Which .44 Mag do you own?

[MrPhil]

. . . and why.

I'm looking at .44 Mags. I'd like stainless steel, 6 inch (or longer) barrel, double action. Today I rented a Ruger Redhawk and put 50 rounds down range. Big fun! The shop has a good used one w/ a 7.5 inch barrel for $430. A friend has Smith & Wesson 629 "Classic" for a similar price. NOT COUNTING YOUR POLITICAL OPINIONS, which gun would you buy? If not either of these, which?
Thanks,
Phil

 

[E357]

Price seems Ok for the Smith, but a little too high for the used Redhawk. If it says "Classic DX" jump on the Smith. The Redhawk is a stronger gun.

I have 2 model 29s now, The "Dirty Harry Model" and a 4 inch nickel. Got rid of my Rugers when I picked up a 44 Mag Contender barrel.

Elliot

 

[4v50 Gary]

Ruger - it's a stronger gun.

Mind you, I own 2 S&W M29s (8 3/8" & 6 1/2") and 1 Ruger SuperBlackHawk SA revolver and the only DA Ruger 44 Mag I bought was as a gift for my brother.

Oh, almost forgot that I have a 4 5/8" Vaquero that I never shot. It was a longer barrel but I took it to the factory where they swapped it out for $20.

 

[Tamara]

Well, I own a 4 5/8" Bisley Vaquero and a 3" Model 629. I shoot the 629 more, and even CCW it occasionally, but I keep the Ruger around for launching the really heavy stuff.

 

[SnWnMe]

My 44 is also my first Smith. A 6" 629.

Why? First, the Navy Chief who guided me in my formative years of shooting collected Smiths. Thanks Chief! Second, Smooooooth action

 

[YodaVader]

My current 44 mag is a 6.5" 629 - the targets show why! It is a one holer at 25 yards with the right loads - now have a 4X mounted on it and will try to shoot sub 1" @ 50 yards. The pic shows 6 shot groups.

Also have owned a couple of Ruger Super Redhawks , Ruger Blackhawks , Smith 29 Classic and a couple of TC Contender barrels.

 

[PALongbow]

I shoot some pretty stout reloads out of my 44 mag Ruger Super Redhawk and its held up everytime with no problems. The SRH is built like a tank. I owned one Smith model 29 years ago, but shot much lighter loads out of it in fear that it wouldn't hold up over time.

I would say get what you want, but the Ruger in my opinion will hold up better using hot loads.

Ron

 

[Steve in PA]

I have the same gun as PALongbow........

its a Ruger Super Redhawk, 9 1/2" barrel wearing a Bushnell 2x6 variable scope. I bought it specifically for handgun hunting. I've used it to take several whitetail deer and hope to get a black bear one of these days.

Like PAL said......the Ruger is built like a tank.....no way your gonna blow this thing up. I've had mine for probably close to 10 years or more and have put aot of rounds down range.

This Ruger is a big gun.

 

[stans]

I own two 44's, a S&W model 29-3 and a Ruger Super Redhawk. The Ruger is for magnum ammo and the Smith is for lighter loads. The Smith will have a better trigger, but the Ruger wins in durability.

 

[Majic]

If you are going to shoot alot of mag loads then go the way of the Ruger.
I have a M29-8 MG only because it may be the last of the blue steel models.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

6.5" Ruger Bisley because it can handle anything I stuff into it and stay in one piece.

 

[happy old sailor]

SaxonPig, that is exactly what my 29 looks like. have had it slightly over 40 years. shot a lot of 24gr/2400 loads until the cylinder would back up once in a while. this was after an unknown number of rounds, but, lots. now she gets a standard diet.

had an RH until they came out with the SRH. got a couple SBH's too. the Rugers are some tough stuff and i sure like the earthquake loads they will take.

could i manage only one .44 mag, it would be the SnW 29. a beauty forever and a sweet shooting gun. the Rugers are my full house blasting fun guns. nothing wrong with that. as far as blasting goes, the standard .44 mag load is sufficiently powerful for most things.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Much has been written by me, on why I like the Smith
& Wesson 5" barrel 629-5 .44 magnum "Classic".

Being that this 629-5 is a rather recent production gun,
I examined it very carefully before purchase. First off,
the fit and finish are of excellent quality; with NO gaps
in the fitting of the parts. Lock work is beyond approach,
with mating parts exceptionally flush. And the trigger, in
both SA and DA mode is reminiscent of old Smith's of the
past. It is capeable of outstanding accuracy, with no
problem at all. And heck, it IS NOT even a DX model.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a firearm of this quality.


Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Bullet Bob]

I'm with Ala Dan; the 5" Classics have wonderful balance in the hand, the accuracy is wonderful. I handload, and shoot very few full magnums because my right elbow is missing a few parts. 900-1000 fps is fun, and would handle anything in North Carolina, I do believe! I know that tin cans fear me.

 

[Randy63]

Bullet Bob, that's a great looking revolver you have there.

I only have one .44 Mag, a 4" Model 29. This one feels great in my hand and is the perfect barrel length for the distances I usually shoot (25 yards and less). I also find the older 6.5" 29's very appealing and wouldn't mind owning one of those as well.

K22

 

[Chuck Dye]

I won't attempt to argue one make over another except to say that the most positive experience I have had with a .44 mag revolver is with a borrowed Dan Wesson multi-barreled kit. Check'em out, if you can.

What I have found most remarkable in the .44s I have shot is the difference between barrel mounted and frame mounted scopes. I like the nose heaviness of the barrel mount, others prefer frame mounting for the different balance. I think I prefer the barrel mount for its tendency to mount the scope closer to the bore, though I haven't the experience to be sure. I can say that when I had the opportunity to switch back and forth between a Super Blackhawk with a frame mounted scope and a Super Blackhawk Hunter with the same model scope mounted on the barrel, I definitely preferred the Hunter. Among the group I was shooting shooting with, we were split nearly equally between the two. If you have any plans to scope your .44, try to get some time with both setups first. A revolver with a ribbed barrel can go either way. Without a rib, you are pretty much limited to a frame mount.

When it came time to buy, I settled on the Redhawk Hunter to which I added a Leupold M8 in the Ruger mounts. I doubt I'll sell it anytime soon.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I prefer pre-agreement Smith & Wessons: I personally don't care for single action grip designs, and I've never seen a Ruger whose barrel wasn't emblazoned with messages to people too stupid to understand what guns are.

 

[Stainz]

My .44 craze began with a 629 Mountain Gun last fall. That .44 Magnum has a diet of mainly .44 S&W Specials , with more .44 Russian than .44 Magnums finding their way to those cylinder bores. I followed it with a safe-queen 6.5" 24 and a pair of new closeouts: a 296 & a 696. I like the .44 S&W Special (and .44 Russian) rounds - the 200gr Blazer GDJHP's are fine for protection.

The 629 MG is perfect for carry with lighter .44 Magnum loads - it has a tapered partially lugged tube and chamfered cylinder. With the old-style square wood grips from S&W (21991), it looks quite 'Keith-ish'. My mild magnum loads have been up to 240gr @ 980fps - I am sure it will take more, if needed, albeit not quite as much fun with those wood grips. I do have my .45 Colt: MG, a 5.5" Ruger SS Bisley, and a scoped 7.5" .454 SRH for hotter .45 loads. If I wanted the ultimate in .44 Magnum capability, I'd get another Super Redhawk. That GP-100 styled lockwork and the absorptive original grips on the SRH make it a fine package.

Stainz

 

[Redhawk1]

I have the Ruger Redhawk, stainless 7 1/2 in barrel. Great gun shoots very accurate and is stronger than the Smith. You just can't beat a Ruger revolver.

 

[Dr.Rob]

The Smith is probably a good deal. the Ruger is tougher.

I've got a 7.5 inch vaquero I bought as a belt gun for big game. The only customizing I've done to it was a set of "gunfighter" buffalo horn grips from Ajax. I shoot everything from light cowboy loads to heavy 300 grain handloaded XTP's (which i've decided were TOO hot for me) I usually stoke mine with a 240 gr Winchester soft point.

Call me crazy, but I don't like checkered wood grips on big magnums. A smooth grip will let the recoil roll in your hand, a rubber grip will take some of the sting. Those checked ones treat my hand like a rasp.

 

[YodaVader]

Call me crazy, but I don't like checkered wood grips on big magnums.

I would only call you crazy if you DID LIKE them!

 

[Peter Gun]

I have the Ruger Super redhawk w/7.5 bbl. Great shooter. As said above, tough enough for even p+ loads and the extra barrel weight helps control muzzle rise. Besides that, it sold me on the post-style grip frame that allows for a smaller grip while still keeping a good bit of rubber between your hand and steel. I believe Dan wesson's also have this feature, bu they are a lot more $$$. The regular redhawk does not have this feature. the SRH is also easy to mount w/ scope or red dot.HTH.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

I own a 7.5" Redhawk and a P&R 4" S&W mod 29.

 

[schapman43]

Yours looks allot like my Ruger Redhawk

 

[Kcustom45]

I also have to agree with Ala Dan and Bullet Bob on this one. I currently own a 629-5 Classic with a 5" barrel, and I absolutely love it. It is fun and easy to shoot. I would definitely buy it again if I could do it all over again.