Which 44 mag?

[FOTIS]

I am really on the fence with this one, This one will be my most carried gun in the woods. It will have a max of 6" barrel and never wear a scope.
I am looking at Colt Anaconda, SW model 29/629 and Ruger Redhawk in the 5.5" barrel. Today I handled a 6" blued SW 29 and man it was sweet. When the guy said $1099(NIB) I flipped! Anyway I have found all of the above at very good prices but can not make up my mind. I am attracted to the durability and strength of the Redhawk but man those smiths are sure handier (smaller framed) and smoother as is the colt.

Anyway what do you say?

 

[Charlie-NY]

I have owned many 44mag handguns and each has its place. For a fairly compact gun that is carried far more than it is shot you would be hard pressed to find a nicer gun to own than a S&W with a 4" or 5" barrel.

If yopu want to shot alot or want to shoot HEAVY loads and aren't to concerned with the size/weight of your pistol than the Rugers are hard to beat for the money. If money is no problem and you are a bug about pistol accuracy than a Freedom Arms revolver would be my choice.

Right now I'm shooting the SRH because it is easy to switch from a scoped revolver to a "holster gun" and can easiliy be switched back again. However, it is much nicer to carry a smoooooth action 4" S&W for general carry while afield. If you prefer long barrels than you may just as well put a heavy frame behind it.

Just my opinion on the 44mag - By the way, I also enjoy shooting the newer Ruger 44mag carbine but that is another story entirely.

 

[TScottW99]

All three are nice guns and you won't go wrong.

If it was for me I would get the new Ruger Redhawk 4" and send it off for some action work. I really like the Ruger for a work gun, nice stout and built like a tank.

 

[whiplash]

Hey POP, you might want to look at what Taurus has to offer. My woods carry gun is a Taurus M44 (44mag 6 shot). I use to carry a Vaquero, but its weight was on the hefty side. The M44 has a 4in, ported barrell, and fairly light. Also, the Taurus Tracker is a little lighter with a 5 shot. And the price isnt that bad. I know a lot of people badmouth Taurus, but I have NEVER had a problem with mine, and wouldnt hesitate to purchase another one...

 

[FOTIS]

All three are nice guns and you won't go wrong.

If it was for me I would get the new Ruger Redhawk 4" and send it off for some action work. I really like the Ruger for a work gun, nice stout and built like a tank.

That is what attracks me to the ruger but I love the slickness and carry of the Smith.
Are the smiths strong enough or what?

 

[TScottW99]

The Smith will handle the good loads, I guess Ruger just has the reputation of taking above and beyond at times :lol:

 

[Guy Miner]

I've had two Ruger Super Blackhawks and two S&W 629's over the past 25 years. The Rugers were very stout and shot well. I didn't like the way the single-action frame and I handled recoil together.

The S&W fit my hand perfectly and I thoroughly enjoyed shooting them. One of my favorite loads was a 300 gr Nosler JHP at about 1100 fps, the other was a 240 gr Nosler or Hornady JHP at about 1200 fps. That 240 grain load was a sweetheart. Just a couple of hundred fps below max, but very accurate and easy to control, even in rapid fire strings. Lots of fun. Most of my shooting though was with cast 240, 250 and 300 grain bullets at 1000+ fps. Easy on the gun, easy on the shooter.

I hear the S&W isn't as robust as a Ruger and that is likely true - but it's still one heck of a good, accurate sixgun. I'm saving my pennies for another one 'cause a guy just shouldn't be without a .44 mag revolver! :grin:

 

[JD338]

Pop,

I have a S&W 629 Classic and use it to hunt deer around the house.
I load it up with the 250 gr PT and 21.0 grs H110. Shoots like a dream and is very effective on WT der and hogs.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

I am leaning toward the Smith.

 

[JD338]

I am leaning toward the Smith.

S&W 629 Classic w/ Leupold M8 2x scope

JD338

 

[Charlie-NY]

All three are nice guns and you won't go wrong.

If it was for me I would get the new Ruger Redhawk 4" and send it off for some action work. I really like the Ruger for a work gun, nice stout and built like a tank.

That is what attracks me to the ruger but I love the slickness and carry of the Smith.
Are the smiths strong enough or what?

In a word - YES - but that does not mean that the guns are equally strong. It is not all that uncommon for a shooter who shoots lots of heavy 44 mag ammo to shoot a S&W loose. However, most shooters just don't enjoy shooting a high volume of heavy loads so this does not happen.

Additionally, because the cylinders of the SRH, SBH and a few others are longer (and heavier) they can accomodate ammo that would not even fit in a S&W pistol. Long/heavy lead bullets need to be loaded out from the case so there is adequate room for powder and a sufficient area for initial combustion without causing excessive pressure.

I also believe that the lock-up on the S&W revolvers is not as strong as the Rugers & a few others. This would also limit your ability to shoot high numbers of heavy loads.

Lastly, the bigger, heavier revolvers are just more comfortable to shoot. Recoil is less and muzzle climb is often less too. But............ bigger, heavier revolvers are not nearly as comfortable to carry either.

NEW or USED - Lots of guys get into the magnum shooting craze and get out of it just as quick, especially if they don't handload. There seems to be plenty of used 44mag handguns available around here. If you can find one that is in good shape, it might be a betetr choice than a new gun. If you ultimately decide to get rid of it, you won't take the loss that you would have with a new gun.

 

[FOTIS]

Thanx guys I appreciate the input!

 

[FOTIS]

By the way guys when I am talking about heavy loads I am talking about 300 grain bullets at 1100-1200 fps. Loads that are listed in regular manuals.

I am not talking about the 10.9mm Ruger mag loads. For those who do not know those are loads using bullets like the 300 grain XTP (with 2 cannalures) with the bullet crimped on the bottom cannalure to increase case capacity hence powder and velocity. These are long loads but fit the cylinder of the Ruger redhwak Super Redhawk etc.

Anyway I am talking about regular loads for the SW.

 

[gldprimr]

I've had/used both the Ruger SBH & Smith and Wesson 629. Currently I have a 5" bbl 629 and like it far better than my Rugers.

I can't speak to the other revolvers mentioned as I haven't owned/used them.

Given the choice again - I'd get another 629. If you haven't tried out a 5" barrel, I like it better than either the 4" or 6". If you come across one, try it out, it may suit you as well.

 

[nomosendero]

For loads like the 300 @ 1,100 the 629-4 will take it fine!!

 

[Norm]

For those who do not know those are loads using bullets like the 300 grain XTP (with 2 cannalures) with the bullet crimped on the bottom cannalure to increase case capacity hence powder and velocity. These are long loads but fit the cylinder of the Ruger redhwak Super Redhawk etc.

I loaded some of the 300gr Speer Uni-Core's for my 2" Taurus Tracker, I could not use the bottom cannalure because it left them too long for my cylinder. I had to crimp using the small top cannalure, but it was poorly formed on the batch I had so it made roll crimping a real bugger. There was enough room for a full book load of powder using Winchester 296 using the top cannalure but the bullet takes up about half the case.

 

[FOTIS]

The ruger redhawks have way longer cylinders. You can get 1400 fps with 320 gr LBT's.

 

[Larry in SD]

In .44 Magnums I have had 7 1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawks & Redhawks. I have had a 4" S&W Model 629, and a 5" S&W Model 629 Classic.

For a holster packin Handgun I would personally opt for the 5" S&W Model 629 Classic. Man the 5" S&W Model 629 Classic I had shot great and the action was soooooo sweet. Once I found the right holster I packed great also.

On a different note, at one time I had both a 4" S&W Model 629, and a 7 1/2" Ruger Redhawk. I had cooked up a couple of really, really potent loads, one pushed a 180gr. Remington JHP out of the Redhawk at 1900 FPS and the other pushed a 300gr. Sierra JFP at 1330 FPS out of the Redhawk. Both loads used W-296 Powder.

Well we were horsing around one day and shot both of those loads (about a box of each) through the 4" S&W Model 629 without a problem. The cases ejected quite easily while pushing on the ejector rod, ie no sticky extraction. Now these loads were not nearly as comfortable to shoot in the 4" S&W Model 629 as they were in the Scoped 7 1/2" Ruger Redhawk, but both of us were amazed at the accuracy at 25 yards of these loads through the S&W.

Generally speaking, like has been stated most loads used for plinking and general purpose are not going to be super hot loads. In fact one of my all time favorite .44 Magnum loads used the 190gr. Bull-X SWC loaded with Unique to about 750 FPS. Another general purpose, plinking load used the 180gr. Remington JHP again loaded with Unique. Both of these loads in the S&W's were super mild to shoot and very accuracy.

To me that is the beauty of the .44 Magnum as it can be loaded to suit the shooters needs.

Larry

 

[FOTIS]

I bought a 5.5" Redhawk finally and I am happy!

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Glad to hear it Pop. You will really enjoy it. Since I used to live up in Wyoming, I just wanted to remind you about one of the state laws. It's illegal to own a firearm in Wyoming and not shoot it in the within the first 24 hours. If I remember correctly, they double the fines for 44 Magnums and Custom Savage's. 8)