My short answer is no. I always wanted one, finally got a Lew Horton 3" M629, shot it a couple of times (twas a beast), loaded it with 44 Specials (much nicer), kept it as a bedside gun for years, owed a buddy $900, talked him into taking that gun. It was like owning a boat - the two happiest days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. Gone and happily forgotten.

This is not to say you shouldn't own a S&W revolver in a caliber starting with a 4 - but that's why they make 44 Specials and .45 Colts or .45 ACPs. And if they don't make the one you want then an old one is out there with your name on it.

.45 Colt beats a .44 Magnum for ALMOST every possible use you can think of - and I say almost because there might be some big game animals that require monster calibers, which is why they make .460s and .500s.

The .44 Magnum might be useful in that category but that's such a limited use you simply don't really need one.

YMMV

The .44 Magnum lovers all hate me now.

I get it.

I can handle it.