BEST 44 Call it like you see it ....

[magnumb]

Love my model 18 and 19.
Thinking of adding a .44 to the stable and wanted some feedback from the forum. Will use for range fun and home defense (specials) and occasional woods carry in bear country.

The nominees are:
Model 29 in beautiful bright blue ?
Model 629 in sexy stainless ?
and gasp dare I, cringe

The new Ruger Redhawk 4 inch ?

All inputs and Jeers welcome

 

[magnumb]

Love my model 18 and 19.
Thinking of adding a .44 to the stable and wanted some feedback from the forum. Will use for range fun and home defense (specials) and occasional woods carry in bear country.

The nominees are:
Model 29 in beautiful bright blue ?
Model 629 in sexy stainless ?
and gasp dare I, cringe

The new Ruger Redhawk 4 inch ?

All inputs and Jeers welcome

 

[catdad]

You can't go wrong with any of those.
For woods carry, I'd pick the 629, Pre-Lock of course, in 4 inch.

 

[feralmerril]

If you can find a .44 special in a model 24-3 with a 4" barrel, that would be and is, my 1st choice. Next would be a .44 mag mountain gun, but I never had one.

 

[2hawk]

Yep

 

[Beans]

629 MG

I have one and love it.

 

[CH47gunner]

629 Classic w/ 5" barrel.
Not the lightest field gun around but, the full lug & 5" barrel gives it enuf weight that it's a real pleasure to shoot.
Here's a pic of mine - the top one.

Bruce

Model 629-6 Classic 5"

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by Beans:
629 MG

I have one and love it.

+1

 

[Stainz]

First, here is what I now have as my .44 arsenal:

Now, I can only keep one - plinking and home defence with .44 Specials is likely. Right off the bat, the two L-frames on the left, the 296 & 696, go bye-bye. Then, the decision. The 6" 629 seems like a rifle at times, it shoots so flat. The 4" points maybe a tad better, due to the few ounces less it has out front. It trains more easily, too... shorter barrel may be a great aid defending the home, etc. Both are super, as gripped, with my wimpy .44 Magnums, wide range of Specials, and fun .44 Russians, while their .500 Magnum Hogue grips are in reserve for 'real' .44 Magnum use.

I guess I'd keep the 4" 629, which I actually replaced my 629MG with several years back. It has a larger hammer & trigger, red ramp front/wo rear sight, too - better, IMHO, than the blk/blk of the MGs. The standard sized short lug barrel, and the larger hammer & trigger, make it 2 oz heavier than the MG - and only 6 oz heavier than the 696! The 629 couldn't care less whether you load it with Russians, Specials, or Magnums - just clean those chambers when going from short cases to larger - and especially when going to hotter Magnums. The current 629s have all of the 'Endurance Enhancements', and should last a lifetime before service - with SAAMI spec'd ammo.

Stainz

PS I'll never own another Redhawk - one was enough! S&Ws spoil you, IMHO.

 

[photoman]

Will use for range fun and home defense (specials) and occasional woods carry in bear country.

4" 629

 

[cmort666]

4" 29-2 in .44 Magnum. They shoot Specials just fine, you have the Magnum option, and they're typically significantly cheaper than 6" or 8 3/8" guns, on account of the less than pleasant experience shooting hot Magnums in them (as the initial buyers always seem intent on doing).

 

[44forever]

Be leary of trying to do too much with one gun. A 4" 29 or 629 could be a good choice for range and (with specials) home defense. For bears the loads are usually a much heavier bullet and a stout load. These loads are hard to control in the lighter .44 magnums. You might consider a used Ruger Superblackhawk with a 7 1/2" bbl for bear loads. Whatever their other faults, Rugers are built strong and can handle heavier loads and for bear with a pistol, you need all you can get.

 

[Nygma]

Originally posted by magnumb:
The new Ruger Redhawk 4 inch ?

Too heavy

629-4 Mountain Gun. Light on the hip, and all the endurance package enhancements, .429" - .430" cylinder throats, no MIM, no IL.

 

[claygrazer]

Originally posted by 44forever:
Be leary of trying to do too much with one gun. A 4" 29 or 629 could be a good choice for range and (with specials) home defense. For bears the loads are usually a much heavier bullet and a stout load. These loads are hard to control in the lighter .44 magnums. You might consider a used Ruger Superblackhawk with a 7 1/2" bbl for bear loads. Whatever their other faults, Rugers are built strong and can handle heavier loads and for bear with a pistol, you need all you can get.

I totally agree with 44forever. I carry a stainless 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag and it is anvil tough. It packs just fine. I also don't worry about hurting the finish on a high value Smith. If you're really worried about bears, carry a slug riot gun. Next would be a Blackhawk.

 

[Andy Taylor]

All are good choices. I would say 4-6 inches, pre-lock/pre-mim. The only reasons to go with the Ruger IMHO are:
1. You plan on using a lot of really heavy loads.
2. Do not have the time to look for a pre-lock/pre-mim S&W.

 

[Stophel]

You know, I would have probably bought a .44 Mountain gun at the Louisville gun show last weekend, but I did not see one single solitary one of any kind at the whole show...

 

[starbuck]

I like my 329PD which is light enough for daily carry and it handles .44 specials very well. I have not

tried to use .44 magnums yet but I am not too anxious either.

 

[Nightowl]

Prefer a 5" 629-3 or -4 myself. Pre lock, pre mim, with weight enough to handle the recoil of full loads. Not too heavy or long barreled for woods carry with a sturdy belt.

 

[bronco45]

Mountian Gun all the way. Use the Skeeter load for home defense and kick it up a notch for woods totin. Using a 240gr bullet and Unique powder will keep POI very close for the two loads.( Skeeter load: 7.5grs of Unique and a 240LSWC in a Special. In a Magnum case I use a tad more Unique and the same bullet.)

No hassling with the sights. That's one reason that I like the 44 over 357 is very little sight adjusting compared to different bullet weights in a 357.

 

[tjpopkin]

The PC gun in 3" is a grat home-defense and carry gun...It is also not to unpleasant to shoot with full house loads....

but for hunting, the Hunter remains King in .44

Terry