Considering a 44 Magnum

I own four .44 mags (that I can think of right off the top of my head). Well I guess I also have a .44 mag Ruger carbine. S&W 29 4', S&W 629 3", Ruger Super Blackhawk 7 1/2", and (of all things) a Herters.

One thing that occured to me early on is that the .44 Magnum cartridge seems to be very accurate. Every .44 I have ever owned seems to be above average in the accuracy department with any load I happened to be using at the time.

If you want to achieve the maximum power out of the .44mag then you need a Ruger.

Hey Jaywalker, even Harry Callahan shot .44Spl loads from his Magnum....

That's the great thing about the big cartridges. Because they are expensive to buy they pretty much demand that we reload for them. And when we reload it's just as easy to make "strong enough" loads for the majority of our fun as it is to make full power "wrist wreckers".

The great thing is that my own lower power loads tend to feel more like a big push than a sharp snap like I get from my 9mm handguns. So they really do provide a widely different sort of shooting experience.

Nut'en better than a good .44. Especially the older ones.



And I prefer the older ones to. And load them down to a 240 at 1000 fps or so.

Deaf

I've been playing with some lead 240gn SWC "plinker" loads that are intended to be up around 1100. Nice bump to the hands so I still know that I'm shooting a big bore. But easy to shoot all day long without fatigue or shock to the nerves from my big SBH.

Four .44 magnums

6" Colt Anaconda




4" S&W 29-3



6.5" S&W 29-2 GT Distributors




2.5" S&W 629-5 Camfour Distributors

Very nice array of Model 29's!

Yes, I love the crispness of the Smith triggers compared to my old trusty 7 1/2" Redhawk.

But my Redhawk has seen about 25 years of mostly H110 style 180gr JHP's running at about 95% of maximum load.

I did have a problem 12 years ago and had to send her back to the factory.
Seems I was getting light primer strikes. I made it clear to Ruger that I shot primarily handloads. Told them, "Do what ever you think is necessary to bring her back to race form" and I will supply the credit card.

The gun came back in a brand new box after getting a new firing pin, pin spring and recoil plate.


Total charge: $00.00


That's one reason I have so many Rugers in the safe, but when it came to ultimate power, I chose an S&W 500 8 3/8"!

I do carry the Redhawk anywhere I go on vacation or in the back country.
I used to carry with full power 240 JHP's and or JSP's.
Now I load my own 300gr XTP's.

Good luck and I envy ya for getting a new gat.


Dave

Although not directed to me, I have a similar 629 2.625" Performance Center and shooting full power loads though my little fire breather is nothing short of extreme pain with wood stocks. I love the gun regardless, but for range enjoyment, I feed it reduced power .44 Special loaded in full length .44 Mag brass or CCI Blazer .44 Special GDHP's in 200gr.

Jaywalker said:

Cocked&Locked, that snubbie looks tempting - short barrel, fixed sights, good grips. What's that like with full-power loads?

Click to expand...

It is not fun...painful. I've shot just one full-power round one time with those Spegel boot grips. They look good but don't feel good. Slow the 240 cast bullet down with a modest dose of Unique and those grips are OK.

When shooting the more powerful stuff I put a set of K-frame (yep, K-frame) Pachmayr Compaq grips on it.

Off topic, but here is the same type K-frame Pachmayr grip on another round butt N-frame snubby.

(627-PC 357mag)

That's the 627 PC I've been wanting for several months, now. My FFL simply can't luck into one! GB need not be mentioned. Envious, that's the exact same frame size as the 629 I mentioned above. I have an awesome customer leather holster for it, made by RGrizzle.

Picked this one up a while back but, not for the bargain price some others here paid. Where do you guys find them at such low prices?

Steve

I too love teh .44 mag. IMHO, the most versatile handgun ever made. I prefer Rugers but the Smiths are nice. I have a four inch Redhawk and I love it. It is brute strong. The Redhawk trigger sucks from the factory but with some work (springs and polishing) are quite nice.

I was just called by my LGS on Friday. I was told my Bisley Blackhawk Hunter just arrived after almost a year of waiting..... This is strictly going to be a hunting handgun. Like, I needed another large bore magnum... Luckily, my old lady does not have the combo to my safe. If she saw what I bought in the last year she would kill me

44 Mag

As revolvers go the 44 mag is my favorite.

Actually haven't found a gun I don't like.

But if were limited to just one I feel the 44 mag is the most versatile.

Really like those Colts BTW.

I realized a few months ago that I have all the handguns I need. I have a boat anchor hand canon, full size semiautos and revolvers for home defense and range fun, down to pocket sized revolvers and semis for CC.

I am now a purchaser that buys guns I want, and don't necessarily need.

So IMO, you need no support from us, you need no reason other than want if you have the funds available, and you are certainly aware of the utility of a .44 mag.

I say go for it, enjoy, and don't look back.

S&W or Ruger would be my choices. I've had all bad experiences with Taurus revolvers.

Just a thought...... This is a picture of the 686 Performance Center I just picked up. They do make a 629 version as well. If you can afford it, I think you'd love it. I haven't gotten to shoot mine yet though....... Work. It seems to me to be the most adaptable full size range/competition/HD revolver design out there except for maybe the Dan Wesson multi length interchangeable barrel revolvers from the past. And there is a noticable difference with muzzle heft when you start playing with the weight system. You can balance this gun many different ways.

I've had a burning desire for one of those for quite some time! Same problem though, I've never come across one that was priced low enough to overcome my budget constraints. Someday....

Picked this one up a while back but, not for the bargain price some others here paid. Where do you guys find them at such low prices?

Steve

Click to expand...

here's a pic of the M29-2 I use to own:

and here's my 5" 629:
and another of it next to a blunderbuss I use to have:

The 29 had the nicest trigger of any gun I've ever shot, but I wanted something stainless and easier to carry while hiking, and originally planned on getting a 4" 629. After handling a 4" 629 (and all the other S&W .44mags) though, I bought the 5" instead because it balanced so much better than the 4" or the longer barreled guns. It's my favorite handgun and probably the most accurate as well, but anymore I'm getting were I don't like big recoil and muzzle flash, so I haven't shot it for quite awhile now.

Just remember, the .44s are hard to handle as is so at least get a newer 629 with a blued front sight? The older ones with blued front sights are hard to see even with the red insert
Steve