Snub .44 Magnum Opinions

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guyfromohio

guyfromohio

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I have no other reason other than I think they are pretty cool. I am not a guide, but I do hunt deer with a .44 Mag lever action. I don’t need this. I want it. It will go in a Diamond D chest rig.

I’m down to a choice between two options. The Smith and Wesson 629 Performance Center and the Ruger Alaskan. Both in stock at LGS. Close enough in price to not be a factor.

Smith has the lighter weight for carry comfort. Ruger has the heavier weight for shooting advantage.

Does anyone have any experience with either? Any advice?

DBA6E30D-88E6-4D1F-B01E-7568BF61DBC8.jpeg
 
I owned the 629 PC for a good while and loved it. I only used it on the range, though, and with 44 special target loads. All my shooting was DAO. Very nice gun.

I like snub guns.

But I reluctantly sold it as part of a downsizing program since I also owned (and still own) a very old, nice snub 29 that fit my needs as well. Plus, the old gun had "history" with me that I wanted to preserve.

You would not go wrong with the 629 PC.

BOARHUNTER
 
Back in the day when I used to run a range we had a fellow who would come out from time to time to shoot a 44mag snubby with full-power loads. He could barely keep a cylinder full on the paper at seven yards, but I don't think he cared. He was mostly in it for the enormous muzzle flash and thunderous boom. I would put ear plugs in under my muffs when he showed up.

It's your money, but to my mind a great deal of what a 44 magnum can do for you isn't really gained with such a short barrel length.
 
guyfromohio said:
I have no other reason other than I think they are pretty cool. I am not a guide, but I do hunt deer with a .44 Mag lever action. I don’t need this. I want it. It will go in a Diamond D chest rig.

I’m down to a choice between two options. The Smith and Wesson 629 Performance Center and the Ruger Alaskan. Both in stock at LGS. Close enough in price to not be a factor.

Smith has the lighter weight for carry comfort. Ruger has the heavier weight for shooting advantage.

Does anyone have any experience with either? Any advice?

View attachment 926741
Click to expand...
Only thing I would ask is have you ever shot one of these? This is the kind of gun you often see used that has been shot VERY little. Someone buys one, takes it out to shoot and immediately finds out they do not like it. If you do great but, if you have not shot one of these snuby magnums I would try to rent or borrow one first to make sure this is really what you want.
 
Dunross said:
... but to my mind a great deal of what a 44 magnum can do for you isn't really gained with such a short barrel length.
Click to expand...
So true ... but ... a .44mag revolver can fire .44spl and an endless number of in-between loads up to and including full-boat magnum loads. ;)

My favorite for carry is actually a .44spl handload topped with a particular Matt's bullet.

2v2uKstJTxAW38L.jpg

EDIT:

BTW, I originally created that load for my .44spl Bulldogs but after trying it in my 629 I fell in Like. :)
 
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I haven’t shot that particular s&w, though I have shot s&w 29s.

I have shot the Ruger Alaskan in both .44 mag and .454 casull.

I’ve also fired a snub-ish (3.75”) Super Blackhawk, which I mention just as a point of reference.

My personal take is that if you want the .44 mag you will probably be happier with the Smith. The Alaskan seems to me like a better fit for the .454.
 
My 44 Alaskan is impractical, but its a blast! (Pun intended).
I had some spare GP100 grips I had on it for a time (pictured), after several range sessions with full house loads I went back to the Hogue "Tamer" grips. Much more comfortable and quite controllable.
The Smith is a fine gun, but for heavy (300+grn) full house loads give me the Alaskan.

Screenshot_2020-07-01-11-43-16-1.png
 
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Do you reload? If so, it'll be a great addition. Shoot the full power magnums as much as you want, then try light magnum or 44 Spcl loads in 44 mag brass. With different bullet weights and designs, the experimentation would be endless.

My choice was the 2.75" Model 69 which is built on the L-frame and holds 5 shots. New it was a little over $600 on funbroker. Seems like you want full-size.

Not sure I'd have bothered with one if I didn't reload.
 
OrangePwrx9 said:
Do you reload? If so, it'll be a great addition. Shoot the full power magnums as much as you want, then try light magnum or 44 Spcl loads in 44 mag brass. With different bullet weights and designs, the experimentation would be endless.

My choice was the 2.75" Model 69 which is built on the L-frame and holds 5 shots. New it was a little over $600 on funbroker. Seems like you want full-size.

Not sure I'd have bothered with one if I didn't reload.
Click to expand...

I did see an L-frame for about $250 less with a 2.75”. Considered that too
 
:eek:, just :eek:!

If you are going to practice with real .44mag ammo much, get the Ruger. If you are going to carry it in a chest rig, why not get a longer barrel? I guess I just don't understand your reason for the snub. I think you will find full power .44mag loads punishing out of such a short barrel-- possibly so much so that you will not practice enough with it for it to be useful to you. (my opinion only-- I shoot my .44mag full power loads out of a 7.5" SBH, and it's a handful!)
 
I own neither, so my opinion is probably worth less than what I'm charging for it...That said, I've thought about both, and for the power of the full house .44, if I were of a mind to buy one or the other, I'd want the weight and the durability of the Ruger, and that's the one I'm drawn to when I see one for sale.
 
drband said:
:eek:, just :eek:!

If you are going to practice with real .44mag ammo much, get the Ruger. If you are going to carry it in a chest rig, why not get a longer barrel? I guess I just don't understand your reason for the snub. I think you will find full power .44mag loads punishing out of such a short barrel-- possibly so much so that you will not practice enough with it for it to be useful to you. (my opinion only-- I shoot my .44mag full power loads out of a 7.5" SBH, and it's a handful!)
Click to expand...

I have a very nice Super BlackHawk with 5.5 that I hunt with. Like I said in the original post, this isn’t a need....just something I think is cool.
 
You might also consider keeping your eyes open for a used 329 night guard or 629 backpacker.


If I was feeling an itch for an absurd new gun for the use you describe I’d get a 329pd, but it doesn’t fit your criteria.
 
Given the current lack of quality of new S&W revolvers I would go for the Ruger if buying "new". If you want a nice DA revolver look for a pre 2000 S&W model. The new ones are a crapshoot and S&W can't (or won't) repair all of them.
 
I have one of each, a 629 and a Super Red Hawk. I'm kinda more into the longer barrels.

Mine both have nice triggers and are more accurate than I am. They both have nice sights and grips that are large enough for my XXL hands.

I would recommend get whichever fits your hand better. My examples are both excellent and I find it hard to recommend one over the other.

Smith and Wesson Model 629-5

Smith and Wesson Model 629-5


Ruger Super Redhawk

Ruger Super Redhawk

 
Tallball said:
I have one of each, a 629 and a Super Red Hawk. I'm kinda more into the longer barrels.

Mine both have nice triggers and are more accurate than I am. They both have nice sights and grips that are large enough for my XXL hands.

I would recommend get whichever fits your hand better. My examples are both excellent and I find it hard to recommend one over the other.

Smith and Wesson Model 629-5

Smith and Wesson Model 629-5


Ruger Super Redhawk

Ruger Super Redhawk

Click to expand...


I’m fortunate that I’ll be able to hold and dry fire both side by side.
 
I'm a big fan of big bore snubbies.

I have a 2 1/2 " 329, 2 3/4" M69, 3" M629 and a 2 1/2" Ruger SRH Alaskan in .480 Ruger. Of the 4, my favorite is the 2 3/4" M69. I shoot it as often as I can (several times a week on average). I'm trying to use up 5,000 240gr Zero JSPs bought a couple of years ago. My current range load is 20.5gr of A2400 under the 240gr JSP. I was out this morning and shot 40 rounds at various steel from 25 to 70 yds and had a blast. Mine are equipped with the Houge X Frame 500 grips (Tamers on the Alaskan).

You will loose some velocity from the shorter barrels which will also help mitigate recoil to some degree. You still have a very powerful short gun if needed. Here are some chrono results:


Bore, 305 LBT LFN HC rated 1,325 fps
Underwood, 305 LFNGC Plated (HiTech?) rated 1,325 fps
LabRadar muzzle velocity at 33 deg F Buffalo


S&W M69 2.75" ===> BB 1,195 fps ===> Under 1,147fps
S&W M69 4.25" ===> BB 1,276 fps ===> Under 1,248 fps
Ruger SRH 7.5" ===> BB 1,395 fps ===> Under 1,315 fps

I say go for the one you like best and load it with ammo you enjoy shooting for range work and T Rex stompers for more serious stuff.

Paul
 
paul105 said:
I'm a big fan of big bore snubbies.

I have a 2 1/2 " 329, 2 3/4" M69, 3" M629 and a 2 1/2" Ruger SRH Alaskan in .480 Ruger. Of the 4, my favorite is the 2 3/4" M69. I shoot it as often as I can (several times a week on average). I'm trying to use up 5,000 240gr Zero JSPs bought a couple of years ago. My current range load is 20.5gr of A2400 under the 240gr JSP. I was out this morning and shot 40 rounds at various steel from 25 to 70 yds and had a blast. Mine are equipped with the Houge X Frame 500 grips (Tamers on the Alaskan).

You will loose some velocity from the shorter barrels which will also help mitigate recoil to some degree. You still have a very powerful short gun if needed. Here are some chrono results:


Bore, 305 LBT LFN HC rated 1,325 fps
Underwood, 305 LFNGC Plated (HiTech?) rated 1,325 fps
LabRadar muzzle velocity at 33 deg F Buffalo


S&W M69 2.75" ===> BB 1,195 fps ===> Under 1,147fps
S&W M69 4.25" ===> BB 1,276 fps ===> Under 1,248 fps
Ruger SRH 7.5" ===> BB 1,395 fps ===> Under 1,315 fps

I say go for the one you like best and load it with ammo you enjoy shooting for range work and T Rex stompers for more serious stuff.

Paul
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! Good stuff.

i didn’t answer a previous question. I can reload my own. I’ll need to get some .44 pieces and parts as I only do 9mm and .38 right now. However, I bought a case of .44 mag a month or so ago. 500 rounds Rem 240 Grain soft points
 
I got to agree with 357 Terms, it's not practical but they are fun to shoot. I got my Ruger Alaskan in 44 magnum from my father. He's moving away from hot loads and big magnums, and I'm beginning my climb up the power ladder lol. I'll shoot 100-150 of the hot loads during a range session. Then I'll finish the day with 50-100 of my lighter Unique loads.

Take a 357 magnum snub with you at the same time. It will make the 357 feel like a 22 lol.

And practicality? Alot of the guns I own, I own just because. I bought a 45-70 for a range plinker. Ended up shooting 600+ rounds the first year lol. Hard on the shoulder, but fun none the less. Get what you like.

I don't think either is a bad choice, especially since you already know the limitations of the short barrel. You only live once. Screenshot_20200701-202640.png
 
I have a 3" S&W Model 624 (44 Special). Gosh it is a big revolver for such a short barrel.

I also have a 2-3/4" S&W Model 69. A bit more trim than the 624 but I'm not sure I'd want to shoot full power 44 Magnum loads in it. I load 240 SWC bullets in Magnum cases that hit about 1000 fps in a 4" barrel for the Model 69.

I understand the desire for compatible ammunition while hunting and a snub gun would be a bit easier to carry so I'd probably load hot 44 Special loads in Magnum cases for the revolver. On a hunt, if I exhausted the pistol rounds, I could still use the full power rifle ammunition in the revolver.

But, that's me.

Bottom line, though, short barrel revolvers are cool.
 
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