Skeeter Special

[Sneakshot92]

Hi all. I've decided to add a .44 revolver to my wish list. I'm mainly interested in shooting Skeeter loads with the occasional wheel or two of full house magnums at the range. I only have one requirement. It must have a 4.25" barrel or longer just in case I carry it as a hunting sidearm. Either DA/SA or SAO as I have no preference between the two.
I know there's plenty of options out there new and used and some can get upwards of $1200msrp. I'd rather not think of spending that much.
Thanks to all who reply!

 

[DR505]

I like the 629-4 model from Smith. Has all the upgrades and firing pin on hammer.

 

[sparkyv]

I really enjoy my 6.5" M629, but the only way I'll carry this Bad Boy is in a chest rig. If I ever get another, it'll be the 5".

 

[PapaG]

Skeeter concentrated on the special for most usage but used an old flat top 44 mag for "serious work". He determined that the best overall gun was an n frame 357 5" but his first love, from my reading of about everything he wrote, was the 44 special.

 

[Sneakshot92]

Skeeter concentrated on the special for most usage but used an old flat top 44 mag for "serious work". He determined that the best overall gun was an n frame 357 5" but his first love, from my reading of about everything he wrote, was the 44 special.

Nice to know. I'd always heard a few old stories of Skeeter beong a fan of the 357. I was also told bt many that those stories were old wives' tales.

 

[PapaG]

Read his books. "My friend, the 357" was a great article.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Here is my revolver that fits that criteria.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
You can get it for less than $700. I picked this one up very lightly used for $575 OTD.

 

[Sneakshot92]

Here is my revolver that fits that criteria.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
You can get it for less than $700. I picked this one up very lightly used for $575 OTD.

View attachment 929517

Looks like a Blackhawk to me.

The thing that gave me the itch for a 44 was seeing a beat up, but solid Ruger Vaquero in a pawn shop a couple weeks ago. I didn't have the money at the time but went back over the weekend and it was still there. I just wasn't going to part with $675 for it. And no he wouldn't haggle on it.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Looks like a Blackhawk to me.

It's actually a Super Blackhawk.
They make the short barreled version on the XR3 Red frame with a round trigger guard.

I wouldn't pay $675 for a Vaqero either. Just not my cup of tea.
Especially if you're going to shoot specials and magnums, you're going to want adjustable sights.

 

[Tallball]

I very much like my S&W Model 629, my Super Redhawk, and Super Blackhawk.

It took me a while, but I found the SBH for $399 used. The 629 was something like $600 in trade used, and the SRH was $550 used.

The SBH is probably the sturdiest and is my favorite, though I am a SA fan, so that's no suprise.

All three of them have excellent triggers and are far more accurate than I am.

 

[wgf]

Here are my suggestions 7.5” Ruger Vaquero and 4” SW 629. They fire my Skeeter 44 Spl reloads accurately and when I want to scrub the barrels, store bought 44 Mag bullets are also accurate. I sold a 4” SW624 because the 629 made it redundant. If I had to sell one of my current 44s????

 

[BullRunBear]

I have to think a Super Blackhawk would suit your wishes and for a lot less than $1,200. It can handle any 44 caliber load from H bomb magnum levels down to comfortable 44 specials. Admittedly, I'm a single action revolver guy.

Jeff

 

[Sneakshot92]

I have to think a Super Blackhawk would suit your wishes and for a lot less than $1,200. It can handle any 44 caliber load from H bomb magnum levels down to comfortable 44 specials. Admittedly, I'm a single action revolver guy.

Jeff

I've got a preference for single actions when I want accuracy. I've had/fired several da/sa revolvers that were absolute gems in SA but were IMO utter garbage in DA.
I have shot several other revolvers in DA that were nice and smooth, but that weren't mine or for sale. If things weren't a bit tight at the moment my LGS has a model 29 Classic in the case but I forgot his asking price. If I traded off a couple pieces i'd probably have enough to buy it.
But my potential trade fodder is not the stuff that is likely to sell well right now.

 

[Riomouse911]

If you want to go “Full Skeeter”, the flat top Blackhawk .44 Spl. with a 4 5/8” barrel (or a 5.5” barrel) is the way to roll. Plenty of strength to handle loads at the top of the Special range and packable enough to carry well without feeling like a boat anchor at the end of a hike.

I have 629’s in 6.5” power port and 4” Mountain Gun guise and a 3” GP 100. The specials are by far the most fun I have shooting big bore revolvers. Magnum loads have thump, but for a relaxing day on the range I like them loaded down.

My next .44 Special will be a Blackhawk flat top, I think they’re just cool!

Good luck with your search!

Stay safe.

 

[Sneakshot92]

I wouldn't pay $675 for a Vaqero either.

If it was like new or at least in very nice condition I would have given it more consideration seeing as it was (I think) the old model on the larger frame.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

The nice thing about a .44 Special is the ability to get a gun that’s not as large as a.44 Magnum. I have a .44 Special Ruger Bisley Flattop Blackhawk on the medium sized frame. It’s right sized to my way of thinking.

In a DA the Smith Model 69 is well proportioned, being on the L frame with a five shot cylinder. It’s chambered in .44 Magnum as well.

 

[LoonWulf]

My .44s
I prefer the gp100 for carrying, but im much better at range with the SBH.

 

[Riomouse911]

Here's the best part of the .44 Special...shooting the rounds you've been loading for it. 3" GP-100 firing Eggleston Bullets 200 gr RNFP coated bullet over 7.3 gr. Unique. This is 20 shots, two hand DA at 12 yards.



Stay safe.

 

[golden]

You might try to find a 5 inch barreled S&W, but you will be competing with the collectors.

I wis S&W would bring back a 624 with a 4.25 inch barrel or even a 5 inch barrel. The thinner barrel would make it lighter than the 29 with a 4 inch by several ounces, even a 5 inch.

Jim

 

[wgf]

OP wants to shoot specials and magnums. I just sold a 4” 624 because when I compared it side by side to my 4” 629 I couldn’t feel the difference in weight. The 629 shot specials just as accurately as the 624. Photo has the 624 next to the 629.

 

[StrawHat]

[QUOTE="Sneakshot92, post: 11570044, member: 258134...It must have a 4.25" barrel or longer just in case I carry it as a hunting sidearm. Either DA/SA or SAO as I have no preference between the two...[/QUOTE]

Where do you live that requires 4.25” for hunting. Canada require that length for importation.

Kevin

 

[Sneakshot92]

[QUOTE="Sneakshot92, post: 11570044, member: 258134...It must have a 4.25" barrel or longer just in case I carry it as a hunting sidearm. Either DA/SA or SAO as I have no preference between the two...

Where do you live that requires 4.25” for hunting. Canada require that length for importation.

Kevin[/QUOTE]

In WI the law requires a minimum of 5.5" from muzzle to firing pin for hunting. So on 357mag or 44mag revolvers that equates to about a 4.25" barrel from forcing cone to muzzle.

Some states are different though and measure from the forcing cone instead of the firing pin for their minimum length.

 

[gotboostvr]

In WI the law requires a minimum of 5.5" from muzzle to firing pin for hunting. So on 357mag or 44mag revolvers that equates to about a 4.25" barrel from forcing cone to muzzle.

Some states are different though and measure from the forcing cone instead of the firing pin for their minimum length.

Ohio is one of those states, 5 inches, forcing cone to muzzle for revolvers.

 

[Henryseale]

I have a S&W M-69 .44 Mag. that I really like. 4.25 inch barrel, stainless steel. Being an L frame, it is not as bulky as a M-29 N frame and just a slight bit larger than a K frame. It is a 5-shot instead of a 6-shot. However, loaded with either magnums or what I call my "Skeeter +P" .44 Special handloads, you ain't gonna need anymore unless you encounter more than 5 predators at once. If you should, just make sure that one of them is lined up behind another and take out two for one. As Skeeter once said about this load: "it will cease all hostilities" and does not have the recoil of magnum loads. Another feature I like about it is that, other than my handloads, there are three different cartridges that I can shoot in it: .44 Russian, .44 Special, and .44 Magnum. This gives one a lot of versatility in a well balanced and manageable handgun that is good for anything from a rabbit to a bear.

 

[bannockburn]

Riomouse911

If you want to go “Full Skeeter”, the flat top Blackhawk .44 Spl. with a 4 5/8” barrel (or a 5.5” barrel) is the way to roll. Plenty of strength to handle loads at the top of the Special range and packable enough to carry well without feeling like a boat anchor at the end of a hike.

Couldn't agree with you more!

I have had a number of .44 Magnums over the years but ended up trading or selling them off as I really didn't have much use for them beyond occasional trips to the range. Then when Ruger came out with their .44 Special Flattop Blackhawk I knew I had to get one as I was a big fan of Skeeter and some of his appreciation for the .44 Special must have been passed on to me from reading his stories about it!