.44 Snub Options?

[Stainz]

Well, a 2.5" became a 3" - alloys are a no-no - the S&W 696 is the obvious choice. Over eight years ago, mine was $439 new. I have shot it a bunch - lots of fun - with mild .44 Specials & .44 Russians. The X96 family has a small forcing cone with a sharp edge - they weren't intended for 'Keith-level' loads. There is a better choice... only weighs six ounces more. You also gain an inch in sight radius, another round in the cylinder, both a larger hammer & trigger, a real forcing cone, and a rating that exceeds Keith-level .44 Specials. I'm speaking of the 4" 629 - a 629-6 SKU #163603 - a .44 Magnum.

Below you'll see my 696-1 and 629-6:



The cult following for the 696 has made used examples actually more expensive than a new 4" 629. In my case, my 4" 629 will be here when the 696 is a memory. Sure - it's an L-frame, the 629 is an N-frame - but look at the actual size comparison above - and only a six ounce weight saving. Just a thought.

Stainz

 

[wgp]

Brass Rain, I think you'll find that there is a lot of difference between shooting a .44 Sp and .44 Mag. But I don't think handling recoil in my .44 Sp 696 is particularly worse than +P .38s in my 442. Have fun learning all this stuff.

 

[joed]

I've never fired a .44 Special or Magnum, but I can guess that they thump pretty hard. I wouldn't mind the weight, really, as long as I could keep it hidden and on target.

Big difference between the SPL and Mag. The Taurus 445 that I have is also ported. I've always been against porting till I fired this gun. I have 5 shots of .44 SPL and can easily squeeze off more then one shot before losing the target.

I own a few .44 Mag revolvers but have never fired a magnum round in any of them. I load my own and keep velocity down to no more then 1100 fps.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

S&W 2.5 incher

629-5

 

[9mm+]

Brass Rain -- if weight is not an issue, I do recommend that you give the Ruger Alaskan a good look. It shoots very well, especially for a snubbie, and the frame/grip configuration fits my hand very well. I wouldn't want to fire a couple hundred rounds of magnum at the range in one setting, but if you're shooting specials, you can do this all day long.

 

[Brass Rain]

Brass Rain -- if weight is not an issue, I do recommend that you give the Ruger Alaskan a good look. It shoots very well, especially for a snubbie, and the frame/grip configuration fits my hand very well. I wouldn't want to fire a couple hundred rounds of magnum at the range in one setting, but if you're shooting specials, you can do this all day long.

Looks neat and all, but that thing's not just heavy but HUGE. Six round cylinder, full-size grip, and it's 2 and a half pounds. I think it would be great if backpacking in Alaska where I might stumble onto something that can bite me in half and eat me, but I can't imagine concealing it.

 

[jfh]

"...but I can't imagine concealing it."​

Think about an SOB holster, combined with a untucked t-shirt, and an "overshirt" as well. Stand up straight, and it might work well for concealment.

Jim H.

 

[dispatch]

I have, and will always have a Bulldog and a Bulldog Pug manufactured in "STRATFORD.CONN."
If you can latch on to one of these go for it.

 

[jad0110]

I've never fired a .44 Special or Magnum, but I can guess that they thump pretty hard.

As long as we are talking about a steel handgun, like my 3" Taurus 431 pictured on the prior page, the recoil of .44 Special is best described as "moderate". Maybe a little more kick than .38 +Ps out of a S&W 686. No big deal.


.44 Magnum does kick more, but honestly if you are talking about a steel .44 Mag with proper fitting wood or rubber grips, for me the recoil is heavy but not painful. I was expecting much worse the first time I fired one (a blued 7.5" Ruger Redhawk). I now own 2 .44 Mags, a 5.5" Redhawk and a 4" S&W Model 29. I haven't fired the 29 yet, but the Redhawk shooting .44 Special feels like a S&W K Frame shooting very light wadcutter loads. And .44 Magnums from that heavy beast honestly have about the same felt recoil (for me) as 357s from my 686. But YMMV.

 

[NMGonzo]

S&W 2.5 incher

629-5

you win the thread.

 

[ElToro]

no triple lock ?

or a big boomer


i also had (2) 24-3 lew horton snubs that i foolishly let get away

nice fixed sight magnum C&L

 

[CSA 357]

love my 3 inch 624!

 

[schnarrgj]

Have been very happy with my STRATFORD.CONN. Charter arms Bulldog pug. Like said before if you can get one of the original charter bull dogs, jump on it. the recoil for the 44 Special is not that bad. However you know you shot it.

 

[Nasty]

I have both a S&W 696 and a current incarnation Charter Arms. I use the 696 for a woodsbumming gun and the Bulldog Pug for CCW. Both are fine firearms, although I expect the S&W will outlast the Charter Arms.