If anybody has some input for a short barrel 44 MAG I would appreciate it. I bought a Rossi Ranch hand and would like to also add a Smith & Wesson 44 Mag to my collection.

You bought a Ranch Hand?? They are for sale and available yet??

I was also pursuing a short barrel 44 mag.

In my travels I discovered the 4" 629 is a different beastie than the 3" 629.

For my own hand, semi-hot 4" 629 can be rather pleasant and rather accurate, while the same loads in the 3" aren't. I prefer 44 special in the 3" and it is a pure delight for that as well as belt carry.

YMMV

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

The 2 5/8" 629 Performance Center would leap to the front of the list for me.

There are some Ranch Hands for sale on gun broker but they are not coming in very fast. I pre-ordered mine from Idaho Gunbroker supposed to be here any day.

Thanks for the suggestions on the 44 mag

My advice is don't, unless you are into reloading, want it as a collection item or for hiking or outdoor activities. Unless you're shooting mild handloads loads or .44 Specials through it they are a beast to shoot and not fast to bring back on target due to the recoil. Fast and accurate follow up shots are very slow. I've owned two 3" S&W's. A 629 and a 29. They are both gone. With the S&W Combats they drew blood and hurt like heck. Rubbers helped but were still a handful. They are mighty cool looking revolvers and great conversation pieces. There also way too much revolver for self defense if you are using factory loads, and handloads are a big time no/no for self defense in a carry weapon. Right now 3" S&W's are the rage and a snub .44 would be a great collectors item and if you handload it would be a fun revolver to shoot.

I've seen many shooters up in Alaska buy .44 mags for bear protection. About 98% of them developed bad flinching problems and were lucky to hit a pie plate at 15 yards. That flinching once started is hard to bring back under control.

I do own and shoot 4 .41 magnums, one which has a 3" barrel. It is much more user friendly than the .44. The round will do just about anything a .44 will do with less recoil and pain with the right round. Find the round more accurate too. Could be from the gentler recoil. Even the hot 210 grain handloads are easier on the hand and a deer would never know the difference between it and a 240 gr. .44 mag.

If you are after a shooter a 4" barreled .44 is a much better handgun. If you will be using it for hunting a 6" is much more accurate, recoils less and is the minimum length for hunting in many states. If you want a collectors item that snubbie .44 would fill the bill.
JMHO.

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V/R
Roger / SG

I have a 5" 29-5 with a full lug barrel and it is a handful even with Hogue rubber grips. With Winchester 240 JFP's, I can only tolerate about 12 rounds in a single shooting session. And after that, I don't feel like shooting anymore for the day. I would never shoot a 3" snub .44 Mag with full power ammo. .44 special would be just fine and be a good self-defense combo but not very easily concealed.

If you are set on getting a S&W .44 mag, I would recommend a least a 6" half-lug barreled gun or a 5" full-lug barreled gun.

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"I'm just a dog chasing cars."

I have a S&W Mod. 29 2 1/2" Backpacker in .44 mag. and I really like it. I installed a front night sight so the porting has no negative affects.
Though I agree, a .44 mag. may not be the ideal gun for everyday concealed carry (due to penetration issues), it is a very good gun for concealed carry while hiking. I have only shot it with Winchester 240 gr. sjsp, (that I chronographed at 1175 fps.), and I found them to be very manageable and was easily able to do double taps. This gun may be an option.

Sincerely,

Scott Jens
Check Six Training LLC
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C.H.P.D. (ret.)

As with any handgun you had better shoot one first to determine how it suits your needs. A short barreled 44 Mag is certainly no exception.

I've shot several steel and alloy framed 44 mag shorties and found them to be more punishing and less controllable with hot loads than my 6.5" 500 with hot loads..... and the noise report is something to behold!!

Many people, including me after shooting one of these snubbies, found they were much more palatable in a 41 Mag, a 45 ACP/LC or a 44 Special.

To each his own though. If you handload an ideal load could always be developed for your optimum needs with the 44 Mag... JMHO...

I wanted a 3 inch 629 and finally got everything together and ordered one right from Smith a couple years ago. They said they don’t make them in 3 inch anymore but I was able to get this one as one of the “emergency survival kits”. I don’t care about any of the rest of the stuff but I didn’t want to compromise and get a 4.



The day I picked it up it was to late to take it out so my friend and I just kind of fondled it and wiped it down. We both thought the trigger was horrible, heavy as a truck.
I figured I might as well replace the rebound spring right off the bat so we opened it up and then the stones found there way out and the next thing you know we smoothed everything down like you would have to do to a Ruger, put in a 11 lbs rebound spring and a factory 625 main, champhered the charge holes, hosed it down with brake cleaner, oiled it up and done in less than a hour.



I think it is the lightest, smoothest Smith I have ever pulled! We were just hoping it would have enough spring to fire. The next day was the local Thursday night IDPA match so a couple hours ahead of time I shot a couple dozen bowling pin loads. (240 SWC cast over 5 gr. Titegroup)
The finish was a dull gray that was easily fixed with polish and a buffing wheel.
It’s a honey. I then shot a few heavy loads and it is not a beast with bear loads either. A couple hours later I shot the Thursday night match with no failures, so I love this thing. I think this is my favorite handgun ever!
February 08 I used it to shoot the S&W Indoor Nationals IDPA match with 44SPL loads in SSR expert. I hadn’t been practicing so I knew I couldn’t win but I shot a great gun and I was the only guy with a 44. I did get bragging rights!
I carry it with Speer gold DotSB 200 gr. 44 Mag at just under 1000fps. (983} The 44 specials come out at 759 fps

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

By all means, get one!

I wanted one so bad I had to have it custom made from an 8 3/8" 629-2. Here it is...



I shoot it with the grips pictured and full house 265g cast loads. How, you may ask? The grips fit my hand. I can not overstate the necessity of properly fitted grips.

My friend has a LH 29 with combats and I shot my rounds out of it. Got to round 5 and called it quits.

I can shoot mine double or single handed for extended range trips and it goes everywhere with me in the woods. I may set my rifle down, but I always have this on my belt.

I dont find my 3 inch 629ES to be to punishing. I shoot quite a few Black Hills 300gr JHP (XTP's) out of it and find them to be rather plesant. Its all in the grips. I use Pachmayr Decelerators, Grippers for K/L frames, or the S&W/Hogue X frame grips. Just get some good rubber on that backstrap and enjoy.

It is my feeling that the most practical and useful barrel length is a 4 inch. It can carry as well as a 3 inch and considerably better than any of the longer barrels. It has a sufficient sight radius (considerably better than anything shorter) and as a result can be fired accurately out to ranges beyond 50 yards, if necessary. I have a 3 inch 'Backpacker' that is definitely a handful. It is somewhat amazing what happens when you take only one inch off a 44 magnum barrel.....it turns into an nasty little handful. The basic laws of physics don't apply to 44 magnum revolvers. Additionally, with only one inch removed, the muzzle blast and noise is magnified (pun intended) beyond the pleasure mode.

Coming from the owner of over a dozen 44 magnum Smith revolvers, in every barrel length, don't get one shorter than 4 inches, and only then if you plan on deep carry.....or, again like me, you just think three inch 'N' frames are the epitome of cool. JMHO.

What he said. Here's mine......



Some have complained about the stock "boot" grip. I find that I like it, although it does require me to adopt a slightly modified grip-style with heavier loads......I typically use an IPSC grip with most handguns, but not with this one or with the 500s, it's a sure way to gouge your thumb and/or split your thumbnail. Stocks are easy to switch out if you don't like the standards on the 629PC.

I like Roundgunners approach to this question. Think the contingencies through, adapt and overcome.

I like the way you've set your weapon system up for your personal performance.

One other thought, you might think about a Ruger Alaskan. In a short barrel, I'll take it over my 4" Mountain Gun.

I just joined this forum a couple of days ago, but I have got to say the information found here is unbelievable. Thanks

I love what Elmer Keith said about shootin 44 mags. He said something to the effect that shootin 44 mags ain't for those who wear lace on the panties. Not a direct quote. I have shot 44's from 8 3/8th down to 3 inch with loads ranging from mild to wild. Longer the barrel, heavier the gun, better the grips all make for a more comfortable shootin gun. Why is it that when we get together everyone tells me to be sure and bring along my 3 inch 44? Fun is fun. If you want one get it. This is America. It ain't a matter of need, it's a want. Go for it!!!

Since your looking, I just saw this at Buds in the used section:

used Smith & Wesson 629 Trail Boss Polished Magna Port $939.00 SHIPS FREE

No pic yet, but based on my research, it should look like this:



As for me, I went with a 4" 629.

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Watch & Pray

Groo here
I have a ported Trail Boss, and find it a good shooter.
The porting helped with the rotation [I have a bump on my thumb
from too many Mad loads,so no wood grips on any DA] and a set of
X-frame grips to help the kick [I still like mags and set up all my revolvers for max loads].
Yes ,the porting helps even on short barrels, and yes the ground shakes when I light one off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just picked up a 3" "Trail Boss" from the local gun dealer. I'll let you know how it goes after I shoot it.