44 Mag for Hunting/ Trail Gun

if you are only going to shoot normal 44 mag loads the sw will be fine, if your going to load hot the ruger is the way to go.

I like the Ruger blckhawk 7.5 barrel. Shoot 240 jsp and it has enough front weight to ease rise on recoil. Also like Taurus 6.5. Comes ported.

Personally, I'd have no use for a lower rail on a hunting revolver. Or any revolver really. Again, personally speaking, I don't like the looks of any of the revolvers listed. I know looks are secondary to performance and whatnot. But for me, I'd get a S&W 629 Classic 6.5" and put a mount on it.

Hunting and Trail gun mean very different things to me. For hunting I'd want a longish 6"+ barrel and the ability to shoot hotter loads. A trail gun needs to me much more compact and I'd sacrifice some power for portability. For that role a 3-4" barreled revolver in a magnum chambering would be my 2nd choice. My 1st choice is actually a Glock G29, but understand others prefer a revolver.

You already have your hunting gun, If I were adding another revolver to the collection I'd go with something smaller to use as a trail gun.

jmr40 said:

You already have your hunting gun, If I were adding another revolver to the collection I'd go with something smaller to use as a trail gun.

Click to expand...

Agreed.
The 4.25" Smith and Wesson model 69s are really nice and light. I've been drooling over them for a while now.

You kinda threw me for a loop there with the words "trail gun" in the title and then you ask about 7-8" PC guns. When I think of trail guns, I think smaller, lightweight guns that can also be used for short range hunting, in addition to critter defense. Not purely as defensive guns. For me, a .44Mag trail gun would be something like the 629MG or the model 69 that Paul mentioned. In a single action, a 3¾" - 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk. Or better yet, a similarly dimensioned .44Spl.

Glocks are often touted for their light weight but I don't think anybody ever looks at loaded weights. A loaded G29 weighs 32.63oz and a model 20 is a hair short of 40oz, according to the Glock website. By contrast, a 3" all steel GP100 .44Spl is 34oz, same for a 2¾" model 69 and a 4" 629MG .44Mag is 40oz. With its coarse sights, crappy trigger, short sight radius and limited chamberings, you've giving up a lot of utility.

jmr40 said:

Hunting and Trail gun mean very different things to me. For hunting I'd want a longish 6"+ barrel and the ability to shoot hotter loads. A trail gun needs to me much more compact and I'd sacrifice some power for portability. For that role a 3-4" barreled revolver in a magnum chambering would be my 2nd choice.

Click to expand...

Ditto.

My Mag-Na-Ported 6" nickel 6" Model 29 works great for taking down deer and hogs.

Likewise I find my 4" Model 29 a bit too big and too heavy for a Trail gun. The Model 69 keeps pulling me even though my Trail walks are done from the back of a horse.

If you're scoping it or mounting an optic, barrel length won't effect accuracy. Only time you'll going accuracy is with the irons.

If you do scope it , and hunting white tail and pigs, you're not going to gain anything with the longer barrels. A 5.5-6.5" barrel in a 44 mag is handier and will produce more than enough oomph for those critters.

With irons the longer sight radius is nice, but 5.5-6.5" still gives you a nice radius to work with.

IMO you gain more in handiness with the shorted barrels than you loose in performance.

Not to mention you have a freedom arms and srh, so your big friggin honking revolver niche seems to be filled. Since it sounds like you want a S&w, a 6" half lug 629 would fill a different niche. I think they're drilled and tapped under the sights aswell incase you want to mount an optic later.

plain-jane model 629 should fit the bill: https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/model-629

murf

I know you mentioned you don't want a Super Redhawk, but that is exactly what I'm going to recommend. This is a hard gun to beat, period. They have provisions for mounting an optic without removing your rear sight, so you can always press the open irons into service with minimal hassle. Plus, you can lean on an SRH and have no fear that it can stand up to a heavy diet of Model 29 destroying loads. There is comfort in that...

Yeah, they're a little homely, but there is beauty in their pure function. JMHO.

Huntolive said:

Actually I really like my SRH. I will consider that along with the 5-6 inch 629s. So will the 629 s easily handle hot 44 Mag or not?
Why does no one seem to like the three models of Performance Center hunting specific 44 Magnums by Smith & Wesson that I originally referenced?
Do any of you have one and have any experience with them?
Is there a performance center version of a
5-6 in 629? Is it worth it? I really do like my performance center 8 shot 357 and I definitely like the trigger and fit better of the performance center Hunter model I saw in the store better than the regular fit and Trigger of the standard 629.

I am not completely sure I want a 7 and 1/2 inch barrel it might be more fun to have a 5 or 6 inch barrel instead. Especially since as you've noted I already have to 7 1/2 inch 454s. But I saw this performance center Smith & Wesson 629 with the 8 in fluted barrel and almost fell in love: it's 1,050 used in fantastic shape or 1150 brand new.
But if I could get a nice 629 with a 5 or 6 inch barrel 4 round 800 they had a trigger and feel I liked that could be better.

How much difference does having the barrel ported or having a muzzle brake like some of the varieties have make, and one of the version says the barrel is compensated?

Click to expand...

I've shot my friends PC hunter, and almost bought the 8 3/8" performance center with top and bottom rails. Gun store had it there for nearly a year and told me I'd could have it for 950 plus tax. But I passed.

The hunter is a tack driver . But it's long and kinda bulky. But between the weight, rubber grip and the brake, it shot very soft. If you're willing to spend 1k on a 629 try to find an older pre lock one. Better craftsmanship and the trigger should be excellent as well. Not that I have a beef with the lock (my CCW 3" model 60-15) has one, but there is something to be said about those older Smith's.

As for hot loads in a 629 or n-frame Smith. Just say no! I don't have personal experience with one shooting loose, but it is said time and time again n frames tend not to hold up to heavy use. Standard factory 44 mags, sure but more than that you will be pushing you're luck.

As to why people don't seem to be recommending the PC versions, well they're kinda tacticool, barrels are long as hell, and some (IMO ) are just ugly ,lol. But lots of folks like revolvers because they are classics, so all the fancy stuff (brake ,rails, etc) doesn't appeal to everyone.

Lastly in regards to the PC longer barreled versions. If it we're me and my money. Why would I want to buy a big long revolver that's not going to hold up to big loads. It defeats the purpose. If I want to shoot the hot stuff I want a heavy gun the will handle it. If the gun will only do the standard stuff Id rather it be a sleeker handier package. Unless it's a dedicated target gun with iron sights, than a long barrel and a clean sight picture please!

Huntolive said:

Okay so where do I find one of the older model ones?
How Will I Know that it's worth the money?
What should I be looking for?

Click to expand...

As for finding older ones maybe on will pop up at one of your LGS. Could always watch gun broker or armslist . Problem with online is you don't get to handle it first. Big thing is making sure it has a good lock up, you like the feel of the trigger, and it still in time. As for what you should be looking for a 629-4 or older (pre MIM/lock) are the most sought after . I think 629-3'a have the endurance package. As long as their in good shape the older ones always hold their money, sometimes they cost more than new ones.
And if you're not sure about price you could walways check back here.

Edit to add: I don't have beef with the newer S&W's .nothing wrong with owning a new one, I it's not a bad idea to still consider it as long as it feels good to tou . But if you're looking for true craftsman ship and holding value ,than the older ones is where you want to be. This is coming from a Ruger guy, LOL. Also if you haven't handled a bisley grip Ruger, do yourself a favor and try to experience that before counting them out.

Searching gun broker is a decent tool to find out what ball park you'll be in when looking for prices. Sometimes they're high some times low, but should get you an idea. I'd be surprised if you could get into an anaconda for less than 2k.

https://www.gunbroker.com/All/searc...4 mag&PageSize=96&Sort=13&View=1&BuyNowOnly=1

I would think the 5" bbl. Anaconda would be about the rarest of the barrel lengths. When I have seen them for sale seems they all were way North of $3k. I saw one years ago for $850 and regret not
picking it up. That was a low price for it even then.