Hunting with a scoped S&W 44 mag.?

[Recoil Rob]

Earlier this year I was able to purchase a minty Python Hunter with all the accessories, case and Colt branded shoulder holster for a very good price. Thought I might chase some deer with it but reading up on handgun hunting it seems that the .357, while adequate under the right situation, is not the ideal chambering for deer, rather most seem to prefer the .44mag.

I'm sure some of us are perfectly capable of taking deer with the .357 and I'm not looking for a discussion about the merits of the .44 vs. the .357.

What I am looking for is info about what models of S&W .44mag. revolvers were set up for using a scope from the factory. I really like a traditional looking gun and the newer style with the tapered shrouds and compensator cuts just don't do it for me. What year and model of S&W should I be looking for? I'd prefer blue over stainless but am open to both.


thanks, Rob

 

[Smith357]

Most N frame revolvers mfg after 1992 are factory drilled and tapped for scope mounts. But you can find older ones that have been drilled and tapped cheap because collectors won't touch them. I bird-dogged a 6" 29-2 for a buddy last year and I found an 8" Model 27-3 for me just last week, they were both drilled and tapped buy a gunsmith so we were able to get them for a song. We don't care that their collectors value is shot, we bought them as tools to use to use for deer not as investment arms. I just took my 27 out today and it's shooting 6" groups at 50 yards with my shaky hold. It's a fantastic handgun, the only thing is it has extra holes in the top strap.


Both of these were well under $500 as pictured.
His 29

My 27

 

[BruceM]

I like my 8 3/8" M629 w/ Leupold M8 2x scope and it's accurate too:

Bruce

 

[BobR1]

Since you are talking about a deer hunting revolver, I would not over look a Ruger Super RedHawk. They come with 1" rings from the factory. If the rings are still new and unused, you can also swap them for 30mm rings after contacting Ruger.

I have several S&W revolvers and shoot them all.

I deer hunt with a Super RedHawk. I have had 2 in 44 Mag so far, and 2 in 480 Ruger. I still have the 2 in 480 Ruger. My 9.5 with 30mm UltraDot will be heading with me to the deer stand in about an hour for a little hunting before Church.

Bob

 

[Bailey Boat]

I'm carrying a 6" 629 with a Leupold 2X set in Leupold rings and bases. Using a pretty stiff handload of 2400 and a 180 grain soft point I'm getting 2" groups at 50 yds. The load is running 1650 fps and my energy is well within what's needed for a whitetail at less than 100 yds.

 

[Recoil Rob]

Thanks for the advice men, I'll be on the lookout for next year.
BruceM, do you ever worry about glare from the stainless steel finish spooking deer?
BobR1, try as I might I find it hard to warm up to Ruger's, any Ruger. I own over 20 handguns and close to 70 long guns and only one is a Ruger, a muzzle loader. I think they are well made and have nothing against them, they started out in CT, about 20 minutes from my home. Just not for me.

 

[2hawk]

It's been a long time since I hunted, but...

the guy I got this from was pretty avid.

IIRC, the 6xx-4's and the 29-5's and up were all d/t for scope mounting. But, the Performance Center has got some pretty nice offerings with the rail incorporated, if you don't mind the extra weight.

I just use this to knock the centers out of bullseyes, which it does with ease.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

Here is my 629-2 with a 2 power Simmons scope.

 

[BruceM]

"BruceM, do you ever worry about glare from the stainless steel finish spooking deer?"

No, and I don't have "glare" issues with blued rifles or reflections off the scope's glass lens either. I worry about stand placement, scent control, movement and being silhouetted. Glare is pretty much down the totem pole, enough that I pretty much consider it a non-problem. Wild turkeys are a different subject but not deer. IMO, if a turkey could smell like a deer, it would be almost impossible to get one.

Bruce

 

[C J]

I have a 629-2 with an 8 3/8" barrel also. Very nice for long range pistol shooting and drilled and tapped for a scope at the factory. I don't use a scope though because the iron sights are pretty good IMO. I can hit a gallon jug at 150 yards pretty much all day with it as it is. That's just about the size of a deer's vitals area. I don't have a holster setup to carry the gun with a scope so I don't use one.

BTW I've had deer walk up on me to within 5' of me on both sides at the same time. Two young bucks came my direction when I was squirrel hunting one day. I thought it was neat when they were walking my way at 30 yards. By the time they got within 10 yards I started to wonder what would happen if they noticed me sitting there leaning against a big tree. By the time one walked closer than 5 yards on one side of me and the other was within 5 yards on the other side I was sweating bullets to be honest. I could have ate hooves from both sides sitting there like that. My only hope would have been to scare them off with a shot from my .22. So smell, vision, and a lot of other stuff can be overcome by sitting totally still and quiet.

I've actually had this sort of thing happen more than once. My dogs chased a big buck through the brush right at me one day while I was picking raspberries. It was running full speed right at me but I couldn't see more than 5 feet in that direction. I could just hear it coming like a freight train. I didn't know which way to go to try to avoid it so I just stood still. It ran right by me at full speed missing me by about a foot. That one had a full rack on it too.

If you live long enough and spend enough time in the woods weird things will happen. I had a squirrel climb down a tree and sniff the end of my .22 barrel one day too. I got there before dawn and when it came out it didn't know what the new thing in it's space was so it came so close I couldn't get a shot at it because I had a scope on that .22. I don't hunt tree rats with a scope now because of that.

 

[Recoil Rob]

I was sitting on a stone wall one fine spring morning while turkey hunting. I heard a noise to my right and here comes a stoat or small weasel along the wall, proceeding slowly. When he got to my leg I guess he thought it was another rock and hopped on. Stayed there about 15 seconds before he realized something wasn't right and took off.

 

[boatboy]

I loved reading this Thread I am really torn about 44mags and deer
This is not singling anyone out just a question Yes you can hit a gallon jug at 150 yards that is great but can you humanely kill at 100?

I have quite a few 44s inc a 629 but I have wanted to hunt and carry my Colt Anaconda with a 2x Burris.
I am really only comfortable with a 60 yard or less BECAUSE I HAVE NOT DONE it.
My Anaconda shoots GREAT at 100 but paper is paper it dies quick
I really want a quick clean kill

Your input please?

Yes it is cool what happens in the woods you just never know
Hank

 

[Nemo288]

I can humanely kill at 150 yards with this:

That's 30/40 brass at 1.6" neck reamed and loaded
to 1600 fps with a 240 XTP. I have gone to 1700 fps
but backed off since.

Same basic ballistics as a 44 carbine (which I also love).

---
Nemo

 

[Recoil Rob]

What about the newer "Classic" series, I see on GB with 2 scopes for $750. Is the workmanship that bad on them not to consider it? I sure don't like that etched barrel marking...

 

[CWH44300]

I can humanely kill at 150 yards with this:

That's 30/40 brass at 1.6" neck reamed and loaded
to 1600 fps with a 240 XTP. I have gone to 1700 fps
but backed off since.

Same basic ballistics as a 44 carbine (which I also love).

---
Nemo

that supermag put a big smile on my face - I'm going down to the gun room and pull my Dan Wesson's out - have'nt looked at them in a while - Thank's for posting that pic

 

[DesertFox]

Using Uncle Mike's Sidekick Bandolier scoped holster has allowed me to carry scoped 8 3/8" 44 Mag hunting on many occasions. Anything within 100 yards is gonna get tagged. Half the time I grab that setup and have a 629PC 2 5/8" on the hip if it gets "close" or if I stumble into large grumpy carnivores.

 

[Nemo288]

that supermag put a big smile on my face - I'm going down to the gun room and pull my Dan Wesson's out - have'nt looked at them in a while - Thank's for posting that pic

You are welcome. That's my only DW. It's a very early stainless
445 and needs the chamber throats enlarged. I won't be firing
it until it that gets done.
I carry it in a HUSH system which makes it easy to climb trees
etc. with the heavy hardware. Adding the scope brings the recoil
down to regular magnum levels or even less. It's quite comfortable
with the wood grips. I use the goodyears though when hunting
after dropping it out of a tree :|

I did a good deal of load development when these first came out
and brass was scarce to non-existant. The first batch of commercial
(445 Gates) brass was not annealed properly as well.