Which .44 Magnum would you buy

[dr. mordo]

I do only own one .44 mag, a pre-29 that I bought used 47 years ago for $150.00. It will go to one of the grand kids some day. I have carried it all these years and it is shy about 20% of it's blueing. Have lately been thinking about sending it back to S&W to be re-furbished/reblued.

Please don't do it! Smith's current bluing is nice but not comparable that those classic guns.

A bit of beautiful craftmanship from a bygone era is lost when people reblue those guns.

 

[Freischütz]

I've used a Super Blackhawk since 1971. Accurate and tuff.

 

[Marloe]

I have a 629-2 8 3/8, a Ruger Super Blackhawk 10 1/2 inch, and a Ruger Redhawk 7 3/4 inch. Looking for a nice lever in a 44 mag. I also have a Marlin 444p. What purpose for the gun??? the 629-2 for shooting stray clays at 100 yards on my range with 240 gr hand loads @1175 fps. Just for fun. The Super Blackhawk is what I use for hogs. I use a LFN 325 grain @ 1480 fps. Lots of fun with that gun. I bought the Ruger Redhawk because someone had a dad that worked for Ruger years ago, and when he died, his son sold it to me. It was a hunter that was worked with everything you could possibly do to one. It is my favorite to shoot. I shoot the same 240 load that I shoot in my 629-2, and the difference in recoil is really noticeable. Of course the 444p, well it is for anything on the planet I would want to kill. I would say that for me, i would buy according to it's intended purpose. Also have afew AR15's, a 6.5 Creedmoor bolt, a Marlin Mach2, and a few other hand guns. Each has its purpose. I just sold a Lipsy 454 Bisley Super Blackhawk. Beautiful gun. But it felt like it was going to break my index finger slamming into the rear of the trigger guard. Lots of fun to shoot but my hand and index finger hurt every time i shot it.

 

[M29since14]

I really would like to try the 629 PC Hunter shown in post 81. I've seen a couple and always liked the looks of them. Never had the chance to shoot one, yet. Maybe some day?

 

[muddocktor]

I do only own one .44 mag, a pre-29 that I bought used 47 years ago for $150.00. It will go to one of the grand kids some day. I have carried it all these years and it is shy about 20% of it's blueing. Have lately been thinking about sending it back to S&W to be re-furbished/reblued.

If you do decide to get it refurbished and reblued, S&W won't be the place to send it for the job. I'm almost positive that they won't do gunsmithing work on Pre-model numbered guns any more (I've read that here several times) and the blue job they do now isn't nearly as nice as the old blue job when they make your gun. If you do decide to get it gone through and refinished, I've heard that Ford's in Florida does a really nice reblue and I also believe they have gunsmiths that can tune your gun up too.

 

[BornToLooze]

I bought mine used, but it was $1k

But as far as buying a new one, I'd either go for the Super Blackhawk with the fluted cylinder and regular grip frame (I think it's the artillery model) or a Model 29 with the barrel cut down to 5".

 

[BillyMagg]

If it's just for fun how about something like this?

I bought a 5 inch 44 Super Blackhawk in Stainless thinking it would be fun to shoot,, that dang thing "ate me up", bout tore my pinky clean off?? My best bud at the time, who shot 44 Mag double taps for fun, couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it either,,,,

My neighbor, convinced he could make it shoot with his famous handloads, finally gave up after about two years and sent it down the road..

I have several 44 Mag Smiths, they all kick, but they don't chew on me, the best shooting 44 Mag I ever owned and foolishly traded for a 45 Colt/45Acp Colt New Frontier was a 1961 44 Flat Top..

Beautiful accurate gun, with aluminum grip frame was just a "*****cat"! so don't believe every thing you hear, guns are like underwear, some fit, and some don't, get one that fits you!

 

[Breaker]

Amen

To buying a gently used pre-lock gun. 1k in cash will speak loud enough to get you an earlier model that will serve you well at home, in the field and on the range. Take your time and you will know which one to buy when you see it.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

A 5'' 629 with custom grips that fits my hand.Loaded up with 215gr at around 1100fps,it should be a dandy!

 

[Bulldawg Dad]

While I've had numerous 29's and 629's in the past, I currently own a 5.5" Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum and a Super Redhawk in .454 Casull. I'm itching for either a 4" 629 or 5" Classic 629.

 

[Sevastopol]

A 5'' 629 with custom grips that fits my hand.Loaded up with 215gr at around 1100fps,it should be a dandy!

You're thinking .44 spl.

 

[Bumpus13]

For fondling and ogling I'd go with a S&W.
For shooting and using I'd go with a Ruger.

Buffalo Bore doesn't call their loads "Ruger Only" just for chuckles.

Actually, Buffalo Bore doesn't call their loads "Ruger Only"

 

[crazyphil]

I get by with only 2 .44 magnums:

My S&W 29-3 4" barrel on the left, with Chic Gaylord Combat Speed
Scabbard on Chic Gaylord belt 2nd from left.

Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk 3rd from left shown with Hunter holster.

 

[one eye joe]

OK, you are going today to buy a new (with lock) .44 Magnum. Any brand is up for consideration, price Under $1K ?

I WOULD CHOOSE A 7.5" RUGER SUPER REDHAWK.......

IMHO, THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING, FAR SURPASSES ANY OFFERINGS BY S&W......

ITS LOCKED UP IN 4 PLACES, WHEN THE HAMMER DROPS. IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL RECESSED CROWN MUZZLE, AN EXTENDED FRAME THAT'S NOTCHED FOR THE SUPPLIED RUGER RINGS, EXCELLENT RR/WO ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS, AND NO SIDE PLATE......

ITS BUILT LIKE A TANK, AND CAN WITHSTAND A STEADY DIET OF THE HOTTEST HUNTING AMMO. IT HAS AN EXCELLENT SA/DA TRIGGER, PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE---BUT SLIGHTLY HEAVIER THAN A S&W TRIGGER, RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX........

AT LESS THAN $1K----ITS A BARGAIN, AND A KEEPER ! ! !

 

[JDinAZ]

In my safe it'd have to be a new 629 classic 5" if I was going to shoot it a lot. Or a 329PD if it was for mostly carry. I have a 629-3, its a Cadillac with full house rounds. That said. I also have a 329PD, it's one handy light weight hand cannon for concealed carry. The light weight makes the 329PD brutal to run 240g Winchester white box but well worth the recoil in my book for the trade off of being half the weight of a 629. Irregardless I still CC that 329 with full house WWB

 

[EdinDenver]

My first 44 mag was an 8" Colt Anaconda I earned by selling Colt firearms in the early 90's. There was a spiff available at the local gun store I worked at and I paid nothing for that gun. It also took my first wild hog. I moved to Colorado after that and sold it to pay for college - I should have kept it and gone to trade school.

Under $1k is tough but from 90's forward anything under $1k will be a good option. Rugers have a reputation earned before Smith beefed up their guns (and have not changed since). I'm not a fan of Rossi or Taurus...Taurus is the better of the two. Just be sure you are sure of what you are using them for and where - here in Colorado there is a barrel length restriction that catches most folks off guard.

Currently sporting a Performance Center 629 (more than $1k though).

 

[gdpolk]

Here's my new hunting revolver. It seems to like the Hornady Custom 240gr XTP loads so that's what I'll be feeding it when hitting the woods.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

In my safe it'd have to be a new 629 classic 5" if I was going to shoot it a lot. Or a 329PD if it was for mostly carry. I have a 629-3, its a Cadillac with full house rounds. That said. I also have a 329PD, it's one handy light weight hand cannon for concealed carry. The light weight makes the 329PD brutal to run 240g Winchester white box but well worth the recoil in my book for the trade off of being half the weight of a 629. Irregardless I still CC that 329 with full house WWB

I found the 329pd was completely livable with Winchester 240gr. I shot a box of 50 at one time. Some of the first shots did jump, but you get used to it after.
Specials were light taps by comparison.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Det-Sog]

Hard choice but I think it'd be the 5" 629 Classic.

^^^ For the price point, if I could only have ONE... THAT.

Edit... I went with the 5" PC V-comp because I got a deal. But... Gawd I really want a mountain gun now. Can't have just one...

 

[THE STEE]

I had an 8 3/8 629 Classic and hunted with it for ten years and gave it to my brother for christmas, replaced it with a model 29 Steath Hunter with 7.5 barrel. but they are not below 1k, but buy the best there is..