Author Topic: What is your "HANDGUN RECOIL LIMIT" ? (Read 7985 times)

GhosTT · « **on:** December 27, 2004, 03:46:20 PM »

Dirty Harry once said---"A man has got to know his limitaions".

In my case it is a heavily loaded 44 magnum, either in my Ruger SRH, or my 14" Contender(both magnaported).

Living in Ohio, that's more than enough power, but....

I'm curious, what do you gentlemen shoot, and how do you handle the recoil?

Tc300mag1 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2004, 03:49:10 PM »

i can handle a 454 with no problems havent shot anything bigger ..

But a 357 tears me up and kills my hands usually the small grips that does it to me with full power 357's

GhosTT · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2004, 03:56:50 PM »

Guess I should add this then,

I have a .357 Ruger SP101 with a 2 1/4" barrel,
Put Crimson Trace laser grips on it,which don't absorb recoil like the factory ones do, but also had it magnaported.

Damn fun with full power loads
:eek:

Duffy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2004, 04:43:37 PM »

Haven't gotten my 338JDJ to hurt yet.

Did get that 454 to kinda bite a little though.....probably should have quit adding powder huh? :eek: Thinking around 40 ftlbs of recoil energy and 30fps of recoil should do it.

Dogshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2004, 04:58:37 PM »

I shoot 44 mags pretty often and after a box of 50, I've had enough for several days. Bought a S&W "Scandium" Air Light in 357 and shot ONE round through it and sold the gun the next day. If I would have had to use it to protect myself I would have been honest telling the intended victim that "this will hurt me more than it hurts you".

GhosTT · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2004, 05:00:21 PM »

LOL@DOGSHOOTER

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2004, 05:38:24 PM »

I shoot my BFR in 500MAG with 575 gr. bullets and it is a handful, but I find it manageable.

:eek:

crawfish · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2004, 06:10:31 PM »

I don't like .44RemMag, gave a 29 to son#2 for his birthday. Don't shoot my .45-70 to much either. I never thought I'd find a .41 that I wouldn't look forward to shooting long sessions with BUT that was before my 12 inch Contender .411JDJ showed up. That thumper doesn't take to many to numb the hands to uselessness. :eek:

xphunter · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2004, 07:20:00 PM »

7.5 inch FA 454 Casuall w/330 grain XTP's and a 338 Lapua Imroved pushing 300 SMK's. Owned the first one and shot the second one. Beleive it or not the 454 had much worse recoil.

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2004, 07:21:50 PM »

I have yet to fire a handgun that "bothered" me. I suppose if someone were to chamber a handgun in 460 wby, that would be my limit... :-D

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #10 on:** December 27, 2004, 11:33:46 PM »

shot Kelly Brosts .458 lott encore and lived through that one. So i guess i havent really found it yet!

Greybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** December 27, 2004, 11:46:13 PM »

Dunno about you guys but I have different recoil tolerance levels depending on the type of handgun.

I can take the most recoil in double action revolvers. For instance even small light weight .357 Magnums from S&W and Taurus Ti guns are no problem no matter the load. From double action guns .44 mags seem no real problem. Have fired hundreds in a day of full house stuff thru S&W N frame guns. In the Taurus RBs I've yet to find a .454 Casull or .480 Ruger load that is any problem for me.

Now single actions are a whole nother matter entirely. Using the older grip design ala Colt and Ruger BH and SBH I run into trouble fast. Even a .41 Magnum BH is pretty much my limit here. The Bisley grip design helps but only so much. With my Ruger Bisley BH .45 Colt I find 300s to become too much for me at around 1200 fps. I can do OK with 240/250 grains in it to about 1350 fps or so. In the FA97 the hotter Buffalo Bore stuff was to me just plain painful, often bringing blood on each shot. Same for the FA83 in .454 Casull when shot with the high end Buffalo Bore and COR-BON ammo. Without the scope they brought blood with almost every shot. Scoped I was able to shoot them enough for the purpose of the review but I'd sure not use them to hunt with. Same loads in the Taurus RB with iron sights are no problem at all for me.

In the Contender a 10" .44 Magnum with the old style wood grips that came with them in the early days when I first began shooting TCs was about as painful as anything I've ever shot. Would bring blood nearly every shot. This was iron sighted. A scoped 14" barrel in same chambering is a pussy cat and no problem at all. The .358 JDJ pushing 225s at 2300 fps proved to be more than I could handle even scoped. Unported it reared and twisted and my arthritic hands and wrists just couldn't hand on. With the SSK Arrestor brake there was no twist and no rise but it all came back into the web of my hand and I found I wasn't able to deal with that either. So I can't shoot the SSK hand cannons in the Contender.

I've only shot the Encore with the 7-08 round. It wasn't unpleasant but I also realized I was getting close to what I might find no more fun. I suspect I'd be OK at the .308 or .30-06 level with 150s and maybe 165s in the Encore but doubt I'd want to go more.

I have several problems that compound my ability to deal with recoil these days. My hands and wrists have arthritis really bad. Makes holding on a chore at times. Just can't grip like I used to. I also have a calcium deposit or bone spur or something at the base of my right thumb. For this reason I can't use wood grips with guns of much recoil. Even with a .357 Mag DA gun I need rubber grips. I like to use a very light hold on the grips of a gun and let it move as it will. For this reason the SA guns really give me trouble. They roll too far up too fast in my light grip and the hammer can really deal me some damage with heavy recoil guns.

palgeno · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2004, 02:57:03 AM »

To my hands, the recoil character is the limiting factor---like GB, caliber does not automatically decide what I can shoot or tolerate and still have fun. I enjoy shooting .44 mags of which I have three -two 629's and a SBH Hunter---got rid of the .44 mag Contender because it twisted and jumped and I guess I couldn't roll with it very well. I can shoot either of my FA .454's all day---love e'm---must fit my hands well and maybe my revolver style is to keep the arms "swinging" with the recoil. In Contender and Encore frames, 6.5 JDJ,338 JDJ, .375 JDJ, And .375-06 JDJ are all in the lineup--and go with no ports, 4 ports , and the SSK muzzle break on the big one---they all feel good to me---but I rest those when I shoot them. The WORST?

!!!! S&W model 66 with hot .357 mag loads. I love the gun, but not with the really hot loads!

:eek: :shock: pg

knight0334 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 28, 2004, 06:08:20 AM »

I honestly haven't found my handgun recoil limit. My side-by-side derringers with 3" mag .410 shells were a lil stiff, especially if you fired both at same time by putting the selecter right in the middle.

KYODE · « **Reply #14 on:** December 28, 2004, 06:44:55 AM »

1st shot with a 16.5" 300 win mag handgun was fun! :-D .........but on the next 12-13 shots the fun kinnda went away :cry:
i was shootin 180gr win factory loads, out of a factory 300win mag barrel that had been cut down to 16.5". i was using the factory walnut handgun grip. i bruised my whole palm/thumb......and it turned blue.

i installed a OTT "shark gill" muzzle brake, and she's very nice now. a rubber grip will help a great deal also.

i can shoot my 7 1/2" redhawk with full load 240's from now on without problem.

7-08....308 may be my practical limit in the single shots to remain comfortable without a brake :?

EdK · « **Reply #15 on:** December 28, 2004, 07:45:13 AM »

Quote from: cknight98

i've shot a 16" .45-70 Encore barrel as a handgun with 500gr hardcast Ruger #1 loads...

Is this even safe? In my load books their are no other firearms included in the Ruger #1 listing.

MePlat · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2004, 08:06:57 AM »

Lets not get into this subject of Ruger loads in an Encore as the Encore is chambered in 300 Win Mag. 375 H & H Mag and custom barrels in other high Pressure calibers.
The Speer data for the Number 1's only goes up to 35000 cup which Marlin users use quite often. Won't an Encore stand that?
The Hornady data goes up to 50000 cup and the 300 win mag goes 53000 cup
Do you see anything enlightening?
This is sure to generate only some dumb replys from many that don't use their heads.

jhalcott · « **Reply #17 on:** December 28, 2004, 08:07:16 AM »

like many others on this board I have some physical problems that dictate recoil limits. Carpal tunnel and arthritis! My 358 jdj when it was unported was too painful to shoot more than a couple times. My 45/70,15" barrel sits in the safe till I dust it off. 7x30 or 6.5JDJ and the Ruger 44 SBH are about my limit now.My rear grip 7IHMSA,wichita ,15" is easier on me than most of my T/C's

New Hampshire · « **Reply #18 on:** December 28, 2004, 11:37:57 AM »

Ill cry Uncle when Magnum Reasearch makes a .50 BMG BFR. :-D
Brian M.

Gregory · « **Reply #19 on:** December 28, 2004, 11:38:57 AM »

I find heavy recoiling handguns difficult to shoot well. I had a 35 Rem 16" Contender that was my upper limit, and a 260 Rem in an Encore. I did shoot a 45/70 Contender once.
I'd say the 44 Mag in a 14" Contender is about as much as I want to tolerate for a range session. I refused to shoot my friends 45/410 derringer.

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #20 on:** December 28, 2004, 12:27:03 PM »

Nothing like apples, oranges, pears and pineapples. The question comes down to the amount of repetition, sustained use, and load that the cartridge will be used with. This is all in addition to how the handgun is fired.

If you are shooting a heavy single shot and just hang on and keep if from falling to the ground upon recoil it will feel dramatically different from keeping an auto or revolver on target for subsequent shots. The material the grips are made of makes a difference and I really like those T/C rubber Encore grips, they take quite a bit of the sting out in comparison to other grip material.

I am OK with 30/06 loads in a 15" Encore with those grips, however it's not something you will plink away at tin cans all day with. Some of my 310 grain heavy bullet loads in a 14" 44 Mag Contender with the Rynite grips seem to have a little more hand sting.

cnTndr85 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 28, 2004, 01:57:23 PM »

Not sure I've reached my limit yet, but the 7 1/2" SRH 454 is gettin close!
Mark

mr.frosty · « **Reply #22 on:** December 28, 2004, 05:03:06 PM »

all i have is a 45/70 a 300 mag and a 480 srh i dont think they are too
bad havent tried a 454 or a 338 rum, but would like to just to see guess im still learning

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #23 on:** December 28, 2004, 11:31:49 PM »

reading this one reminds me of something worse then the .458 lott my buddys bond deringer .45 colt with 300 grain swcs with 23.5 grains of 110 have to admit that was beyond my limit of what i consider fun

Quote from: knight0334

I honestly haven't found my handgun recoil limit. My side-by-side derringers with 3" mag .410 shells were a lil stiff, especially if you fired both at same time by putting the selecter right in the middle.

knight0334 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 29, 2004, 03:43:16 AM »

it makes short work of a deadly watermelon...

Dragon31 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 29, 2004, 10:34:34 AM »

Like most of you I think that recoil tolerance is a factor of the particular gun and the caliber. The earlier ten inch contenders in .44 mag and wooden grips with open sights bruised my hand badly in just a couple rounds. Change the grips to decelerators add a scope as far forward on the barrel as possible, a hanger bar with a different forearm and its a totally different shooting iron. I also think that you have to factor in a couple other things.
1. How accurate you want to be. After a number of shots of a heavy recoiling hand gun my accuracy starts to diminish even when I can physically tolerate the recoil.
2. Size of your hands, I have little grub grabbers, with short fat fingers and short thumb. In a gun that comes straight back they take a beating.
3. Physical conditon of the shooter. I brought a souvenir home from South East Asia in my shooting hqnd that gets to hurting if I pound it to much to often.
4. Training that leads up to shooting the big stuff. I started the kids off small caliber, adding caliber size and bullet weight and powder in a progressive manner and they never had the problems that a some friends had when they just decided to go big time for the big bang.
just my thoughts

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #26 on:** December 29, 2004, 02:23:45 PM »

I am not sure if we are talking who can stand the most abuse, or who can't. Here is my song, shooting 44mags from a 7.5" SBH and a RH is not all that bad. WE are talking 240 jhp factory loads. Hand loading 240 Hard cast near max loads are ok (using padded gloves). I have a 5.5" Red Hawk that really hurt using these same rounds, and considered Mag Port.
Then I thought this my field carry gun, just load heavy 44 sp.
Well after trying to corner the market on 44 sp brass, I became aware that the more I shot the big bruisers the easier it was on me to shoot.
Jim

Spyro Andes · « **Reply #27 on:** December 30, 2004, 10:48:09 AM »

Hey GrayBeard,

Maybe you can help me out with thise one...

What is this maximum recoil of which they speak?

I am having difficulty understanding the question.

Thanks,

SA

compact45 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 30, 2004, 12:14:15 PM »

Well its like this for me: My Non-Ported 4-3/4" FA 454 Casull spitten 360 Grain Corbon Penetrators is real test of your tolerance for recoil and accurate shooting.

A friend brought over his 500 S&W and we shot that with 430 GR rounds...nice shooting gun..very managable. Then we got out the casull and loads mentioned above and I almost had to pull the front sight out of his forehead.

Handling recoil is not so much of problem but shooting accurately and handling recoil is a whole different ball game

Graybeard · « **Reply #29 on:** December 30, 2004, 12:26:34 PM »

Quote

Hey GrayBeard,

Maybe you can help me out with thise one...

What is this maximum recoil of which they speak?

I am having difficulty understanding the question.

Thanks,

SA

The question doesn't apply to you Spyro. Anyone who shoots a .416 Rigby handgun for fun doesn't comprehend what recoil means. Perhaps that .50 BMG someone mentioned might get your attention. I'ma thinking in your case when that barrel comes back so hard and so fast it bops you on yore punkin head and knocks you down, about the third or fourth time you're gonna say you've reach your limit. :-D