44 mag reliability

[pop-gunner]

I currently have 3 N frame .44s I shoot.
4 inch 29-2
4 inch 629-2 mountain gun
6 inch 29-5
None of them have the endurance package Smith started doing with the 29-5 (guess I have an early gun) and I have not experienced any problems.
I feed mine a steady diet if 240gr hardcast SWC running 1100fps and my other load of the same cast bullets or Hornady XTP running 1250fps and have never had a problem.
I know these loads aren't near what the gun is capable of handling but that's what I shoot 2-300 of per month.
Never have I seen anything that would indicate the slightest problem.
I have heard of silhouette shooters back in the 80s putting so many heavy loads through the guns that they stretched the frame and had the cylinder rotate backwards but I think those issues were handled by the endurance package which is available on any older Smith for $50 from the factory.
I guess if I was gonna load 300grain bullets to 1300fps and shoot 200 of then in a range session I would look into that but I like being able to feel my fingers after shooting.

 

[Nframe357]

Alot of conjecture and name calling, I've personally lost 2, count em 2 model 29's to Winchester white box 240's. So spare me the "you're just a dummy" BS if you wear a Smith out, it can and will happen and Smith will tell you to just "buy a new one". Happened to me twice folks, now if you treat a 29/629 with sanity they will last a good long time but they are not made for hot mags day in and day out,period. Newer models with the E pkg upgrades are certainly better but will still wear out if you insist on alot full power ammo. I treat my Smith 44's like 44 special +P guns with an ocasional mag load thrown in.

 

[1x2]

I echo a couple of the above sentiments.
29-2? A guy I talk to at the range occasionally has one- it's "shot out"- only apt description. It's got endshake, side shake, head shake, tail shake, battered forcing cone, you name it- from years of 240gr deer hunting loads, at, his estimate, ~ 1450fps. He offered that I should shoot a cylinder full one day while he was sighting it in for deer season. I examined the revolver and congratulated him on a fine piece, and declined- it seemed really unsafe to shoot, though I did not say so. He continued on, unfazed.

As an aside, I think the hot 240gr loads at that speed batter the revolver harder than the 300gr loads I shoot at 1279fps. I'm not suggesting that the 29-2 would have lasted longer had he been shooting the 300grainers at a little less velocity, but I think any revolver would rather have a little more push and a little less snap, for loads.

The Light Hunter I had and carried for a couple years spit several thousand of the aforementioned 300gr loads, and as noted in posts above, looked brand new when I sold it (had the lock, you know), as tight as the day it left the factory. I have a Heritage 29-I'd-have-to-go-look with the endurance package and no-lock that serves the same 300gr duty now, which I practice with, for large-scale predators.

That said, I've been carrying a 7 1/2" Redhawk in .45 Colt. Same WFN-GC bullet, same bullet weight (within 10gr), same velocity, a little less pressure (no big deal either way), and recoil is easier to manage for follow-up shots. I cannot foresee wearing either of these out, though I would not bet against the Redhawk outlasting the new 29.

BTW, the 29 wears Eagle RB->SB conversion grips and the Redhawk grips are the wood factory panels. Both feel just great to my medium-sized hands. However, I had a Redhawk 44 that bit me constantly, with the same factory panels as the 45, and under the same bullet and velocity. I can think of no other variables, except the load pressure, to account for the discomfort of shooting the 44 Redhawk, so "had" is the operative word- it's sold.

 

[BigBill]

My very first 44mag was a ruger super blackhawk w/ 7 1/2" barrel. I sent stout(max) 44mag loads down the pipe most of the time. Its a 44mag and made for the 44magnum loads. I never had a problem with it but as time went on the grip frame screws need to be tightened more often, were the grip frame attaches to the main frame. But i have to say we hammered it.

I then chose the ruger redhawk's in 44mag. I purchased the 5 1/2" barrel and the 7 1/2" barrels. At first we only shot the 44magnum loads out of both of these too. Again with no problems at all. I purchased these two when ruger first offered them to the market. I chose these because there are no screws to come loose.

For many years i only shot the magnum loads(jacketed bullets) more often. The past decade or so i shoot more leadcast now inbetween the jacketed. Back then i was shooting 2 to 3 times a week too.

Grips? I have never seen any revolver that came with grips that fit my hand that i liked. I put the rubber presentation pachmayer grips on all my double action revolvers. I have no clue why the gun manufacturers put so small sized grips on the magnum revolvers. The only handguns that come with grips were i can shoot them right out of the box is the pistols.

Now I lube all my guns with moly and shoot them not to worry about ever wearing them out, in my lifetime. Moly eliminates all wear, reduces friction, prevents galling ect. My 1976 ruger 357mag police service six is proof that moly does work. After shooting the magnum loads for all these many years now the revolver is still functioning like it was brand new. Its proof in a real world test that moly eliminates all wear.

I'm sure using moly coated bullets will prevent wear on the forcing cone and inside the barrel too. I do use the moly coated leadcast bullets. I have seen less leading in the barrels so far.

Overall I think the S&W and Ruger revolvers are heavy enough to handle the 44magnum round.

I'm not sure how the manufacturers think about how much or how little will there guns be shot. I believe from what I see in the used handgun cases at my local dealers some of them still look like new and either hardley shot or still unshot while some look used too. I would guess that the %'s are about 45% of the new handguns sold aren't shot or shot very little. While the other 45% get shot and shot more often. I'm going to say that 10% of the handguns that are sold get hammered, shot the most or well used. I'm trying to give an honest estimate from what i see in the used handgun case, I browse often. I purchased 4 used handguns which 3 were still looked to be unshot. I'm sure the manufacturers think about this too and how many miles will there product see and how long it will last before it needs repair. I wonder if they do life testing on there new designs/products.

The engineering group that i worked for did life testing on all there new designs and products. They even life tested the vendors products that they purchased too. I've seen gear boxes run for 100 years on the test stand when we pulled it apart to inspect it and then reassembled it and ran it another 100 years. You can't ask a product to have better results than this. But i wonder what the manufacturers think about the lifespan of there guns and how long they will last. Ok your thinking about guns lasting 100 years but i have rifles that are well over 100 years old and still shoot accurately. What about the guns from the 1800's and early 1900's. How about the older S&W's that are still around.

Now i wonder how long the action would really last if it was life tested and if the manufacturer does it? Bill

 

[BigBill]

It's hard to imagine someone being able to afford to shoot enough normal factory ammo to "wear out" a S&W in .44 Magnum. And if you're reloading, why would you load everything to the hilt? This is probably more a theoretical question than anything else.

At one time in my life bigger is better (flames)and the more powerful the better. Its not a 44 special its a 44magnum afterall. Its the 44 magnum craze that drove us all right? It was more about the louder bang and the bigger flames comming out the cylinder/barrel. I'm sure i'm not alone. But as we get older and settle down either standard mag loads or loads in the middle of the spec's seem to suit me more now. Heck i'm even happy now shooting the leadcast. Bill

 

[ms]

What's your source

I have heard of silhouette shooters back in the 80s putting so many heavy loads through the guns that they stretched the frame and had the cylinder rotate backwards but I think those issues were handled by the endurance package which is available on any older Smith for $50 from the factory.QUOTE]

for getting the endurance package installed on an older gun for $50?

 

[pop-gunner]

for getting the endurance package installed on an older gun for $50?[/QUOTE]

The factory.
I checked on this about 2 weeks ago when I had them on the phone for something else.

 

[tgmr05]

The best way to explain the difference between a smith N frame 44 magnum and a ruger 44 magnum is this.... K versus L frame/ruger gp100 357 magnums.

The smith N frame 44 magnum is EXACTLY like a K frame 357 magnum. It will last a lifetime with specials, even with a small smattering of magnums mixed in - but will not take the abuse of magnum loadings all day long, and cannot be loaded any where near the L frame/ruger capabilities... It carries easier than an L frame, and is lighter, but simply is not as rugged.

 

[Maximumbob54]

The best way to explain the difference between a smith N frame 44 magnum and a ruger 44 magnum is this.... K versus L frame/ruger gp100 357 magnums.

The smith N frame 44 magnum is EXACTLY like a K frame 357 magnum. It will last a lifetime with specials, even with a small smattering of magnums mixed in - but will not take the abuse of magnum loadings all day long, and cannot be loaded any where near the L frame/ruger capabilities... It carries easier than an L frame, and is lighter, but simply is not as rugged.

Now you've done it. Prepare to be flamed by the Combat Magnum experts.