Age bracket recent .44 mag buyers

[Eric300]

65 now and have been hunting with my Ruger SRH for about 20 years.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Bought my first Rugar RBH in 1981 and my latest 629-10 PC in 2017.

I had a used Marlin 336 in 44 Mag & a used Marlin 1894 (first year) at the same time in 1984. In that time frame you could buy S&W brand ammo for $5.99/20. I bought in the neighborhood of 400 rounds!

Still have a 8 3/8" 29 -? Classic, the 2 5/8" 629-10 and a Super 14" T.C.

Ivan

 

[spin132]

Just turned 65 less than 2 months ago. Bought two 44's this year. A no-dash 29 4-screw and a 3" 629-1. Love them both!

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Bought a S&W 29-2 44mag 8-3/8" barrel revolver at 23 years old.
When ammunition got to 75 cents per round and a baby on the way I had to sell it.
9mm was about $5 / 50 count box, so kept the Beretta 92F.

 

[Yendor357]

Ah, the Gateway Gun: the Super Blackhawk; because who could afford a No.5 in 1980? Then when you get a little older you step up to the Real Thing, the 29/629. Reason being that if you were to be a real Pistolero, you needed to master the Smith and Wesson 44 magnum. After all Harry Callahan and Elmer Keith couldn't possibly be wrong.
For me, it got real in 1986 when Indiana made handguns legal for deer hunting. I built a home made tree stand in a good spot. I never took an iffy shot. Never needed more than 1 shot.
Eventually, straight walled rifles were legal, and deer hunting just wasn't the same. But, a nifty Win 1892 or that awesome little Ruger No.1 were fun too.

Then too, there were the 44 Specials like the 4 inch 624 that I never could get to group. The 4 5/8 Stainless Blackhawk flat top, as close to a No. 5 as I'll ever get. The 3 inch GP100 because I didn't jump on a 696 when I should have.

 

[CajunBass]

I suppose I should have added this yesterday, but I didn't think about it. I SHOT my first 44 magnum, not long after I got my first handgun, back in the late 70's I guess I it was.

I was at the club range, and was the only person there, until a fellow pulled up and got set up. After watching him for a few minutes I spoke up and asked him what he was shooting. He said he was testing out his new Model 29, 44 magnum. He said it was a custom job he'd had built for himself. It started life as a 4" Model 29, and had had the barrel cut back to 2 1/2" inches, (started with a 4" to keep the roll marks centered). Then he'd had the big N frame grip cut off, and a K-frame grip welded on, had a trigger job done, then had it sent off to be Magna-Ported (the "rage" in those days), refinished, added Pachmayr grips (another rage), and here it was.

He asked it I'd like to shoot it. I declined. He insisted. I was scared to death. I'd seen Dirty Harry and knew it was the "most powerful handgun in the world" and no doubt kicked like the proverbial mule, but I couldn't tell a stranger that. I really couldn't tell myself that could I?

I fired three rounds. No idea what kind of ammo. They might have been bunny fart reloads, or they might have been fire breathing dragons. I'd like to say I put three rounds right smack in the center of the target, but I don't know. It didn't kill me, and I don't remember being particularly awed by the recoil at all. I think I hit the berm with all three rounds.

It's possible I got some details wrong about the gun It was a long time ago, and frankly he could have told me it was a modified 1911 and I'd have probably believed him, but that's the way I remember it now. I guess it lit something in me because I've wanted a 44 magnum ever since, but to be honest "Dirty Harry" already had the fire pretty warm anyway.

 

[7887mm08]

60 years old and bought my first 44 mag this summer.
Model 69 4 inch, and i love it!

 

[xsexcess]

First one (SBH) at 27, and have had one or more continuously since. Up to 5 now not counting the 44SPL cousins. 70yrs old now and just bought another this week.

 

[steelslaver]

I haven't bought one recently, but bought a bought about 6 of them in my 60s.

 

[Dave Lively]

Most of the younger shooters that want a powerful handgun think 10mm these days. I have tried to tell them a 44 fires heavier bullets, has significantly more power and doesn't have the reliability issues many 10mm handguns have with hot ammo but none of that matters. If its not semiauto they don't want it. Not even as a range gun.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I've had a .44 since I was 19, I'm 65 now. I think I currently own 7, and I'm not sure that's enough. I know a 4" 29-2 (or earlier) could find a home with me...

 

[CH4]

I'm 63, got my first 29 at 20 years old and the latest one a couple weeks ago.

Same here

First one around 25, last one a couple weeks ago, at 58; many others throughout the intervening years.

 

[msp2640]

I'm 58 and bought one and lucked into another a week later. Worked a deal with a seller in PA for a Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 10.5", pretty much mint in the original case from 1998. Had been interested in a long bbl 44 for a while and this obviously scratched the itch! While at the FFL awaiting the paperwork process, I looked around the shop and saw a S&W 29-3 4" blued. It was mint with original grips, but revolver only. I was told it was under agreement and was supposed to be picked the next day. Two days later FFL calls me and said deal fell thru. Needless to say, I grabbed that too.. So at 58, I acquired 2 in 7 days! The last 44 I bought was probably 10 yrs ago. Cheers, Bill in MA

 

[Bald1]

Got my pistol permit in 1991 at age 22. My first purchase was a 6" 629-1. Still have it and still love it. Recently bought ( eagerly awaiting delivery) a 3" 629-2 Classic Hunter at age 54. I'm also a huge fan of 44 mag rifles. I have a Ruger 77/44 and a 60s vintage Ruger 44 carbine. None have or ever will see 44 spl loads. Everyone of them are or will be sighted in with Winchester White Box 240 JSP.

 

[Drm50]

My first 44mg was a Ruger SBH, about 1964-65. I was saving up to buy a Hawes Western Marshall like my older buddies had. I finally had the money and we went to get my 44. When we got there I saw the Ruger SBH hanging out in display case and lost interest in Hawes ( forever ). Still have the SBH. Got a K22 around same time and once I started shooting it slid into S&Ws and out of Rugers.

 

[Dino44]

I purchased my first 44 magnum in 2012 at age 51. It was a Dan Wesson model 744 6". Since then, there have been many. My last, was early this year, at age 62. A LNIB 629-2 Mountain Gun with roll marks on barrel not laser etching. Unfortunately, I don't have photos of it or access to my guns at this time. Here is a couple of photos of 44's acquired in 2020 and 2022.

 

[ajgunner]

Bought my first in 1980. Quickly learned that reloading was required to afford to shoot any sort of volume. Now 44 years later I have 5 revolvers and 4 rifles in 44. Haven't bought any in a few years.
Last night my son asked which one he is getting for Christmas. I told him Christmas of 2047 he can probably have them all---if I make it to 83. My own father is now 85 and has dropped back to only 22 in handguns.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Holy Cow! I just counted my pile o' S&W .44 Magnums. Total of ten (10). First one, a 29-6 Classic, was bought used in 1998 (age 38) and the most recent, a 629 no dash, was bought last week (age 63). Ten .44 Magnums spread over 25 years.

My accumulation:
1956 .44 Magnum 5-screw, 6-1/2" blue, shooter.
29-5 .44 MagnaClassic, 7-1/2" blue full lug.
29-6 .44 Classic 6-1/2" blue full lug.
329 Night Guard.
629 no dash .44 Magnum Stainless (Oct 1981).
629-2 "Mountain Revolver".
629-3 .44 Classic Stainless 5" full lug.
629-4 "1993 Mountain Gun".
629-4 .44 Magnum Stainless 6" round butt.
629-4 .44 Magnum Stainless, 6" square butt.

But a few:

 

[Bald1]

DINO Love those short barrels.

 

[dobegrant]

I turned 21 in 1977 and purchased my first .44 mag a Ruger Super Blackhawk, since then have had Ruger, Dan Wesson, Smith and Wesson, Thompson contender,Taurus .44's. Currently have 6 .44 mags.

 

[AJ]

I bought my first .44 Magnum Ruger Super BlackHawk in 1975, I was 24 at the time. I bought my S&W M29-2 in 1976 for the princely sum of $425 OTD. Broke my wrist in the early 1980's and it hurt to shoot them. Both gone by 1989. No desires to own another.

 

[bananaman]

I bought my 1st .44 Magnum at around 60. 29-3 from 1988. Then bought a Nickel 29-2, 4". Beautiful, but poor functionally. Went to gunsmith 3 times I believe. Issue still existed. It went bye-bye. Have toyed with selling the -3 to get another 25. Just like 45Colt. Bob

 

[pharmer]

I'm just 70, got my 1st (629-3) at the Lakeland show maybe 25 years ago.

Got this 29-5 at the Orlando show in 2010 after diamonback68 (Dick) said once again: "Joe if'n you don't buy it I have the cash right here."

Last one (29-2) was from Khaled himself, again at the Orlando show maybe 10 or 11 years ago. Last .44 for this lifetime.

Joe

 

[soonerbb]

Turn 70 next week, in the last 5 yrs. I've purchased a 629-3, Model 69 and a Marlin Lever Action rifle.....In the last 6 months I've acquired Glock 20sf and 629sf....10mm's....

 

[JohnRippert]

I bought a 4inch Model 29 back in the '80s when I was in my 20's. Traded it off as I often did when something else caught my eye. Several years ago I saw a 4inch Model 29-3 on GB for $700. I had gotten rid of all my debt and had a slush fund just for this kind of purchase, so I bought it. I was in my mid-50's at the time. I put one cylinder of .44 Mag through it and since then it has seen nothing but .44 Special. Not the biggest fan of N-frames so it does not see a lot of range time.

 

[AJ]

I bought a 4inch Model 29 back in the '80s when I was in my 20's. Traded it off as I often did when something else caught my eye. Several years ago I saw a 4inch Model 29-3 on GB for $700. I had gotten rid of all my debt and had a slush fund just for this kind of purchase, so I bought it. I was in my mid-50's at the time. I put one cylinder of .44 Mag through it and since then it has seen nothing but .44 Special. Not the biggest fan of N-frames so it does not see a lot of range time.

The 29-2 that I bought way back when was a 4 inch. I do like N Frames and have 3 nowadays. A 25, 625 and a 27. Favorite is the 27-2 3 1/2 inch.

 

[Burb-29]

At 58 I bought my first 44, 629-3 a little cleaning swap out toTG. Two years later and a 29-2 was added.

 

[muddocktor]

I'm 67 and bought me my first non-S&W 44 Mag around a month ago. Bought a 6" new model Anaconda. Here it is in the top right with 2 of my S&W 44's after it's first range visit.

 

[seattle fish guy]

I turned 18 in 1976 and purchased my first handgun a M13. I have since acquired several M29/629s

My most recent purchase is a 629-3 from an estate sale. It looks like it has never been fired. Will be my 1st safe queen. Thanks to John & Jennifer for the beautiful Gabon grips.

 

[The Gila Bender]

The rest of the pile:

629-3 .44 Classic Stainless 5" full lug.
629-4 .44 Magnum Stainless 6" round butt.
629-4 .44 Magnum Stainless, 6" square butt.