The person is on right track with choices he provided. The caliber of the weapon you suggest isn't really suitable for deer hunting.
Help me with my revolver choice
- Thread starter glockky
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Mauser lover
Member
Why double action S&Ws, but a single action Ruger?
Of the ones you listed, I would go with the Ruger Super Blackhawk, but I do like the Ruger Super Redhawk as well.
As some have suggested, you may want a little bit more than .357 for a deer. .357 is adequate, if you are an assured hunter, but I prefer the extra energy, just in case.
Of the ones you listed, I would go with the Ruger Super Blackhawk, but I do like the Ruger Super Redhawk as well.
As some have suggested, you may want a little bit more than .357 for a deer. .357 is adequate, if you are an assured hunter, but I prefer the extra energy, just in case.
OP
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glockky
Member
I am still up in the air. I am a reloaded I haven't bought pistol ammo for probably 10 years.
Deer_Freak
Member.
The 357 mag will kill a deer but unless you don't like to eat deer I would relegate the pistol to a side arm, no matter what caliber. I have taken a couple deer with a pistol but in both occasions I was away from my long gun.
Patocazador
Member
I would go with a .44 mag or a hopped up .45 Colt. Single-action revolvers are easier on your hand and less cumbersome for the most part. A Bisley gripped .44 mag with adj sights and 7.5" barrel is best in my opinion.
S&W-Keeper
Member
I would pick the 629 6" it never came in 6 1/2 ".
The .44 mag is a better choice for deer.
The .44 mag is a better choice for deer.
MikeJackmin
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My two cents:
Penny number one says to avoid the .44 unless you reload. You'll shoot, and enjoy, a .38/.357 a lot more.
Penny number two says that the best way to decide is to handle them, and get the one that best suits your hands and your eyes. Like shoes, the ones that fits best are the ones you'll like best.
Penny number one says to avoid the .44 unless you reload. You'll shoot, and enjoy, a .38/.357 a lot more.
Penny number two says that the best way to decide is to handle them, and get the one that best suits your hands and your eyes. Like shoes, the ones that fits best are the ones you'll like best.
floydster
Member
Ruger SBH Bisley Hunter 44 mag. non better.
peacemaker45
Member
How sure are you that you want to deer hunt with this gun? The answer to that will determine whether you should get the .357 or .44.
If you get the .44, I'd go for the Ruger. Smiths are nice guns, but Ruger makes a better (read: stronger) big bore magnum. Ruger also makes Redhawks and Super Redhawks, if you prefer double action. I don't, but then, as an active CAS shooter, I have a couple of hundred thousand times the experience with single actions that I do with doubles. Also, I'm fussy about triggers, and don't believe in making guns more difficult to shoot than they need to be.
The DA's great advantage, speed and ease of reloading, is a non issue for a deer pistol. If you somehow use all six shooting at a deer, I'm not sure seven through twelve are going to help.
To be fair to DAs, though, I've heard the argument made that they are quieter, and less likely to spook the deer than cocking an SA.
So, I'd get the Ruger Super Blackhawk. But it's your money, not mine.
If you get the .44, I'd go for the Ruger. Smiths are nice guns, but Ruger makes a better (read: stronger) big bore magnum. Ruger also makes Redhawks and Super Redhawks, if you prefer double action. I don't, but then, as an active CAS shooter, I have a couple of hundred thousand times the experience with single actions that I do with doubles. Also, I'm fussy about triggers, and don't believe in making guns more difficult to shoot than they need to be.
The DA's great advantage, speed and ease of reloading, is a non issue for a deer pistol. If you somehow use all six shooting at a deer, I'm not sure seven through twelve are going to help.
To be fair to DAs, though, I've heard the argument made that they are quieter, and less likely to spook the deer than cocking an SA.
So, I'd get the Ruger Super Blackhawk. But it's your money, not mine.
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glockky
Member
Does Ruger seem to have there tight cylinder throats problem fixed?
Stainz
Member
Here is my, still current production, eight year old 6" 629-6 in 'hunting attire'. I never have hunted with it but I can put six 240gr LSWC .44 Specials on a paper plate at 75yd handheld - pretty good for my now shakey hands. The .500 Magnum grips aren't needed for the 'Specials' - but they help with real Magnums, too. Don't let anyone fool you - a maximum SAAMI spec .44 Magnum load - commercial ammo - is fine for any modern, 629-3 or later, S&W .44 Magnum revolver. My 12 & 14 yr old grandsons have shot Magnums from this revolver. It normally doesn't sport the Weaver H2 2X28 handgun scope - that was prep for hunting season years ago... I didn't even buy a license!
That combo should take nearly anything in the states, with the right ammo. I make my own ammo, so it's easy to make almost affordable plinking ammo. If you want a dedicated plinker - that could serve as a hunting revolver, check your hunting laws re the 4" barrel, - get a 4" S&W .357 Magnum - a 627 Pro if you can find and afford one. Super revolver - eight shooter that will take moonclipped ammo - even .38 Specials. Here it is, top-below, with a 617, a ten-shooter in .22 LR - a fantastic plinker. Probably, however, suitable for close-in tree rats at most, hunting-wise.
Stainz
That combo should take nearly anything in the states, with the right ammo. I make my own ammo, so it's easy to make almost affordable plinking ammo. If you want a dedicated plinker - that could serve as a hunting revolver, check your hunting laws re the 4" barrel, - get a 4" S&W .357 Magnum - a 627 Pro if you can find and afford one. Super revolver - eight shooter that will take moonclipped ammo - even .38 Specials. Here it is, top-below, with a 617, a ten-shooter in .22 LR - a fantastic plinker. Probably, however, suitable for close-in tree rats at most, hunting-wise.
Stainz
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I realize you did not include the Redhawk in your OP, but your choices are so dissimilar that I also suggest a 5.5" Redhawk in .44 or .45. Restricted to your three originals I would choose .44 caliber in the 6" 629. The 629 seems like more of an all around gun than your other two choices.
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glockky
Member
I realize I didn't list the redhawk. I have always liked rugers and realize they are build like a tank. I just personally never liked the looks of them at all. I really wish I did because I know they are well made, I just don't have that I gotta have that feeling with them like I do the smiths. I have just noticed it seems a lot of people shy away from smiths when considering a hunting revolver.
I am not sure if this is because of less recoil from a heavier gun, built stronger to take more stout loads (which I think this claim is a little over rated, I don't know of anyone who goes to the range weekly and blast hundreds of full house 44 through there revolver, if nothing else from a cost standpoint), or that they like the ruger rings for scope mounting.
I am not sure if this is because of less recoil from a heavier gun, built stronger to take more stout loads (which I think this claim is a little over rated, I don't know of anyone who goes to the range weekly and blast hundreds of full house 44 through there revolver, if nothing else from a cost standpoint), or that they like the ruger rings for scope mounting.
peacemaker45
Member
Which guns give you the warm and fuzzies and which do not is not really something we can help you with. 
peacemaker45
Member
However, Buffalo Bore says:
It's not only a durability issue with standard factory loads. It's also a really effing bad idea to shoot heavy .44s in S&Ws. There is a widespread feeling that these heavy loads are what a .44 Mag is for, and that standard factory stuff is weaker to accommodate S&W.
Of course, there's always another side to a story, and it's often been maintained that if you're taking a shot marginal enough that the difference between a Buffalo Bore or Garrett Super Magnum load and a standard Remington or Winchester load is going to be the difference between a dead deer and an injured one, maybe you should think twice about the ethics of that shot to begin with.
Still another side would point out that the Super Magnums are sort of wasted on whitetails, which aren't the hardest animals in the world to kill, and are instead meant for bigger animals, like elk or bears. After all, 340 grains of bullet travelling 1500 feet per second out of a three pound pistol is going to be smacking the palm of your hand with the same 42 ft/lbs of recoil with which a .300 Weatherby Magnum hunting rifle abuses the shoulder of its firer. Can you do your best shooting in such conditions? I, for one, cannot.
It's not only a durability issue with standard factory loads. It's also a really effing bad idea to shoot heavy .44s in S&Ws. There is a widespread feeling that these heavy loads are what a .44 Mag is for, and that standard factory stuff is weaker to accommodate S&W.
Of course, there's always another side to a story, and it's often been maintained that if you're taking a shot marginal enough that the difference between a Buffalo Bore or Garrett Super Magnum load and a standard Remington or Winchester load is going to be the difference between a dead deer and an injured one, maybe you should think twice about the ethics of that shot to begin with.
Still another side would point out that the Super Magnums are sort of wasted on whitetails, which aren't the hardest animals in the world to kill, and are instead meant for bigger animals, like elk or bears. After all, 340 grains of bullet travelling 1500 feet per second out of a three pound pistol is going to be smacking the palm of your hand with the same 42 ft/lbs of recoil with which a .300 Weatherby Magnum hunting rifle abuses the shoulder of its firer. Can you do your best shooting in such conditions? I, for one, cannot.
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glockky
Member
I am with you on that I personally know for a fact that brutal recoil really makes my shooting go down hill. Personally in the 44 mags I've shot I feel comfortable with a 240gr bullet around 1200-1250 fps which I feel is gonna do the job on a deer out to 50-75yds.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I would definitely go with one of the .44s since deer hunting is on your agenda. Prolly the Smith.
targetshooter22
Member
357 is an excellent caliber choice, and now a personal favorite. I went with a 6" GP 100 because the budget was still uh on target, and I guess due to my entirely unfounded opinion that it's "tougher" than a S&W and Taurus. I felt in the looks department it was comparable to the S&W and Python, but good people here will disagree. Found a used Bianchi leather holster that works really well, and added a couple of speed loaders to the kit.
Now that I've shot ~1000 rounds of almost all 357 both mine and factory, I like the gun more. It goes deer hunting, but as a side arm, not my primary. Someday I plan to shoot a pig with it, and when the Mrs and I go camping, it lives in the tent with us.
Of the guns you listed in your OP, I would probably go with the Blackhawk and then spend the difference on a high quality holster and lots of practice ammo or reloading components (good luck with the primers).
Now that I've shot ~1000 rounds of almost all 357 both mine and factory, I like the gun more. It goes deer hunting, but as a side arm, not my primary. Someday I plan to shoot a pig with it, and when the Mrs and I go camping, it lives in the tent with us.
Of the guns you listed in your OP, I would probably go with the Blackhawk and then spend the difference on a high quality holster and lots of practice ammo or reloading components (good luck with the primers).
Confederate
Member
I ENTHUSIASTICALLY recommend the 629. Not only is it a beautiful gun, the balance is great and it's fairly easy to carry in the field. Expensive to shoot if you buy your own ammo. The Ruger single-actions are also fabulous guns, but they're best shot with one hand. I never liked the plow-handled pistols.
This 629 was never fired while I owned it. I liked it because it
had a stamped sideplate, counter-bored chambers and a pinned
barrel. It also had plated non-MIM parts.
This Astra .44 mag was one of the best kept secrets of the
early 80s. This one had a crisp trigger, exceptional fit and finish
and counterbored chambers. It was gorgeous.
This 629 was never fired while I owned it. I liked it because it
had a stamped sideplate, counter-bored chambers and a pinned
barrel. It also had plated non-MIM parts.
This Astra .44 mag was one of the best kept secrets of the
early 80s. This one had a crisp trigger, exceptional fit and finish
and counterbored chambers. It was gorgeous.
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