With the acquisition of my first fine Smith & Wesson Model 29, I quickly found out that the heavy factory ammo just hammered me too much for me to be able to do any fast, accurate shooting. When I carried my Model 29 for law enforcement work, I generally either loaded it down to about 950 fps, or purchased some of the good medium-velocity factory ammunition that was being produced. Black Hills, Remington, Winchester, and Garrett Cartridges, either produce or have produced these medium loads. They certainly helped me tame the recoil of the DA Model 29.
With the Ruger single actions, however, I didn't have a problem dealing with the recoil. The shape of the single-action grip frame lets the big gun roll in the shooting hand, and much of the felt recoil is dissipated. My own .44 Magnum shooting program involved using a Model 29 with reduced loads for law enforcement and the Ruger Blackhawk with full-house loads for hunting. Both were exceedingly accurate and a real pleasure to shoot.
About the time that Elmer Keith passed away in 1984, many .44 Magnum fans began to experiment with the use of heavier bullets. The use of a 300-grain cast bullet really increased the .44 Magnum's effectiveness on larger game animals, like bear, elk, and moose. I found that Hodgden H110 powder was an excellent choice for use with these heavier bullets and worked up some loads that would drive a 300-grain bullet at about 1300 fps out of my Ruger Super Blackhawk. Today most ammunition companies include at least one 300-grain load in their .44 Magnum batteries.
I think that some of the most interesting tales about the .44 Magnum cartridge revolve around the horrible, painful power of the cartridge and the severe damage that it could do to shooters. Numerous serious handgunners own .44 Magnums today, because they found it for sale, in brand new condition, with a partially fired box of ammo. Some would tell you that the sharp checkering on the Model 29's wooden grips would actually draw blood. The fact is that the .44 Magnum cartridge has probably taught handgunners more about proper grip design and the proper technique for holding a handgun than any other cartridge.
Once shooters found that .44 Magnum handguns could be managed and tamed, the door was opened for the development of other powerful cartridges, such as the .454 Casull, the .475 Linebaugh, and the .500 S&W. While these newer cartridges all generate more power than the .44 Magnum, it was the .44 Magnum that set the high mark for the combination of power and accuracy that they have all sought to attain.
As I contemplate the 50-year history of the .44 Magnum, I can't help but reflect on the large number of game animals I've taken with the cartridge. Deer, feral hogs, javelina, Rio Grande turkey, and numerous exotic animals have all come to my bag. I especially recall one mule deer buck that I took, on the run, during a New Mexico hunt with my friend Bart Skelton. And, while I certainly enjoying using many of the other big-bore handgun cartridges, there's no doubt that I've taken more game with the .44 Magnum than with all of the others put together.
So, light the candles and get on with the party. My hat's off to the great .44 Magnum cartridge and the fine guns that are chambered for it.
North American Whitetall
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