44 Magum, Smith 629/29 vs Ruger Superblackhawk

[flakbait]

Maybe these are just apples and oranges...

I am looking for for a 44 magnum to add to my hunting armory. I want a gun to carry in the woods to present whenever targets of opportunity present themselves, i.e. hogs, deer, armadillos...

There are no dangerous 4 legged critters in East Central Texas (no bears/mountain lions...just coyotes) so all shots will be single action. I will stick to regular loaded 240 grain ammo at standard pressures so I have no need for the hot and heavy stuff.

I have no plans to scope the gun and probably will keep all my shots under 50 yards or less. I will probably carry in a shoulder holster. My top two choices are these.

Ruger Superblackhawk 44 mag in 5.5 inch barrel

or

Smith and Wesson 44 magnum model 629 or 29 in a 6 inch barrel

I always liked Clint Eastwood. but I am not sure I am more impressed by Dirty Harry or Josey Wales. I don't own any single action revolvers so maybe I can get my cowboy fix and my 44 magnum fix at the same time by going with the Ruger. Price is not a big concern. I would appreciate your input.

 

[Kernel]

Having both a 5" 629 and a 5.5" SBH, I shoot the SBH way more often. I just like it more. The Smith has a better trigger, but in my hand the Ruger balances better. Comes down to "feel" and pointabliity.

 

[calaverasslim]

Wow! I understand wanting to shoot dangerous critters but an Armadillo?

However, either one will give you exactly what you want. I own both and if I had to choose, I would go with the SBH with a 5.5" barrel. My personal preference.

 

[sw282]

I have an 8" 29 & 4" 629 Mt Gn. Had a 10" SBH & 7" too. Used to hunt with Them both. I sold the 2 Rugers because I like the Smith guns better. I could also hit better with the Smiths too. Triggers were better on the Smiths too. My IHMSA scores were higher with the 8" M29 than the 10" SBH

 

[AKElroy]

I do not have a 29, by I do own a model 19, 686 and 340. I am a HUGE fan of the trigger on the smiths, (except the 340), and I dearly love the deep luster blue you used to be able to find on the 29. If you are shooting standard pressure rounds, I would probably go smith. If you are looking for garrett hammerhead type loads, I would stick with the Ruger. Both are excellent platforms; the smith is way lighter. I guess I am leaning towarrd the smith because I already have the Blackhawk, and I am going through some wierd nostalgia thing.

 

[BlayGlock]

Ive run into a few mountain lions here near Huntsville working on the Trinity River, but they aernt very common. Bobcats are another story. Anyway, Ive had a 629 and my buddy has the Ruger. Honestly, I do not think there is much difference except in maybe price, and maybe the Ruger is more robust.

 

[Virginian]

My all time favorite 44 Mag is a Ruger Vaquero. Second was a Smith 629 Classic - liked that full underlug.
I could never find a SBH I really liked. Either the dragoon trigger guard or the hammer or something just wasn't right to me. I did try 5 times.
I had two Smith 29s shoot loose shooting nothing hotter than standard 240 gr. 44 Magnums, and a bunch of warm 44 Specials. One of those was a 4" that was good for carry.

 

[unspellable]

Choice

With the scenario given here it boils down to personal choice. The Ruger is more durable, the Smith has a better trigger, etc., etc.

The real kicker is, can you shoot with it? I can hold a much tighter group with the Smith than with the Ruger. I've friends who can hold a tighter group with the Ruger. My only explanation for this is that the grip frame and grips of one fit your hand better than the other. And that's like eyeglasses. Mine won't do you any good and vice versa.

 

[foghornl]

If you are going to be using the "just this side of Thermo-Nuclear Level" loads...the Super Blackhawk is the only way to go.

Prefer a Double-Action, and using the standard-power level stuf? The S&W.

The Ruger tends to roll back in MY hands whee shooting, while the S&W's had a lot of "twist" feel to them.

 

[Walkalong]

Regular Redhawk.

 

[Confederate]

The 629 will be easier to shoot and the gun will come back in the hand, albeit in a violent fashion, but it won't go rolling heavenward like the Ruger will. The 629 also will balance better in the hand and you should be able to acquire targets more rapidly with the Smith. I just don't like the grips on the Ruger in such a heavy caliber; it was really designed to be fired with one hand.

You might also consider a 5-inch Ruger Redhawk if they still make them. Just invest in a decent pair of grips whatever you get. And if you go with a Smith 6-incher, go with stainless steel as I think they hold up better than the blued. With factory ammo, the Smith should never have a problem. Its single-actiion drop is like ice.

For carrying, target acquisition and shooting, the Smith is the way to go, as I see it.

 

[batmann]

A better comparison is a Redhawk to a 629, but I like single-actions and you thinking of a Super Blackhawk is, well SUPER.
Both the S&W and the Ruger are great guns, but go with the BH, seems to fit well in Texas.

 

[kanook]

how about a Ruger SBH Bisley frame

 

[Stainz]

Besides a bunch of SA Rugers, I had a .45 Colt RH, .454 SRH, and S&W 625MG in .45 Colt. I liked the S&W best. I've only had a 4.6" SBH in .44 Magnum - and both a 4" & 6" recent production 629. All of the Rugers left by 5/08. No question, I love S&W. If you want to shoot SA, you can... DA, too! What about the hyper powered .44 Magnums? If you need more than a regular SAAMI-spec'd .44 Magnum, get a hotter caliber.

The 6" 629 has a partial lug - and points quite well. Like the 4"-er, with it's partial lug, muzzle rise is to be expected with warmer Magnum loads. They can be well-contained, recoil-wise, by using the X-frame Hogue grips from S&W Accessories. They cover that backstrap, making recoil/control better. If you are shooting Specials or Russians, wood grips are fine. Another attribute of recent 629s - you can remove one screw on the rear sight - then the rear sight. A three screw scope rail, like the SS on my 6" below, can be fitted, the extra two holes already having been bored and tapped. The scope is a 2x28mm Weaver H2 - which held up great on my .454 SRH and the 6" 629. My 6"-er sports those .460/.500 Magnum X-frame Hogues below.



My 6" 629 was fun to plink away at 100yd, both with my wimpy and real Magnums. The scope reminded me too much of the SRH - and it's bulky problems - it won't fit in a rug scoped. It's back to iron sights - and wood grips - and my wimpy Magnums.

Stainz

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Regular Redhawk +1

Put Pachmayr Presentation grips (no finger grooves) on both my RH and my 10" SBH. That helped both guns a lot. Also kept the SBH's squareback trigger guard from dingin' me.

I'm not a big S&W fan. Only one for three with Smith, though that one is an absolute sweetheart.

 

[paochow]

I have a S&W M29-3, Super Blackhawk Hunter, and a Super Redhawk. The Super Redhawk is by far the ugliest, but the most comfortable to shoot. The felt recoil is noticeably less than the other two guns.

All three are more accurate than I can shoot them. Given the proper concentration and ammo all can shoot sub 2" groups at 25yds.

I wasn't planning on scoping the Super Redhawk, but it is very accurate and really deserved some good glass. I ended up putting on a set of Hogue Tamer grips and a Leupold 2.5-8X scope on it and now the recoil is non issue, even with hot loads.

The M-29 wears the wood grips for nostalgia reasons, however changing them would likely cause a lot less hand pain. I don't run a lot of magnum loads through it as I've heard it wears on the gun more than the Rugers. Fact or fiction, I don't know. The trigger was by far the best stock (unless this one had work done?-bought used) Adding spring kits to the others, bought them much closer however.

The SBH Hunter is a blast, but I have issue with the grip smacking my support hand palm and leaving a welt with hot loads. I've tried different support hand positions but haven't found one that I like yet.

 

[woad_yurt]

I'll join in:
A plain ol' Redhawk.

 

[444]

I have a 4" Model 29, a 3" Model 29, and a 7 1/2" SBH.

I would go with the Super Blackhawk.
It is larger and a pain to carry in a holster when driving but it is far more rugged, just as accurate and just as easy to shoot well. I can't give you a real good reason why to choose one over the other, I can only give you my preference after having shot and owned both for over 10 years.

 

[MCMXI]

A 629 or Super Blackhawk ... that's easy ... the Ruger. The 629 is a decent revolver with good ergonomics but it's far from robust. I've had mine since '96 but I don't shoot it anymore. I already had to send it away to get it "rebuilt". As for Rugers, I have two Blackhawks, one Redhawk and I just ordered a Super Redhawk and I shoot them all with "heavy" loads on a regular basis and I love 'em. Obviously I haven't shot the "Alaskan" yet. All are in .45 Colt (SRH is in .454 Casull too) and the Blackhawks have .45 ACP cylinders as well.

I would recommend a Blackhawk if one was available in .44 Mag with a 5-1/2" barrel and stainless finish, but it seems that Ruger isn't offering that configuration at present. So if you want a new revolver, that leaves the Super Blackhawk which is an excellent choice. As others have mentioned, a stainless Redhawk with a 5-1/2" barrel would be a good choice too but you seem to want a SA if you're going to buy a Ruger.

Pity that you're set on .44 Mag or else you could get a stainless Blackhawk Bisley convertible with .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders ... kind of like having two revolvers in one.

 

[444]

I also had to have my 4" Model 29 rebuilt. It was done by Jack Weigand and when I got it back it is incredibly accurate. I now only shoot it with .44 Special brass, 13 grains of 2400 and a cast bullet.
I don't want to have it go TU again.

In my little 3", I shoot a monster load with a LBT cast bullet but I only used it to adjust the sights and haven't fired it again. It is a belt gun that I carry when hunting and don't shoot it recreationally. (Edit: earlier I said it was a 3" Model 29, actually it is a 3" Model 629). FWIW: I have a beautiful El Paso Saddlery holster for it

I have shot a ton of max loads (and even a few beyond max) out of the SBH and don't give it a second thought.

This IS a factor if you intend to shoot your .44 a lot.

 

[Rundownfid]

I don't think there is advise that we can give that is best for you, the question is so much a matter of personal preference. My advise then is to buy one of each use them and you will know which one is more agreeable to your needs. However, I doubt you won't keep them both, so cost better not be much of a consideration.

 

[AH-1]

I don't own any single action revolvers so maybe I can get my cowboy fix and my 44 magnum fix at the same time by going with the Ruger. Price is not a big concern. I would appreciate your input.


go with the ruger and I like smiths.I shot a 29 loose and also had to send it back for a rebuild.I had a smith 44 mountain gun and sold it as it was just mean with full power loads.
I reload and cast my own bullets so I shoot alot more than most shooters.
IMHO and its just that I think you be happier with the ruger.

pete

my newest ruger and love it.