Author Topic: Recoil differences (Read 1601 times)

J57 · « **on:** August 28, 2010, 05:05:27 PM »

Has anyone shot a .44mag. contender with 10 inch barrel, and a .44mag. Ruger revolver with a 7 1/2 Barrel, like the Super Blackhawk etc. How does the recoil compare in these two different actions. Thanks J

kynardsj · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2010, 05:10:18 PM »

I've shot both. The Contender bucks worse than the Ruger in 44 mag. Don't know if it's weight difference, lack of a cylinder gap or what, but a 10 inch 44 mag Contender is a handfull with full magnum loads.

tacklebury · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2010, 06:01:42 PM »

I've shot both in .357 Max with the same findings. I know it's not a .44, but it still kicked really bad. The little point on the trigger came back hard enough to break my knuckle even in a 2 hand grip with the contender. 8(

Keith1 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2010, 06:19:22 PM »

I have both of the pistols that you are refering to. In fact I have 2 of each. I started shooting both models at the iron rams in the 1970s. The old wood Contender grip was a handfull. Probably about 1980 Pachmayr came out with their Presentation grip and I soon bought one trying to get some relief.

After installing said grip the difference was almost like night and day. If you want a powerful and pleasent shooting 44 [or most anything else] put a Pachmayr on the Contender.

I shoot 240 grain bullets out of my Rugers and 320 out of the Contender. For sure the big bullet kicks more but the difference is that it doesn't hurt.

They sell Pachmayrs on E Bay all the time.

Regards, Keith

Curtis · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2010, 06:24:09 PM »

I have to agree. My 44 Mag Super Blackhawk is a walk in the park. The Contender on the other hand, gets my attention. As mentioned, keep your off hand away from the trigger guard spur or you will bleed. Just two totally different guns. I think it is a combination of no cylinder gap, lighter weight and the grip configuration. That said, when I'm in the mood I'll go through 30 to 50 rounds of maximum charge jacketed hand loads at a sitting with the Contender. But I could shoot the Blackhawk all day long.

Curtis

Tom W. · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2010, 07:50:32 PM »

I know that the SBH has a different recoil, more of a torque that my elbow can't tolerate anymore. The same loads in a SRH are easy to shoot. I don't have a contender, but do have an Encore with a .454 barrel, and the recoil from it while shooting heavy .45 Colt loads isn't bad at all, while the same loads from my Blackhawk will get my attention.

DANNY-L · « **Reply #6 on:** August 29, 2010, 12:25:59 AM »

I've noticed that the recoil of my condender 7-30(not 44) but was thinking most contenders were set up the same way as for recoil it seems to recoil straight back (like a push)and I know the SBH the recoil goes up.

luckydawg13 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 29, 2010, 02:57:57 AM »

Quote from: kynardsj on August 28, 2010, 05:10:18 PM

I've shot both. The Contender bucks worse than the Ruger in 44 mag. Don't know if it's weight difference, lack of a cylinder gap or what, but a 10 inch 44 mag Contender is a handfull with full magnum loads.

i have them all yes with the wood grip it hert the wood grip with the rubber in it help a lot i sold my 10"44 and got a 14" and i switched the grips on my rugger B/H the kick on the max is sharp my encor 454 not bad but it is ported

shot1 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 29, 2010, 04:00:24 AM »

I agree with Keith1 whole heartedly. The first Contender I ever shot was a 70's model with the old plow handle wood grip with the octagon 10" barrel in 44 mag. That beast almost paralyzed me from my hand to my shoulder. My first and last shot were the same one with that beast. We were shooting 240 factory loads. I had a RBH 7 1/2 44 mag at the time and while it did have some recoil it was nothing like that old Contender. Like Keith1 said it is all in the grip. The Pachmayr grip really tames the beast and so does a properly contoured wood grip. Also the Hogue grip for the RBH helps a great deal. I have a 5 1/2" 45 LC RBH and with heavy loads the stock grips would let it flip up and slip in my hand and hurt the web of my shooting hand. I put a set of Hogue grips on it and turned it into a pussy cat.

kynardsj · « **Reply #9 on:** August 29, 2010, 04:47:55 AM »

Grips, weight and gun shape definately make a difference. My avatar is a 460 S&W mag Encore that I shoot hot 45 LC's and 454 Casull's in. Even the full power 300 grain Casulls are a pleasure in this gun because of the weight, grips and muzzle brake.

J57 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2010, 07:53:06 AM »

Thanks for the replies. I think I am leaning to the Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter..J

Catfish · « **Reply #11 on:** August 29, 2010, 09:55:10 AM »

I will not shoot a Contender with a chamber larger than .357 mag. The over travel screw behind the trigger gaurd eats up my finger. I do not mind recoil and at presenr have 4, .44 mag. handguns, a .454, a .460 and a .500. If your looking for a single shot .44 mag. get an Encore. They are a pelasure to shoot in .44 mag. , that`s what my .460 is in. If your going revolver I think that the best for the money on the market today is the Ruger Supper Black Hawk. If you don`t like the recoil put a set of rubber grips on it.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #12 on:** August 29, 2010, 10:11:03 AM »

Quote from: J57 on August 28, 2010, 05:05:27 PM

Has anyone shot a .44mag. contender with 10 inch barrel, and a .44mag. Ruger revolver with a 7 1/2 Barrel, like the Super Blackhawk etc. How does the recoil compare in these two different actions. Thanks J

With identical loads, the felt recoil is significantly heavier with the 10" Contender than with a Blackhawk, Redhawk, SRH, SBH, Anaconda or S&W 29 / 629.

bubbinator · « **Reply #13 on:** August 29, 2010, 08:07:55 PM »

J57-I have Ruger .44SBH from the 70's. I tried multiple grips after having to shoot up 500 rds !!. of factory ammo in it before leaving Libya when Momar Kadumass kicked the USAF out of Wheelus AB Libya in 1970. All that was w/ stock Ruger grips. Back in CONUS ( Continental US for you draft dodgers), I tried Herrett stocks. They are good,woodw/ finger grooves, but nothing ever could beat the Pachmeyer Signature grips. They are wonderful ! and have been on my .44 since the late 70s. (FYI-I am a 2Xretired LEO and have shot LOTS of guns.) I have not shot a T/C Contender (I once witnessed a fellow Agt shoot a T/C Contender in .45/70 and saw it give him 10 stitches between the eyes- didn't really want one after that.) I do have 2 Savage Stryker pistols. A ..22-250 that I took a nice 180# 6pt AL buck with, and a 7mm-08. No targets yet. Anything you ever wanted to shoot in a T/C can be felt in a Stryker 7mm-08! It is not bad. Muzzle blast is worse than recoil- use good ear protection and it is a walk in the park. Mine shoots 1 MOA groups @100 yds w/ WW 140gr Supreme ammo. (Note to self-be aware when shooting off the truck tailgate that any dirt that was stuck on your bedliner will now rinse off freely!!.) The strykers Custom Stocks cost a lot, but rubber stocks for T/C Contenders are common and cheap. Check PAchmeyer and Hogue. Good shooting !

Catfish · « **Reply #14 on:** August 30, 2010, 01:50:51 PM »

If you want a single shot go with the Encore. The recoil seem alot less and there is no trigger over travel screw to dig into your finger. The Encore will give you more velocity thn the Ruger because it has no gap between cylinder and barrel. I perfer the Encore when shooting from a rest and the Ruger when shooting off hand. I have killed alot of deer with an Old Model Ruger Super Black Hawk and several with an Encore. Longest with the Ruger abt.135 yrds and longest with the Encore abt 175 yrds. Both are good guns, just depends on how you will be shooting which would be best for you.

Tom W. · « **Reply #15 on:** August 30, 2010, 06:02:55 PM »

My encore came with a trigger over travel screw.... hasn't bothered me ...yet.

luckydawg13 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2010, 07:23:09 AM »

Quote from: Tom W. on August 30, 2010, 06:02:55 PM

My encore came with a trigger over travel screw.... hasn't bothered me ...yet.

I WISH MY PISTOL FRAME HAD ONE LIKE MY RIFLE

Tom W. · « **Reply #17 on:** August 31, 2010, 05:05:18 PM »

A decent gunsmith should be able to remedy that..

luckydawg13 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 01, 2010, 06:45:52 AM »

i will look into it i like it thanks

Richard P · « **Reply #19 on:** September 02, 2010, 08:04:22 AM »

The large framed single action revolvers are designed to roll up in recoil. Some will torque a bit. The t/c grip doesnt allow for the same recoil motion. Double action revolvers act differently also. Weight plays a part. T/Cs are relatively light and dont carry the reserve complement of ammo.
If you shot a 10'' t/c in 30-30 with factory ammo you can appreciate the same effect. Pachmayr grips do help. At times you can feel differences in the recoil pulse. Heavy bullets that dont move as fast will contribute to the roll rather than the snap. Gloves may help moderate the transfer of motion to the hand and wrist.
There are nerves in the wrist as well as the cartilage that gets compressed at each shot. We ought to think more about not damaging the nerves (for those who shoot a lot of full power loads).

smong2000 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 02, 2010, 02:49:10 PM »

Seems to be a bad word with a lot of folks, but I have a 14" muzzle braked .35 Rem and with Hornady Leverlution 200 gr bullets there's no real back thrust or lift at all. You just feel kind of an impulse. Of course it's loud but everyone wears hearing protection anyway so no big deal. I shot a .44 mag 'Tender a few years back that was the same. My point is that a MB'd Contender will kick MUCH less than an unbraked .44 revolver but I've never seen a braked 10", not sure why.