karl,
i have a 4.25" redhawk in 44 mag lipsey model -yep feel your pain with the factory grips. shot several hundred rounds through it before switching to pachmeyer grips- totally tamed the recoil- mine will shoot lights out with both jacketed and hard cast lead as long as i do my part, i put a burris FF3 on mine cause the eyes told me to.
good luck with yours