Cheapest 44 mag?

KodeFore said:

What's the cheapest 44 mag out there? Looking for something for bear defense for camping. Probably wont shoot it alot.

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Do you mean the actual cheapest? Or just the cheapest that we’d actually recommend for consideration?

May seem counter-intuitive, but if you aren’t going to shoot it much, I don’t think the cheapest is what I’d actually recommend.

Taurus is the cheapest 44 mag you'll see suggested here. "Cheap" can mean low cost or just plain corner cutting cheap. Taurus falls into the latter...or both.

Either way, I'd save just a bit more and go with S&W or Ruger. In 44 mag I like the plain SS Redhawk in 5.5". I'd also happily take a 629.

You say it's for camping and bear defense. Not a time to go cheap. Buy once cry once. Smith or Ruger.

I don’t personally don’t have Taurus expirience but what about a ranging bull? Or whichever model it is. Something newer production. I think it could be had cheap and If you proved it reliable why not?

In other words.. “ real honest likelihood of bear encounter” VS. “reasonable reliability of a Taurus 44”

Buy a used ruger, you will thank me later. Taurus is probably the lowest cost new 44mag.

Taurus and smith both make medium frame .44 mags, cost difference is about 300-400 if I remember correctly.
A Ruger RedHawk will run about 800 new, again if I remember correctly.

I have a Ruger SBH in .44 mag, Ruger gp100 in .44 special, and Taurus 692 in 9mm/.38/.357.
I'm happy with all three, but the significant surprise is the taurus. It's reliable (bout 500rnds thru it with 100-150 being .357 magnums (and some really cute 9mms topped with 170 .355 Hornady spire points.)
It's frame size is a little smaller than the .44 mag tracker I believe, which also makes it smaller than the Gp100 and RedHawk. While I can't recommend one because I've never owned one, I'd be willing (and may) to buy one, for defense, as long as it test out reliable. I'll say this tho, full bore .44s from a gun in the Tracker, GP range size would likely not prompt me to practice with them often. My normal loads would probably be 240s in the 1100-1200fps range.

Why do you want something cheap, if it is meant to protect your life and than if you are not going to practice and shoot it frequently to become proficient why even buy it at all? You probably won't be able to hit the charging bear anyway. Just get one of the spear heads I see at sporting goods stores and make a spear, you may actually get to stab it once vs hitting it with a 44 magnum.

My first choice is the redhawk hands down BUT you can’t find a new one right now ( when I looked yesterday ). I’d think you could find a new Taurus

shoebox1.1 said:

In other words.. “ real honest likelihood of bear encounter” VS. “reasonable reliability of a Taurus 44”

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I don't like either of those odds.

Used Ruger or Smith is the way to go.

I have a ruger and a smith, I also have a few Tauruses. I prefer the Taurus Tracker 4”. It gets carried and shot the most out of all of them. Throw some $20 hogue grips on it and you”ll have a hard hitting and completely controllable and comfortable handgun, cant say the same for the smith 69 personally as it doesn’t fit my hand no matter which grips I try. Rugers are great but heavy.

Mn Fats said:

Taurus is the cheapest 44 mag you'll see suggested here. "Cheap" can mean low cost or just plain corner cutting cheap. Taurus falls into the latter...or both.

Either way, I'd save just a bit more and go with S&W or Ruger. In 44 mag I like the plain SS Redhawk in 5.5". I'd also happily take a 629.

You say it's for camping and bear defense. Not a time to go cheap. Buy once cry once. Smith or Ruger.

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+1 on the 5.5" Redhawk. I'm looking around for one myself.

Are bears really THAT big of a concern? Where are you going to be camping?

Taurus Tracker 5 shot .44 is for a new revolver. IMO it's also practical considering it's a 5 shot, which means the cylinder is smaller and it weighs 35oz. The Ruger Redhawk is nowhere near 35oz.

EAA single action , or a good condition used Super Blackhawk
Both good options
A Taurus Tracker is a good option ...
Honestly QC is in the pits with all gun manufacturers.. so just buying a new S&W or a Ruger doesn’t mean what it used to be ...

Back to the Tracker .. frame size , it sits larger than a Medium K frame ,
but closer to a L frame ,,,
Another good option is a Charter 41 magnum

I’m not a Taurus hater but I have owned a few, shot many, and handled all of them and the only one I could recommend is the Raging Bull/Raging Hunter.

The last used Ruger Redhawk I bought cost about $200 less than a new Raging Bull.

Stophel said:

Are bears really THAT big of a concern? Where are you going to be camping?

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Are you trying to talk a member into NOT buying a gun ???
Isn’t that against the rules or Bible or something??

Alaskan Ironworker said:

I also have a few Tauruses.

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The correct plural form is "Tauri"

"BUY AMERICAN". For the $$ you will "" NOT "" do better than a RUGER !

KodeFore said:

What's the cheapest 44 mag out there? Looking for something for bear defense for camping. Probably wont shoot it alot.

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Most any single action will keep the cost down.
Get a can of Bear spray if yer a really cheap skate.... or just don’t camp in Bear domain

This...

ms6852 said:

if it is meant to protect your life and than if you are not going to practice and shoot it frequently to become proficient why even buy it at all. You probably won't be able to hit the charging bear anyway.

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And this...

South Prairie Jim said:

Get a can of Bear spray.... or just don’t camp in Bear domain

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No gun will protect you if you aren't good with it, and you can't be good without consistency.

I wish .. I wish .. that the GP100 44Spl was a 44mag

I think about the S&W 69 , Taurus Tracker ...
and the K’ish size frame Charter 41 mag
( Charter frame sizes are neat)
Smaller , lighter frames with big cylinders

I've used a Taurus (pre lock) for maybe 30+ years as a 'utility gun' kept in a drawer in the barn for 'just in case'. Only used it once (for killing) to shoot a possum that was eating out of the trough. It's still in a drawer ready to go (in case of another possum attack)

I would go with the Super Black Hawk personally. It's probably one of the best options cost wise and it's simple and dependable.

As to Taurus: I've owned a few over the years and still have two of them. None ever gave me a minute's trouble. The ones that are gone went for something I decided I wanted more, not because they didn't work right.

doubleh said:

I would go with the Super Black Hawk personally. It's probably one of the best options cost wise and it's simple and dependable.

As to Taurus: I've owned a few over the years and still have two of them. None ever gave me a minute's trouble. The ones that are gone went for something I decided I wanted more, not because they didn't work right.

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Good used Super Blackhawk is hard to beat ..
Mild to Wild ... Crazy simple , unparalleled dependability ...