629 or Redhawk?

Centella

Centella

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2023
Messages
126
Morning friends,
I'm currently searching for a good 44 mag DA revolver. The S&W 629 and Ruger Redhawk sound like goog options for me. The 629 sounds appealing because it is lighter, especially in it's 4" version. Rightnow I have a S&W 686 and a Ruger GP100 and I love them both...however after a couple of years I must admit I'm a little disppointed with the 686's build quality over time. While the GP100 remains strong and "in one piece" the 686 seems to be fallling apart. OK, not really falling apart but the screw on the cylinder release keeps getting loose and now the ejector rod keeps getting loose also. After 12 shots I have to stop and tighten the cylinder rod or it will come off (it happened once already). I know these issues can be fixed, but to me that says something about durability over time. Any advice on this?

Thanks!
 
I have a 5.5" Redhawk I bought in the mid '80s. Still going strong after 1000's of full bore loads. It is heavy and bulky compared to an N frame smith, but that helps with recoil. My N frames are 45 colt, 45 ACP, and 41 mag. I have a 657 (.41 mag) from the early 90's that's had a lot of rounds through it. It has held up well.
 
I had both a 5.5" Redhawk, and a 6.5" Model 29. Both are well built, you can't really go wrong with either one. However, I prefer the 29 since it's a little easier to carry. I ended up selling off my Redhawk, but still have the 29.
Screws coming loose can be fixed with proper torque, I torque all my sideplate screws to 10in/lbs, and the ejector rod should be torqued to 45in/lbs.
 
If high volume, full power magnums are your desire I would probably steer away from the 629. It's a great firearm, but s&w's get beat up a little from steady diets of heavy loads. I've had both a 29 and a redhawk, I actually prefer the 29 but the redhawk is what I still have. It's a tank. But it has an action like a tank too, nowhere near as nice as my old 29 was. A super redhawk has a much better chance at a nice trigger pull that the redhawk does due to the trigger and hammer spring design. The Smith is just a bigger s&w, and a great design for a smooth, sweet trigger.
So buy both, and a super redhawk too!
 
You answered your own question . I have a 4.2” Redhawk and it has a great double action trigger . I use to buy S&W until the ILS , then I switched to Ruger and have been pleased with them . I had my 4.2” GP-100 out awhile back and it rivals my 6” 686 in my hands in accuracy .
 
When was your 686 made and what generation? S&W build quality has been through some ups and downs over the decades.

I had a 629-6 with a 5" barrel that I really loved but had to sell to pay some bills in a hurry. My Ruger .44 is a Super Blackhawk, but my late friend Scott had a Redhawk back in the early 90s that he could shoot really well.
 
If you want to stop the screw from coming loose take the screw out and hold it with a pliers and wrap some plumber teflon tape around it, stops it from coming loose. The extractor rod I’m having the same issue on my 929 PC I took a tiny piece of the plumber tape and did the same thing and it worked.

As far as which 44 magnum to get I have a 629 Power Port, Ruger Super RedHawk and a Taurus Raging Bull. From my experience I would buy any of the three every one has been great , my favorite one to shoot is the Taurus Raging Bull. I really like the Raging Hunters that have replaced the Bull.
 
I have a Redhawk. Older blued. I have a shooting buddy with a model 629. The Redhawk is easier to shoot and is clearly more stout for heavy loads. But I would rather pack the 629 round the mountains and has a better trigger. They are equally capable from an accuracy standpoint.
 
The OP is being steered right, in my opinion.

I personally lean more toward the Redhawk these days. Modern production for modern production, the Redhawk is objectively better in most ways. The two (or perhaps three) knocks against it are weight, SA trigger, and appearance.

The SA trigger on the Smith is far better, and it takes a real master to get the Ruger trigger anywhere near as good. Chances are the local gunsmith can't do it - chances are that if you really want it done properly you'll need to mail it off to a "big name" and wait six months to two years. Of course, I am often accused of being a trigger snob, so it may be that the OP would be just fine with the stock Redhawk trigger.

Weight is either a good thing or it isn't. I would rather carry the Smith, and would rather shoot the Redhawk. And I would expect the Ruger to shrug off extensive use of hot loads that would kill the S&W.

Appearance is of course what it is. I have warmed up to the Redhawk over the years, but doubt it'll ever really get my heart racing.
 
The issues with your 686 are common to almost all revolvers. A little locktite will fix the issue for you.

I have a ton of respect for Ruger revolvers. I'd call the 686 and GP100 a tossup. But for what I want a handgun to do I'll take the Smith 629 in 44 mag. If I need anything bigger and heavier, I'll carry a rifle.
 
.38 Special said:
the Redhawk is objectively better in most ways. The two (or perhaps three) knocks against it are weight, SA trigger, and appearance.
Click to expand...
I love the look of them myself. SA trigger is ok, DA is very good, recoil is much more pleasant to me and not as sharp as a M-29. I have had and sold two 29s, still have my .41 & .44 Mag Redhawks, doubt I’ll ever get rid of them, even though my old joints don’t want to shoot them as much.
 
Centella said:
Morning friends,
I'm currently searching for a good 44 mag DA revolver. The S&W 629 and Ruger Redhawk sound like goog options for me. The 629 sounds appealing because it is lighter, especially in it's 4" version. Rightnow I have a S&W 686 and a Ruger GP100 and I love them both...however after a couple of years I must admit I'm a little disppointed with the 686's build quality over time. While the GP100 remains strong and "in one piece" the 686 seems to be fallling apart. OK, not really falling apart but the screw on the cylinder release keeps getting loose and now the ejector rod keeps getting loose also. After 12 shots I have to stop and tighten the cylinder rod or it will come off (it happened once already). I know these issues can be fixed, but to me that says something about durability over time. Any advice on this?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
There are all sorts of thread sealants on the market that will prevent this. Make sure you clean and degrease both threads, male and female, before applying.

Kevin
 
i just received a brand new flat top ruger in 44. not a redhawk but nevertheless. i chased disappointing accuracy with three different bullet weights, three different powders and various charge amount. long time reloader of 50 years. fwiw.
.....nearly all of the loads were shot back to back in my 6 inch classic 629. without a doubt the smith was markedly better. extra strength doesnt make up for poor machine work...ymmv
 
I had an early Redhawk in 44 Magnum, the greatest problem I had was finding rubber grips that fit my stubby fingers. One of the perversities with handguns, is that the larger the handgun, the larger the grips. Must be due to appealing proportions, but I care more about a grip that allows me to reach the trigger when held in the web of the hand. Forget what I traded that Radhawk for, should have kept it.

As I had N frame S&W's, I thought a gripper grip would work, so when this M629-4 became available, I purchased it

4oiCm5W.jpeg


at the time I purchased it, there were comments in the print press about dash 4's being exceptionally accurate due to chamber mouth diameters. Well it is very accurate, and I had to cut loads or experience overpressure, so maybe things are tighter than normal, but I love the single action trigger and how accurate it is. Pachmayr gripper grips did not have enough cushion for this pistol's painful recoil. But the Hogue X grips were reasonably sized, and nice to shoot in this pistol.

P7Jna9T.jpeg


Odf634z.jpeg


I don't shoot anything heavier than 240 gr bullets. It kicks enough as is. Screws will back out, and that's why I blue loctite sideplate and crane screws.
 
SRH for sure. After a few shots you will like the Ruger better. It is a little heavier to carry but is much sturdier and handles recoil better. I actually like a Raging Bull because it was ported for less recoil. The Smith is nice looking and maybe smoother. Looks great in a holster if you just want to carry it and not shoot much. Pretty face or long legs?
 
I bought my Redhawk back in the late 80's when I was about 16 (with my dad's help). It is a great shooter and has taken a steady diet of just about every type of .44 Mag loading. It is so durable, but son now shoots it and I am guessing his son will be able to as well.

AA74B48A-F7BE-44EB-9E4B-ED7BD5FA00A5 2.jpg

Here is a picture of me in the late 80's shooting the Redhawk in MT and my son shooting it about five years ago in our desert spot.

I also have a few N-Frames. They are older guns and shoot extremely well. I don't do any hot-rodding with them. They are for packing around the woods and shooting 250's at about 1100 FPS.

Smith has the new Mountain Guns with no lock if that is something that interests you.

Having said all that, I am waiting for Ruger to come out with a trimmed down Super Redhawk, similar to Bowen's GP-44. If they every do that, they will have a just about perfect .44 Mag.
 
red rick said:
You answered your own question . I have a 4.2” Redhawk and it has a great double action trigger . I use to buy S&W until the ILS , then I switched to Ruger and have been pleased with them . I had my 4.2” GP-100 out awhile back and it rivals my 6” 686 in my hands in accuracy .
Click to expand...
Yeah, my GP-100 is also a 4.2" and the 686 is a 6"...for some reason I'm more accurate with the GP-100....
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
When was your 686 made and what generation? S&W build quality has been through some ups and downs over the decades.

I had a 629-6 with a 5" barrel that I really loved but had to sell to pay some bills in a hurry. My Ruger .44 is a Super Blackhawk, but my late friend Scott had a Redhawk back in the early 90s that he could shoot really well.
Click to expand...
My 686 is from 2022. Key-lock and all that. It's still a sweet revolver, but the build quality feels suspect. I have also had issues with the action getting stuck for no apparent reason. The GP-100 solid like a tank on the other hand...
 
ECVMatt said:
I bought my Redhawk back in the late 80's when I was about 16 (with my dad's help). It is a great shooter and has taken a steady diet of just about every type of .44 Mag loading. It is so durable, but son now shoots it and I am guessing his son will be able to as well.

View attachment 1259849

Here is a picture of me in the late 80's shooting the Redhawk in MT and my son shooting it about five years ago in our desert spot.

I also have a few N-Frames. They are older guns and shoot extremely well. I don't do any hot-rodding with them. They are for packing around the woods and shooting 250's at about 1100 FPS.

Smith has the new Mountain Guns with no lock if that is something that interests you.

Having said all that, I am waiting for Ruger to come out with a trimmed down Super Redhawk, similar to Bowen's GP-44. If they every do that, they will have a just about perfect .44 Mag.
Click to expand...
Actually I'd love one of the new Mountain Guns, but I'm in California and they won't be legal to purchase in quite some time. Silly situation but that's that....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Ruger Redhawk vs. Ruger Super Redhawk
2
Replies
34
Views
8K
Peter M. Eick
P
rbernie
  • Locked
Ruger 'clunk'
Replies
7
Views
845
Josey
J
B
  • Locked
Your thoughts Super Redhawk vs S&W 629 Classic
Replies
16
Views
5K
Tony Mig
T
MCMXI
  • Locked
Value of a S&W 629 4"
Replies
8
Views
1K
243winxb
243winxb
S
  • Locked
Choice: 8 3/8" 629-1, or, 7.5" 657-6?
Replies
0
Views
487
Storm
S
Back
Top