skeetshooter
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+ 1 statesrightest love my 29's but I shoot the Super Redhawk more.
44 Magnum: S&W, Ruger or Taurus?
- Thread starter Will Carry
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David LaPell
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I have had two Model 29 Smith & Wessons and two Ruger .44's. One a Bisley and the other a 50th Anniversary Blackhawk. The Blackhawk with full power loads was a handful, but the Bisley was a tank. If I were going to get a .44 again, strictly for the money, the power and portability it would be a 4 5/8 inch Super Blackhawk, they are a beast and any load you could desire will work in them. Second would be another 4-inch Model 29 or 629.
beach elvis
Member
Mind you, merely my own opinion, worth every penny you're payin' for it:
If you wanna shoot loads that'll make your nose bleed in the short term and make you sterile in the long term, go for a Ruger Super Redhawk. WAAAYYY more shootable than a plow-handled single action in the same caliber. Compared to the Super Redhawk, the Vaquero in .44 mag. felt like a bomb exploding in my hand.
While the Ruger will be stronger (which will only matter in terms of uber-thumpers), the trigger cannot be made to be as sweet as a 29/629.
The above is based on my own experiences, having owned them all.
Whatever you choose, may you have decades of enjoyment with it like I've had with mine.
+1 re: Congratulations! You're about to become a reloader!
If you wanna shoot loads that'll make your nose bleed in the short term and make you sterile in the long term, go for a Ruger Super Redhawk. WAAAYYY more shootable than a plow-handled single action in the same caliber. Compared to the Super Redhawk, the Vaquero in .44 mag. felt like a bomb exploding in my hand.
While the Ruger will be stronger (which will only matter in terms of uber-thumpers), the trigger cannot be made to be as sweet as a 29/629.
The above is based on my own experiences, having owned them all.
Whatever you choose, may you have decades of enjoyment with it like I've had with mine.
+1 re: Congratulations! You're about to become a reloader!
silentflyer
Member
I have to agree with Death Grip and Joni Lynn, my Dan Wesson .44 10" barrel is the most accurate of any .44 mag I have ever shot or owned, 3" groups at 100 yards off a rest.
Straightshooter2
US Veteran
Not owning any of the .44 mag, I can't comment on any of them except for this. Remember that the grip style of the Blackhawk was basically designed in the 1800's and look at the loads it was meant to be used with. It's just not meant for .44 mag and as others said, it could be a knuckle buster. Even my .357 Blackhawk can be a handfull with full power loads.
CW
CW
Vulcan Bob
Member
The five and a half inch Ruger Super Blackhawk is for me my best shooting 44 mag, in the shorter length barrels with the super you get a round trigger guard instead of that knuckel busting dragoon style trigger guard. The reason the Ruger is number one with me is that recoil with it is no problem at all, just let it roll in the hand a bit. The N frame Smiths just beat the heck out of my hand with heavy loads and yes I have tried a lot of different grips. Now with mid range loads I do enjoy my four inch 29 a lot and my six inch 629 is a fine shooter as well as long as I stay away from the real heavy loads. This sort of thing is very personal and if possible try to find buddys with different types, shoot em and see whats best for you!
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Well my SuperRedHawk beat the **** out of my indexfinger.
Drew blood every shot, very accurate and could take hevy loads.
If you plan on shooting alot of hevy loads, i'd go for the Ruger.
If not, Smith & Wesson rules.
but that is only my 2cents
Drew blood every shot, very accurate and could take hevy loads.
If you plan on shooting alot of hevy loads, i'd go for the Ruger.
If not, Smith & Wesson rules.
but that is only my 2cents
Maximumbob54
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I'm going to own a 629 Classic with the five inch barrel at some point. I love everything about that gun.
I have owned a number of .44 Mag. revolvers... mostly S&W and Ruger. I have no broad experience with the single-action type. They are good handguns, but I just never really warmed up to them except for the .22 LR Ruger Single-Six. The Ruger double-action .44's are well made. The triggers are not so good. The revolvers are heavy, more so than I like or think necessary.
I've had several of the N-frame .44 S&W's. The 6" ones are superlative range and woods guns. For range and woods... and even HD., I'd prefer the 4" S&W Model 29. If recoil is a concern, the lugged barrel will greatly moderate that issue. The sights are excellent. The triggers in DA and especially in SA are simply superior in every respect to anything available from any other manufacturer. The grips are well shaped and suit my hand. Some like the various rubber grips that are offered by Pachmayr, Hogue, etc. There is a very wide variety available.
Some will opine that the S&W 29/629 is not as strong as other designs. I take that with a very large shovel full of salt. Perhaps there are folks who can afford to spend the money required to shoot enough heavy/overloaded .44 Magnum rounds such that they might wear out a S&W revolver. If that should be the case, they will not likely fret to much over having S&W do any necessary repair work that might be needed.
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All are probably good guns, but it may be important for some to also consider the possibility of resale. S&W products are often more desirable on the used market and may retain a higher value than the others.
Of the 3 mentioned, there's no doubt it would be a S&W.
Not to say the others aren't good, but the Smith has more of what I like in a revolver. If I were shooting lots of heavy load 44's I'd consider the Red Hawk. Not to bash Taurus but I'm just not interested.
Not to say the others aren't good, but the Smith has more of what I like in a revolver. If I were shooting lots of heavy load 44's I'd consider the Red Hawk. Not to bash Taurus but I'm just not interested.
faol
Member
I'm going in the other direction here. I myself would prefer the Smith; but it is way out of my price range right now! Your post said that you wanted a .44; just to own one. So did I and I went with the Taurus Tracker. Since I've bought it, I've put 300 or so rounds through it without a hitch!!! It's accurate as all get out and manageable to shoot! I know that a lot of people give Taurus a bad rap; but I also know that many of those have not owned one personally either. Many of the earlier ones had some bugs; but the QC has gotten better. So, until I can afford to own a S&W, the Taurus will suit me fine!
StatesRightist
Member
You did fine, as I told you I like the M44 a little better, but you've got a good gun. My first 44 was a Taurus, it shot well. I prefer the S&W, but for the money, you bought a good gun. Enjoy it, I did mine.
Delta Rose
Member
I've owned a 6" 629, a 7.5" Redhawk and currently have a 4 5/8" SBH. By far the SBH has been the most comfortable and easiest to shoot well.
I have a 629-6 Classic 6.5 inch with a 2X Leupold mounted and it's a very manageable rig. Not too heavy or huge and would carry well as a hunting rig in a hunting style shoulder holster.
The Super Redhawk is just plain MASSIVE. Might as well carry a rifle. The straight Redhawk is a very worthy competitor and should handle a steady heavy magnum diet. I had a Redhawk and after replacing the springs with Wolff performance springs, it had a very good SA trigger. I sold the Redhawk because it favored 180-200 grain bullets at maximum loads, whereas I prefer to shoot mid range 240 grain fodder from my magnums.
The Super Blackhawk with the 7.5 inch barrel is a fairly well balanced big revolver. Strong, accurate and comfortable to shoot if you have grips that fit your hands on the gun. The stock Ruger grips kill my hands. Hogues are OK but ugly. Vintage Herrett wood stocks are nearly perfect if you can find them.
If you can find a lightly used Taurus they can be a fantastic buy. Several guys at my club have Taurus 44's and a couple shoot silhouette and score well with them.
I've seen nearly new 44 Tracker's in the used case for under $300 making them a very attractive buy for the gunner on a budget.
The Super Redhawk is just plain MASSIVE. Might as well carry a rifle. The straight Redhawk is a very worthy competitor and should handle a steady heavy magnum diet. I had a Redhawk and after replacing the springs with Wolff performance springs, it had a very good SA trigger. I sold the Redhawk because it favored 180-200 grain bullets at maximum loads, whereas I prefer to shoot mid range 240 grain fodder from my magnums.
The Super Blackhawk with the 7.5 inch barrel is a fairly well balanced big revolver. Strong, accurate and comfortable to shoot if you have grips that fit your hands on the gun. The stock Ruger grips kill my hands. Hogues are OK but ugly. Vintage Herrett wood stocks are nearly perfect if you can find them.
If you can find a lightly used Taurus they can be a fantastic buy. Several guys at my club have Taurus 44's and a couple shoot silhouette and score well with them.
I've seen nearly new 44 Tracker's in the used case for under $300 making them a very attractive buy for the gunner on a budget.
MaximumLawman
Member
It all depends on whether you feel lucky. Well, DO ya? Dirty Harry didn't carry a Ruger. Buy the Smith. As far as the Taurus, the only thing I buy that uses a cow for a trademark is malt liquor.
kalei
Member
I have the Ruger Vaquero Bisley, very nice, easy to shoot. That said if my bank account could stand it I would own the S&W Model 29!!! I really don't think many of us will shoot enough max load .44 mags to do any damage to the S&W.
DOEBOY1
Member
If you look at it from an initial cost perspective the ruger is the better choice. You could buy approximately 1.5 rugers for what you would pay for a new smith. The smith is great and feel is wonderful. Of course if you like playing cowboy better than dirty harry then go with the ruger. I have to say that the ruger is a better therapy gun when you want to shoot heavy loads. On the other hand you have more style with a smith. I have 1- super black hawk, 4- 629's, and 1- 29-2. Now if I could get a 4" 29 and and a 4" super black hawk. Just get the one you can afford. But if you can afford 2 get both. good luck Doeboy
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