.44 MAG Single or Double Action?

[Eb1]

.44 Mag single action or double action.

Fun gun/some hunting/home defense

Your opinion?

 

[aHFo3]

I've gone back and forth on this question. I've never owned a SA .44 mag. I've owned two S&W .44's. I'm not a big fan of the classic SA grips. If I could go custom, I'd create a 4 5/8" Ruger Bisley. I think I'd be okay with SA .44 Mag.

 

[BCRider]

For fun and hunting go with a nice single action. The usefulness of the .single action for defense will be up to you in terms of how fast you can get in a followup shot with an SA. For some that's pretty fast. But I'd say that lower power loads that are in the .44Spl or +P power level would be advisable for defense just so they don't deafen and flash blind you if needed.

 

[Eb1]

Yes, it is a tuff question. I am still twisted between the .45 Colt as well. I think a good single action would be a good choice for me. Reason being is I love shooting my .22 LR/.22 MAG Heritage 7" barrel. That is the most fun gun, and is very accurate. Shooting sapling in half at around 20 yards with that .22, and Heritage makes a .45 Colt for a good price, and if I am not misunderstanding you can get some good .45 Colt home defense ammo as well, but also load some decent hunting loads as well. I know you cannot shoot the Ruger only loads, but a 250 grainer at 900 to 1000 fps is a darn good penetrating load. That is with a huge meplate bullet.

Am I missing something. Sorry to switch subjects. I am really not trying to, and the debate is still High Power Big Bore Single or Double Action Revolvers.

 

[BCRider]

You won't go wrong either way. But BOTH calibers just scream for you to get into reloading immediately if not sooner. The cost of .44Mag will quickly encourage such a step. And the rarity of .45Colt loads in anything but cowboy power loads will do the same if you go that route.

There's certainly nothign at all wrong with a nice DA revolver either if you find you like the fit of the grips better. It's just that with the power and expense of the rounds both of these calibers seem like they are suited to an SA platform.... or it may be the frugal Scottish side of me coming out...

 

[MachIVshooter]

Fun gun/some hunting/home defense

That last bit tips the balance in favor of a double action, IMO. I think it'd be hard to beat a 6" 29/629 for your purpose. Or a Ruger Redhawk/Super Redhawk, if you wanna push the limits of the cartridge and don't mind the extra weight and rougher action.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

DA.

SA grips suck.

 

[Walkalong]

I have tried to love SA, but I can't. It's really kind of a personal thing. There are some cool ones out there.

 

[StrawHat]

Eb1

...44 Mag single action or double action.

Fun gun/some hunting/home defense

Your opinion?

I went through a magnum phase years ago. Had a Ruger Super Blackhawk and a hald dozen S&Ws and a Redhawk. I have since sold them all and have gone to the 45 caliber revolver. Both SA and DA. If I had to limit it to one type, and self defense/home protection stays in the specifications, I would keep the 4" N frame S&W in 45 ACP. The SAs are good guns (mine are all Model P clones or C&B clones) but the S&W is the more accurate, easier for me to shoot.

Take SD/HP out of the mix and I might keep the cap and ball replicas but the S&W is still better for hunting. In my hands.

So based on my experiences, I would recommend a DA revolver for you and suggest you either hand load or get a good supply of ammo with which to practice.

Which DA are you considering?

 

[bhk]

Even if almost all your shooting is single action, you will appreciate a fine SW 629 with a 4 or 6 inch barrel. The single-action trigger pull is MUCH nicer than most single action revolvers, and it is much easier to load and unload.

I love shooting my 629 Mountain Gun. 95% of my shooting with it is single action (target shooting and venison shopping), but I shoot it double action just enough to maintain proficiency. It makes for a good, flexible platform.

 

[Landric]

If you are serious about defense use, get a DA. While I am quite sure a SA revolver can be used effectively as a defense gun, DA is much more suited to the cause. That said, I wouldn't use a .44 Magnum for defense anyway. Yes, you could load it with lighter .44 Special ammunition, but in that case, you could go with a much handier defense gun chambered in .44 Special. Most .44 Magnums that are designed for hunting are not ideal defense guns, be they DA or SA.

If you drop defense from the mix, I would go with the Super Blackhawk. If defense has to be an option, a 4" 29/629 seems to best fit the bill.

 

[Sam1911]

Here's a thread that might offer you even more food for thought: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=516772

And a few pertinent thoughts which reflect what most of the guys are saying here:

The biggest question would be, are you familiar, experienced, trained, and practiced enough with a single action revolver to be able to realistically use it close, fast, one-handed if necessary, if you intend this to fill a defensive role of some sort.

The procedure for firing all six rounds at an attacking animal or bad guy is pretty straight-forward with the [double-action]. (Actually, it doesn't get ANY easier!) As is the process for emptying the spent cases and loading six more.

With the [single-action] you're going to want to have practiced A LOT to ensure that you can run that gun in the manner, and under the circumstances, that you might need to if "trouble" finds you.

If you are a SASS (Cowboy Action) shooter, you may be faster with the [single-action]. Otherwise that's not likely.

 

[chez323]

Nothing is more fun to shoot then a single action revolver, I have 2 Ruger Blackhawks (357 magnum and 44 magnum) and both are blast to shoot. Very accurate, fun to shoot and can definitely be used for hunting. I've seen some knocks on the grips, but I for one like them better then the double action grips. My buddy has a Redhawk 44 magnum and I am more comfortable shooting my Ruger Single Actions. But with everything, its personal opinions and nobody's are the same. As for home defense, I feel pretty safe with my Blackhawk in my nightstand.

 

[Eb1]

I am into reloading now. Just have to get the dies for which ever I choose. I really like the 629 S&W, but at $800-$900 bucks local it I looking like that is not going to be the choice. I found a Heritage local for $370 in .45 Colt. I have a shot gun at the house and others as that can be used for my SD gun, but will probably have this pistol laying in the nightstand safe close by for a reach over gun.

 

[flipajig]

I fell in love with a SA years ago and now i have a SBH in 44Mag love the gun its one I will never sell.

 

[hardluk1]

I, like others love the look of a SA revolver They just feel right too. But for both hunting and a house defence gun i still like a DA. You might want to look to rugers redhank line. Stronger than smith (and heavier) but you can get the 454 cassul for serious protection in the woods and as a heavy hard hitting hunter. You can still shoot 45 colt and there and those loads can be low powerd cowboy up to Buffalo Bore's hunting loads in 45 colt. They are in the 44 mag range of power. For hunting to if you stand hunt you more than likly have had deer just show up under your stand before. With a single action you can scare off a deer just pulling back the hammer, but a DA just pull the trigger. I know, both ways.

 

[BCRider]

I'm finding that adapting to holding the single action plowshare like handle isn't as easy for accuracy and consistency as I found the usual double action grip. With the DA's I've shot a good and consistent patterning grip was achieved from the very first shots. Meanwhile I'm still working on adapting to the SA plowshare grip after a hundred or so rounds shot while trying to be accurate as opposed to the easy to hit targets encountered while shooting in the CAS matches.

This is certainly a case of YMMV in a big way. But if at all possible I would suggest you try shooting both types with a consistent cartridge to test this for yourself. It doesn't need to be a Magnum or strong .45Colt. It's just to test for how easily you adapt to the grip so something like a .38Spl or .357Mag would be fine.

 

[NMGonzo]

Not a carry piece?

Single Action.

Carry Piece?

Double Action.

 

[Legionnaire]

^^ This.

I like 'em both. Have a 5.5" Super Blackhawk that I converted to a Bisley, and it's my preferred range gun. For carry, it's a 3" 629-1. The latter hurts with full power magnum loads, but is great with stiff .44 special loads.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I use double actions but shoot them single action.

 

[Eb1]

That a good point right there.

 

[farscott]

I have gone back and forth on this subject. My first .44 Magnum was a Ruger Redhawk. Loved the round, but the Redhawk grip screw hole gave me blisters. Switched to Hogue wood grips, but the gun was not comfortable. Went to a Super Blackhawk. Good shooter, but the long hammer fall messed with my accuracy.

So then I went back to a DA gun, the S&W M29. Worked like a champ, but I shot it loose. Actually had the cylinder unlock and put the fired round back under the hammer when I went to shoot again. So I tried another gun, the Colt Anaconda. Could not warm up to it after being used to the S&W. Then I tried the Freedom Arms M83. Nice gun but too heavy in .44 Magnum. Fit my hands really well.

Finally dumped the .44 Magnum and went with a .454 Casull in a single-action.

For sport and defense in the field, I agree with getting a SA. For home defense, I think the DA gun is a better choice.

 

[Water-Man]

I've had Blackwawks, Redhawk, Super Redhawk and S&W 29 for hunting. I prefer the Super Redhawk.

 

[trstafford]

Hunting and fun gun single action

Home Defense double action you don't have the startle effect when hunting, plinking

 

[Haifisch]

My Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag w/ 4 5/8" barrel. Pure Sweetness.