A little late to the dance, but...
I started my revolver life with a Ruger BH in .45 ACP/Colt - to shoot up my cache of .45 ACP ammo. I had to try the .45 Colt cylinder - instant love. A bevy of .45 Colt Rugers later, Bisleys, Vaquero's, BH's, etc, I wanted a DA-capable .45 Colt. Being an engineering type, I appreciated Ruger's work in their steel selection and use in their then new .454 SRH - so I bought a 7.5" one - and shot many .45 Colts from it. I added a scope (Weaver H2 2x28) and tried .454 rounds - wow - actually comfortable despite their having twice the KE of a .44M - it was the OEM SRH grip - great ergonomics. The die was cast - I liked just squeezing the trigger to go bang. A combination of things, a new 5.5" .45 Colt RH immediately going back to Ruger and a .32 H&RM SSM and SP101 tied for the absolute worst QC all followed my first (09/02) S&W - a 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. I switched - bye bye Ruger, hello S&W.
Like you, I did buy a SBH - a 4 5/8" one - and a QPR Bird's Head Grip, which I carefully fitted to the SBH frame. Fun for my .44 Russian & Special homebrews - misery for real Magnums. I then had Ruger BHG's in .32 H&RM, .357M, .44M, & .45 Colt. It would be the last of my Rugers to leave. I just like DA shooting. I liked to think I 'outgrew' SA shooting - but I didn't - I just got more accustomed to it as I like it better for personal and home defense, as well as most of my plinking. Here is my answer to my perceptual need for a hunting .44 Magnum:
That's a current production 6" 629 with a Weigand SS scope rail (All modern S&W revolvers come pre-drilled & tapped for a scope rail - just remove the rear sight.) and Weaver H2 2x28 scope (From my .454 SRH!). Also - the Hogue/S&W .500 Magnum monogrips, made for the X-frames ($35 +s/h from S&W Accessories.), like the SRH's grip, pad the backstrap and afford a higher grip, putting most of the recoil down your arm rather than rotating your wrist - far more comfortable than OEM Hogues. Having had a bad experience with a .45 Colt RH, and my .454 SRH being the best, QC-wise, Ruger I've ever owned, I'd suggest a Ruger .44M SRH, if you like Rugers better than S&W, as your 'next' .44M... and there will likely be a 'next' .44M!
One final caveat re relative strengths. A current production S&W 29/329/629, like their predecessors, is designed for SAAMI spec'd commercial .44 Magnums. Why hotrod a round when there are hotter calibers, like .454, .460M. .475L, and .500M, readily available? Congratulations on your
first .44M!
Stainz
PS My only BHG SBH picture: