Alright everyone I need some assistance. I'm looking to purchase a revolver to handgun hunt with, deer, maybe black bear some day. I currently have the 3" 629 backpacker. Only true use is range/carry gun. But I love this revolver. But I also really want a hunting revolver as well. Is it worth trading my 3" for a 4" or do you think I should just save up the $$$? Please reply, I NEED HELP!!!! Thanks in advance

I have a 4" model 29 and really like it. I would consider a 5" Classic with the underlug as a great all rounder.

I would keep what I have because not all guns are easy to replace, that would be my consideration.

Obviously he was biased, but Elmer Keith once referred to the 4" Model 29 as the perfect handgun. I tend to agree with him.

That being said, if you're looking to get something with more of a hunting job in mind, a longer barrel wouldn't hurt.

This 3" is a sweet shooter. I can plug a milk jug at 200 yards with this baby. I have witnesses too lol. So from what I'm seeing I should save the money and keep my 3"? Usually I don't think twice about trading but this gun is rare, 1100 made in 2011 for RSR Distributor.

I would suggest that you keep your 3" backpacker and purchase a 6" 29/629. The 6" will give you an edge in sighting and provide more time and travel for the powder to burn. This way, you still have your 44 carry gun.

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Judge control not gun control!

A .44 will certainly carry 200 yards (with a 30" drop), but I'm not sure I could even see a milk jug at that distance

I carry a 3" 629 in the woods, but concealed for self defense. If I were hunting, a longer barrel with a scope or red dot would be appropriate.

If you want to hunt with .44 Magnum, why not a lever gun? Keep the 3" on your hip. The same bullet that leaves the 3" at 1200 fps will go about 1600 fps from a 20" carbine, with as much terminal energy at 100 yards as a .30-30. A whitetail at 200 yards is possible, even with iron sights and Kentucky windage. Don't know about milk jugs. What do you have left once you skin one?

If I lived in a state that allows rifle hunting I would. Gotta love the great republic of Chicago. As for carry, if I do, it's got hot 44 specials in it and it's winter carry. Just to say I can.

P.S. You gotta spray paint the milk jug with high viz paint. Or else iron sights don't cut it, unless you have eagle eyes of course.

I've shot a lot of 44 magnum and owned several revolvers. If I wanted one ONLY for handgun hunting, my choice would be a Ruger Super Redhawk in either 7 1/2" or 9 1/2" barrel. They are indeed very heavy guns but that helps greatly when taming the recoil of full 44 magnum loads. I've killed several deer with both. That being said, I often wanted to do other things with the 44s so I now have a 7 1/2" Ruger Redhawk and a 6" S&W 629. I don't see myself getting rid of either. If I went hunting today, I'd take the Ruger because of the additional length on the barrel and the fact that I can feed that gun a steady diet of full power loads without hesitation or concern. The cylinder on the Ruger is dramatically thicker walled than the Smith.

You know, I had considered a Blackhawk bisley hunter model. I guess I'll take everyone's advice and keep "miss Piggy" in the stables here at home. The longer I think about getting rid of her, the less I like the idea.

Velocity difference from a 3" to 4" is nonexistent. Your 3" will do anything a 4" will do.

As iirifleman said, go to a longer barrel. I would go with (because it is what I would like to own,) an 8 3/8 nickel M-29

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A Snider squibbed n the Jungle

You are going to hunt single-action. No question. But I prefer to be able to shoot either single or double action. A single action Blackhawk will do the job just fine and is a very strong gun. I had one of those too, but decided that I practice more with a double action because they are much faster to empty and reload. If unloading and reloading cylinders one at a time doesn't bother you, feel free to get the single action only. I'm not that patient.

"obsolete .44 platform"

LOL

What's 1" going to get you? The 3" 629/29's are awesome. I always a have 3" S&W .44 at the range with me. If you want a 4", hoard your nickles and add one to your firearms accumulation.

That extra 1" of barrel length isn't going to get you "hill of beans" increased performance. You will probably, however, end up spending more money for a different holster. For whitetail deer or black bear, your 3" will do just fine.

Of course, if you REALLY MUST have a new gun, then go 6 1/2" or longer and plan to add a scope or red-dot to it. That's what a dedicated hunting pistol will look like. Of course a new holster will then be mandatory.

That's what I'm leaning towards, after sitting on this. I believe I'm going to keep the gun. Any ideas on how to get $1000+ past the wife?

Hello, it's nice to have a I need more guns dilemma. Been there, what I do is tell the wife I'm going to sell a gun to fund the new gun I need for hunting or carry and she forgets about it!
I have a 3" 629-4(not the backpacker) and a4" 29-2. Keep the 3" 629 and don't look back, it's the best!
Good luck

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NRA Life Member
CPO

Uhhhh. Both!!!

Gotta go with a 4" 629. Love mine

It's said you gain 50fps +/- for every additional inch of barrel length.

That said, the 4" has a bit more sight radius making it a bit easier to hold steady.

You can shoot ANY SAAMI load/weight in the S&W, you can shoot +P (overcharged) loads in the Rugers - with the exception of the New Vaqueros.

I'm an S&W fan, but I also appreciate Rugers and have a few.

4" is just about right for all around, EK said so and I agree.

I carry crossdraw with a rifle, so it does not interfere and I carry a 3" I had made custom in 89. Like yourself, I can hit something with regularity at least out to 100yds with it due to practice.

Best wishes on your search.

BTW, I have 3", 4", 6" and 6.5" versions. The 3" is in my avatar.

Shot an old 3" 629 yesterday (yes, 75Vette, that very one) at 25 and 50 yards and would feel quite comfortable using it as a deep woods deer getter. Would just have to keep distances reasonable and no rushing to pull the trigger.

But, being a drilled and tapped topstrap revolver, you could install a reddot for hunting and revert to iron sights after filling the freezer. Then all you lose is a wee bit of muzzle velocity. Practical accuracy would be about the same as a longer tubed .44. (You do lose some steadying effect of the extra mass up front and there's more blast, but it's not like you will shoot it in the woods more than a time or two.)

I'm glad that you decided to keep your 3" .44, that's exactly what I would have done. Your next challenge is what to get. I understand the S&W bias but I like the Ruger SBH Hunter too, standard spade grip for me though.

I'm really thinking about selling a wooden machinist tool chest I have to fund my new revolver. Unfortunately my wife is a shooter as well. The old trick of letting her forget I'm selling a gun doesn't work. Been there and already had that argument lol. Do they make a drug that makes your wife forget the last 24 hours? If so, I could buy it, tell her about it, argue, then help her forget.