I have a similar collection with a few changes. My 500 is a bfr, and another one in 45/70. The JRH also has a 50 AE cylinder, add a scandium 2" j frame 357. Contender 45/70 nonported barrel.
The bfr 45/70 is an easy shooter. The 500 mag with 440s I cry uncle with anything over 36 grains of H110, the max is 40.0. The JRH is an outstanding performer and doesn't beat me up, very easy to control. The 50 AE is nothing to worry about. Yes, the 329 with wood grips can be pretty brutal with full pressure loads. The 357 feels much the same but with a narrower backstrap that just cuts into the web of the hand, full house is painful. I have fired a few marlin level loads in the contender (not recommending for several reasons), once again painful.
Which is worst? Probably a toss up between the 357 and contender.
Ebner
In Asia, they load muzzleloaders with homemade powder and judge the charge by how far the ramrod sticks out of the barrel (measured by finger width) when tamping the powder. These guns are capable of taking down elephants. I borrowed a friend's gun and loaded it a little warm to see what it would do, That indiscrete gun turned into a raging monster when the trigger was pulled, the round ball shredded a 2" sapling and I was knocked backward onto my dignity. I didn't shoot it again (I didn't want to shoot it again!!) when I returned it he said " oh did I remember to tell you the ramrod is 2 fingers short
I had a Freedom Arms model 83 in 454 Casull. The barrel was 4 5/8 and particularly brutal.
My FA M83 has a 4.75 in barrel. I have an Encore with a 12 inch 454 barrel that I shoot 515 grain bullets from.
I shoot a 4 5/8" FA 83 regularly. My hunting buddy has a 2" that is brutal with factory Freedom 300gr ammo
My 3 inch 629 with full House 44mag loads will jar some fillings loose
I have the M&P 340 that is similar, just doesn't have the titanium cylinder (has a steel one instead). 13.8 ounces. It is definitely no BS with a magnum load, kicking far harder than any steel J frame. I don't find it unbearable with 1000 fps 158 loads, but I probably wouldn't shoot H110/296 level loads in it.
Hard recoil handguns I've shot:
X frame, 4" or so barrel .460 S&W Magnum. That thing is no joke regardless of load.
.500 S&W with the heaviest cast bullets will definitely put it into your wrist.
Any J frame, but especially the lightweight ones
Lightweight 3" or so .44 Magnum S&W airweight
What I haven't shot is the 2.5" Ruger Alaskan in .454 Casull, I bet that is no joke as well.
A Ruger RH Toklat 5.5" in 454 will give you a pop too.
Steve,
Life Member NRA
Colorado Rifle Club member
Rocky Mtn Gun Owners member
NAGR member
Hands down my 4" Alaskan survival 45/70 derringer... first and only gun to ever draw blood from my hand while shooting.. Hurt to make a fist for two weeks after that.. LOL. muzzle blast and concussion were very impressive to say the least!
SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM
12 gauge pump with a rifled slug!
IT IS A FINE AND PLEASANT MADNESS !
Most uncomfortable rifle:
Henry 45-70 with factory loads. Every bit of that recoil goes straight into your shoulder.
(By contrast, a .458 SOCOM in an AR-15 form factor -- shooting the same bullet and ballistics -- is downright comfortable.)
Most uncomfortable revolver:
500 S&W Magnum. I haven't even shot max loads yet. Just the "starting" loads -- like 50 grains of CFEBLK -- are something to behold....
Several years ago, John Taffin published an article on practice loads for big revolvers. That article has been a life saver for me. He listed loads for several powders each for .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, 480 Ruger, .475 Linebaugh and .500 Linebaugh. Bullets used were 300 gr. for the .44 Mag and .45 Colt. The 480 Ruger, 475 L, 500 L went up from there.
It has been awhile since I shot any of these with more than mid loads. I "celebrated" my 79th birthday last Sunday. I've developed arthritis in my right thumb which has diminished my total hand strength. Casting and handloading have enabled me to keep shooting these big bore guns. I've only got the .44, 45, 454C and 475L. The last 2 mainly because I wanted to own them. The Freedom Arms has extra cylinders which are used instead of the .454. I don't hunt so that didn't enter in to the decision to buy.
John
W.TN
I found out this weekend that a 41 mag loaded with 19.5 gr H110 under a 265gr MP from a 4-5/8" barrel RBH is a little hard on the middle finger, elbow and shoulder. They were running 1320 fps on the Labradar.
I've shot 500 grain Hornady's just a little over 1900 fps from a 14 inch barreled Encore.
Last edited by 44MAG#1; 07-13-2021 at 08:55 PM.
For pistol: 10 1/2” Ruger .44 magnum with full house loads and no muzzle brake! Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk I have now, in .44 Magnum, has a tremendously effective muzzle brake! Very tame to shoot!
For rifle: custom built push-feed Win. Model 70 in 7mm STW, about 9.5 pounds and no muzzle brake! Damned thing blurred my vision for about a minute and I never fired it again! Good thing it didn’t belong to me. My 7mm STW I have now is equipped with a Browning Boss so it’s a delight to shoot!
I firmly believe that you should only get treated by how you act, not by who or what you are!!
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |