Inhereted .44 Mag Reloading Equipment, Need Revolver Suggestions

[DaisyCutter]

Well, it was more of a hand-me-down. My hunting partner moved from AZ to AK last week and wound up giving me his .44 Mag reloading equipment. I've always wanted a .44 Mag revolver & rifle combo. BTW, he upgraded to 45-70, and a Dillon Progressive press.

At any rate, here's what I have:




Now, I need the revolver. I'm planning to spend part of my tax return on the piece.

Here's my delima:

*Left handed
*Have read that S&W and Colt aren't optimal choices for hot .44 Mag.


I really like the 5-6" barrel length. I'm tall and in good shape. I'd like to hip carry when hiking and on horseback (I ride). I'm accustomed to carrying a duty belt several days per week. I'm thinking any less than a 5" barrel and I'd be starting to defeat the purpose of reloading for good ballistics.

My only big bore revolver experience came from a .45 Colt Blackhawk 5.5" single action. It shot like a dream, even with mildly zippy gunshow-bought reloads.

I don't mind the single action, because they work well for lefties, or as well as they do for righties anyway. Plus, they are safer on horseback. I don't really see myself popping off from the saddle, but if I did, there would be less chance of a AD while conducting the subsequent one-rein stop on my bolting mare. Some people fantasize about zombie shootouts, I dream about hunting from my horse, with a 44 Mag rifle in a scabbard and a .44 Mag revolver on my hip. Giggle if you want, but at the end of the day I have more horses than they do zombies. Or I could handgun hunt from horseback... Oh yeah. *warm fuzzies*

The upshot to a DA is that I can (if I buy Ruger, Colt or S&W, NOT Taurus) qualify and carry it for work. I don't see myself using it for patrol, because I'd have to reconfigure an entire duty rig every time I changed firearms, and the big revolver isn't really as practical for patrol as the $400 plastic Glock 22. But, on class training days or court days it would be kinda cool to wear the big DA .44 Mag and pocket a couple speed strips. Plus, when hiking, in the event of some critter/human attack, the DA would be more simple to employ. I can't carry a SA revolver for patrol. Also, no Taurus firearms (which I personally don't agree with).


So here are my primary contenders:


5" S&W 629 Classic

5.5" Ruger Redhawk

5.5" Ruger Blackhawk



Now, included in my buddy's care package are probably 500-600 210gr JHPs and ~90 240gr JSPs.

I'd like to push these rounds to about the 1000ft-lbs range... Something spicy (by my standard), but not habenero hot. Our duty ammo would be Speer Gold Dot (unk grain). It looks like a lot of the Speer Gold Dot ammo is hotter than my intended handloads. Of course, I'd like to experiment with some hyper-nasty 300gr hard cast rounds, fire a handful, roll 'em around in my hand, and maybe carry some when out in the wilderness. It would be sacrilegious to own a .44 Mag and never shoot a single 300gr grizzly round from it. Though it's doubtful my revolver would ever eat 50 of those screamers in it's entire life. I'd probably also load up some slower plinkers in the .40SW energy range. Frankly, I don't shoot that much anyway... maybe a couple hundred rounds a year. No competition, no drag racing. Mostly just just dry firing and finger fondling.

So there you have it. I don't think I'll be pushing the envelope too far too frequently.

Is a 629 acceptable for that? I think it's gotta be, right? From my limited experience, it appears it would carry, shoot and holster marginally better than a Redhawk. It sure looks better. I'm presuming it would be hard to wear out a Smith 629 with an obsolete turret press?

Does a Redhawk give a bunch of extra margin to a novice reloader? Because, BTW, I've never reloaded. I've built a FAL rifle and a muzzleloader. I know how to stuff powder down the front of a .50 cal. I'm relatively intelligent, and I've shot for years.

I presumed S&W 44 Mags were sano until I started reading all the internet drama over hot loading them. Nobody ever quantifies it though. For instance, they'll tolerate 90% of what a Ruger will. Okay, I could live with that. I don't want the top 10%. Or 629's will tolerate occasional 100% loads, but not a steady diet. I'm cool with that too. Or after 5 years and 1,500 rounds of Speer Gold Dot level ammo, the S&W will be clapped out. I'm not cool with that.


*If anyone has a cool link to "torture tests" or longevity tests of the S&W, I'd like to see it.

*Good book recommendations?


I just want a .44 Mag revolver, that I can press out treats of all flavors for in my new Lyman easy-bake oven, and experiment with, responsibly. I'm not a crazy velocity chaser. I prefer a .270 Win to a ear-melting shoulder-splitting 7mm Rem ultra mag.


I'm drawn to the Smith, despite the Rugers being more "Westerny". If people tell me I need the Ruger for reloading fun, then I wouldn't be too heartbroken.

I have a lot of critters to feed, so I can't afford to prematurely wear out a nice revolver.

Apologies for the rambling post.

 

[Steve H]

You are going to need a powder scale. I'll leave the load comments to the experts. Have you considered a Colt Anaconda?

 

[56hawk]

With what you are talking about I would go with the S&W 629. I have one that I bought new in 1994. It has had tens of thousands of hot loads through it and still works just fine. It is pretty worn at this point though.

Doesn't sound like you are planning on loading that hot anyway. As long as you stay within published load data for the 44, a Smith will last just about forever.

 

[QuarkMartial]

I have a 5.5" Redhawk and with a pair of pachmayr rubber presentation grips it makes shooting hot .44mag loads really comfortable. The downsides are that the stock grips, and most other grips, are uncomfortable to shoot. Plus, there's not a whole lot in the way of grip options. If you're not opposed to the way it looks, the Super Redhawk offers a lot more grip options and styles.

 

[mavracer]

from the sounds of it you'd be fine with the Smith they'll handel plenty of factory level 240s. where the trouble comes is when you try to push the envelope with 300gr+. even then newer Smiths will handle quite a few without shooting loose. This doesn't hold true for older 29-2s.
The Rugers are good choices too.
I have a 6 1/2 Nickel 29-2, a custom 4" Redhawk, a 50th anniversary Blackhawk and a Super Blackhawk.
I shoot the 29 and the anniversary BH the most with Elmer's practice load 10gr of Unique behind a 240gr Keith style hard cast. with that load it's going about 1200 fps and will kill anything in the lower 48 and a Smith'll (even my old gal) will last a long time shooting it.

 

[hardluk1]

Buy your self a good Ruger red hawk or if you think you will hunt a super red hawk. Good strong dependable handgun that will serve well. best buy for the dollar spent. Easier to shot than SA's . Or if you find a used Dan Wesson revolver go for it. Stronger yet and very accurate and can be found for around 400 to 450.

 

[DaisyCutter]

I still need a powder scale, a couple fittings, a couple bolts, brass, powder, and primers.

It's still a good start.


My hunting buddy had used the above set-up for his Anaconda. I can't recall if I ever shot his Anaconda. I'd consider an Anaconda for myself. I could probably afford one too. But for the cost of an Anaconda (~$1100?) I could buy a new revolver AND a lever rifle in .44.

My pop had a dark blued Python .357 he bought new in 1966, when he was 18. I recall him saying he paid $180 for it... and his dad chastized him for buying it. He traded it about a decade ago and got about $400 for it. I really felt it shoulda been a heirloom. The guy makes $150K per year, and traded in a flawless Python for pennies.

At any rate, if it shoots as nice as a Python, I'd consider an Anaconda if it were a reasonably good deal and not drilled, marred, or clapped out. Right now I'm seeing Blackhawks for $300-500, Redhawks for $500-600, 629s for $600-800.

I intend to throw $1000 or so at the Revolver, holster and misc reloading bits I still need. Maybe more for a good holster, after literally living in a safariland duty holster, I can't go back to uncle Mikes, not for hip wear.

 

[Steve H]

I could probably afford one too. But for the cost of an Anaconda (~$1100?) I could buy a new revolver AND a lever rifle in .44.

I saw one sell for $925 the other day on coltforum.com a few have passed through there in the past few weeks.

 

[Fleet]

Any of the revolvers listed will be just peachy with any reasonable handload (reloading manual maximum). If you want to push the envelope, then the Redhawk is the only choice.

 

[beatledog7]

Redhawk. It will handle any load the shooter can handle, and more.

 

[Coal Dragger]

If full bore loads were only going to be an occasional event, and not a steady diet I would go for the Smith&Wesson 629 out of the double actions. The Smith is more reasonably sized, has a better stock trigger, subjectively looks better, probably has more holster options, and is still plenty strong for a life of factory level 240gr bullet use. Lighter more reasonable loads that DaisyCutter is talking about will pose no problem at all for a 629, and it should last several lifetimes at that power level with some regular TLC.

I also really like single actions for big bore handguns since the grips roll up in the hand a bit instead of a double action back strap gouging the web of my shooting hand. The Blackhawk is a good choice, but there is a better one offered by Ruger in a single action. The Bisley! If stainless is your poison, and it should be for a heavy duty outdoor use revolver then the Bisley Hunter is a great choice: http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelSuperBlackhawkBisleyHunter/specSheets/0862.html

 

[mashaffer]

Definitely the SA Ruger.

mike

 

[atlanticfire]

Im a Ruger fan. That being said I had the opurtunity to get a 629 at a good price. And I must say that I do like is very much. No more than my Rugers just different. Here is a pic, just for fun.

Edit*
Oh, it has no problems with full house loads all day.....

 

[Scipio Africanus]

I have and have had DA Rugers and S&Ws in .44 and various other calibers.

This is my experience and opinion:

Rugers are built like one ton trucks and they handle and carry like it. They are hell for stout and all of mine have been reasonably accurate. You will never wear one out. Their triggers are terrible and they are heavier, apples to apples, than S&Ws

S&Ws are like a luxury car and they handle and carry like it. All of mine have been crazy accurate. They have nice triggers out of the box, which turn into awesome triggers with a little work. You will have to work really hard to wear one out. And they are lighter than Rugers, again, apples to apples.

Now for numbers:

Ruger Redhawks and Super Redhawks can safely digest loads up to 45-48,000 psi. This translates to 300-320 grain bullets at 1350-1450 fps. With properley cast bullets, this will take any thing in North America. These are very powerful loads! (and well out of SAAMI specs)

Smiths should be limited to 36,000psi which translates to 300-320 grainers at 1100 or so fps. This is nothing to sneeze at and still very powerful. (and within SAAMI specs). Smiths made after 1990 all have an "endurance" package and are much more durable than the original 29/629s.

I prefer the Smith in .44 because it handles and carries more nicely than the Rugers. It is small enough to conceal and will do almost everything you could want from a handgun and do it very well.
I also am past the stage in my handloading carrer where I load cartridges past SAAMI specs. I have done it and it is a bad idea. I do not do it anymore. If you want more power than SAAMI spec .44s, you should get something bigger. I have a .454 and a .500, both of which out perform the .44 by a good bit, but the .44 is most often on my belt.

Whichever you get, they will both serve you well.
Good luck and happy shooting.

 

[captain awesome]

If you consider an Anaconda, I cant say enough good about mine. The gun is awesome. Its accurate as heck and smooth. This sounds kind of odd, but out of all my pistols and revolvers I shoot that one the best. I cant really explain it, but I cant miss with that beauty. Very highly recommended if you can afford it. I would also say the Magnum Research BFR is worth looking at. They rarely get the press they deserve, I own 2, one in 500 magnum and the other in 45colt/410. Very strong and accurate.

I am also a fan of Dan Wessons. I have a 445 Supermag Alaskan Guide Special that's a pretty sweet shooter.

 

[Pancake81]

Firsto choice for me would be the Ruger Redhawk with a 4.2" barrel. Second would be a S&W 629 5".

The hogue's on the new Rugers are really comfortable to shoot, and look good in my opinion too

 

[Dr.Rob]

Blackhawk Hunter models unless you really want a DA gun.

 

[BigN]

I have a Stainless Redhawk with 8" barrel in 44 for hunting. The thing is like a tank and it was priced right when I bought it. Not sure what they're going for now. You can drop it in a mudhole or pound it on concrete and it'll come up firing. I've always been partial to Ruger though, both handguns and rifles.

 

[BCRider]

Sounds like you need TWO handguns and a lever action rifle to really complete your dreams.

The 629 sounds like a slam dunk for a DA gun which could be carried on occasion. I've found from shooting one on a few occasions that it's a lighter enough gun compared to other options that full house stout loads were more than my hand could take for more than about 4 cylinders. But tone them back by about 15 to 20% of the max possible velocity as given in the loading data and they become a strong enough hitting gun which I can shoot enjoyably for a whole range session.

For horse back hunting there's really only one "proper" choice. And that's a Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 7.5 inch barrel. It'll dish out anything you can handle and laugh at you while doing so. But I suspect that the most accurate rounds will be a bit down from the top super duper hard hitting load levels.

As for the lever gun Rossi and Marlin both make options chambered in .44Mag. The Rossi will be cheaper and easier to find but you may find that it's rough enough that you opt to send it to a cowboy action specialty gunsmith to have a bit of slickening up done to it.

The Rossi action is also chambered in .454Casull so the action itself can easily withstand big power .44Mag loads.

 

[hardluk1]

Find a Dan Wesson revolver and you can run a long barrel for when it wanted for hunting and a short barrel for when just a back up or trail gun is needed. Only takes 2 minutes to change . And it has the strength and length for the hottest and longest of loads.

 

[OldCavSoldier]

629 or Redhawk....both superb....and very affordable

 

[ColtPythonElite]

My vote is for the Anaconda. They are stout and accurate. I wouldn't sweat the money if you have it without going in debt. Unless you grossly overpay or lose the gun in a lake, your money will always be safe.

 

[indiandave]

I'd go with a S&W model 29-2. Go ahead make my day!

 

[NMGonzo]

Blackhawk.

Then a pretty Smith with a 3 inch barrel.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

If you are mounted, you need a single action. Anything else would be uncivilized.
I ride with a Ruger Blackhawk .41 mag in an old Idaho Leather holster

I use to have the 7.5" Super Blackhawk in .44 but the square trigger guard was painful on the knuckles and when I went to look for a rounded trigger guard, they did not make them in .44 at the time, so I went with the .41.

Then you will need a lever action carbine. Might I suggest the Marlin 1894?

Again, this is in .41 but they make them in .44, stainless even.

On Edit: Normally I have the scope in a saddle bag. This scope was made for an SKS but fits the Marlin nicely. The Leupold quick detach rings go on fast and the zero never changes.

Have you trained your horse to gunfire? I have trained several of mine and there is definitely an art. There was a show on RFDTV a while back by Chris Cox that provided a very good explanation of how to train a horse for cowboy mounted shooting.