Best 44 or 357 under $1500 Go for it!

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Huntolive

Huntolive

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I’ve been collecting revolvers for several years now and it’s become a mild addiction:evil:
Over the years I’ve horse traded and upgraded my collection settling in mostly on Dan Wesson‘s Smith and Wesson‘s and Colts.
I do own one Taurus raging Hunter 44 the one that won handgun of the year 2019.

I mostly use 357 and 44 for deer hunting and shooting but occasionally Cary 357 for personal defense and just because wearing a model 27 or python/ king cobra Smith and Wesson or Colt on your hip just is cool.
I’ve decided a Korth it’s just too expensive or would cost me too make too many cuts in a good collection to earn a spot though I could reconsider this and reduce the overall number of firearms to make room. I’ve had V comp 44 on my radar for a while and I am considering more old model 27s or even a new classic model 27 and wonder how they stack up in terms of the quality of their bluing and so forth to the old model 27-2 or no dash

But I don’t want to spin this question in any particular direction so go ahead and throw curveballs and interesting to see what y’all come up with:thumbup:
 
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A clean Dan Wesson .41 or .32 Magnum isn’t a common sight and may, just may, fall into the $1,500.00 box you have set.

Stay safe.
 
Speaking from the SW world:

For collecting with high fit and finish a SW 27, 29, or 57 is hard to beat.

The more common non-magnum caliber high fit and finish without a magnum price tag to match is the SW 10, 15, 30, or 31.

For the quality and magnum power without the price tag is the SW model 28, 58, or maybe a 19.

For flat out shooting with current affordable collecting, the best of both world’s with the quality, power, and old world craftsmanship is the early stainless models such as the 625, 627, 629, 65, 64, or 66. The 686 and 66 costs are rapidly going up though…

Ruger collecting has not taken off hard yet. The early 80s Redhawks (.357 Magnum) and Speed Six (9mm) are likely the big collectors items for the next few years.
 
I like the 8 shot N frame 357's.
V Comp (PC) and Pro Series.

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Love my 629 Mountain Gun! But if you want 44 mag "Ruger only" power the Redhawk is the way to go!
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For Whitetail, I cant think of any 44's better suited than a Super Blackhawk Hunter! (Haven't used it ...yet)
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I will have to say that I am more than Pleased with my 629 Deluxe 3”. Picked mine up for less than 1K. It’s a super shooter, the 3” round butt is perfect. I thought I was going to really hate the Hillary hole, I got over it. About 800 rounds in the action is smoothing up nicely on its own. It comes polished but I am sure it can be stepped up to mirror shine if you so desire. I have shot factory 240 Grain, 255 Keiths at 1100 fps and my favorite Skeeter Special load at 950. The Skeeter load is a one hole in the target affair.
 
I vote for the Dan Wesson in either 44 or 357. I have a 357 DW and it's extremely accurate and well made plus it has interchangeable barrels. If the opportunity rises I would buy another in 44 Mag in a heartbeat. They are not cheap but I think either one can be found used but in nice shape within the OP's price range.
 
wcwhitey said:
I will have to say that I am more than Pleased with my 629 Deluxe 3”. Picked mine up for less than 1K. It’s a super shooter, the 3” round butt is perfect.
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Not too often in one of the forums that I run across someone with a RB 3" 629. Downright rare, aamof. :)

I bought my NIB 629-1 in the late '80s. My favorite holster is a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake that I got a few years ago.

It is more accurate than I and does well with both magnums and specials.
 
Huntolive said:
I’ve been collecting revolvers for several years now and it’s become a mild addiction:evil:
I am considering more old model 27s or even a new classic model 27 and wonder how they stack up in terms of the quality of their bluing and so forth to the old model 27-2 or no dash

But I don’t want to go to this question in any particular direction so go ahead and throw curveballs and interesting to see what y’all come up with:thumbup:
Click to expand...
The only one of these that I paid more than $1500 for is the M27-2 ($1700). All of these range from 1967 to 1981, and you won't find any S&W with a better fit and finish than from that era. Top to bottom, a nickel M29-2 from 1979, a M58 from 1967, a M57 from 1968, a M27-2 from 1977, a M28-2 from 1973, a M19-3 from 1974, a M66-1 from 1981, and a M48-4 from 1980. When I bought each one, the M29-2, M58, M27-2 and M66-1 were all NIB and unfired (Only the M29-2 remains unfired). The M29-2 and M27-2 came in presentation cases. Of all of them, the M57 is the only one I don't have the original factory stocks for. All but the M19-3 were bought in the last three years, so their prices sort of reflect the crazy rise in value of late. You can't go wrong with any of these in a collection. BTW, the price tag in the M66-1 box picture is its new-in-1981 price, not what I paid, and the label on the box fell off when I bought it and I accidentally put it back on upside-down.
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Mark_Mark said:
Just get a Glock!
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Oh, Puh-leez. o_O
 
GBExpat said:
Not too often in one of the forums that I run across someone with a RB 3" 629. Downright rare, aamof. :)

I bought my NIB 629-1 in the late '80s. My favorite holster is a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake that I got a few years ago.

It is more accurate than I and does well with both magnums and specials.
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It a current production model. I have seen it referred to as the Talo and Deluxe!
 

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wcwhitey said:
It a current production model. I have seen it referred to as the Talo and Deluxe!
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Thats the sort of thing Im always looking for, and rarely find locally. Seems around here, people like their handguns with long barrels, and because of it, I seem to keep making out with the shorter barrels I prefer. Although this past year or so, everything has been moving pretty good. :)

A few years back, I picked up a nice 696 44 special that was a Lew Horton run for around $900. 3" 5 shot L frame, with a "from the factory" Mag Na Ported barrel. Wouldnt mind coming across more like that and what you have.

The older S&W's have really started going up the past couple of years. A lot of things that were barely making $400 a few years back seem going for around or over $1K now. Still, there are still nice ones out there for reasonable prices if youre always cruising around and the stars align. One local shop here has a decent older 29 for $1100. Its a 6" so not my thing. If it had been a 4", Id have probably jumped on it. Right now though, Im looking for 2"-3" 357's, 44's, and 45's.
 
trackskippy said:
The older S&W's have really started going up the past couple of years. A lot of things that were barely making $400 a few years back seem going for around or over $1K now. Still, there are still nice ones out there for reasonable prices if youre always cruising around and the stars align. One local shop here has a decent older 29 for $1100. Its a 6" so not my thing. If it had been a 4", Id have probably jumped on it. Right now though, Im looking for 2"-3" 357's, 44's, and 45's.
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If it had been a 4", it would have been more than $1100.

DR505 said:
I vote for a Model 28, and I voted with my wallet. Already have a 27, so the 28 was a natural.

View attachment 1027920
Early N Serial Number Model 28-2 shipped 1969

Though you didn't mention .41 magnum, the Model 58 is nice as well!

View attachment 1027921
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You did sort of what I did. I had a M28-2, so I wanted a M27 of some series to go with it. I had a M57, so naturally I wanted a M58 as a companion.
The .41 Magnums to me are a niche gun; something that sort of died on the tree throughout their production years, but now have a very appreciative following. That they had a relatively short production run when compared to the other big N frame calibers makes them even more a specially desirable gun to have.
 
Mark_Mark said:
Both these bad boys!

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I am a traditionalist when it comes to revolvers. I can, however, see the engineering thought in the Rhino, to put the barrel lower and the firing cylinder on the bottom, to decrease muzzle rise and change the dynamics of how those big boys shoot. But, being a traditionalist, I still prefer the looks and function of the "traditional" style revolver, like your Taurus. The Chiappa, OTOH, looks like the rail notches on the barrel are for a better grip when you use it to beat the hell out of somebody with it.
 
bangswitch said:
I am a traditionalist when it comes to revolvers. I can, however, see the engineering thought in the Rhino, to put the barrel lower and the firing cylinder on the bottom, to decrease muzzle rise and change the dynamics of how those big boys shoot. But, being a traditionalist, I still prefer the looks and function of the "traditional" style revolver, like your Taurus. The Chiappa, OTOH, looks like the rail notches on the barrel are for a better grip when you use it to beat the hell out of somebody with it.
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Lots Next generation revolver shooter are up and coming! I welcome all new & Old technology in the revolver industry. They are getting tired of Glocks
 
I had a 4" Rhino. It was a good shooter, but it had its quirks. With that little expansion chamber down at the gap, you really have to watch where that offhand thumb goes when youre shooting. They may be a bit different, but they are accurate, have a nice DA trigger, and are very shootable.

I dont know who might be getting tired of Glocks, but as much as I like my revolvers, they arent what I would choose to carry these days. I still like my Glocks just fine. :)
 
NorthBorder said:
No mention yet of the colt Anaconda. It falls into your price range.
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does it really?
Maybe in a year it will or if I hit the “Please order me one “ lottery

Or do you mean old anacondas?
If so I am pretty sure my Smith and Wesson’s and he was a Taurus and the Ruger Redhawk I have her better than the old anacondas but I would like to get my hands on one of the new anacondas
 
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