My hiking/backpacking/riding gun for black bear country is the 329NG. Here weight and compactness maters, and the Smith is a full pound lighter than the Ruger. I only shoot 'standard' power loads, like Hornady factory 240 gr XTP in this light frame gun. Anywhere else where weight doesn't matter, such as car camping or camping off the ATV's, I prefer the Ruger because it just shoots better than the Smith. Here the hotter loads are usual.

For really big bear/moose/bison country, my 'light' hiking gun is the Ruger Alaskan .454.

Got to say that the steel frame .44 Smiths just don't have a niche anywhere in my arsenal. They are to heavy for backpacking in black bear country, and to underpowered for grizzly country.