.44 Mag Snub

[08Cayenne]

Sorry for the newbie basic S&W question but I'm basically S&W illiterate. I do own a 25 YO Model 36 that I carry every day, great gun. I'm in the market for a .44 Mag with a 3" or less barrel, only use for it will be riding in the car with me and plinking at the range. I am famililar with .44's I own a couple Rugers. Actually I was looking at the Ruger Redhawk Alaskan, but I think I want to get a Smith this time, something similar in size to the Alaskan. It doesn't need to be new, available older models are fine also. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks
Frank

Here's a pic of my 36.

 

[stoneman]

Welcome to the forum! S&W makes a few now. There is the 329 Night Guard, and also a snubby with an unfluted cylinder that is a Performance Center gun. If you get lucky you might find a Lew Horton like the one I have. I know I am missing a few, I'm sure someone else will chime in.
(bottom left is the LH...but that is self explanatory)

 

[Mule88]

Welcome to the forum, Smith I believe is making another run of its 2 1/2 " 629 its a fix sighted N-frame. I have a 2 1/2 and 3 inch version of the older run (629-5) The 3 inch version of mine is adj. sights while the 2 1/2 is fixed sights. You can still find these on Gunbroker sometimes for sale. Hope this helps.

 

[MTKTM]

There's a real sweet Performance Center 2 5/8" gun being produced now. Maybe that's more $ than you want to spend, but they are nice and have great DA and SA trigger pull and unfluted cylinders. Not sure why the latter, maybe just a fashion thing. There are other snub-nosed S&W 44s out there, they've made different runs of them over the past several years.

 

[m657]

The 4" SB 629 is a lot different creature than the 3" RB 629. For such a similar basic configuration, it is amazing the differences of such as balance, recoil and basic handling factors.

I've started feeding my 3" with 44 special, and find it a most wonderful side arm.

 

[Snapping Twig]

A 3" RB 29/629 is a thing of beauty.

A 4" 29/629 is also a thing of beauty, but easier to come by.

Once you get used to it, it becomes as accurate as a longer barreled revolver.

I'd highly advise that you scratch the itch for one.

Here's one I had made, being unable to score on a LH back in the day. it was originally an 8 3/8" 629-2.

Here she is as she stands today.

 

[Tackelbarry]

I bought the model 629 Backpacker and really enjoy shooting it. I practice with 240 gr. sjhp .44 mag. but carry the 300 gr. when hiking. It also has the Hi-vis front sight and is ported. I like it so much I am getting ready to buy another.

 

[Dale53]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course. I have several .44 magnums but the standard Model 629 in 4" is as short as I want to go with a .44 magnum. That is for two reasons:

1 - A .44 magnum IS a .44 magnum because of it's velocity. To attain that velocity it requires slow burning powders, and a lot of it. Barrels shorter than 4" do not really perform like a .44 magnum other than LOTS of jump, flash, and noise.

2 - Full .44 magnum loads offer SERIOUS recoil. I am not particularly recoil sensitive but a 4" is not particularly fun to shoot with full house loads and a 2.5-3" is flat out becoming abusive.

This is not a case where I am jealous of someone else's 3" gun - I have many choices. However, I DO shoot my guns a lot and I don't need something posing as something else. If I carry a .44 magnum, I want .44 Magnum performance without pain.

I believe that most would be better served by the much more available and usable 4". 6" is even better.

Plus there is the hit factor - it is easier to hit with a longer barrel. Everything has it limits.

Just a thought or two...

Dale53

 

[bsms]

My experience, FWIW:

I own a Ruger Alaskan. I preferred it to a 629 because I have small hands, and the old style GP100 grips are smaller than the N-frame. I enjoy shooting it will full up rounds - shooting one handed. The weight of the gun helps absorb some of the recoil, and the wood panel grips (unlike the stock Alaskan grips) shift a bit for me without ripping into my skin. I still find it uncomfortable to fire using both hands. The weight of a 629 & Alaskan are comparable.

A 3 inch doesn't hurt much in terms of velocity. Using real world guns, ballisticsbytheinch has the Federal 240 grain giving 1120 in a 3 inch, 1094 in a 4 inch, 1256 in a 5.625 inch barrel and 1407 in a 12 inch barrel. The Speer 200 grain short barrel ammo gave 991 / 1009 / 1061 and 1164. With quality bullets, I suspect you will get about the same penetration from a 3" barrel as a 4" barrel - or even 6" barrel.

If I'm REALLY hiking in Brown bear country, I'd prefer a rifle. I don't hunt with handguns, but if I did, I'd want a MUCH longer barrel or a scope. But for fun? Or as a backup gun in bear country?

All I can say is shooting a 44 Mag snubbie puts a smile on my face, even if it sometimes adds a bruise to my hand. If my hands were a little bit bigger, I'd LOVE a 629 Mountain Gun!

 

[08Cayenne]

There's a real sweet Performance Center 2 5/8" gun being produced now. Maybe that's more $ than you want to spend, but they are nice and have great DA and SA trigger pull and unfluted cylinders. Not sure why the latter, maybe just a fashion thing. There are other snub-nosed S&W 44s out there, they've made different runs of them over the past several years.

I saw it today on their website, it looks great, I really like it. It is currently on the top of my list.


I really appreciate all the comments, thanks for the suggestions, I will check all of them out. The main reason I was looking at the Alaskan, other than I own a passel of Rugers, was the weight, I think it would be reasonably comfortable to shoot. I used to own 2 Grizzly .45 Win Mags, wish I would have held onto one of them. That sucker was actually painful to shoot.

Thanks Again

 

[kennyb]

in addition the the lew horton batch of 3" 44 mags S&W also sold some as well..the 3"combat magnum...lots of fun!

 

[cal45]

I saw it today on their website, it looks great, I really like it. It is currently on the top of my list.


I really appreciate all the comments, thanks for the suggestions, I will check all of them out. The main reason I was looking at the Alaskan, other than I own a passel of Rugers, was the weight, I think it would be reasonably comfortable to shoot. I used to own 2 Grizzly .45 Win Mags, wish I would have held onto one of them. That sucker was actually painful to shoot.

Thanks Again

I picked up mine a few weeks ago. Even though the wood boot grips look great, I just couldn't get a firm grip so I put on the Pachmayr Compact grips.

 

[GCF]

A 3" RB 29/629 is a thing of beauty.

Here she is as she stands today.

Gotta say, pretty nice piece! Those Hogues really set it off.

Matter of fact, I think they'd work pretty well on my 625-6 MG. I've currently got a set of Hogue compact finger grooves (as in your 1st pic) on it.

Mind if I ask what flavor of wood they are, & also, did you find much difference in recoil handling?

Thanks in advance - Gary

 

[NE450No2]

Mule 88

How does that fixed sight snubby shoot? Are the fixed sights anywhere close to point of aim, point of impact?

I would like to have a "compact" 44 Mag to act as a spare to my Mountain Gun when I travel.

I have a 325 Night Guard, and I like it for its size [and weight] but in a 44 Mag I want a steel framed gun, and as much as I prefer adjustable sights, in this application I want one with no sharp edges.

 

[NE450No2]

08Cayenne

If this is to be your first 44 Mag, and you do not need the short barrel for a specific size requirement, and from you post, carrying in the car and shooting at the range, then I think a standard 4" S&W 44 Mag might serve you best. Either Blue, Nickle, or Stainless, your choice. It will be more pleasant to shoot.

However if you are a "Snub Snosed Freek", then you must get what YOU like.

I can relate to being sort of a "SNF"... I have never been a 357 Mag kind of guy, but my favorite 357 Mag is a 2 1/2" Mod 19...

I have used it in PPC Snub Nosed Matches, it shoots as good to 25 yards as my custom 6" PPC revolver. I have carried it in harms way a few times as well. If I was a 357 kind of guy it would be my daily carry...
And I think one of the "Coolest" looking S&W's is the 3 1/2" Mod 27...


I really like my 325 Night Guard...

So I am "Borderline SNF"

Let us know what you get.

 

[rollin_hot]

629-2 44 mag

629-2 3 inch 44 mag...my favorite

 

[Snapping Twig]

Gotta say, pretty nice piece! Those Hogues really set it off.

Matter of fact, I think they'd work pretty well on my 625-6 MG. I've currently got a set of Hogue compact finger grooves (as in your 1st pic) on it.

Mind if I ask what flavor of wood they are, & also, did you find much difference in recoil handling?

Thanks in advance - Gary

Truth be told Gary, I bought them @ 20 years ago.

Maybe you could contact Hogue and use this image to see if they can duplicate a set for you.

Best wishes.

 

[Mule88]

Ne450.......... My fix sighted 629 actually shoots amazingly well @ 15-20 yds, using a 200-210 gn jhp it does hit point of aim at that distance. Ive never shot it past 20 yds yet, I just figured a 2 1/2 inch fixed sighted gun isnt designed to shoot much past that anyway. Hope this helps.

 

[Brian41]

My 3 inch 629 Backpacker is one of my favorite guns to carry and shoot. I find it quite accurate out to 25 yards and easier to shoot than most snubs as I have large hands.
Actually I had two of them and traded one to a member here for a LH model 24 in three inch. It's a new favorite and ideal for a big bore snub with a little less recoil than a .44 mag.

 

[08Cayenne]

I have 2 .44's both with 7.5" barrels, I also have a couple .357 snubs as well as the 36 I posted a pic of. Probably my favorite type revolver.

Great pics of the S&W's, they all look great, this is going to be a hard decision.

Here is one of my .44's. I used it for deer many years ago.
It's 25 + Y.O., think I bought it around 1985.

08Cayenne

If this is to be your first 44 Mag, and you do not need the short barrel for a specific size requirement, and from you post, carrying in the car and shooting at the range, then I think a standard 4" S&W 44 Mag might serve you best. Either Blue, Nickle, or Stainless, your choice. It will be more pleasant to shoot.

However if you are a "Snub Snosed Freek", then you must get what YOU like.

I can relate to being sort of a "SNF"... I have never been a 357 Mag kind of guy, but my favorite 357 Mag is a 2 1/2" Mod 19...

I have used it in PPC Snub Nosed Matches, it shoots as good to 25 yards as my custom 6" PPC revolver. I have carried it in harms way a few times as well. If I was a 357 kind of guy it would be my daily carry...
And I think one of the "Coolest" looking S&W's is the 3 1/2" Mod 27...


I really like my 325 Night Guard...

So I am "Borderline SNF"

Let us know what you get.