RUGER ALASKAN 44 V. Smith 329 Air Lite

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lobo9er

lobo9er

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I want one, but which one? :) I hate the lock on the smith and its a few hundred dollars more. But its lighter and has better sights. I have a SRH and thought it would be pretty cool to have the matching Alaskan. And some day scope the SRH and carry its little brother as a side arm. Thinking about it thats alot of LB's combined in handguns though. For a trail gun/ hunting side arm what do you guys think? For the most part it would be loaded up with 44 specials unless camping. So the recoil isn't a big deal. Just window shopping now but I thought I get some opinions here.
 
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They both have a nice look to them.
 
Both are going to be good choices. I think you give up some of the advantage of the 44 mag cartridge with the Alaskan's 2.5" barrel. Personally, I'd want a minimum 4" barrel, but that Alaskan is tempting for sure
 
That's an interesting choice. I like stainless steel, so my preference would lean towards the Alaskan. However, the Smith would be significantly lighter, better sights, and longer bbl for any hunting purposes. So, the case could definitely be made for the Smith, but for me it would be the Ruger. Just one man's opinion.:)
 
if you already have a super redhawk, then hunting isn't likely to be a task for this one. i don't care for the lock on the smith either, and just generally prefer rugers most of the time with new offerings. i've been on the lookout for a .44 mag alaskan, so that would be my choice.
 
spend a few hundred more for a gun that has aspects that you hate, vs spend a few hundred less for a gun with aspects that you love...
hmmmm
I vote Ruger, but then I'm a Ruger fan.
 
I've owned both. The recoil on the 329 is considerable. I found my self loading light rounds to avoid the recoil. The Ruger is built like a tank and heavy enough...but no too much, to tame the recoil. I love the fact that the frame and barrel shroud is machined out of one piece. If I had to do all over, I would choose the Ruger without hesitation. Just my 2 cents worth!:what:
 
Personally I'd get a 4" stainless 629 mountain gun. I like the Ruger, but the short bbl doesn't utilize the .44 mag's capabilities. The 329 isn't my thing. JMO
 
Not one of the guns listed, I would choose a 4 5/8" stainless super Blackhawk. Even with lite loads the Smith will be painful to shoot and the Ruger will be too heavy to carry for very long.
 
As pointed out the 329 is going to bite with magnum loads. With 44 Specials though it would make a nice compromise between comfortably shooting and carrying it. However that moves you out of using magnum loads. Like Jir2267 and wproct the Alaskan pulls at me even though logically I have no use for one .

It tis a sad illness we have.
 
I guess the OP never fired a Smith Air. As my brother-in-law INSTANTLY said: OWWW!!!
Me, I saw the video beforehand, and didn't want a disability that badly.
 
nope never shot one sounds fun lol shaking hands with the devil huh? I heard that about the Airlite 357 snubbies too.
 
So the recoil isn't a big deal.
Click to expand...
It will be, after you shoot a 329PD with full power .44 Magnum loads.

Want to see how it feels?
Let the neighbors teenager hit you in the open palm with an aluminum baseball bat!!

The 329PD is a great gun for Alaska guides & such, when they HAVE to carry bear protection 24/7, but probably will never have to shoot a bear with it in their life.

If a bear is chewing you up, you probably wouldn't notice the stinging pain in your gun hand so much!!

rc
 
rcmodel said:
It will be, after you shoot a 329PD with full power .44 Magnum loads.

Want to see how it feels?
Let the neighbors teenager hit you in the open palm with an aluminum baseball bat!!

The 329PD is a great gun for Alaska guides & such, when they HAVE to carry bear protection 24/7, but probably will never have to shoot a bear with it in their life.

If a bear is chewing you up, you probably wouldn't notice the stinging pain in your gun hand so much!!

rc
Click to expand...
This.

I tried to master the 329pd, no success. It kicks like a mule. It is not a confidence builder.
 
RC or mutt what about 44 specials? Think it would still be a handful? My only 44 special experience is out of the 52 oz SRH. Outta that heavy weight specials are pretty easy going to say the least.
 
bush pilot I like the blakhawk idea also. The Alaskan has a cool factor for me though although the blackhawk bisley grip is pretty cool also.
 
I carry a revolver for my living. It's needed for dangerous game issues.

I used the red hawk. The power, comfort to shoot, accuracy, and quality were perfect. The size and weight not so much

Switched to the S&W mountain gun, it was and is the absolute top of the heap for this use in every way. You need a 629-4 or -5. Nothing older. The 4 & 5 can handle any ammo you want.

I then decided if the mountain gun was good, the 329 must be even better. Bought that, sold it before the first box of ammo, (44 specials) and a hand full of 44 mag 240 loads. Fortunately there are no shortage of people who felt the same as I did but did not know better! It was an easy sale.

The reason to buy a 44 mag is to shoot 44 mag, otherwise buy a charter arms 44 special bulldog, or a S&W 44 special. The thing is, I doubt you could shoot that 329 with full power loads enough to zero it and be accurate with. It will hurt you,....seriously hurt you.

There is no comparison to the over all function and pleasure of ownership between the dash 4-5 629 mountain gun and the 329PD. The 329 is miserable to shoot, it not only recoils way beyond tolerable levels but to me, and others who have fired it, it seems to twist in your hand upon firing.

If you are questioning my recoil tolerance, I have a Dillon 650 set up exclusively for 44 mag, I shoot thousands of rounds a year of 44 mag, I did significant testing for hornady in the development of the XTP bullets, and for randy Garrett's sledgehammer ammunition.

For my job in South Africa I shoot a 458 Lott, I fully understand recoil. My grandpa once said to me

" just because you can do something, does not mean you should"

The 329 is a classic if this statement. Just because you can build an ultra light weight 44 mag, does not mean you should!

I wish you well on your choice, I'm not all knowing and I certainly don't pass judgement on anyone's decisions. This post is simply my opinion.
 
JJHACK that was a great post. I am taking all these post in great consideration. And appreciate all of them. Any more first hand experience would be great but its sounding like the 329 is losing its appeal. For what ever reason I have forgotten or over looked the fact that it weighs less than my 3inch sp101. Now I am getting a better idea of the recoil.
 
For what ever reason I have forgotten or over looked the fact that it weighs less than my 3inch sp101. Now I am getting a better idea of the recoil.
Click to expand...

It does? Jeeze man that thing is gonna suck to shoot. You'd just
Be better off carrying the SP101 with 180 gr COR BONS then.
 
The Alaskan is a great gun. I prefer it to the S&W 329. A standard 629-5 or 629-6 will stand up to magnum loads and not mangle your hand. You do feel the recoil with the Alaskan despite its weight.

I wish the Alaskan came with a 4" barrel with extended frame shroud.

Ruger-Alaskan-more-muzzle.jpg
 
Last edited:
lobo9er said:
RC or mutt what about 44 specials? Think it would still be a handful? My only 44 special experience is out of the 52 oz SRH. Outta that heavy weight specials are pretty easy going to say the least.
Click to expand...
I tried the limited loads of 44 special I could find in my area and yes, the recoil was much more manageable, but, with the ammo I had and my 329PD, the accuracy was not good.

Oh, I got the bright idea to try out some Buffalo Bore specially designed not to jump the crimp when fired from the 329 and others like it, ha, that mule I mentioned earlier was a grasshopper by comparison. That ammo is insane in that handgun.

What's crazy is I sold that pistol to a friend, missed it, mentioned it, bought it back, then sold it forever. I don't think I've ever loved and hated one gun as much as that one.
 
I have a feeling some of those who are claiming the M329 bites hard have never shot one. I have shot one and it's not comfortable but it doesn't hurt. Besides, the OP's stated reason for buying it is as a sidearm which is usually for protection/backup and those handguns aren't usually shot a lot at the range. A nice light gun on your hip is a good idea since it's more likely to be carried all the time.

I think the M329 would make a great sidearm especially as a backup when hunting. The Ruger Alaskan is also a nice revolver but it is heavy to carry all day and the short barrel makes accurate fire more difficult. The 2.5" Alaskan is almost twice the weight as the 4" M329.
 
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