Do I need a SW 44 magnum revolver or not?

oink · Sep 10, 2018

I'm not a collector. I'm a shooter that rarely trades or sells off the old guns when buying a new one resulting in an accumulation. I also reload. From that perspective I'd tell you to get a 6" 29 or 629, preferably one new enough to have endurance enhancements. Reason being is that these guns are such a pleasure to shoot. Buy some magnum brass and load them light and you'll have pure shooting pleasure. If you're basically just a collector rather than an avid shooter, well then quit driving up the price of the guns I like to shoot.

cowboy4evr · Sep 10, 2018

I have a " love affair " with my 4" smith 29's and the 629 . I took my 29-10 , " 4" bought a set of PC Magna's for it . They were somewhat beat up , knicks and gouges but was thankful to even find a set . I had to " fire lap " the barrel to remove several tight spots . It is w/o a doubt , a real favorite of mine to shoot and accurate beyond words . I have a LH belt holster for it . To me , the 4" barrel is just about right for my needs . I hand load for it , everything from " mild to wild " . I don't find the recoil " extreme " even with full magnum loads . Regards, Paul

junglefighter · Sep 10, 2018

If CCW is a consideration,I think the 4.2 in. bbl. Model 69 is a better choice than the 2 3/4 in. bbl.It is a good size 44 Mag.for just about everything except competition and hunting.Most states have a minimal bbl. length for hunting(4 in.) and this makes you legal for everything.I just like the way this revolver balances.Second choice is a 5 in.629 Classic.IMHO.

Mike_Fontenot · Sep 10, 2018

typetwelve said:
[...]

VERY well said! I agree with everything you said. (I have a 69 4" and a 629 5".) The only thing I'd add is that the performance of the full-power .44 mag round (like Underwood's 240 gr JHP) is just AWESOME! I conceal-carry my 629 in a homemade under-the-shirt shoulder, every day, from pajamas-on until pajamas-off ... for me, it's the ultimate.

double-dipper · Sep 10, 2018

Old thread, but was still was a good read.

I have owned a Ruger Red hawk 44 Mag for many years now. I always wanted a 629 with the 8 3/8" barrel. My wife asked me why I needed another 44 Mag and I answered " Because you just never know when we could get attacked by a Grizzly bear". she rolled her eyes and said "Three aren’t any Grizzly bears in Kansas" I now own a S&W PC 629 just in case a Grizzly bear shows up. Want's vs needs!

prairieviper · Sep 10, 2018

I wanted this one:

S&W Model 29, 50th Anniversary

Mike_Fontenot · Sep 10, 2018

Be aware that the S&W webpage shows two 629 "classics", both full underlug: one a 5" and one a 6" (or maybe it was 6-1/2"). The 6" has the number 163638, and the 5" has the number 163636. My 5" is marked 163636A on the box. I don't remember what is marked on the gun itself ... it's in its holster (on me), and can't be disturbed until tonight before bedtime!

Joed49 · Sep 10, 2018

Yes, you should own a .44, I have 6 at the moment. It's a great gun and a very nice cartridge. You should have one, but that doesn't mean you have to shoot magnum loads out of it.

I own 3 .44 magnums and 3 .44 Spl revolvers, all S&W. None of my magnum revolvers have ever seen a mag load, I like to keep them around 950 fps to 1050 fps. For my shooting I have no reason for atomic loads.

Follow this advice and you'll love the .44.

CDR_Glock · Sep 10, 2018

If you reload, I’d say definitely get a 44 Magnum. It has a wide variety of loads from 44 special, 44 Magnum, target and hunting loads.

If you don’t reload, it could be costly to shoot.

Longer barrel 44 Magnums 7 inches and up are very manageable and don’t have much recoil. The most punishing are snubbies up to 3” and lightweight materials. Lightweight snubbies are the worst first choices of 44 Magnums.

If you can handle a 158 grain 357 Magnum in a Snubby, you can handle a 44 Magnum.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

dr. mordo · Sep 10, 2018

SLT223 said:
Yes you need .44 and it should be an N frame if you don't have one.

Exactly. The N frame is the ultimate S&W revolver platform, and the 44 is the most versatile handgun cartridge, though reloading is necessary to unlock all the goodness.

I specifically recommend a square butt N frame. Mine is a recent manufacture M29-10, and with magnas and a t-grip it is just perfect for my hand. I can't quite get my round butts N frames to fit my hand as well.

shakyshoot · Sep 10, 2018

I didn't know if mine would get shot all that much when I got my first 44 mag a year and a half ago (6 1/2" 629-6) Looking at my shooting log I see it's gone with me on over 30 range trips. It might be only 20 or 30 rounds, but I do shoot it frequently. I don't reload, so the ammo cost is the main reason I don't bring more rounds. Just added the Mdl 69 4", so my meager ammo supply is in jeopardy. Still dreaming of a 29-2 or maybe a new 5". I made it through 60 years without one too, now I'm wondering how.

Bobbysixkiller · Sep 10, 2018

Every body needs a 44 magnum!!!!

7tenz · Sep 10, 2018

Cal44 said:
Yes. You need one. No question.

I could not disagree more. He needs 6 of them minimum. Edit:Ha Ha, I just did a count and realized I have only 5.

Seriously going into the 44 mag world is like a 10mm. You hear all sorts of horror stories about recoil, ammo costs, muzzle blast, etc. I'd like to be there when you first touch off a 44 and see little hearts popping over your head.

One at a time. Recoil isn't bad at all. There is a range of factory ammo that should meet your needs, whims, and desires. If you reload, which I don't, then the sky is the limit.

Ammo cost is slightly more than comparable 357 mag. A lot less than 44 special which you can also shoot in the 44 mag. I buy 44 spc for my Bulldog.

Lastly, all handguns esp magnum revolvers are loud. I'll get a lot of disagreement, but I think the 44 mag is slightly less loud than a 357 mag, but it's a moot point anyway. I could be crazy, but point is wear ear and eye protection for any caliber.

I had a 41 mag once too and liked it just as much, but I standardized on the 44.

HamHands · Sep 10, 2018

Engine49guy said:
Not sure I would call the .44 Mag "Insignificant" especially loaded with Buffalo bore Heavy .44 Magnum +P+ 340 gr. L.F.N. - G.C. (1,478 fps/M.E. 1,649 ft. lbs.) -but it takes the N frame to its practical limits,

In comparison the X frame 500 Smith & Wesson - 440 gr. L.F.N.-G.C.(1,625fps/M.E.2579ft.lbs.) is a sledgehammer in search of a butterfly to kill !

I just got some Underwood's 305grain loaded/spec'd to 1325fps Hard Cast Keith's and damn.. those f-ers pack a wollup from my 3" M629 but are far from uncomfortable.. Unlike the .460 I borrowed a few years back.

I thought Mr. Sundles/Buffalo Bore didn't recommend shooting the 340's from a Smith but only from a Ruger or a DW but I could be mistaken. I know I won't be going heavier than the 305's myself; at 10 yards they started to wreck and pit my AR500 plate!

My most perfectly balanced Revolver, my 3" barreled M29-3

HamHands · Sep 10, 2018

7tenz said:
I could not disagree more. He needs 6 of them minimum. Edit:Ha Ha, I just did a count and realized I have only 5.

Seriously going into the 44 mag world is like a 10mm. You hear all sorts of horror stories about recoil, ammo costs, muzzle blast, etc. I'd like to be there when you first touch off a 44 and see little hearts popping over your head.

One at a time. Recoil isn't bad at all. There is a range of factory ammo that should meet your needs, whims, and desires. If you reload, which I don't, then the sky is the limit.

Ammo cost is slightly more than comparable 357 mag. A lot less than 44 special which you can also shoot in the 44 mag. I buy 44 spc for my Bulldog.

Lastly, all handguns esp magnum revolvers are loud. I'll get a lot of disagreement, but I think the 44 mag is slightly less loud than a 357 mag, but it's a moot point anyway. I could be crazy, but point is wear ear and eye protection for any caliber.

I had a 41 mag once too and liked it just as much, but I standardized on the 44.

My sentiments exactly. I got a 3" M629 thinking I was only going to use hot Underwood and BB .44Special HC "Keith's" for the woods/mountain home. The first time I touched them off my thoughts were: "This is no different than my 5" 1911 with .45acp+P's", very pleasant.
Then I loaded some mid-grade/level 240 Fiocchi's in .44Mag and thought; "This is supposed to be a wrist breaker and all the pu$$y whining I hear?"
The 3" "N" frame is a 40oz all steel Revo and handles recoil and balances very well. Hell, 300 grain PPU loads rated at 1289fps were a big hit at the last farm day shoot I sponsored. The guys shot up nearly all of it I brought down and now I can't seem to find much of it. It was hands down the most borrowed gun and most shot load of the day between the 7 of us. 4 out of 7 had never shot a .44anything before!
Maybe I'm a freak for recoil but I really don't think that is the case.

Roofuss · Sep 11, 2018

Yep, everyone needs at least one .44 mag. Currently own two, both are model 29-3, with the 3 T's , paperwork and boxes . One is a 6" , and the other is the 10 3/8" barreled Silhouette target gun.
Love the big frame Smith's .

oldenuff · Sep 12, 2018

Mountain Backpacker with Grizzly engraving

I've read some posts about a very faint engraving of a Grizzly on the right sideplate of some Mountain Backpackers. I picked up one of these at a show some years ago, shot it once, cleaned it, and put it away. It now needs a new home.
The gun is very clean, apparently fired little, has the original rosewood grips, box and paper work.
I'd prefer to sell it to someone who will truly appreciated her for the rare bird she is.
I'm fairly new to this and am unsure about how to proceed.
I have more pictures if interested.

daddy bear · Sep 12, 2018

I haven't shot mine in a lot of years, not since getting a .44 Special. Even so, it is not for sale. It is the only gun that my wife ever bought for me. Who knows, I may get the urge to shoot it someday.

Jack

Patrick L · Sep 12, 2018

Need has nothing to do with it!

Back around 1990 or so, I was trying to decide whether I needed a .44 magnum or a .45 ACP revolver. Since my needs would be served by .44 spl level liads, and I was already casting and progressive reloading .45s for my 1911, I decided I needed the .45 revolver.

About 25 years later I decided I WANTED the .44 magnum, got one, cast and load progressive for it.

What's my point? Not sure myself. But buy what you want.

WCCPHD · Sep 12, 2018

Don't know that anyone NEEDS one, but I sure love mine. I like 'em short, long and middle length. (Don't have the 10 or 8 3/8 inch guns)

I know someone said they have never had a bloody hand from shooting one, I have, but it was a .44 special that did it (Model 296 scandium frame).

I have a 2.5, 3, 4, 6 (x2) and a 6.5 inch. They range from July '56 to pre 2012.

I have carried the 2.5 and 3 inch as an off duty gun (qualified with and carry .44 special round) and hunted with the 6 inch Classic Hunter. The 6 inch NC Highway Patrol gun has not been fired and will not be by me. My first is the Pre-29, 6.5 inch and it was that one that began my interest in .44 guns.

.44 guns are so versatile depending upon how they are loaded. They make good self defense guns, good hunting guns and are a hoot to use for target shooting. My only complaint is that I don't reload and the ammo can be pricy.

Here are most of mine.

629-6 Camfour. 2.5 inch, fixed sight

I don't have an individual photo of the next one, so its the top one in the group photo.

629-3, three inch, ported, fixed sight, Lew Horton, Performance Center (one of about 495)

29 (no dash) four inch (came in the blue box)

29-2, NC State Highway Patrol 50th Anniversary Commemorative

Pre Model 29, shipped July, 1956

29-3, Classic Hunter

Do I need a SW 44 magnum revolver or not?

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