I have a 6.5" 22/22mag Single Six and a 4-5/8" .357 BH. A buddy loaned me his 7.5" SBH cuz I had the itch to shoot a bigger boomer...and I like it. But I'd like it a little handier length, 6.5" would be nice, but they only make it in 7.5" or 5.5". I shot a light 4" or so Taurus tracker and did not enjoy it at all. I wonder how the 5.5" would be, as well as the sq. vs. round trigger guard...input? I used to think .357 had a bit of recoil out of my short BH... after shooting the .44 it's not even there. Intended use is long range plinking, woods gun, hunting.

Thanks!

Forgot to subscribe.

Recoil is a personal thing and what I consider as mild you may say hurts like hell. On my hunting guns I use grips,they fill in the gap at the back of the trigger guard,both round and square back.My Rugers .44 and.45 with factory grips beat hell out of my knuckles so I have Pachmayrs or Hogues on all of them. I have 4 5/8 5 1/2 7 1/2 10 1/2and there is not much difference. Light is not the way to go with the big bores.If you think the .357 kicks go slow with the big bores, only a few rounds at a time from a heavy gun. Good grips help .

I'm not fond of the single action big bores for that reason. Bought a SBH Hunter and loved the gun, but hated to shoot it. Loved my SRH.

I have a couple of customs built on SRHs and I can tell you without hesitation that they kick a lot harder than single action revolvers similarly loaded. Let me qualify that statement. All of the recoil comes straight back and you end up absorbing it. Plus, the web of your hand takes a beating. That said, you just need to get used to it (get numb?). Sometimes I have ask myself why?? LOL!

When you put the Hogue Tamers on the SRH's it makes a huge difference in felt recoil. I could never get used to the SA plowhandle. The only SA's I own have the Bisley handle.

I have tamers on both my .475 and .500 Linebaugh SRHs and wouldn't use anything else on them. Had Hogue wraparounds on the .475 at one time and they weren't very pleasant. In fact, the factyory grips felt better!

I am no fan of the plow handle either -- it's okay on the lighter kickers, but when you step up in recoil, give me the Bisley.

I'm not too worried about recoil or blast really. The 7.5" is enjoyable, I just don't want a ton of muzzle flip. When I first started shooting my .357, I didn't like the muzzle flip. I kinda got used to it, and now that I've shot the .44, it isn't even there. The Tracker was just too short and too light I think. I found a 4-5/8" BH to try out. I think a 5.5" Bis would be sweet.

Muzzle flip is not the right way to look at it. There should be no difference between a .357 and .500 with barrel rise. You just need to hold the gun tighter and get over the "roll" stuff.
I seen guys shooting a .38 and .44's for show allowing the gun to almost hit their head. Some actually split the skull.
The right grips and hold will prevent that.
Are you strong enough to shoot the revolver? Or do you let it take control?

I'm a skinny 6 footer, but I work with my hands so I ain't no wimp. When I first started shooting, the .357 flipped, but after shooting the .44, I don't even notice .357. So I think it's reasonable to figure I can get used to the shorter .44, just not a light one. I think maybe being strong is only part of it, being big and having more weight in the arms and hands probably helps.

I've been shooting my Colt .45 1911 in Action Pistol lately which I think has helped a lot.

What started the whole wanting a .44 was I started actually liking recoil and wanting more...just not as much as that Tracker had.

I am 73 and find a .475 BFR and a .500 JRH, BFR easy to shoot which makes a .44 so far down for recoil it is silly.
A .357 or .44 can be NASTY so just change grips.
Even the 1911 from a rest can twist the wrist. I call it slide recoil.

Shot a 4-5/8" .44 mag BH tonight (pre SBH). I like it. I probably couldn't shoot it as much as a 7-1/2", but it's fun to shoot. I think 5.5" would be great.

Shot the Tracker again, still don't like it.

The lighter frame guns recoil faster,more jump to the muzzle. Less weight forward and less overall in the hand mean more recoil and faster recoil with more muzzle flip.Factor in heavier bullets and more powder and it goes up from there.I have a Charter arms bulldog 19 oz .44 that can get nasty, while the same load in the Blackhawk is mild,more weight and different weight distribution. Grips are an important part of the equasion to, as that is the contact point.I dont care for the tarus grips as they seem to want to tear the webb out between thumb and trigger finger. I do like pachmayrs or hogue, and have them on most all my revolvers.We all like lighter guns to carry, but for shooting comfort and control,I will take a heavier gun every time.

Found a 5" redhawk for 450...hmmm...

I would be all over that.....

Like flies on ....... you know ;-)

You could find an inexpensive SBH and have it shortened like I did.

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/botaboy/004-4.jpg

Well, looks like I shoot a longer barrel quite a bit better than the shorties. Std BH and Bisleys are comfortable.

Bisleys shoot left for me. Don't care for SBH dragoon grip/guard. I like the lower, wider, rounder SBH hammer. Looking into a 5.5" SS Blackhawk.

If I point-shoot, or just bring it up and point without using the sights and physically correcting for it, it points and shoots left about the width of the rear notch. I like the std non-SBH plowhandle best.

still

Trigger time and possibly a trigger job should correct this. Likely pushing the gun to the left with your finger while pulling the trigger.

I've tried it with multiple Bisleys, one with a veeery light trigger. It occurs before finger touches trigger. If I point without aiming and then check the sights, it's pointed left. Just how the Bis fits my hand I guess. If I ever by chance had to draw n' shoot in a hurry, I don't want to wonder if it's gonna go where I want...

Well it's a good thing we aim before shooting!

speak for yourself! lol