What .44 Magnum is the most fun?
- Thread starter Sergei Mosin
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cal44mag
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Cleveland48
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I have owned a ruger Blackhawk 50th anniversary flat top. That was a great gun and very accurate. In a moment of weakness I sold it to a guy at work. I wish I could get it back. I still have my model 29-3 S&W with the 8 3/8" barrel. It is wonderfully accurate and beautiful. I killed a deer with each one of these guns, and been hooked on handgun hunting ever since.
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buck460XVR
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This is my "most Fun" .44 mag. So accurate it's scary. I also have a standard 5" 629., a .44 lever and a 77/44 that are a hoot to shoot, but this PC 629 is my favorite. It's also one of my primary hunting revolvers.
NorthBorder
Member
Although I have had a few 44 mag revolvers (traded my last for a .45LC) I would think that a really fun gun would be a lever gun. But practically, which ever would test your skills in what ever direction you would want to go.
cheesebigot
Member
Astra Terminator.
4" barrel? check.
Affordable? check.
Optional nickel finish? check - Inox.
Grip options galore? check.
Availability? che...nope.
4" barrel? check.
Affordable? check.
Optional nickel finish? check - Inox.
Grip options galore? check.
Availability? che...nope.
Varminterror
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Depends what you consider "fun," I guess. A lot of guys love the recoil of a short barreled 44mag, myself included, but you rarely hear them talk about hitting anything with them on the other end.
I started accumulating (wouldn't call it "collecting" except for the 44mag Vaqueros) 44mag's over 25yrs ago. I love shooting 44mag Vaqueros, but I derive the most fun from putting a lot of air under big bullets on their way to the target.
One of my favorite pastimes is throwing 300grn XTP's 200yrds at steel from a 7.5" SBH.
I started accumulating (wouldn't call it "collecting" except for the 44mag Vaqueros) 44mag's over 25yrs ago. I love shooting 44mag Vaqueros, but I derive the most fun from putting a lot of air under big bullets on their way to the target.
One of my favorite pastimes is throwing 300grn XTP's 200yrds at steel from a 7.5" SBH.
wow6599
Member
My vote goes to my 5.5" Redhawk.....it (Rugers) can take those nuclear loads that most others can't - and that is fun!
Fast Frank
Member
44 mag can be fun.
It can also be punishing.
A pistol that soaks up recoil with its weight, has grips that fit your hand, good sights and a good trigger is what you want.
Fill thst order and you will have all the fun you could ask for.
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It can also be punishing.
A pistol that soaks up recoil with its weight, has grips that fit your hand, good sights and a good trigger is what you want.
Fill thst order and you will have all the fun you could ask for.
Sent from my cellphone by TapaTalk
Zeke/PA
Member
I love my 4" Model 29 also. I like shooting .44 Special reloads in it.
For Hunting though, I prefer my Ruger iron sighted Super Blackhawk.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Short barreled Bisleys for me.
Followed closely by 29's.
Followed closely by 29's.
Valkman
Member
I only have one, a 6" S&W 629 but I love it. It is tons o' fun with reloads and very accurate. The trigger is amazing, which is why it's so accurate.
LeonCarr
Member
I like the Super Redhawk myself, either a 7.5 or 9.5.
The 7.5 inch I had would shoot 3.5 inch groups at 100 yards with 240 XTPs and H110.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
The 7.5 inch I had would shoot 3.5 inch groups at 100 yards with 240 XTPs and H110.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
JohnnyFlake
Member
Hey Brother,Short barreled Bisleys for me.
Followed closely by 29's.
I do love those Biselys!
entropy
Member
329. 
I have shot a friends Taurus Tracker in .44 mag and it was fun. I personally own two .44 mags, a Ruger Super Redhawk with 7.5" barrel and scoped with a nice Weaver scope, and a Ruger Super Blackhawk Talo edition with a 3.75" barrel. By far, the Super Blackhawk is the most FUN!! Have shot several brands of 240 grain ammo and the 305 grain bear load by HSM. All of them were quite manageable and very accurate.
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mooninpisces
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Since you have no experience shooting 44 magnum, the safest approach
for exploring shooting this powerful cartridge is the Ruger
Super Redhawk double action revolver with a 7.5 inch barrel.
Be careful not to confuse the Super Redhawk with either the
single action Super Blackhawk or the outdated, double action Redhawk.
The Super Redhawk is the successor to the Redhawk;
but, the Redhawk is still in production.
Do not make the mistake of purchasing a barrel length less than 5 inches.
For a magnum revolver, shorter barrel lengths have too much muzzle blast;
and, they do not allow the bullet to reach full velocity.
For your first 44 magnum, avoid purchasing any single action revolver.
The 19th century, plow handle grip does not handle recoil nearly as well
as a full frame, double action revolver.
Also, the double action Super Redhawk will provide you with several
after market grip options. The Blackhawk and Redhawk grip options
are extremely limited !
The full frame Super Redhawk will help you to make an informed decision
about whether you like shooting 44 magnum. It will help you develop
a good reference by which to compare future 44 magnum purchases.
Also, the Super Redhawk, is much stronger than any Smith and Wesson.
It is made to handle a steady diet of 44 magnum without beating up
the gun or the shooter. The same CANNOT be said for the Smith and Wesson.
The Super Redhawk also allows you to easily change the front sight to
one you prefer. Also, the Super Redhawk comes with scope rings in the box !
Scope mounts are integrated into the frame of the Super Redhawk.
For all the reasons outlined above, the Super Redhawk, 7.5 inch barrel
is the only 44 magnum that I own!
for exploring shooting this powerful cartridge is the Ruger
Super Redhawk double action revolver with a 7.5 inch barrel.
Be careful not to confuse the Super Redhawk with either the
single action Super Blackhawk or the outdated, double action Redhawk.
The Super Redhawk is the successor to the Redhawk;
but, the Redhawk is still in production.
Do not make the mistake of purchasing a barrel length less than 5 inches.
For a magnum revolver, shorter barrel lengths have too much muzzle blast;
and, they do not allow the bullet to reach full velocity.
For your first 44 magnum, avoid purchasing any single action revolver.
The 19th century, plow handle grip does not handle recoil nearly as well
as a full frame, double action revolver.
Also, the double action Super Redhawk will provide you with several
after market grip options. The Blackhawk and Redhawk grip options
are extremely limited !
The full frame Super Redhawk will help you to make an informed decision
about whether you like shooting 44 magnum. It will help you develop
a good reference by which to compare future 44 magnum purchases.
Also, the Super Redhawk, is much stronger than any Smith and Wesson.
It is made to handle a steady diet of 44 magnum without beating up
the gun or the shooter. The same CANNOT be said for the Smith and Wesson.
The Super Redhawk also allows you to easily change the front sight to
one you prefer. Also, the Super Redhawk comes with scope rings in the box !
Scope mounts are integrated into the frame of the Super Redhawk.
For all the reasons outlined above, the Super Redhawk, 7.5 inch barrel
is the only 44 magnum that I own!
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OP
OP
Sergei Mosin
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- Oct 7, 2011
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- 1,918
Lots of recommendations here, for which I thank you all. My inclination is towards a double-action revolver, so that's what I went to look at today.
At one extreme is the Ruger Alaskan. With its 2 1/2 inch barrel, it must be a bear to shoot - but then, about the only purpose it can have is to shoot bears. It's probably a fine "get off me, bear!" gun but not exactly what I'm looking for.
At the other end is the Ruger Super Redhawk, of which I handled 7 1/2 and 9 1/2 inch examples. This is a great hunting revolver, especially if fitted with an optic, but it weighs a ton and isn't really suited to the offhand shooting I do.
In between lies the Ruger Redhawk. The 4.2 inch model seems too short to do the cartridge justice, and the 7 1/2 inch model is on the upper end of what I'd want. I think it would start to feel a little muzzle-heavy before very many rounds had been fired. The 5 1/2 inch model might be ideal; naturally, I wasn't able to lay hands on one. I did not care for the wooden grips; I had a hard time getting my hand properly situated on it and as pretty as they are, I'd have to replace them first thing.
There were also a pair of long-barreled S&W 629-1 revolvers in the used case, both in good condition but priced awfully high. The 8 3/8 inch model ($1100) balanced surprisingly well for such a long gun; the target stocks seemed a bit large but I could get used to them. But the 6 inch model ($1200) wearing Pachmayr Presentation grips is the one I fell in love with; it's just the right size and those grips are perfect for my hands. If only the price wasn't so high, and if only new S&W revolvers didn't have that abominable lock...
At one extreme is the Ruger Alaskan. With its 2 1/2 inch barrel, it must be a bear to shoot - but then, about the only purpose it can have is to shoot bears. It's probably a fine "get off me, bear!" gun but not exactly what I'm looking for.
At the other end is the Ruger Super Redhawk, of which I handled 7 1/2 and 9 1/2 inch examples. This is a great hunting revolver, especially if fitted with an optic, but it weighs a ton and isn't really suited to the offhand shooting I do.
In between lies the Ruger Redhawk. The 4.2 inch model seems too short to do the cartridge justice, and the 7 1/2 inch model is on the upper end of what I'd want. I think it would start to feel a little muzzle-heavy before very many rounds had been fired. The 5 1/2 inch model might be ideal; naturally, I wasn't able to lay hands on one. I did not care for the wooden grips; I had a hard time getting my hand properly situated on it and as pretty as they are, I'd have to replace them first thing.
There were also a pair of long-barreled S&W 629-1 revolvers in the used case, both in good condition but priced awfully high. The 8 3/8 inch model ($1100) balanced surprisingly well for such a long gun; the target stocks seemed a bit large but I could get used to them. But the 6 inch model ($1200) wearing Pachmayr Presentation grips is the one I fell in love with; it's just the right size and those grips are perfect for my hands. If only the price wasn't so high, and if only new S&W revolvers didn't have that abominable lock...
If money is not the issue, go with FA in 44 magnum.
If you reload, and do not need full power loads all the time, I would go with S&W 629 Classic DX. Every DX revolver is tested, and every one will make 1.5 inch at 50 yds, if I remembered correctly.
If you are going to shoot mostly factory loaded, or heavy loaded ammo, look for Super Redhawk, Redhawk, Super Blackhawk with standard grip or Bisley. I love Bisley, but Super Redhawk is the king if you want to shoot a lot with top loads.
Last but not least: be aware that short barreled and lighter revolver could be brutal on your hands with top loads. If you are not familiar with some of the revolvers we mentioned, try to fire some with factory loads before making decision. You might end up spending your hard earned cash, just to realize that revolver you purchased is not what you wanted.
Read carefully mooninpisces post, he told you all you need to know.
My personal preference would be now 44 Special S&W 24 or 624, -3 or -4, with 6" or 6.5" barrel. Not 44 Magnum, but 250 grains bullet at 1100-1200 fps is more than enough.
See http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c12.htm .
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Let's be clear about something -
there is no difference in "strength" between the Redhawk and SuperRedhawk.
there is a difference in strength between the Redhawk/SRH and the Blackhawk/SBH. Check with Brian Pearce on this. In 44Mag, it won't matter because they both handle the hottest magnum loads but in 45LC there is separate load data for the RH/SRH.
there is no difference in "strength" between the Redhawk and SuperRedhawk.
there is a difference in strength between the Redhawk/SRH and the Blackhawk/SBH. Check with Brian Pearce on this. In 44Mag, it won't matter because they both handle the hottest magnum loads but in 45LC there is separate load data for the RH/SRH.
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