629 or Redhawk?

[jobu07]

I love my Redhawk, but if I was going to pick just one I'd go with my 629.

Unless I planned on sending a lot of super hot rounds downrange, then the added mass would be appreciated.

 

[WisBorn]

Hard to go wrong with either. You mentioned a 629 4". It would make a real nice walkabout gun.

 

[WisBorn]

Stopped at the Ace Hardware store this morning for some adhesive. Of course I had to swing into the sporting goods area. I looked at a 4" 629.... I liked it

 

[InTheSwamp]

Of those two, I'd go with the 629. Fits my hand better. If a third option is given, I'd pick the Super Redhawk.

 

[tallpaul]

Multiplicity.
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Traded the .45 Colt thougfh.

Why did ya trade the .45 colt redhawk? I have a 7.7 scope ring model I haven't used much yet... along with my .44 mags

 

[tallpaul]

I have another early 7.5 sy]stainless .44 mag and a .45 colt 7,5 with rings.... I have a 4 inch 29-2 top pic with a 45 colt I sent down the road thinking I did not need another round to reload for then picked up a few Blackhawks in 45 colt .357 highway patrolman below

 

[shoebox1.1]

But if you had a redhawk you could send me your stocks and get em back like this! These are my buddy’s that I did a Tung oil finish on. Turned out pretty nice

 

[tazbigdog]

Choice between the two, I’d go with Ruger Redhawk, hands down. Have one for years and love it! All 7.5”!

 

[Rock185]

I've owned both. But ultimately preferred the 29/629 guns.

 

[someguy2800]

Redhawk is an absolute tank of a gun. They dwarf a 629. If you want to take it to the range and shoot full power magnums until old age or carpal tunnel syndrome does you in, get the Redhawk. If you want a slim elegant revolver to carry frequently and shoot occasionally get the S&W.

 

[Varminterror]

My mind wants to share the same internal conflict, but I have owned several of both, and the first 44mags I ever shot were 29’s, so they hold a spot near and dear, AND I love a Mountain Gun, but if you open my safes today, you’ll immediately note that my wallet votes for RedHawks over 29/629’s, and further, votes for Super Reds over standard Reds.

If absolute magnum power factor isn’t a requirement, the GP100 44spcl is a fantastic option near this class as well, especially since you already enjoy your 357mag GP.

 

[someguy2800]

I wish they would put the Super Redhawk lockwork in a Redhawk frame or just make a Super Redhawk with the frame extending all the way to the end of the barrel. I just cannot stand the look of the Super Redhawks with the flag pole sticking out the end.

 

[Walkalong]

If absolute magnum power factor isn’t a requirement, the GP100 44spcl is a fantastic option

 

[tallpaul]

I forgot to say- my 5.5 redhawk was my first .44 mag and first had .357's dad had signed for that I paid for but this first purchase and pistol signed for as a 21 year old. loved that gun- still do. but I like the smiths also..

 

[Varminterror]

I wish they would put the Super Redhawk lockwork in a Redhawk frame or just make a Super Redhawk with the frame extending all the way to the end of the barrel. I just cannot stand the look of the Super Redhawks with the flag pole sticking out the end.

Technically, they already did. It's labeled as the Super GP100. It's just only offered in 357mag currently.

Of course, Bowen has been doing these for many years as the GP44.

But in theory, in 2025, a guy could buy a Super GP100, swap barrel and cylinder with a Redhawk (and internal pawl, since the Super GP isn't a 6 shooter), and have a GP44 with all factory parts. Same stuff guys have been doing with Super Redhawks in 454 Casull and Redhawks in 45colt for years. Same frame, just have to know how to swap barrels and cylinders, and correct the action timing for shot count in the cylinder.

 

[Boom Vang]

I have both. The new production S&W 629 holds up to magnums just fine. It's also more svelte. I've had Redhawks in 44 Mag in the past, but they are ponderous guns, and I think the S&W is better for outdoors carry. Trigger pull is also more precise on the S&W.



On the other hand, I recently acquired a Redhawk 4" in .45 Colt, so that I could handload +P with heavy bullets. The Redhawk is a tank, and for heavy bullet bear buster loads I prefer that.

 

[Show Me]

Be careful with penetrating locktite. It penetrates to unwelcome places.

 

[hemiram]

If I was going to be shooting a lot of .44 mag loads, I would go with the Ruger, but I shoot mostly .44 Spl, and I greatly prefer the looks, grips, and action of the 629, and I bought one a couple years back, a 629-1 to be exact. New? Probably the Ruger, unless S&W is making the 629 without the lock.

 

[Walkalong]

Just get an Astra and be done with it.

 

[someguy2800]

Just get an Astra and be done with it.
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What's your opinion on them vs a S&W?

 

[Walkalong]

I like mine, a lot, very similar to the S&W. For me it's a great platform for .44 Spl powder loads in .44 Mag cases.

 

[54Hawken]

My conundrum is similar, but with 45 Colt rather than 44 mag. I love the looks of both. The S&W Mountain Gun is lighter. The Redhawk will let me shoot higher tier 45 Colt loads if desired. Never hurts to wonder about both. Would like to shoot both at some point to help me decide.

 

[54Hawken]

Colt Anaconda 4.25” is on the DOJ kosher list in Ca,, that might be another option.

The 629 is my favorite.44, both my 6.5” power port and mountain gun have worked for me for many years. (I also had a 5”, but it too was sold for some bill or another years ago.) I also have a 4” .41 model 57, which is close enough.
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I don’t shoot maxi loads in my .44 Mag N frames, my usual loads use 10.0 grains of Unique under a 240 gr SWC. This has enough ooomph for me without being abusive to the guns or my hands.

The Redhawk I have is a 7.5” .41. I wish it were 5.5”, but I got such a deal on it I can’t complain about 2” of extra barrel. The action is good, not great, and it is a bit heavier than the standard-barrel 629 which can help soak up some of the recoil generated with stouter loads. In this gun I don’t have any hesitation with feeding heavy loads, they are built awfully sturdy.

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I had a 7.5” Super Redhawk .454, which had a decent DA trigger and a great SA trigger out of the box. The 5.5” is a tad shorter than the one I had, but any length .44 SRH is still a brute.

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These are heavy, very large-framed revolvers, there is nothing svelte about one. Over the 10+ years I owned it I never seemed to fire this gun much, and I had a 6.5” 624 .44 Spl I hated, so I sent them off to consignment sale land last summer and used the money on a nice 1911.

One other Ca legal .44 you might want to check out is a 4.2” Model 69. Same size as the L frame in a 5-shot .44 Mag. Mine actually is nicer to shoot than my 629’s, and carries a bit easier, too. Because it’s an L frame it has 5 vs the N frames 6 shots, if that is an issue.

629 Mountain Gun on top, Model 69 below.
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Good luck finding a revolver that fits your needs!

Stay safe.

I've never understood how a revolver can't be legal in CA, especially a big bore, but I guess I've never wondered enough to dig into it. I mean it's CA so go figure, I guess.

 

[jeff-10]

Ruger > S&W.

 

[Riomouse911]

I've never understood how a revolver can't be legal in CA, especially a big bore, but I guess I've never wondered enough to dig into it. I mean it's CA so go figure, I guess.

The “roster of safe handguns” list is a total joke. It’s strictly intended to create more hurdles so gun owners will quit buying guns.

Stay safe.