Age bracket recent .44 mag buyers

[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.