Saturday I traded my BFR .500 S&W straight up for a new .44 mag S&W Model 329 Nightguard. I had two .500's one being the BFR and the other being a Performance Center. I figured that I did not need two .500's and I did not have a .44. This Nightguard sure is light. Does anyone else have one?

Recoil

I tested a 329 PD quite extensively a number of months back and it shot well. The only complaint I had was the HIVIZ sights. While they were good out to about 25 yards, my eyes didn't like 'em at all out to 50 yards and beyond. I also expected the recoil to be stout but was pleasantly surprised even with the 320 grain loads that I tested.

I'm used to shooting some big boomers but I am wondering how bad this light devil will recoil. I am starting out with 180g loads so it should not be too bad.

Recoil

Me too. Perhaps to the uninitiated it's bad, but seriously I didn't find it offensive in the least even with heavy loads.

I'm thinking that I will be okay with it. I read horror stories about this gun and that. Most of these guns I own and do not find very offensive. I am excited to give this new toy a go! I will need to wait until my weekend starts on Friday however.

Recoil

I too have heard horror stories, but then I've shot them (.41 mag too), and was underwhelmed. Most folks have a much lower tolerance than us.....

Amen to that! I'll post my impressions after I give it some exercise!

Looking forward to the report!

Well I took the little beast out for a go last Friday. I was shooting 180g bullets ahead of 11g of Accurate #2. Actually recoil was not bad. After all a .44 mag is a .44 mag so I would not expect much recoil. I did get a blister on my thumb under my shooting glove but that was mostly my fault. I was shooting it single action and the grip would rotate in my hand after I would cock the hammer and I failed to bring the grip back into the webbing between my thumb and index finger. I only had 50 rounds with me. I am anxious to give it another go next Friday. I will try 240g Noslers next. I did have a hard time extracting spent cases so I loaded this next batch down a bit. I had to hammer the cylinder extracting rod with my stapler to clear the cylinder. I was shooting at an indoor range at 25 yards. After my first two cylinders I looked back over my shoulder and there was fellow standing behind me. He told me that he was observing the action from three lanes over and he said that flames were shooting a foot ahead of the muzzle. He asked if he could watch me shoot another cylinder full. I obliged him with another fireworks display.

Recoil