Battle of the 44 mags: Ruger vs. S&W

[IndianaDean]

Actually, I believe I'd pick this one....

 

[CAnnoneer]

Ruger Redhawk for me, please.

 

[larry starling]

I perfer the Anaconda from colt........

 

[bearmgc]

Have the Ruger and love it, but my favorite is my Taurus Tracker. I shoot more accurately with it.

 

[wanderinwalker]

When discussing Redhawk vs. 29, I put it this way: For durability, get a Ruger. For shootability, get a Smith.

I prefer Rugers over Smiths myself.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

I have to agree with this statement. I've owned a Ruger Super Blackhawk, fired a couple of others and fired a Ruger Redhawk. Any one of the bunch feels and looks more substantial than my 6" 629, which is itself a large handgun.

I prefer the Smith for it's action, though if I wanted to make a habit of feeding a .44 heavy 250+gr loadings, I'd get a Ruger and never look back.

 

[Sam]

I use handguns as handguns, carry them and silly stuff like that. Portability is what handguns are about so for me it'll be a reglar Smith 29, most likely a 4".
I can make the Rugers shoot and after you get a decent trigger on them they are fine range guns. Sit there and plunk away all day if thats what you want, way too D@mm big to carry though.
Gimme a Smith

Sam

 

[mjolnir]

The Redhawk can be used in emergencies to break through concrete walls and to pistol whip marauding bulls into submission. And after packing one on your hip all day your right pants leg will dragging in the dirt because your right leg will be 2" shorter. Reverse for lefties.

To simulate the feel of a Redhawk, take a sledge hammer, saw off the handle so a 4" stub remains, then saw the stub off and glue it right below one face. Pick up, hold extended in a shooting stance, and voila, that's what a Redhawk feels like. It's probably not quite as durable as the Redhawk, though.

If you need a revolver that will survive an Alaskan bush plane crash, get the Redhawk. If you need a revolver that will punch incestuous holes in paper while you sip tea with pinkie extended, get the S&W.

 

[cookekdjr]

And the winner is...

the Redhawk. Bought a like new 7.5" stainless Redhawk this week. Will pick it up friday or Monday.
I was totally sold on the 5" 629 Classic (a real beauty with perfect balance) but I knew I'd be afraid to really test it. I figure with the Redhawk, all that extra weight will soak up the recoil (.44 specials will be cream puffs!), and it's so sturdy I can try all the heavy loads I want. Plus I'd really like to get this gun out in the field and use it. I love S&W's, but I decided I wanted more of a "tractor" than a ferrari. This will be my gun that gets dirty.
Thanks for your help, folks.
-David

 

[gunfan]

When it comes to the .44 Remington Magnum...

Rugers beat Smith and Wesson in durability. My vote goes to the Ruger!

Good to hear from you Dave!

I know its a bit off-topic, but how is your .32 Magnum?

Scott

 

[cookekdjr]

Rugers beat Smith and Wesson in durability. My vote goes to the Ruger!

Good to hear from you Dave!

I know its a bit off-topic, but how is your .32 Magnum?

Scott

Hi Scott. I sold the .32 mag because I was the only person, it seems, who could not shoot it well. Everybody else could hit really well with it, but not me. I sold it and bought a 342pd:

http://www.gunblast.com/SW_342PD.htm

Weighs 10.8 ounces, and I carry it everywhere.
Have a Merry X-mas!
-David

 

[jeff-10]

Don't have a 629 but I do have a 29. It looks and shoots great but I voted Redhawk. It is a much more sturdier platform, my only grip is 5.5 inches is its shortest barrell length.

 

[scott5]

Hello all,
I shot a friends supper Red Hawk, and another friends Smith 629 a year or so ago.
Last month I bought a Dan Wesson 744 with a 9 1/2" full underlug.
It shoots mighty fine thank you very much.
I grew up shooting the DW 357 mags.

 

[Kurt_M]

I like smooth triggers and don't feel the need to push the .44 to it's limits in a handgun, so I voted Smith 629. In fact I have a 629 on layaway right now, so I voted with my wallet as well. The Redhawk is a very strong and very accurate pistol, my Dad owns one and it's a great gun. It's not the equal of a Smith in looks, ergonomics, or trigger pull. Personally, if I feel the need for something more powerful than a standard .44 magnum in a handgun, I'll buy a Smith .460 XVR or .500 Magnum and get the nice trigger, good looks and perfect ergonomics I love in a caliber that makes Dirty Harry's gun look like a peashooter.

 

[Surefire]

Redhawk IMO

 

[Pappy John]

Gotta have both.
These are all of my .44s.
29 Mountain Gun at the top, Redhawk on the bottom, with a 696 thrown in since it's a .44 too.

It's all been said before....durability versus refinement. I shoot the 29 a lot more, but that's mostly with down loaded rounds in the 900 fps ballpark. I'm still glad that I have the Redhawk, come hunting season, for shooting the "real deals".

 

[Working Man]

the Redhawk. Bought a like new 7.5" stainless Redhawk this week. Will pick it up friday or Monday.
I was totally sold on the 5" 629 Classic (a real beauty with perfect balance) but I knew I'd be afraid to really test it. I figure with the Redhawk, all that extra weight will soak up the recoil (.44 specials will be cream puffs!), and it's so sturdy I can try all the heavy loads I want. Plus I'd really like to get this gun out in the field and use it. I love S&W's, but I decided I wanted more of a "tractor" than a ferrari. This will be my gun that gets dirty.
Thanks for your help, folks.
-David

Good choice on the Ruger you will get a lifetime of use out of it.

 

[caz223]

The 629, definately.
If you really need all the durability of the ruger, then go with the SBH hunter, acusport bisley, or the bisquero.
They handle recoil much better than the average hogleg.
If you need MORE, don't overload your .44, get a .454, 460, or 500, don't try to wear your gun out unless it's one of your goals in life.

 

[kbheiner7]

I owned the big Super Redhawk and used it for hunting and plinking (if you can call it that). I have since learned it is a jewel compared to several I've picked up since - smooth DA and trigger pull.

One of my best friends has a 629 - the blueing is beautiful, but it's been broken for years.

I agree with the Mustang/Tank analogy. There's a reason there are "Ruger Only" loads listed in reloading manuals - they're built better.

 

[gunfan]

Hi Scott. I sold the .32 mag because I was the only person, it seems, who could not shoot it well. Everybody else could hit really well with it, but not me. I sold it and bought a 342pd:

http://www.gunblast.com/SW_342PD.htm

Weighs 10.8 ounces, and I carry it everywhere.
Have a Merry X-mas!
-David

Thanks, David!

It is too bad about your .32 Magnum. I am so sorry that you had to give it up. I hope that your .38 Special serves you well.

Merry Christmas!

Scott

 

[IV Troop]

Here is a picture of most of my 44s.

I prefer the Smith for day to day shooting but the Rugers for heavy loads that I shoot much less often.

Pappy, Would you be interested in selling or trading something for that 696? I need a 44 special. If so please contact me.

 

[Rpriestlyjr]

For some years, I've wanted a Super Redhawk in .480 or .454, but I'll keep with my 6" Anaconda w/ scope for my hunting. You can really load that sucker up for accuracy and terminal ballistics. I'll wait until more published handloads come out for the .454 and .480 to make a final decision.
The S&W grips just don't feel right with me.

 

[jughead]

I have both but prefer my S&W 29 blued in 4in.

 

[gezzer]

I perfer my pre-29 S&W 44mag 4 inch, hasn't let me down.

 

[Stainz]

Let's compare from their '05 catalogs: (Local pusher's price.)

6" 629 SKU 163606 45.0 oz 11.6" $810.00 ($589)
5.5" RH KRH-445 49 oz 11.0" $695 ($519)
7.5" SBH KS47NHNN 52 oz 13.6" $676 ($479)

The S&W is a forged and heat-treated revolver, the Ruger's use cast metal, which requires more material to yield the same strength. As the co-founder of the .44 Magnum, S&W has steadily improved their product. The RH was introduced to be the most powerful .44 Magnum - but had barrel attachment problems initially. Although resolved, Ruger came out with the SRH to separate it from the RH's less than kind press. The SRH has a better trigger by far than the RH, but still trails the S&W lockwork in smoothness/effort.

A friend and I each ordered SS 5.5" .45 RH's 3/04. Mine went back immediately for burst casting bubbles on the cylinders milled face, his followed a few days later. Mine came back as it should have been in the box, perhaps better, as it's trigger was 'improved', 'though still not up to my .454 SRH's, much less my worst box-stock S&W. His gun was replaced, due to a warped frame. He ultimately sold it. Obviously, when I decided I wanted a .44 Magnum last summer, I bought a S&W 6" half lug, like my comparison above. With the S&W .500 Magnum grips, it is a 'real' .44 Magnum. I have no need to overload it.

Stainz

 

[Bronco45]

While I prefer the Smith for its aesthics and shootability I have found that either of the two can take more punishment than my hands and wrists can.

But I own and shoot Smiths.