I have a 629MG that I usually use for backcountry in MT, but want it to be a HD gun in TX. I don't need to be using my Cor-Bon Bear loads... which is the direction I should go for HD loads... 44Mag loaded down or 44spc loaded hot?

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44Fundi

Magnum loaded down or special loaded up I might call a distinction without a difference. But to your question, I would load 180 gr bullet of your choice with about 6 grains of a fast burning, low flash powder, assuming a 44 magnum case. Kind of like a hot or +p 45 ACP.

Sounds like a good situation for the Speer .44 Magnum Gold Dot Short Barrel, 200 gr at 1075 fps (if you can find it). Many more options if you handload as noted above.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Might just be me, but I prefer to use the brass the gun was designed for if only to alleviate the "ring around the collar" in the chambers.
So my vote goes to loading down the 44 magnum.
7-8 grains Unique (or equivalent load) with your choice of bullet (something that will expand).
Keep it subsonic and don't use a solid bullet that will go thru walls.
I use 7.5 Universal and the 200 grain GDHP (44 special) bullet in magnum brass.

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Nemo

I think you'll find the Speer Gold Dot, 200 grain .44 Special would serve you well.

As a .44 Spl. fanatic, I may be a mite biased, but if I were keeping a Mountain Gun for HD, I'd echo Nemo288's advice and go with a .44 Magnum case loaded to heavy Special performance. Better chamber fit, easier shot-to-shot recovery, and all the accuracy the big Hand Ejectors are known for.

JMHO
Larry

When my wife was using my 4 inch S&W 629 as a house gun, I kept it loaded with Winchester 200 grain .44 Special Silvertips. If she would have had to use it, I'd have been happy to scrub the carbon rings out of the chambers.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Ditto on this, but I have not been able to find it in a long time. I just use the .44 Spl 200 gr. version. This round is excellent and fairly mild in recoil. Again, like others have said, I wouldn't worry too much about the ring in this role.

I like Hornady XTP for a outdoors defensive role four four legged critters, and the Speer gold dot for two leggers in town.

Better off using the special case to duplicate the low end magnum round that you are looking for.In a civil case ,or with a liberal prosecutor,the .44 spl will bring you less grief to defend than the magnum.Two things that you are going to want to survive.First the bad guy,then the aftermath.

Sorry, but that is all wrong. Many of my friends are prosecutors and one of my best shooting buddies is the Special Prosecutor for the state of Texas and has more Death Row convictions than any prosecutor in US history. Whether you shot the bad guy with a 22 or 44Mag does not matter in court if you did it right.

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44Fundi

My range / target load is a lot like what you're looking for. I always load in magnum brass and find that 8 grains if HP-38 (or Win 231) produces in my gun, a load that averages in the 920 fps range. It's a gentle recoil, very accurate, and feels like a 44 special, or hot 45 ACP. You could even reduce this load just a bit but not by much. I bet with a 240 grain GD or XTP, it would serve well as a HD load.

Thank You!

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44Fundi