock up in survival situation... I'd have more confidence in a ruger alaskan in 454 casul or if i was shooting heavy 44 mags i'd still have more confidence in the ruger alaskan with its longer cylinders and heavier cylinder wall thickness...

[Hi Ball]

Dances With Knives, I truly believe the 590 Mossberg to be one heck of a bear tamer with slugs in the chamber. They are quick also and pack a heck of a whallop up close under 25 yards!

I learned from a man in Alaska years ago (bear hunter) to always have my 44 mag teathered to my belt just in case I was in hot water with a bear (heaven forbid) having to use my model 29 .44mag.

I got to thinking one day that I would like to go back to Alaska, hike and visit etc. So I got on this notion of wanting perhaps a bigger pistol that pushed a large heavy bullet. Well I purchased a .460 Smith & Wesson but in all honesty, I shoot that model 29 with 250 grn bullets a whole lot more accurate, especially under stress.

The only way I can match the model 29 in accuracy, is to drop the velocity and loads down in the .460 S&W and that is like going after groundhogs in the field with a 22WMR instead of using my .243 Winchester. I hope that makes sense to you folks.;) :)

[rimrock]

just a quick story
AL borrowed my 44 mag carbine, and 50,cartridges loaded with 300 grain hard cast bullets to go deer hunting a few weeks ago and went hunting last Saturday,in mid Florida in an area of tall grass and palmettos, for opening weeks of general gun season,he shot a nice little 4 point buck at about 80 yards from a tree stand and the buck ran as thou totally untouched, ...after Id told AL several stories about how deadly that carbine was he was disappointed to say the least,...In fact he called me with his cell phone before even getting out of the stand, to tell me my carbine didn,t work all that well,...I told him to get down and follow the blood trail carefully, he called back about 30 minutes later to tell me that was one easy blood trail,to follow and all thou the grass was shoulder high, and the blood trail did,t start for a few yards the buck made it only about 45 yard max and it was hit low in the lungs,the bullet exited and the hit was a bit further back than he aimed.
after seeing the shot placement, was less than ideal, he said it did the same or better than the 30/30 he usually carried would have done in his experience with a similar hit, so hes still impressed.

http://myfwc.com/recreation/Hunt_SeasDates0910.htm

http://myfwc.com/docs/RecreationActivities/deer_zonesummary_20091030.pdf

[GF.]

What do you guys think about the .480 Ruger? I saw several gun writers say that it was managable for anyone who could honestly handle a .44 Mag, but I haven't seen or heard much about it since that first year when so many were seemingly madly in love with it....

I'd have to say - there's nothng sexier to a certain segment of the gun-buying public than lots and lots of horsepower. They must all think they're Dirty Harry (you remember him ;) - he was the cop with the 'sniper rifle' in .458 Win :rolleyes: ).

But to be foolish enough to think that you'd want to learn how to shoot a pistol with one of these babies.... I've dealt with a lot of people who seemed to have PhDs in Stupid, but that just staggers the imagination.

Maybe we'll have to name a new psychiatric/medical condition after them - Short Thumb Syndrome:eek:

[Badger]

I have fired all the current big bore handguns at my nearby club. After all is said and done, I still prefer my .44 Magnum M29 S&W and Ruger Super Blackhawk .44M and my sleek 6-inch .41 Magnum Ruger.

I cast all my SWC bullets for the .44 and .41 and think they are all the gun I will ever need for hunting and other uses.

Badger

[rimrock]

I think the 480 ruger makes a great deal more sense in revolvers than some of the other high power revolver cartridges, Ive also heard that theres lever action carbines made in that caliber (but Ive yet to see one personally used on game)
I sure wish S&W made the 6" N frame in that caliber but thats never going to happen,

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=86040

[swamp]

I have fired all the current big bore handguns at my nearby club. After all is said and done, I still prefer my .44 Magnum M29 S&W and Ruger Super Blackhawk .44M and my sleek 6-inch .41 Magnum Ruger.

I cast all my SWC bullets for the .44 and .41 and think they are all the gun I will ever need for hunting and other uses.

Badger

I've shot the 454 casul out of a ruger alaskan... IMHO the problem with it is that the 454 is that the recoil is so viscious that it makes it hard to get follow up shots off ...

the big smith and wesson in 480 or 500 is that huge x frame.. nothing i'd want to lug around... must weigh like over 5 lbs...

For bear protection I'd still opt for the ruger alaskan due to its compact size and strenght.. and it less likely to lock up than a S&W using heavy loads...

[Hi Ball]

If you people really want to have the very best in "bear protection", then make sure your hands are around a rifle in the .338 mag or .375H&H caliber. NO if's or butts about that given fact gentlemen!!!;) :)

[Joe Boleo]

That is why I have several of each of these calibers. Take care...
Joe

[swamp]

If you people really want to have the very best in "bear protection", then make sure your hands are around a rifle in the .338 mag or .375H&H caliber. NO if's or butts about that given fact gentlemen!!!;) :)

If you are hiking fishing in grizzly country you would find a rifle difficult to have at the ready

[Hi Ball]

SWAMP, those fishing guides used to keep a 12ga pump shotgun loaded up with SLUGS drapped over their shoulder while the cast the flyrod or whatever they were doing. Yes, I agree that fishing is tuff to do with a rifle over your shoulder but if you have a buddy around, take turns in who is handling the backup gun. Pistols are really NOT much of a defense weapon against an angry charging bear, so sir.

Now those big heavy pistols like my .460 (without scope) weighs in almost as much as my .338/06 and I would much rather have the .338/06 in my hands than my pistol any day when it comes to warding off a bear of any kind.;)

[billt]

The reason the .44 and .41 Magnums are bowing out is because this is America. As a country we are, and always will be obsessed with the biggest, baddest, and the most powerful. It's as simple as that. In the NFL we cheered Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense, and the Cowboy's, and Roger Staubach's Dallas "Shotgun". In cars We are in awe of the Dodge Viper, and the Chevy ZR-1 Corvette. Simply because it has a certifiable top speed of over 200 MPH right off the showroom floor.

The .44 was the king in it's day, but that day has passed, just like the 426 Hemi Dodge. There are best in memories in spite of the fact they still produce more power than most will ever use or need. All of us are guilty of this in one way or another. It's what men do. In any scenario like this we reach for the Testosterone the same way women reach for the short skirts, push up bras, and mile high spikes. It makes us more of what we are.

Nothing bad about any of this mind you. It is just a never ending contest of "can you top this"? I enjoy shooting a lot of big bore, powerful rifles and pistols, and own at least one 10 Gauge, .50 BMG, and .500 S&W Magnum. I'll admit candidly, I "feel better" owning them. Much the same way the Z-06 Corvette owner feels even when he's sitting at a stoplight in traffic. He knows he's not getting to work any faster than the guy in the Prius, but he sure as hell feels better doing it! All of this is good for the soul, as well as the nations economy.

Think about it. Buying one of these over powered, high priced toys does for us what Cocaine, Meth, and all the other illegal crap does for these other stranded souls. It makes us feel better, but doesn't harm our bodies! We need an OP/A, "Over Powered Anonymous". "Hi, I'm Bill, and I'm a Magnumaholic!" Works for me. Bill T.