Which big bore?

Lately, I have developed a hankering to own a .44 or .45 revolver. I feel pretty well equipped with my current assortment of .357's, so I don't have any intended "use" per se. House gun, target shooting etc.

If the ammo market ever calms down, what do you consider to be the advantages of the .45acp vs .45 colt vs .44 special as an all round choice?

I like the looks of the Mtn Gun, but a standard 4" 629 in .44mag would probably be the easiest and least expensive N-frame to find.

I personally would go with a .44 Magnum. It has the range on the .45 ACP. Drawback is ammo cost (around $35/box of 50), but .44 Mag ammo is now coming back in availability. I still haven't seen .45 ACP or .45 Long Colt on shelves.

I have them all. For some reason .44 special seems to be my favorite. Its a sweet balance between the ammo and the guns made for it. The S&Ws all have the lighter barrels than the .44 mags, (exclueding mountain guns), If you handload you can make it perform on the low end of .44 mag, and it will do 90% of what anybody buys a mag for. 45 colt is nice too in the right guns, however there again, my 25-5 weighs the same as my 29-2. I dont have a mountain gun, but if I didnt have the guns that I do, I would look for one in 45 colt or .44 mag. Its about the weight and handeling aspects of my .44 specials for me. You can pretty much load up a 44 special and a 45 colt to do what a .44 mag will, with actualy less pressure than the mag, so they tell me due to the larger 45 case. But there again when you reload its easy to get a double charge due to the huge case, plus with lighter loads you use only a fraction of the case capasity and I wonder about accuaracy in that case. Also I have some concern about the thickness of metal over the clyinder notchs even if some tell me not to worry.
I belive with handloading the .44 special to be the best balanced cartridge out there, and the lighter barreled S&Ws in it to be the best handeling N frames. That makes for a sweetheart gun and caliber.

For the greatest versatility, get a .44 Mag Mtn Gun. You can shoot .44 specials in it all day long, it's not overly heavy for packing around and you have numerous ammo options. Someday, you may get a hankering to shoot a .44 mag; then you'll be ready.

On the other hand, strictly from an ammo standpoint the .45 ACP is likely easier to find at any given time. You probably won't be able to stop with just one!

Sadly, I like 'em all, so I'm not much help.

My FAVORITE revolver of all time, is my chopped barrel Model 25-2 that started as a 6 1/2 .45ACP target revolver in 1980.

Back then, Smith failed to appreciate or care about the incredible market a 25-2 could have with a defensive length barrel, so the gunsmiths of America were glad to accommodate!

Mine was modified by a long gone master wheelsmith in Savannah back "in the day." He shortened the barrel to 3 1/4, did the most stunning action job, both double and single action I've ever experienced, and the entire action whirs like a clock. The super-wide target trigger of the 25-2 was smoothed, radically narrowed and rounded too, for fast double action work. Single action, the trigger breaks with no creep at a little less than a pound.



Best of all, no one ever told that revolver that it isn't a long barrel target revolver anymore. It still shoots little ragged little single holes at ten yards, and rolls coke cans with boring regularity at 75 yards too.


THEN AGAIN . . .

I can't imagine deer season without my 6" barreled 29-5 .44 Magnum. What a tackdriver! It has taken so many deer in the last decade or so. And, shooting .44 Specials in it is a real joy too.



I'm less enamored by the .357 N frames. Totally happy with my K frames for .357 use. I've traded all my L frames and N frames off in that caliber. I'm not a wealthy man and each firearm I own has a specific purpose that I've deem "right" for MY preferences. Your preferences may totally vary!

BACKWOODS HIKING?

In Grizzly country I'd carry my 29-5, topped with the Holosight and stoked with my favorite round for the .44 Mag anyway . . . a hardcast, flat nose 300 grain bullet. I use the Federal Castcore factory load. Incredible results. If you notice above, I've removed the original front adjustable silhouette sight, for quiet, fast and snagfree draws from my modified Uncle Mike's belt holster. The Nylon holster also won't wreak havoc on the blued finish like a moist leather holster can!

I've been up many a climber or ladder stand with the M29/Holosight in this holster and its never hinted at slipping out . . . yet it draws silently and super-fast. Just PERFECT!



In Brown Bear country I'd carry my 25-2, backed with several moon clips . . . for in those woods the most dangerous predators are on two legs.

Lots to choose from.

Sooo many to choose from. Excluding the pre-war 44s and 45s , staying with modern 1970s -1980s.
This is my favorite area of collecting/shooting. 45 a.c.p. would be the first and most economical choice, as ammunition is most readily available ,and very simple to handload for.

Here is a 625, 5" early production.











Any of the Smiths in 45 Colt either blue or stainless. These can also be modified to shoot 45 a.c.p. using moonclips ,a cool option.
These are my absolute favorites.
























Ultimately it comes down to the one that is the next best deal.

Keep your eyes open ,and your antennae extended , the right one will appear.

Good luck ,,,AlleN Frame

Sir, FWIW, I've had Smiths in .41 mag, .44 special, .44 mag, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt. Of those, I prefer the .44 special and .45 Colt. The .44 mag is probably a better choice if you can have only one big bore, though--it's the most versatile.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

I think it would depend on your intended use. If your primary use would be recreational shooting I think it is difficult to make a strong case for anything except the .45 ACP as there is typically a great abundance of brass available if not loaded ammuntion.

Having said that, I believe the .44 Magnum in a M-29 is the most versatile as you can shoot .44 Specials for plinking all the way up to magnum hunting loads............However the versatility of the .44 Magnum is greatly reduced if you don't handload.

Whichever choice you make, handloading will exponentially increase its' function and utility.

It really depends on whether you reload or not, if not 44 mag. If you plan on reloading the 45 colt. Smith 44's are excellent 44 specials but their life is limited if you plan on lot's of mag shooting. The 45 colt can be loaded (in the right revolver) to equal and exceed the 44 mag, unfortunately the N frame isn't the platform in which to do this. If I had the $ and had to choose i'd probably go 629 classic 44 mag.

If I could only have one S&W it would be a 44 Mag.
When needed it has the POWER. If not then you can load it to 45 ACP power levels, including light target loads.

With Speed loaders you can reload it almost as fast as the 45 ACP revolvers.

In my past I have used both as work guns. If you do not need the power of the 44 mag the 45 ACP is a great cartridge for a S&W revolver.

How much POWER you want/need would be the deciding factor IMHO.

617fan said:

Lately, I have developed a hankering to own a .44 or .45 revolver. I feel pretty well equipped with my current assortment of .357's, so I don't have any intended "use" per se. House gun, target shooting etc.

If the ammo market ever calms down, what do you consider to be the advantages of the .45acp vs .45 colt vs .44 special as an all round choice?

I like the looks of the Mtn Gun, but a standard 4" 629 in .44mag would probably be the easiest and least expensive N-frame to find.

Click to expand...

I currently own a M21 classic, M22, M625 MG and M629MG, all with 4 in tubes. Also have a M57, 4".

I guess you can tell I love the big bores. If I had to pick and keep only one, you wud have a fight on your hands, I couldn't bare to part with these.

I love the 44 cal pistol so I probably would have to keep the 629. I can shoot 44 special, which I love but in a pinch I can do the 44 mag which I detest, so the versatility comes into play.

Which ever way you go, be prepared to spend more money for other N frames cuz these are addictive.

Good luck and enjoy

Thanks for all of the input and the pictures to drool over..but you haven't helped much as still I want one of each!!!

From your suggestions I am concluding that the first step probably should be reloading. I get the impression that the ideal big bore is somwhere "in-between" the classic .44 Special/.45 Colt and the magnums. I think off- the-shelf that .45ACP would be easiest to feed but also offers the most limitations.

So that narrows me down to the 4" Mtn Gun in .45 Colt or a 4" .44 Special either of which could be loaded up and the 4" 629 that could be loaded down. Thats where the ideal power/recoil tradeoff lays IMHO, but how about the guns? I see the specs for the 4" Model 21 in .44Special show it be to several onces lighter than the 629. Any difference in the handling of .45 Mtn gun vs the Mod 21 or the 629?

In the area of this discussion here is what I have, and my ideas on them.
First I have a 29-2 in 5". You wont find one, and for a packing gun, a little he3avy. 2nd, a 4" 25-5 in .45 colt 4". Nice, but heavy as the 29.
3rd, final and best: 4" .44 special 24-3. Light, handy, versitil and the sweetest. That said, I would buy a 44 or 45 mountain gun, or a 24-3. All would be nice and close to perfect.

I have all the revolvers that have been mentioned here. Were I to be forced to keep just one, I would have no hesitation in deciding to keep my 629-4, 44 magnum, Mountain Gun (well.... maybe my 27-2 five inch). My reasoning is the caliber, weight and carryability (is that a word)? If not available, a basic 29/629 4" will work nearly as well. My very first 44 mag was a blue 29-2 purchased new in 1973 from Chesire and Perez wholesale for $135.00. Sorry, I am getting off point.

As has been mention by others earlier, the cartridge is the difference and is the best all around design IMO. It can be loaded extremely mild and have target accuracy. It is best as a hot 44 special, with 250 grain Keith types at 900/1000 fps. Or, one can use or load serious true magnum performance if desired. The 45acp or even the 45 colt can't do all of that.

Yes, they are expensive now. No surprise, look at the prices of new Smith revolvers. Why would you spend $1000 or more for a new Smith 44, yet wince when you find a vintage or pre-lock mountain gun for $700. Get one now, or forever be disappointed.

Allen-Frame, I would love to have a 5" 625 like the one you have pictured. I have a 3" Model of 1988, but would love to have a 5" as a mate. It is one of the best looking N frames IMO, although I prefer the partridge rather than the ramp. I have a classic 629-4 5" which is a near match, but I would still enjoy owning and shooting a 625. To quote Senator Phil Gramm when asked by a reporter how many guns he had, he said, "I have more than I need, but not as many as I want". That is probably true of most everyone here at on the forum, but definately true for me and my desire for a 625 like yours. I am not without funds if you ever want to part with it..........I won't hold my breath!

Well I took the plunge and posted "I'll take it" in response to a minty .45 Colt 625-7 Mtn Gun package offerred in the classifieds. Now I will be like a kid waiting on xmas untill the deal is completed.

Hopefully I can scrounge up something to "feed" her before she arrives. Picture borrowed from the sellers ad.

I think you have the perfect gun, the perfect cartridge. And a dash-7, so the strengthening frame work is done. And no lock! What am I to do? I think I'll go make some oatmeal. Happy for you!
Sonny
p.s. I want one just like it.

Id pick the 44, much more versatile.

I enjoy all calibers that start with a 4.

4" 629 (.44 mag)



29-2 (.44 mag)



696 (.44 spl)



624-3 (.44 spl



Pre 24 (.44 spl)



25-7 My favorite .45 Colt Mountain Gun



Obviously you can't stop at ONE!

good Choice

I shoot 4 different s&w 44 mags (3 - 29s - 1 629), 3 s&w 44 specials ( 3", 4" & 6"), 2 S&W 45 colt ( 5" and 6"), and 3 45 acp (4", 5" and 6 1/2").

I hunt with the 44 mag in bad weather, with the 45 colt in good weather, but I like shooting the 44 specials best.

If you reload, your 625 will turn out to be one of your favorite guns AND most useful. CONGRATULATIONS!


Doc