Favorite short barrel 44mag

[iwjev]

I was wondering what everyone’s favorite 44mag short barrel. To me a large caliber, like the 44mag, short barrel would be anything 4†or less. My current favorite is my SS S&W 629-5 3â€. One reason I am asking is because I really love a short barrel 44mag but I am having a hard time finding some.

Thanks,

 

[BIGBORESNUB]

I like my rd butt S&W629-1 3 inch well enoughI'll like it better when i get the right grips for me on it..................

My brothers ported trailboss is also nice

 

[Fish Springs]

629 Mountain Gun

 

[Sarge111]

29-2 4" nickel

classic iron.

 

[Black Majik]

29-2 4" nickel would be awesome as stated above.

But, for "new" I'd go for a 329 PD. Oooooh!

 

[Hal]

29-2 4" blue
classic wood

Second the notion of the 329PD though...
it's on my short list of finalists for a carry piece.
All I have to do is find the right one.

 

[iwjev]

I have been looking at the 329 for a while now. I am just not sure about having a 44mag on such a lite frame. It must kick like a b!tch. However, the 325PD looks right up my alley.

 

[Chuck Perry]

Love my 329. Definite keeper.

 

[rolltide]

Here are my two favorites. I have a Dan Wesson 44 Mag and a Dan Wesson 445 Supermag. The blue one in the Magnum and the stainless one is the Supermag. The cartridges next to the knofe blades are there for size comparison between the 44 and the 445. The 445 round is identical to the 44 except is is about 1/3 inch longer. You can of course shoot 44 Mags in the 445 Supermag gun.


Both guns

44 mag

445 Supermag

 

[Three 44s]

The S&W 629 Mountain Gun!!!!!!!!!!

Three 44s

 

[caz223]

Performance center trail boss, magna-ported.
3" tube, round butt, finger-grooved wood.
Nice smooth DA (almost no stacking), light and clean SA break.
Almost too nice to shoot.
Good thing it looks like it's been shot a lot, and for that reason, I can shoot it with a clear concience.

 

[Stainz]

If you left the 'mag' off, Id list the 3" S&W 696 5-shooter in .44 Special - quite a nice revolver. Ah, but you did say 'mag'! So...

No question... the 629 Mountain Gun - with wood square butt conversion grips to replicate a proper, albeit SS, .44 in the 'Keith' tradition.

Stainz

 

[birddog]

S&W 629 in 4 inch.

I bought this used a few weeks ago and changed the wood grips (which were really nice) for Pachmayr Decelerators. The fullhouse .44 mags are less painful, and the .44 specials are downright pleasant now.

 

[iwjev]

I also have a 44mag Derringer now that will knock you on your a$$. In fact it did when I let one guy at the range shoot it. With any luck I will be adding a 329PD & 629 4" before the end of the year.

 

[JERRY]

forgive my lack of knowledge on this, but why in the world would you want such a short barrel on a .44magnum?


i used to have a 629 6" and felt that was about right for its use......

do you intend on carrying it for ccw? if so, with magnum loads?


and again if so, how fast are your times with multiple targets?


again, i like .44mags, just dont see the practicaly in a less than 4" version.


thanks.

 

[birddog]

Jerry,
In my case, the 629 in the photo is used for bear defense. Before everyone rolls their eyes about hypothetical bear guns (lol), I actually bear hunt, and have had two bears climb the tree I was in 2 different times. I never had to shoot one, but came close in 2001. That gun will be going with me this year for my bowhunt in Maine. I am not worried about fast follow up shots, though I can empty the cylinder on it pretty quickly and on target. I am worried about a point-blank, bear-sniffing-at-my-boot, single shot to the head. The 4 inch 629 in .44 mag is perfect for that. I do agree that anything shorter might go too far in the recoil department for my taste, but to each his/her own.
Joel

 

[rolltide]

Jerry,
Mine is likewise carried for dangerous game defense. That is why I went with something heavier than a S&W. The Mod. 29 is easy to carry, but will not stand up to a steady diet of heavy loads. If you are going to hit with a four inch revolver in s stresful situation, you need to practice with the load you will use. The Dan Wessons are heavier to carry, but easier to shoot on target and quicker to shoot for follow up shots, especially with heavy loads.

Around here you have hogs and various K-9's that may give you trouble in the woods. I also frequent black bear habitat where I am in the woods after dark. The 44 is a comfort. In addition, around here dnagerous snakes of the large variety of prevalent. A 44 mag hot shot, or a 444 case cut to cylinder length in my 445 full of #7 shot sure is the ticket for surprise encounters with venomous reptiles that you would hate to get within "hoe handle" distance of.

All in all a short 44 is a very verstile tool that can be used in a variety of protection and survival scenarios while in the field.

With the Dan Wesson, I can also carry a scoped 8" barrel in my backpack as a backup to my rifle in hunting situations where a trip back to the truck may take all day.

Roll Tide

 

[strambo]

My favorite short barrel .44 Mag is a Ruger Redhawk customized by Bowen with sights, action job and barrel shortened to 4 inches...Now I just have to save enough for the RH, then save enough for the custom work and then get it back! I'll post pics in 1-2 years

 

[Sarge111]

Jerry...

To answer your question regarding barrel length- because they shoot just as well as the longer guns, they are much easier to pack and with a good 240-250 grain SWC or HP at 1300 fps, you can kill about anything you want to hunt with them. While I haven't (thankfully) had to bump noses with an angry bear yet, I have killed about a half dozen deer with .44's; the vast majority with an old 4" M29, and another with a 5.5" Redhawk. The better bullets shoot right through 250 pound whitetails and wreck the shoulders and everything the come across on their way through.

I have also had excellent results with the .45 Colt loaded hot in a 5.5" Blackhawk.

In fact I've never had a singe deer complain because I shot them with a 4-5" revolver instead of a great long cannon that would have just shot through them anyhow. Poking a big hole all the way through is what handgun hunting is all about, and the shorties will get the job done provided that the shooter does his or hers- which is making that hole go through in the right place.

I sure got no fuss with the folks who like long-barreled sixguns. Whatever an individual shoots well and has confidence in is exactly what they should use.

 

[JERRY]

i guess i can buy that answer. they are more packable in the shorter version, but are more shootable in the longer version.....


i guess you can be served well with either given its intended uses.

 

[Kestrel]

birddog,

I love that 4" 629. By the way, in the picture, it looks like there is a groove cut in the front sight base. Is it just the lighting?

Steve

 

[birddog]

Steve,

You are pretty observant. I never noticed that before. But I looked and it's just a wear mark on the finish and only on that side. It's not deep enough to feel even with a fingernail. Perhaps holster wear? Interesting.

Joel

 

[BIGBORESNUB]

Shorter barrels are easy to pack around.I don't carry mine for bears,but fat guys with heavy coats I pack mine around alot with loads 210gr or less.They can be shot very well you it just takes more ammo to learn how Hell i wan't a 1in 629 44 mag.Maybe a custom is calling me....

 

[sabre]

I just plain like the shorter barrels - here are my favorites:

S&W Model 29, 4"


S&W Model 629, 3"


Bill

 

[Archie]

Either...

a 4" M29 Smith; or the 5.5" Ruger Super Blackhawk.

Both are handy and accurate and shoot hard ammo.