Hi,
I hate scopes on handguns too . . . although please read my comments near the end for the ultimate deep woods rig, IMHO.
I once owned a nice old 3-screw Super Blackhawk in .44mag and hunted with it a few years. It is/was a great shooting revolver, but I never felt comfortable carrying it with the hammer down over an empty chamber . . . always fearing I'd lowered the hammer on a live round.
Those 3-screws didn't have a firing pin block in 'em like the one ones do, so this was a real problem . . . especially on the occasions when I cocked in preparation for taking a good shot but not having the deer walk into an open area after all. In those cases I was always less than confident I'd rotated the cylinder correctly.
Then I traded it for my current .44mag . . . a Model 29-5. The first full run of S&W M 29s with the beefier construction elements.
I've never looked back and don't regret selling that fine SB at all. Today it gives another pleasure, and I hope he's as thrilled with it as I've been for many, many years now with my 29-5.
I've lost count of the deer that have fallen to this combination pictured, especially with this particular bullet and loading by Federal.
Thus, I recommend a S&W Model 629 (stainless), or any S&W Model 29-5 or later blued revolver. They have superb triggers (which is so important). Also, a barrel of either 5, 6 or 6 1/2" would be just fine indeed.
Mine groups under 2" supported each time I test it from 50 yards.
Standing and
totally unsupported, I recently shot this 5-shot group at 50 yards. You can't ask for better accuracy than my Smith's trigger allows me to get!
Here's that target, a simple 5" black square. The two high shots were called flyers too, btw.
I'd seriously consider a red dot sight, or better yet, a HOLOSIGHT. Twice I've dropped three deer . . . including the third broadside in a clearcut RUNNING broadside at a paced out 65 yards. It disappeared (dropped in its tracks) before the barrel came down! The holosight allows one to keep their eyes open and carefully thread the needle in the deep Georgia woods I primarily hunt in . . . such as when I dropped this piebald buck in very thick cover . . . with a shot through the heart.
For me, it is my ultimate rig and I desire absolutely nothing else.
BTW, I now almost always only handgun hunt for whitetail. That's the confidence I have in my 1990 Model 29, the 300 grain thumper load and the first-generation Holosight.
