Advice on 44MAG wheelgun

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:00 pm

Well, I am in the market for a double action wheelgun in 44MAG. I've been drooling over some S&W 629s and 29s for a while but I'm having a hard time swallowing the prices. I wanted to get some opinions on other makes like Ruger, Taurus, etc. The main purpose of this gun will be backwoods personal defense and plinking. So I want a barrel length of no more than 3" so it can be concealed relatively easy. Right now my budget is around $500+ but I could stretch it to $700.

I have mainly been looking at the S&W 629s and Ruger Alaskan with preference going to the classic lines of the 629. Most of the 629s I have seen are beyond my price range and the Alaskan is at the very top of my range. I have looked at the Taurus titanium 44MAG revolvers but I'm not sure I want an ultra-lightweight .44MAG...I like my wrists.

I am pretty new to revolvers so I could use some advice. I've always held S&W in high regard. What is the general opinion of S&W to other manufacturers like Ruger, Taurus, Charter, Rossi...any others? I figure I am probably opening a can of worms here.

Anyone here tried the titanium ulta-light 44MAG revolvers? Are they as brutal as they sound?

CalvinMD · Post by **CalvinMD** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:11 pm

I can vouch for the Ruger Redhawk (not the Super)....Mine has digested every load fed it happily with great accuracy and stone reliability..as much as I like Smiths...I know this gun will take the pounding that brings most other guns in for work...Hoping one day to find a 5.5" barreled stainless 41mag and also have the funds to do something about it

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:28 pm

To each his own but you don't NEED a .44 Mag or a DA for that use. Of the DA .44 Mags, the 29/629 is probably the closest to PPP. I have a 4" Redhawk to compare to my 629 so I think my opinion (and you know that everybody has one) is based on actual experience. You can get a USED .44 Mag Ruger SA for about $200 less than an equal condition 629.

I have had a few handguns and I like the .44 Special and .45 Colts.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:06 pm

The S&W 629 is a nice gun(got one)
The Taurus Raging bull ain't bad either(got one)love the grips and in the .454 its a little powerhouse

But------You want a extremely cool gun???
Built like a tank(check photos,click on pic and others will come up)and looks very fine, rolls in your hand(the best)so it will absorb the most brutal rds all day long.
The gun(if was today going to buy one?????????? (you do NOT need a double action,trust me)

http://www.gunsamerica.com/904077485/Gu ... Editio.htm#

That gun (with that barrel length)wow! Shove them Buffalo Bore 340gr +P rounds in her and (back off bear)

piller · Post by **piller** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:09 pm

I agree with Hobie that the .44 Mag is not needed for what you are wanting. On the other hand, if you want a .44 Mag, then get one and enjoy it. I like the Ruger Super Redhawk series, as they fit me and I have one in .480 Ruger. Now, are you familiar with the amount of kick that a .44 Mag can give in a short barrel firearm? You can shoot .44 Special in the .44 Mag and do fine for most everything. Now if personal protection from bears is an issue, then the .44 Mag ought to handle the situation with aplomb. Personal protection from humans and general plinking might be handled just as well by a .357 Revovler shooting .38 Special for plinking. Hope this helps.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:12 pm

What Hobie said, but in addition, if you got the Taurus .44 Mag, you could load it as a ".44 Special +P", have plenty of power for what you're up to, and NOT mess up your wrists with excessive recoil. You could think of it as a "44 Special" gun that is heavily enough built that you CAN use Magnum loads when you want to. You could practice and mostly use "+P Special" loads, and keep a "Magnum" load for first-to-fire if you really felt more comfortable that way; it's easy to just double-cock to the next round if you're shooting at a rabbit instead of a bear or 2-leg.

I've had several Taurus revolvers (just not a .44 Mag), and they were all very well made, and comparable to the present-day S&W's or Rugers in fit and finish and design quality (in my opinion).

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:10 pm

ya, the Taurus is making some good stuff.
Question ------------
Other than the possibility of smaller frame size(why would someone want a .44special)when they can be shot out of a 44mag and also have the mag capability??
Honest opinion being a Pa boy my self-----we are getting bears in the 600-700lb(even 800lbs?) range and myself(want at least a 44Mag when being where they are/might be????

Couple years back my buddy shot one up here(on the border) (almost 700lbs)has it full mounted and it is HUGE

Would blow your mind!

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:30 pm

3" 44 Mag.... there aren't many of those out there - I think the Ruger Super Redhawk "Alaskan" and the S&W survival kit guns.... concealing a 44 Mag wheel gun will be fun...

I think I'd just go with a Ruger Super Blackhawk in 4 3/4". Fits your budget and can be fired quite rapidly with just a little practice.

The other thing would be to find a S&W 696 3" L frame - 44 Special. Its a stout gun and handle 250 grain keith loads of around 1090 fps which would do what you need (19.0 grains H110). It's much more compact and concealable too.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:25 pm

If I wanted a compact and light .44 Mag, one of these with a hottie first then five more pleasant loads would be what I'd want; it's 18 oz. lighter than the Ruger Super Redhawk 2-1/2".

...but what about a .454 Casull that holds six shots instead of only the five many others are limited to.

Introducing the 'Raging Judge'

It may look stupid, and I'll bet the .454's are swaged sideways by the time they make it through the long throat and into the barrel, but it would pack POWER, plus double as a 'snake' gun (though I'd never shoot a non-venomous snake..!). It weighs in at twice what the .44 Mag does, though, but is only a couple inches longer.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:42 pm

My wife bought me a Ruger Redhawk W/ 4" bbl a few years ago for Christmas and I love it. I'm not sure I'd want less 4" of barrel in the .44 but to each his own. I had a 629 several years ago and the thing I didn't like about it was that in recoil the gun didn't want to come straight back, it seemed like it wanted to torque sideways. That could have been my perception, but that's the way it seemed. The Redhawk doesn't seem to do that. I've never been able to shoot the SA grip style myself except the Bisley style grip, but that's me.

Pisgah · Post by **Pisgah** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:59 pm

Unless you are planning to roam serious griz country (and really, you're sort of kidding yourself there with any handgun, even a .454) you'd likely be better-served with a .357 mag. Plenty of options there, from tiny, fly-weight pocket pieces to behemoth N-Frame DAs and SA Blackhawks and everything in between.

Ray Newman · Post by **Ray Newman** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:19 pm

I once had a Lew Horton S&W 629 3" with Hogue grips. Traded it off and eventually bought a 29-2 with a 6 ½” barrel.

Suggest that if you have not shot a .44 Magnum or a .44 Magnum with a 3" barrel revolver before, find someone who has one and ask to shoot it. You may just very well change your mind about the calibre and the barrel length.

If you want a .44 magnum, go for it, but go with eyes wide open. Myself, I shoot my .41 Magnums more than the S&W 29.

As what others said, you really do not need a .44 Magnum for your intended purposes.

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:04 pm

I had pretty much the same idea last year. I wanted a 44mag packin DA(and yes I have a super Blackhawk 4 5/8 magna ported, and a 71/2 redhawk) so I looked at the S&W prices and thought no way. I can do better than that....I felt up a bunch of revolvers and looked at features and blah blah blah decided on a Taurus tracker( I have two other Taurus guns and like both) I have had good results with my other taurus stuff, it was ported, it was stainless , smaller frame and cheaper! I bought it and bought a Simply Rugged holster(great product) and I am set right???? WRONG. On the initial firing the action would fire at 3-4 pounds one time then could be 2lbs or 8lbs. Ok Ok new gun shoot it more, but the biggest issue is it would not eject ALL the empties everytime. Loaded rounds fell out, fired cases usually three fell clear. Fired more so the action would break in, tried different ammo ..Nope never did. Took it to the gun shop where I bought it and they poked and prodded and slicked this and turned that, could not get it to eject all cases either, they were hanging up everytime. We put a case up against cylinder and pushed the ejection rod, just isn't enough stroke to MAKE the cases clear Blah blah blah. Traded it in on a 29 and lost money on the Taurus and the holster and had to order another Simply rugged.....

My point in this whole thing is #1 I still like Taurus and will try other guns from them, but in this case it did not work for me.

#2 a Smith is a Smith and they are good guns(Like the Rugers Too) and after buying something else and then the Smith it would have been much wiser on my part to buy the smith right off.
YMMV!

1894c · Post by **1894c** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:43 pm

in this order...

Ruger Redhawk

Ruger GP-100 in .357 mag, better than most think or admit...my lousy cranky opinion... :)

i tried for years to get good with a .44 mag--used to shoot 100 rounds a week-end for two years straight, (started with a Super Blackhawk 71/2" bbl. used a friend's with a 4 5/8" tube, then switched to a S&W 629 4" bbl and shot a friend's 29 with a 6" tube, and finally tried a Ruger Redhawk 5.5" bbl) tried them all except Taurus, in the end i was a lousy shot past 25 yds. i also discovered that allot of guys own the .44 mag but hate to shoot it, hate to practice with it, but love to own it...so after much soul-searching i went back to the .357 mag... :)

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:17 am

Used to carry a 3 inch 624, 44 Special as my Go-To camp gun!

Liked it better than anything else, and ammo has improved quite a bit since those days.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 1:02 am

My Favorite DA revolver is the Dan Wesson switch barrel guns. Before the Freedom arms SA came along the DW's ruled the Metallic silhouette game. With the barrels suspended in the shouds and the cylider lock toward the front they are very accurate guns. They offered a 3” barrel for the 44mag. The barrels are easy to change so you could have both a long barrel and a short.
I have owned several over the years and still have two. An 8” stainless 357m and this 6” stainless 44mag.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:53 am

Give the Smith 57/657 a looksee. I like it better than either the Redhawk or the 29/629 and I've owned 'em all.

Oly

shooter · Post by **shooter** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:19 am

I'm a fan of Rugers, and I love my 5 1/2" Redhawk. That being said, if it didn't have tremendous sentimental value to me, I'd be looking to sell it and get the 4" version in .45 Colt. I know you didn't ask about .45 Colt, but I'm a big fan

I have two .44 magnums. One is the Redhawk, and the other a 5 1/2" Super Blackhawk. I like both of them just fine, but I find them taking a back seat to my .45's these days. I really like the Smith&Wesson 629 also, but you can't shoot as stout a load in them and they are a little bit more pricey than the Rugers. Get what you really want, even if you have to save a little longer for it. You will be happier in the long run.

wolfdog · Post by **wolfdog** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:39 am

I am not a big fan of short barreled magnums. Not a matter of recoil. A lot of PP situations occur in low light conditions. One full power load out of a short barrel and you ain't seeing anything for awhile. And if ported even worse. Beside that if you can conceal the bulk of a full sized revolver frame a couple of inches more of barrel is not a big deal.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:22 am

I am a huge fan of S&W double action revolvers. They just fit me. The first woods walking gun I used was a ruger redhawk ss with 5 inch barrel. Great firearm. My avitar shows a Smith trail boss in 44 mag. It has a three inch barrel. Need to change the picture since I sold it to Jason. Is a great firearm in it's own right. I stoked it with buffalo bore personal defense or deer grenade ammo. My current PPP is my Gary Reeder customized Super Blackhawk with 4 inch barrel. 44 mag of course.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:28 am

I really like my 6" Colt Anaconda, it is accurate with anything I feed it. I think they made a 4" one but unfortunately they are no longer in production.

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:36 am

Thanks for the advice guys. I should have stated that I shoot my friends Ruger Alaskan in .454 all the time and I love it. We usually shoot .45LC out of it to save money and wrists. My father-in-law and I hunt regularly with .44MAG. He uses a 8" Ruger SuperRedHawk and I use a Rossi '92 rifle with a 16" barrel (love that gun). We reload .44MAG like crazy. We have a really good load that is not too shout and comfortable to shoot. I just took over all the reloading responsibilities so I am looking for a .44MAG revolver to make a nice pair with my Rossi rifle. I'm working on a very light .44MAG load using TITEGROUP powder to use mainly for plinking and possibly woods use. I've thought about .357MAG but we load so much .44MAG that I really don't feel like switching to another round. As far as personal protection, I am mostly talking about 4 legged beasts. My wife and I hike a lot and we love to head into the back country of MT and ID. I'd definitely feel more comfortable with a .44MAG than anything else and I'm sure my wife would too. There have also been reports of mountain lions in our area. My wife, mother-in-law and neighbors saw one in a field just across the road from us. This makes me want to carry a bigbore too. When hiking and camping, I'd usually carry in a SafePacker holster from Wilderness Tactical...not planning to wear a .44MAG revolver my pants (IWB) for concealment. Mostly OWB or in the SafePacker.

Not too interested in SA revolver. I love the cowboy appeal but the time it takes to cock and shoot and reload time are less than ideal for me.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:01 am

In my humble opinion, for the use you're talking about, a S&W 329 used with light loads, or an Alaskan with light loads....S&W Mountain in .45, .44, or .357 would be the berries as well.

buckeyeshooter · Post by **buckeyeshooter** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:03 am

As for myself-- I have 3 29's all nickel in 3 inch, 6 inch and 6 1/2 inch in double action. In single action Rugers 2- 5 1/2 inch stainless bisley vaqueros, 2- 4 5/8 stainless vaquero 44-40/44 mags and a 7 1/2 inch blue blackhawk.

As you can see SW for double action, Rugers single action. In your price range a 4 5/8 blackhawk would be the item I would buy.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:53 am

The 44 mag is a great round. Most applications don't require a full house load though. Something along the lines of a 240 gr cast SWC over 8.0 gr of Unique will shoot through a deer or hog without excessive recoil.

A short barreled Redhawk might be the way to go. A 4" Smith 629 is a really nice gun. I just sold two seldom used guns to raise money for a 629 and have no regrets. There is a nice 629 Mountain Gun in the classifieds on the Smith and Wesson board. He is asking top dollar for it though.

Good luck in your search. I don't see a lot of used 44's around here but they do pop up sometimes.

41 Redhawk · Post by **41 Redhawk** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:16 pm

Taurus makes the 44 mag Tracker in stainless steel too. It's about 6 or 8 ozs heavier than the Ti version.

BTW, this thread looks strangely familiar to one that ran on the PA Firearms owners forum awhile back!

jerry b · Post by **jerry b** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:22 pm

For your stated applications, I don't understand the need for fast reload. And, if one learns how to use a SA revolver, the cocking time issue is moot, especially if we are talking about a PA woods revolver. If you want a tough revolver that will do everything you can imagine, look at Ruger SBHs and save some money. However, if you are set on a DA, look for used 629s or Redhawks. I'd not consider a Taurus because ported barrels are an abomination IMO, and the last time I looked, that's all they had in .44s.

Nevertheless, I personally prefer a .45 Colt or .44 Special for my neck of the woods. No more is necessary than a 240-280 gr Keith at 900-1000 fps. You can load the magnum to that level, of course, but I like the lighter weight of the non-magnum steel revolvers.

As an aside, I've heard about mountain lions in PA and NY for about 50 years now. I have yet to see one personally, know anyone reliable who has personally seen one, nor found verified evidence of one. If you come across the latter, please share it.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:24 pm

Lions and bears are as thick as fleas around here, and I've never seen one, except a brief glance when they bound away.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:14 pm

Ruger Redhawk DA, 44 mag or down load it to a squib load, same ammo for your rifle and pistol. danny
http://www.ruger.com/products/redhawk/s ... /5026.html

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:32 pm

I'm pretty set on a DA revolver but I will look into the SA revolvers.

This caught my eye...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =278723428

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:04 pm

Good gun--------------------CHEAP
But is tank tough and goes boom every time you pull the trigger,loaded with some stout 250 grainers?????

2.5" Stainless Steel DA Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 special

New--------------------$355 just because its priced very low/don't let that throw you
Also look at the weight(kinda like an ultra lite but in full stainless, 21ozs)

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =277088829

http://www.charterfirearms.com/products ... 74420.html

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:15 pm

Irelander wrote:Well, I am in the market for a double action wheelgun in 44MAG. I've been drooling over some S&W 629s and 29s for a while but I'm having a hard time swallowing the prices...purpose of this gun will be backwoods personal defense and plinking...my budget is around $500+ but I could stretch it to $700...

Most folks list their top priorities within the first few words of their dialog; so I would suggest that you go to the Taurus website and look hard at their revolvers, and then see if there are any at a dealer near you to view and handle. Taurus produces dozens of models and styles of handguns.

Despite criticisms from various sources (which are perhaps sometimes critical just because this is a Brazilian firearm), the Taurus handguns consistently rate high against, or even beat out more expensive handguns.

GunTests.com is one site and magazine that frequently rates the Taurus high or even best in class against handguns that include various models of even the better known S&W line. GunTests.com and its magazine are subscriber supported and receive no funding through advertisers - the "Consumer Reports" of the gun world. The Taurus is still much less expensive than most other quality guns; one of your stated considerations.

I currently have or have carried several excellent (and more expensive) handguns - Colts, S&W's, Berettas, Glocks; but for general .44 Mag shooting, I am prefer my Taurus Model 44 Stainless in .44 Magnum. Since you mentioned that you want one for backwoods defense and plinking, you probably don't need the hottest .44 Mag load in the world, and all Taurus handguns can handle reasonably powerful .44 loads regularly and safely, with acceptable or even remarkable accuracy. The heavier Raging Bull series handle very hot loads, but that handgun is a bit heavy for everyday carry.

You might find that you are happier with a 4 inch barrel, since that extra inch makes a difference in the efficient burning of many powders and gives you a little better velocity and less recoil without a lot of extra gun.

My favorite overall "Non Condor Zone" plinking and general carry .44 round is a 240 grain hard cast handload over 9.0 grains of Unique for right at 1,000 fps - more of a hot .44 Special load. But a garden variety .44 Magnum store bought load might be your cup of tea.

I don't live in grizzly country and there are no moose in my area, so I am confident with my round for most purposes. My particular load is more accurate than I am able to really realize in offhand shooting, but each gun has its favorite loads, as you will hear on this board again and again.

guntar · Post by **guntar** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:21 am

Just from reading your comments, and a little bit between the lines; the Smith is what you really want.

My experience has been that if I "settle" for something other than what I really want, satisfaction is very seldom in the cards. After all, very few of us actually NEED the firearms we buy. You already have a rifle that will do most anything the handgun will do. So my advice is this: Save up a little longer, get what you really want, shoot it until you wear it out, and enjoy it every step of the way.

If my interpretation is incorrect, just disregard everything I wrote.

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:55 am

guntar wrote:Just from reading your comments, and a little bit between the lines; the Smith is what you really want.

My experience has been that if I "settle" for something other than what I really want, satisfaction is very seldom in the cards. After all, very few of us actually NEED the firearms we buy. You already have a rifle that will do most anything the handgun will do. So my advice is this: Save up a little longer, get what you really want, shoot it until you wear it out, and enjoy it every step of the way.

If my interpretation is incorrect, just disregard everything I wrote.

You are completely correct. After looking at some of the other brands and reading the advice of others, I am going to keep saving and get the S&W 629 that I want. I really like the 629 backpacker, Talo edition, and the Performance Center models, but what really catches my eye is the Lew Horton models! Those are exactly what I am looking for. When I first decided that I wanted a .44MAG revolver I was reading this article http://www.handgunsmag.com/2010/09/24/a ... ag_081005/ about reloading. The bottom 629 in the picture at the top of the page hit me like a ton of bricks. It was love at first sight. That is the gun I want...purely on looks. I doubt I will have the $$$ for a Lew Horton model anytime soon. I've handled a few and the 629 seems to fit best. I haven't had a chance to shoot a 629 with that short of a barrel but like I said earlier I have shot a .454 Ruger Alaskan with pretty hot factory loads, and that wasn't too bad. I am planning to load pretty tame loads to start with anyway.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:06 am

Honestly, if you're enamored with the Smith, just get it. Save whatever and get what you want. From my experiences everytime I didn't I wasn't happy. They're great guns. They don't hold up to high end loads like a Ruger or SA's, but don't feed it a steady diet of top end loads and it'll serve you a life time and you'll be happy everytime it's in your hands.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 11:03 am

Despite criticisms from various sources (which are perhaps sometimes critical just because this is a Brazilian firearm), the Taurus handguns consistently rate high against, or even beat out more expensive handguns.

Still would rather keep my neighbors employed first, if I can. Would pay the extra $20 every time.

But do agree with this:

plinking and general carry .44 round is a 240 grain hard cast handload over 9.0 grains of Unique for right at 1,000 fps - more of a hot .44 Special load.

But have also become very comfortable with a 220gr JHP in front of 24.5 grains of H110, offers me relatively tight groups at a hundred yards out of my 7.5" SBH and similar groups at 50 yards out of my 5.5 SS SBH. 7.5 has Hogue grips, made all the difference in the world. Not too accomplished yet with my buddies 6" 629...but the DA is nicer to feed, but harder to group unless you shoot it like a SA.

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:16 pm

Old Time Hunter wrote: Still would rather keep my neighbors employed first, if I can. Would pay the extra $20 every time.

$20?!? Unless things have drastically changed, it's a lot more than that. When I purchased my 6.5 inch Stainless Model 44 Taurus .44 Magnum in 2003, it was about half of what comparable American DA .44's cost!

And unlike the Smith with a grip that cuts up the ungloved hand with the the firing of several heavy 300 grain loads, the Taurus .44's excellent out-of-the-box Hogue-like recoil absorbing grips and standard ported barrel make these loads a ***** cat to shoot in reasonable sized weights and barrels.

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:42 pm

I havent read all the posts-yet. You are talking my game as I collect, carry and shoot revolvers more than rifles. To start with you may not need a 44 mag, probley a 44 special or 45 colt will do as well and even better from some standpoints. Why do you think you want a DA over a SA? You can get a SA short barrel (3 1/2") in those calibers, they are available and in your price range.
My personnal favorite that I own is a .44 special s&w model 24-3 4" barrel. That has the tapered lighter barrel, and feels lighter and more handy than my other smiths in 29-2 44 mag and 25-5 45 colt. However any of those guns in top shape are more like $600 to $800 in top shape. I have a cimmeron arms thunderer with 2 clyinders in .45 colt and .45 acp. I suppose you can find one for around $500s and I think ruger makes a similar configueration also in stainless.
DAs are fine as is .44 mag. I am just saying there are other fine options and calibers. Shown is my 24-3 .44 special and the cimmeron. Both light and handy.

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:10 pm

I don't care who you are...DAs are easier and quicker to reload and shoot. In any defensive situation, a quick reload is a high priority. I'm sure there are those who can shoot a SA pretty fast and maybe even reload fairly fast. Not that I am going to try to break any records with fast reloads, but you never know what kind of situation you are going to run into these days and I usually plan for the worst. A quick reload may be the determining factor in a life or death situation.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

jackruff · Post by **jackruff** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:03 pm

1894c wrote:in this order...

Ruger Redhawk

Ruger GP-100 in .357 mag, better than most think or admit...my lousy cranky opinion...

i tried for years to get good with a .44 mag--used to shoot 100 rounds a week-end for two years straight, (started with a Super Blackhawk 71/2" bbl. used a friend's with a 4 5/8" tube, then switched to a S&W 629 4" bbl and shot a friend's 29 with a 6" tube, and finally tried a Ruger Redhawk 5.5" bbl) tried them all except Taurus, in the end i was a lousy shot past 25 yds. i also discovered that allot of guys own the .44 mag but hate to shoot it, hate to practice with it, but love to own it...so after much soul-searching i went back to the .357 mag...

Ditto on the GP100! Great gun - my favorite to shoot of all of mine. (6" barrel, stainless)

Mokwaw · Post by **Mokwaw** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 8:35 am

Save your money and buy the Smith & Wesson, IT'S WHAT YOU WANT and you won't be happy with anything else.

I've had Rugers.The Rugers are tank tough but they went to new homes.

My Smith stays with me, even after 30 yrs. IT'S WHAT I WANTED. Nickel plated 4" 29-2.

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:15 am

I've pretty much decided on the 629 Performance Center model with the 2.625" barrel or the 629 backpacker with the bear paws on the cylinder. Leaning towards the PC model.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:11 am

Mokwaw wrote: Nickel plated 4" 29-2.

Beautiful gun!

Oly

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:34 pm

Can anyone tell me what the bottom revolver is?

I know its a 629, but what version?

Meeteetse · Post by **Meeteetse** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:30 pm

Since you reload and can decide the power of the load, it seems to me that there is only one real choice for a DA revolver that can handle anything you stuff into it, and that is the Ruger Redhawk 4". It is indestructible. I have one and often choose it over my S&W's.

There is nothing wrong with one of the 629/29 S&W's and IMO the 4" 29 is perhaps one of the best looking of all large frame revolvers. The S&W Mountain Guns are also good choices if you want something lighter. However if I could only have one DA in .44 it would be the Ruger.

Funny, if the choice was a SA, it too would be a Ruger. The Super Blackhawk with a 4 5/8" bbl., my other favorite. Seems that every time a question similar to this comes up, I always make the same recommendations.

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:44 am

Well I have it narrowed down to two 629 versions...the 629 Performance Center model with the 2.625" barrel, or the 629 Talo edition with the 3" barrel. I have found them for the same price, I just need to decide which one to get. Any suggestions?

Meeteetse · Post by **Meeteetse** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:13 pm

I have not seen the guns but I would probably go with the performance center gun. If I read the Talo add correctly, the 3" gun they are selling is a fairly standard 629 with fancy grips. I don't see any other special characteristics except being a 3".

The Performance Center gun should be tuned better, better trigger, etc. Assuming you like the looks equally well for both, go with the more highly tuned gun from PC. You can always get fancy grips.

Irelander · Post by **Irelander** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:57 am

Well boys, here are a few pics I took of my new (first) wheelgun...

Shoots great. Glad I worked up some low power rounds...they shoot very comfortably. I'm really going to enjoy this one!

I'm not too wild about the grips. They look great but don't really fit my hand well. I think a set of Pachmayr Compacs are in order.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:23 am

Fine looking .44 there.

Oly

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:02 pm

Looks great, I think I need one