44 Magnum

44 Magnum

  • Raging Bull

    Votes: 6 4.0%

  • Ruger Redhawk

    Votes: 62 41.6%

  • S&W Model 29

    Votes: 38 25.5%

  • S&W Model 629

    Votes: 43 28.9%
  • Total voters
    149
  • Poll closed .
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MrDig

MrDig

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I currently own a Taurus Tracker 44 Magnum with a 6 1/2 inch Ported Barrel. 5 round cylinder.
After 10 rounds it's a problem to shoot. The gun feels way too light for the round in my opinion. A friend has a Raging Bull and I really like to shoot it compared to the Tracker.
So my question is this, Should my next 44 Magnum revolver be a Redhawk or a 29 / 629 Smith and Wesson. I'm asking because I'm not averse to a Raging Bull I'm just quite aware of the fit and function difference between Taurus, and Ruger and Smith and Wesson.
I really want a 6 in Model 29 but they seem to be made of unobtanium but I do now of a used 629 for a relatively fair price.
What should I do now?
 
The Bull is probably my favorite of the big bore guns I've fired (in .454, no less), if only because the grip design and the gun's weight do an outstanding job of taking the edge off. I still wouldn't shoot .44/.454 all day like 9mm/.38 or rimfire, but it's definitely manageable.
 
As an odd coincidence I took my old 6 1/2" 629 Classic to the range yesterday. I hadn't shot it in years since moving on to lighter and more powerful revolvers. Was shooting full power loads and it was no problem shooting 50 of them. Very controllable and accurate.

I have found Smiths to be more comfortable for me compared to Taurus and Ruger and I like the looks a lot better too.
 
I have a Ruger Redhawk & voted that way.
Rugers are built like tanks.
They can take whatever you throw at 'em.
Your Great Grandchildren will be fighting over this gun if you go Ruger.
 
I've owned both the 629 and the Redhawk. I no longer have the 629 because the cylinder was too short for my favorite hunting load. I also found the recoil on the Redhawk more manageable.
 
Voted 629 as more of those are lying around here than the others. A Taurus 44 8 3/8" that pre-dates the Raging Bull series has been around the longest, however. More rounds have been fired while hunting with the Taurus and it has proven to be accurate and reliable. It has taken brutal handloads of mine like 325gr flat nose over 19.5gr H110 - wouldn't want to put too many of those through a 629...

But I do like the 629, especially the Performance Center models.

The idiot in me has been eyeballing a S&W 500PC 10.5" w/ sling. Yeah... I need a pistol with a sling that is more powerful at 100 yards than the 44 Mag at the muzzle... It is lighter than a rifle...
 
Had to vote Redhawk. I don't care for the stock grips but that's easy and cheap enough to change. The Ruger may also be the best value of the group. Saw one last week in a gun store, more carried than shot, 7.5" with a 2x7 name brand scope mounted for $399, that's an insane value.
 
I have 6.5" M29 & M629s, but the M29 Mountain (4") has the most holster time by far. As a handloader I can load for a combination of power and manageable recoil for DA shots.
 
It's hard to vote since I like both the older M29's and the newer M629's. (although the M29 Classic does come in Nickel but they cost more too) I think I would look for an older M29, not the new Classic M29.

If you like a Blue revolver buy the M29, if you like a Stainless revolver buy the M629. I'm a Blue and Walnut kinda guy so I would buy the M29 but there's nothing wrong with the M629 especially since S&W makes a lot of different variations. I'm a huge fan of the 5" barrel for a Magnum because it's supposed to be the perfect barrel length to take advantage of the calibers power. The current production M629 SKU #:163636 is a 5" barrel revolver. The M629 is available in 2.625", 3", 4", 5", 6", 6.5" and 7.5" right now. The Classic M29 is available in 4" and 6.5" in both Blue and Nickel...
 
I voted S&W 629 because I have a 629 .44M Mountain Gun, but it is not for everybody. I like the Redhawk, but it will take some getting used to. I find them somewhat awkward to handle at times due to their sheer size and the way the grips are. If you like them and are not going to carry one, the Super Redhawk is a much better handgun than the original Redhawk. The Super has a different firing system, better trigger and much better grip. I have one of each and my 7.5" Redhawk sits if I am using one to hunt. My Super is very accurate with 300 gr HP. My MG is what I carry while hiking or camping.
The Smith 29/629 are the standards by which other mags are judged. No, they will not take mega magnum loads, but they handle better and carry better and seem to have a better trigger pull as they come from the factory. Before Ruger guys jump in and flame me, this MY opinion based actual ownership of both.
The Redhawk/Super Redhawk will take hotter loads, but if you need that much power you probably need a bigger gun---like a rifle.
 
voted 629, as I own one and love it. It is the stealth hunter model and a dream to shoot for a 44 mag. my neighbor does own a ruger vaquero in 44 with bisley grips and its nice as well, however im a smith and wesson man.
 
Iggy said:
Now that's just showin' off!!!:evil:

Beautiful gun..:) I'd be braggin' too.;)
Click to expand...

I know, that is a sweet looking shootin iron. Plus I like the Blued Finish on Model 29's.
I'm just old enough to think that good wood and blue is the way a gun should look.
By the time I save the money to buy a new gun I may have to sell off some silver to bump my budget a little. It's not relevant now I couldn't sell all of my silver to buy a gun so I have to pinch pennies for a while. Or maybe pinch pennies long enough to keep the silver for rainy day fund we'll see how things go.
 
I voted for the 629 as I personally prefer stainless but have owned several medel 29s in the past. I feel the action on the Smith is the best out of the box and helps me shoot it more accurately. I do shoot target loads instead of hot loads as I'm not fond of any more recoil than necessary.
 
Can't advise since I don't own any .44s, but I really, really want a Model 29 some day when I find one at the right price.
 
MrDig said:
I currently own a Taurus Tracker 44 Magnum with a 6 1/2 inch Ported Barrel. 5 round cylinder.
After 10 rounds it's a problem to shoot. The gun feels way too light for the round in my opinion. A friend has a Raging Bull and I really like to shoot it compared to the Tracker.
So my question is this, Should my next 44 Magnum revolver be a Redhawk or a 29 / 629 Smith and Wesson. I'm asking because I'm not averse to a Raging Bull I'm just quite aware of the fit and function difference between Taurus, and Ruger and Smith and Wesson.
I really want a 6 in Model 29 but they seem to be made of unobtanium but I do now of a used 629 for a relatively fair price.
What should I do now?
Click to expand...
How often with full loads are you going to shoot that .44? Once a week? Month? Year?

If you shot lots of .44s, I'd get the Redhawk. Shoot just some full .44 Mag loads, then the 629 (I have a 4 inch 629-3 myself.)

Deaf
 
Try the trigger on the 629, that's what sold me on mine. Mine has a 6.5" barrel and I shoot it often with "mid-range" handloads and some "stouter" loads.
 
Redhawk or Raging Bull, because you want a .44 mag that will stand up to a lifetime of heavy loads and not wear out/stretch the frame.

Plus, they're easy shooting guns.
I have a Redhawk and a Taurus Model 44. Bought the Taurus in '94, and the Ruger in '95.
The Taurus has a hand fitted action from the factory. Very smooth, much smoother than my buddy's 629.
The Redhawk is built like a tank. If you run out of ammo, you can use it like a war club.

The 29 is a beautiful gun, no question about that. But, if durability is the key feature you seek, the Redhawk, Raging Bull, or Colt Anaconda are much better choices.

If resale value is the key feature you seek, the Colt Anaconda and Smith 29 are your best bets.

You could do like I did. Handle them all and buy the one that looks/feels best to you. You're going to be the one shooting it, so you should buy the one that speaks to you when you pick it up.
Regardless of our opinions, we don't have your eyes, hands, or tastes. Only you will know which one speaks to you. If you don't know what I mean, you will. Just fondle them all and see which one seems like it was made for you.

For example, Bill Ruger must have had the exact same size and shape hands/fingers as me, because the Speed Six feels like it was custom made for my hand.
Likewise, the factory Redhawk grip is very comfortable to me. I put a Hogue rubber (feels like a dead snake to me, but a LOT of people like them, they are a popular grip) grip on my RH and shot it once. I quickly put the factory grip back on. There's nothing wrong with the Hogue grip. It just doesn't feel right to me.
I should probably sell the Hogue, since it's just taking up space. .44 Mag recoil isn't bad at all when fired from a 7.5" barreled Redhawk.
It's not like shooting hot 158 grain .357s from a Magna gripped K frame, or any 240/246 grain loads from a Charter Bulldog with the wood Bulldog grips. (OUCH!!)

So, go forth and fondle some .44 mag revolvers. One of them will make the voices in your head scream for you to buy it. All you have to do is listen.
Look at them and see which one looks best to you.
Then (more importantly, too) Close your eyes and pick them up. Your hand will tell you which .44 mag will be the greatest ballistic love or your life.
If one doesn't feel quite right in the store, it won't feel right at all at the range or in the field. Sometimes aftermarket grips will fix that, sometimes not.
 
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