44 Magnum options

[Schwing]

I have been looking at getting a big and hefty .44 Magnum for some time now. I don't plan on hunting with it but I like the heavier loads. There is just something satisfying about hitting metal with nice stout loads.

I have been looking at the Smith and Wesson Performance series but have recently been toying with getting a Taurus Raging bull. The difference in price is pretty substantial so I am looking for opinions from folks who have experience with one or both. I have not been able to get my hands on a real live version of either so I can't compare triggers etc.

I want something with at least a 6 inch barrel but would prefer something around 8 inches. I won't be carrying it in my pocket or anything so I would consider weight to be a positive thing here.

 

[silicosys4]

I found myself in the same boat, wanting a .44 magnum for hunting and ringing plates, I picked a Ruger Super Redhawk with 7 1/2" barrel, and 2x leopold scope. I like it for its ability to take heavy loads. It's very accurate, and I enjoy shooting it immensely with hand cast reloads at ranges up to 100 yards so far.

 

[tommy.duncan]

I don't have experience with the S&W or Taurus, but, I have shot the Ruger Redhawk and Super Redhawk. My Dad is a 44 magnum fan. These are both very good pistols. They are less expensive then the S&W too.

 

[Reloadron]

Personally I like the Ruger and S&W flavors. I like my S&W Model 29 but the Rugers I have had were just as good a gun. I was never a Tarus fan.

Ron

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I have been looking at the Smith and Wesson Performance series but have recently been toying with getting a Taurus Raging bull. The difference in price is pretty substantial so I am looking for opinions from folks who have experience with one or both.

Just remember, you get what you pay for. The S&W 629 Competitor is what I'd look at given your desires.

 

[Deaf Smith]

If you are gonna stick REAL magnum loads I suggest the Ruger SRH.

It will last alot longer.

Deaf

 

[beatledog7]

The Super Redhawk is fine revolver, but the plain old Redhawk is a lot prettier and for all intents and purposes just as strong.

 

[Schwing]

If you are gonna stick REAL magnum loads I suggest the Ruger SRH.

It will last alot longer.

Deaf

I have glanced at these. I have a GP100 .357. It is, in fact, my favorite revolver at the moment. I won't rule them out but they seem to be very similar in feel and design to the GP100 and I am kinda aiming for something different just to shake it up a bit.

 

[BYJO4]

I prefer the action and looks of the S&W. However, if you are going to only shoot heavy loads, the Ruger Redhawk might be a better choice and would be definite preference over the Tarus.

 

[frankmako]

s&w model 29. ruger super blackhawk, tc 10 or 14 barrel too. some of the best.

 

[crazysccrmd]

My Colt Anaconda is a blast to shoot. It's accurate and the recoil isn't a problem even with heavy loads.

 

[peacemaker45]

I've not shot the Taurus, but the Smiths are very well put together, elegant and lighter than most .44 Mags, but not really suited to the heaviest tier of loads. Your other alternative would be one of the big Rugers, Redhawk or Super Blackhawk. They're a little chunkier then the S&W, but a lot stronger. Generally a bit cheaper, too.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

 

[gspn]

We bought a buddy of mine a S&W performance center Model 629 Stealth Hunter. We put a red dot optic on it after that. It is a LOT of fun. I've got several 44's of my own and I can say that it's always fun running the performance center gun. It looks like the type of gun the Grim Reaper would carry.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Colt Anaconda...Better than money in the bank.

 

[Eb1]

I have a Ruger 5.5" Super Black Hawk that is my favorite revolver. Handles the boomers well, and shoots the poof loads quite good as well. It is super accurate. I can hit a 4" Spinner @ 35 yards all 6 rounds of the cylinder with my hand loads.

Loading the .44 Magnum to 1150 fps with 240 grain lead from my 5.5" SBH is a great load to shoot all day, and will take down any deer I have ever seen at 50 yards.
I have loaded it up to 1350 fps with 240 grain lead and 240 grain XTPs. Those are fun to shoot too.

 

[evan price]

I made the same choices a few years back. I shot a Taurus Raging Bull and it was a perfectly acceptable revolver, the only nagging detail was the front crane lock requires a separate latch to open it, so you need to manipulate two things at once to open the cylinder.

Since I wanted to get all of the 44 mag had to offer I went with a Ruger Super Redhawk in 7.5" with a Leopold fixed-4 scope. It's a cannon with a handgrip. I can find them for well under $800 locally.
The Super Blackhawk in single action would also maybe fit your bill.

Otherwise it's a S&W 29 or 629 (pricey) or a Colt Anaconda (Way pricey).

 

[Schwing]

An Anaconda or Python would be nice... Just a little out of my price range. Can someone correct me if I am wrong but aren't the S&W 629s just stainless 29s? I have a shooting buddy with a 629 and It is one of my favorite guns to shoot. It is on my list as well but since I already have one I can shoot just about any time (a 629), I am leaning towards something else.

I have added a Super blackhawk to my list of candidates.

@ Evan Price. that second latch bothers me a little too. Until I can actually get one in my hands and see how hard it is to open, that is kind of a problem.

 

[Beach Nut]

I have the Taurus Raging Bull and it is a solid, accurate gun. It is heavy but is
surprisingly comfortable to shoot, even with stout loads. The only fly in the ointment
with the Raging Bull for me is the trigger pull but other than that I have been pleased
with it. If you are looking for a budget .44 Magnum, Taurus would be your best bet.
If money is not an object, the S&W Performance Series would be a nice addition to
anyone's gun collection.

As the previous posters have said, the double cylinder latch on the Raging Bull does
slow things down when you are loading until you get used to it. For me, it is not an
issue anymore and doesn't cause any problems.

 

[Schwing]

I have the Taurus Raging Bull and it is a solid, accurate gun. It is heavy but is
surprisingly comfortable to shoot, even with stout loads. The only fly in the ointment
with the Raging Bull for me is the trigger pull but other than that I have been pleased
with it. If you are looking for a budget .44 Magnum, Taurus would be your best bet.
If money is not an object, the S&W Performance Series would be a nice addition to
anyone's gun collection.

As the previous posters have said, the double cylinder latch on the Raging Bull does
slow things down when you are loading until you get used to it. For me, it is not an
issue anymore and doesn't cause any problems.

Is it just a heavy trigger pull? How is it in SA vs DA?

 

[Beach Nut]

It is a heavy trigger pull, a little gritty in double action, especially before I ran
a few hundred rounds through it. Now it is smoother but still on the heavy side
for my taste. The single action trigger pull is crisp and not so much different
from many of the other revolvers.

 

[osteodoc08]

For stout loads, a ruger blackhawk, redhawk or super redhawk without a doubt.

Smith is good too. They've made changes along the way to better handle the recoil long term.

Taurus' Raging Bull is their flagship model. Not bad, but prefer the others.

Honorable mentions to the Colt Anaconda ($$$) and Dan Wesson.

 

[hardluk1]

If you can find a 44 dan Wesson buy it. Great trigger long cylinder like the super red hawk and ragging bull. Option of changing of barrels length in minutes , grips mount of a post so thru custom grips with no back metal strap can be made or bought. Support for EWkarms for small parts and springs to custom barrels and shrouds.

http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c31.htm

 

[Arizonagunrunner]

5.5 Ruger Redhawk. Will be all you ever need in a 44 magnum.

 

[el Godfather]

Since this is posted in general and not revolver section, i am assuming semi auto is fair game- hence DE SS finish with 10" barrel with spare 6". How cool is that!



I personally have SW 629, RSRH and Anaconda in 44s. I guess I have for revolvers in 44 covered pretty good.

 

[Dorrin79]

I got bit by the .44 Mag bug earlier this year, and after a short search stumbled across a used (like new) S&W 629 Classic 6.5" at a local gun store for $650.

It is surprisingly pleasant to shoot (shooting factory .44 Mag ammo, not crazy handloads) and extremely accurate. The muzzle blast / shock wave puts a huge grin on my face every time I shoot it. Ammo prices are steep compared to my usual calibers (9mm/.45) though.

Downside is that it is basically a dedicated range toy, being so huge and heavy. I have toyed with the idea of getting a 4" .44 Mag (either a S&W Model 29 or maybe a Ruger Redhawk) but I worry that it would be very unpleasant to shoot. Still, if I ever come across one for a good price I might snap it up.