Surefire,
One thing that the 629MG has going for it is versatility. You can load up shotshell for snakes, etc; .44 Russians for nostalgia; .44 Specials, a la the 200gr Gold Dot JHP, for PD; and, the .44 Magnums for hunting, if desired. Of course, .44 Russians are hard to find, with .44 Specials not that much more plentiful. Of course, Wally World carries the Magnums. If you reload, like I do, it is a great choice... that 629MG is perfect for 240gr LSWC/LRNFP's @760-800fps - even with wood stocks. Of course, commercial ammo is $18-$24/50, so it isn't quite in the frugal range.
If you want the best big bore bang for your buck, look at the .45 ACP S&W 625's. The newest offering, the 625JM ('Jerry Miculek' special), is a 4" full lug with the gold bead interchangeable front sight, hard-chromed trigger and hammer, and Miculek-style wood stock - a bargain for MSRP $27 more than a standard 4" 625. Expect to pay $600-$650 new at a dealer. I've had mine, my second 4" 625, since Feb, when they first came out. It is a deal. Mine also has chamfered charge holes, an aid to fast reloading.
Of course, they come with a few full-sized moonclips. You'll need more - and the nutdriver-style de-mooner, all available from Brownell's. The 230gr FMJ .45 ACP ammo can be had anywhere for $11 (Wally World) or less for a box of fifty... just buy brass cased. The recoil is mild, the round is very accurate - and it will knock-over any rebounding steel plate target. As it is a revolver, it couldn't care less what bullet you load. Those included Miculek stocks run $70+, and are sufficient for any .45 ACP recoil. Moonclips aren't all that bad... just have 'enough' loaded (You can't have too many...).
If you want - and can find them - .45 Auto Rims can be used without clips. Georgia Arms has an excellent pair of new-brass such loads - a 200gr JHP and a 230gr LRN - around $12-$13/50. They can approach a standard .45 Colt load - in a shorter case. The HKS #25 speedloader works with the .45 AR's - the moonclpped .45 ACP's are a faster reload, of course. You can put a handfull of .45 AR's in your pocket, too.
About quality... I have to save my sheckles longer - thus buying fewer revolvers - but I buy mostly new S&W's. Their lifetime warranty, should you ever need it, is fast and in your name. A call to their 800# yields a free pick-up label within a few days. You will have your firearm back in 7-10days, too. A friend didn't like the pronounced cylinder ring on his Thunder Ranch 21 earlier this year. He bought it new that way, knowing they'd 'fix' it. He shot it - and called them. They returned it in 9 days - with a new or newly re-blued - cylinder and an eased bolt. It has a hint of a ring now, as it should. Good folks.
I'd also suggest a 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt as a great shooting big bore, although they are not currently available new. Mine was my first-ever S&W - a new shocker from my wife several years ago. I would feel fine loading mine with any standard SAAMI spec .45 Colt. It is a far better revolver than the .45 Colt Redhawk for plinking. It points better - and has a better trigger (The Redhawk has a longer pull, too.). My 5.5" RH has a steady home - mainly because the 'big 'ol gun' can take nuclear loads (It did permit me to sell my first Ruger DA - a .454 SRH!). Of course, the very reason I began reloading was the .45 Colt... $18-$25/50 for 'Cowboy Loads' - and try to find them anywhere but a wellstocked gunstore. Still, probably my all-time favorite round... at least today.
Find something you like the looks and feel of... the price will be forgotten soon enough. Your enjoyment will increase!
Stainz
Didn't think so. 
