So I was thinking of going back to a .44 Magnum carry gun

[GatorFarmer]

It is not as extreme as it sounds. I am as likely to be confronted by a dangerous escaped cow, random agrressive elk, or the like as I am by anything human. Perhaps more so. Bears, wolves, and mountain lions are also wandering around, and not merely academic what ifs, but rather pests that eat pets and get into trash cans.

I had recently purchased a Ruger Match Champion in .357 Magnum as a carry option. A solid medium size revolver that won out over a 686 on cost. But since it is already a heavy and somewhat sizeable revolver, I am wondering if it is neither fish nor fowl and if I ought just get a Redhawk. I carried a Model 58 for a while and also had a 4" 629 for a time.

The Redhawk seems a bit beefier and heavier than an N frame, but I can get one for substantially less and I am not sure that extra bulk is really a bad thing in a .44 Magnum. I also believe the Ruger would be durable if I chose to try something like Buffalo Bore +P loads.

I was thinking that some sort of 240gr JHP might make a better dual purpose load than anything in a .357.

Downsides would be greater ammo cost, more noise/muzzle blast, slower follow up shots. Advantage would seem to be bigger and heavier to deter furry things.

Has anyone else switched over to a larger caliber revolver?

 

[robertrwalsh]

A big heavy gun will not deter furry things. People maybe, just looking at a gun will not scare animals. As I am sure you know a full power .44 mag is excessive for shooting humans but not unreasonable for shooting critters. If it was me (and there is no reason why my opinion should be better than anybody elses) I would go with the .44 mag loaded alternately with 240 JHP and heavy solids. I do, on occasion, still carry a big revolver out in the boonies where encounters with critters that might want to invite me to lunch are not impossible. That's how I load mine, with one backup speed loader full of JHPs and one with Rhino Rollers.

 

[roscoepc]

The 240gr JHP .44mag is what I carried/used in my M-29 when I had her and it was an excellent round to shoot both in accuracy and stopping power!! You sound a bit like me as it doesn't seem to be a problem in carrying a heavier weapon which I prefer as it helps out with the recoil of the weapon.

I'm Die Hard S&W so I'd go with another M-29 personally but there is not a thing wrong with a Redhawk which would be my second choice behind the Smith...

Good Luck, Be Safe, and have Fun with it!!

 

[keith44spl]

I've run the hills in northern WY and southern MT.....

A 624-3 or a 629 Mountain Gun with a 4" barrel with 240 hard cast SWCs over a dollop of 2400,
it has served me well in days gone bye. I especial like the .44 Special load of 17 1/2 grains
topped off with a hard cast Lyman/Keith SWC. Accurate and hard hitting with reasonable recoil for faster follow up shots.

With that being said, I've also use the same bullet over 21.0 grains of 2400
in magnum brass and find it pleasant to shoot as well.

The mountain gun tis a lit'l lighter on the belt and very capable of handling outdoor chores.

I'm not jest theorizing here....I've used like side arms to good effect.
Having used such loadings on elk, black bear and several bovine....

When I started shootin, I expect'd to see stuff start fallin. And it does!


* The above mentioned loads are safe in my handguns...But May Not be in yours.
Always work loads up carefully and mindful of pressure signs.


Jest for sportin around.....



One for the tall and un-cut....



.

Su Amigo,
Daave

 

[bigggbbruce]

I also like my 629 Mountain Gun, and I carry IWB appendix..

It does go better on cooler days with a sweatshirt.

 

[badge]

Either the Mtn Gun or the 4" 29 are ok to carry. The Redhawk is probable more durable but it is noticeable heavier. Knowing the area,.... you could find yourself dealing with more than an annoyed Elk. The Wyoming Grizzly Bear Team uses or used Randy Garrets ammo many years ago which would certainly suffice for anything you will deal with I reckon.

 

[GatorFarmer]

As witnessed by my thread in the lounge, I have to wait and appeal a NICs denial that I can't imagine is other than erroneous. Maybe I will use that time to put aside the extra funds for a 629. There is about a $300 difference in asking price locally. I will admit that the Ruger did seem bulkier in the hand when I handled it.

 

[ostlund]

Try to shoot the Redhawk prior to purchase. I've not shot one but a friend has said it hurts because of it's grip shape.

 

[BC38]

A couple of weeks ago bought a 5 shot, 2-3/8" barrel Rossi 44 mag as a concealed carry gun. It weighs just three ounces more than my 6 shot 2-3/4" 357 mag, and it fits right into the same holsters. To enjoy shooting it with full power 240gr magnums you'd about have to be a masochist - 'cause it really borders on self-abuse. About a third to a half a box of them was all I wanted to shoot in one sitting. It shoots really nice with specials though.

I also just bought an older a Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 Special. This one seems like it will REALLY be a great carry gun. It fits the same holsters as my 65-5, and actually weighs a little less. With some Hornady 240gr HP defensive loads in it I'm pretty confident that if I do my part it can deliver a one-shot stop on anything smaller than a full grown grizzly.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Gator, if you know you should have passed a NICS check you need to follow up right away. They DO make mistakes! I had to write a lawyer letter for a friend once to fix what they caused in error.

As for this:

Downsides would be greater ammo cost, more noise/muzzle blast, slower follow up shots. Advantage would seem to be bigger and heavier to deter furry things.

Assuming you didn't mean to deter them when they see it, as someone noted above, because seeing a gun has no effect whatsoever on a cow, elk, bear, squirrel, or vole, I personally detest the use of heavy kicking handguns for personal protection, whether against 2-legged or 4-legged perpetrators. If the brutal recoil makes a second shot a problem the gun is virtually useless unless your first shot is perfect. So if you insist on using a .44 Magnum use the heaviest one you can carry if concealment is not a problem.

Practice enough to become proficient; the cost of ammo is not so bad if you're not dumping dozens of rounds down range every day.

I'm in the 4" .357 Magnum camp for such events, although a 4" .45 Colt works for me, too. If I write what I really think of the .44 Magnum the flames will melt the Forum. Unless you are deliberately hunting, in which case the issues are somewhat different.

I moved up years ago from mouse guns (e.g. .25 ACP) to .38s but in the city I stick with .38s. In bear country I carry heavy - but by heavy I mean .357 Magnum unless I'm deliberately going into the deep woods. Then the .45 Colt would appear.

Cow and elk country present other problems but that's what rifles are for.

 

[Mehutch]

I have Backpacked all over the world and the USA. Within our US boarders I carry my S&W Model 629-4 .44 Magnum 5" SS Unfluted Cylinder or my S&W Model 629-3 .44 Magnum 4" SS into the back bush, loaded with Hammer Head 310gr hard cast. "It's the only way to go."

 

[sixtwoniner]

In my humble opinion one of the biggest factors for selecting a good CC revolver is how well a person can pull and empty the cylinder (into 6 inch group). 5 to 8 seconds is a long time for humped back thugs or two legged type. When one can do that than it's a good piece to carry. If not for whatever reason, one should find another option. I carry a 3.5 inch 629 packed with 280gr hard cast SWC and 21.5gr of 2400. I love it all day but mostly at the range. Weather your foe is furry or just funky that is a hell of a hello. Shoot, Shoot, Shoot, and then Shoot some more than choose the caliber that is right for you.
In my humble opinion.

 

[Fastbolt]

Back when I spent more time on the back roads and wandered the backwoods more often, I usually carried either a .357 or .44 Magnum. I was an avid handloader at the time, and carried some stout loads in both calibers, as well as some of the good factory loads of the day.

I considered .357 Magnum to be an adequate medium-bore caliber for most dangerous animals of the sort I might encounter, up to a CA-size black/brown bear. If I was wandering where those had been seen near folks, I belted on one of my .44's. Just enough more big-bore, compared to the lighter medium-bore option.

I later carried some of my .44's as off-duty weapons, and carried them with assorted Magnum loads (180gr, 240gr & 210gr JHP's). I eventually decided the Magnum loads were probably a bit over-powered for urban carry (risks of over-penetration of human attackers), and switched to 200gr JHP Special loads. Then I stopped carrying the heavier .44's off-duty and took to lighter pistols and snub revolvers.

I still have an older Redhawk 5 1/2", a 629 Classic 6 1/2" and a SBH. If I were still going to wander the backwoods, I might get one of them out ... or my bone handled 4 5/8" Blackhawk .45 Colt/ACP Convertible (for which I still have some Ruger-Only handloads left put back). Not much chance of ever running into anything larger than a mountain lion in the coastal hills where I like to go, though, so my SP101 and smaller 9's & .40's would probably be what I'd choose.

 

[sigp220.45]

Have you considered the 329PD?

I put K-frame RB Pachy's on mine - it conceals fine and weighs less than a LW Commander.



It has great sights and a smooth action. Prices are all over the place - I got mine for 500 bucks after the previous owner wasn't quite ready for all the Sturm und Drang that happens when you touch off a full power .44 Magnum load. I shoot mid-range .44 Magnums in it and even with my old man wrists I do fine.

 

[bwelch47]

44Mag use

Carrying a 44Mag for self defense depends on your ability to handle the load. My deceased wife for example carried a 2 1/2 " model 629. She used 240 gr jacket soft points and could clear the 10 and x rings at 50 yds. She had excellent control. (BTW),she was the best pistol shot I have ever known. If you can fire rounds at 25 yds and place them in 2"group (which she consistantly did), then use the 44Mag. The 4" 29 is my favorite gun.

 

[WC145]

When I started shootin, I expect'd to see stuff start fallin.

I may have to use that quote! Kidding aside, isn't that what drove the popularity of the big bore Jovino and Behlert style snubbies and the Mag-na-port Combat Minis like the 29-2 below? It was their popularity, that market niche, that pushed Astra and S&W to offer their own large frame/large caliber snub nose revolvers. If you can conceal it and handle the horsepower, then carry it!

 

[ShelbyV8]

I carried a 5 1/2 inch Redhawk 44 Mag as a duty weapon. It was carried on a Sam Brown duty belt. It was loaded with 44 Special Silver Tips, first speed loader 240gr hollow point rhino rollers, and second speed loader 240gr FMJ flat point rhino rollers. Of all the weapons I carried it was probably the most versatile, everything from up close and personal to long distance and barricade.

 

[Jhamblen86]

Can't go wrong with big bore. Just make sure you get proper ammo. I carry the sig v-crown 44 mag in my 3" 629. Penetration is within a safe range, however your rig might produce different results. Good luck in your endeavors.

 

[GatorFarmer]

I bought other guns in the last 30 days or so without issues, so am appealling the NICs denial.

My .357 Ruger Match Champion is going to have to go back to Ruger, which further complicates things. There were some cosmetic issues I could live with, but something seems to be physically wrong with my gun. I let two other people try it as well. It will not group but throws an inaccurate pattern. I will call Ruger tomorrow and see if they will take it back and fix it. Once it is fixed I will sell or trade it.

A friend had a new Ruger AR that had to go back too. So I have lost some faith in Ruger.

I don't really want to go any lighter than a 4" all steel N frame, based on my experience with N frames.

 

[joe44va]

I carry my S&W Model 69 in the woods. Load 2 snake shot around water that holds cottonmouths. My M629 gets too heavy for an old man.

 

[moxie]

The Redhawk is stout for sure but also very heavy, big, and clunky. Also, unless you have a pretty large hand, you will find the trigger reach awful long. Longer than a SRH.

 

[Fastbolt]

I may have to use that quote! Kidding aside, isn't that what drove the popularity of the big bore Jovino and Behlert style snubbies and the Mag-na-port Combat Minis like the 29-2 below? It was their popularity, that market niche, that pushed Astra and S&W to offer their own large frame/large caliber snub nose revolvers. If you can conceal it and handle the horsepower, then carry it!

Nice M29.

 

[flyerdoc]

Just purchased a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in 44 Mag. Very nice gun. It will serve on deep hiking trips. Will I ever need it, doubtful, but it is a nice security factor. I wanted to try a S&W Backpacker or other Maintain guns but there were none to be had, so, Alaskan it is.

 

[Fastbolt]

I bought other guns in the last 30 days or so without issues, so am appealling the NICs denial.

My .357 Ruger Match Champion is going to have to go back to Ruger, which further complicates things. There were some cosmetic issues I could live with, but something seems to be physically wrong with my gun. I let two other people try it as well. It will not group but throws an inaccurate pattern. I will call Ruger tomorrow and see if they will take it back and fix it. Once it is fixed I will sell or trade it.

A friend had a new Ruger AR that had to go back too. So I have lost some faith in Ruger.

I don't really want to go any lighter than a 4" all steel N frame, based on my experience with N frames.

I'm a long time Ruger owner and enthusiast. I learned to shoot using an original Ruger Standard .22 pistol (also referred to as a Mk I) and an assortment of Blackhawks.

Even so, over the years I've had to return a SBH (first year of New Model production) for a jumping cylinder pin; a Redhawk for a "timing" hammer/trigger clearance problem; and an early KP90DCf or a slide galling (heat treat) problem. All of them were returned in good condition and have provided many years of good service since being repaired. I also had a bull barrel MK II with a minor functioning issue (resolved myself) and a SP101DAO with a nasty burr (resolved with help of former revolver armorer, who was NOT a Ruger fan ).

There was one electroless nickeled Security-Six that had received some previous owner "help" at some point, which never quite seemed as good as the many other Security/Speed/Service-Sixes I owned.

I had to call Ruger to replace a takedown pin in my first LCP (sometimes jumped under recoil), but the gun's been fine with the replacement pin. My second LCP has been good, although some magazines require a bit of a snap to fully seat. Might be the mags, or the mag catch, but it's more an annoyance than a concern to me.

The rest of my Rugers from over the years were just fine from the start.

I'd give Ruger a chance to correct the revolver, and then if the problem was resolved, I'd not worry about it.

 

[Motorsporting]

I am not suggesting anything wrong with a .44 for what you need, nor do I have much experience with it. I ask this out of curiosity while seeking enlightenment - would a 10mm be an option for you?

 

[GatorFarmer]

I called Ruger today. They emailed me a form and shipping label. I will go about boxing the gun up and getting it sent back. I will see how it works and looks once they have a chance to go over it. Any factory can have a bad one slip out. The results will determine whether I would buy another Ruger revolver any time soon.

The 10mm is a good question. I suppose I could buy a Glock 20, I think that is the full size 10mm. Ammunition for the ten was hard to come by for a while, harder than a .44 Magnum. The Glock would probably be cheaper. But I suppose I have more faith in the .44 Magnum, having had a 29-5 when I started shooting handguns 20 odd years ago and others so chambered since.

Better the devil I know maybe?

I suppose I do not know enough about woods loads in 10mm or the various platforms other than the Glock. My mind is open to it.

I really liked the .41 Magnum I had about ten years ago. Wish I still had it. But ammunition was expensive and rare, both then and now.

On the topic of rifles, while certainly possible to carry one around, if it is not hunting season one may invite questions from a game warden. It is also more problematic to work outside, fish, take the trash out etc with a rifle than it is a holstered handgun, even a large one.

 

[Acroyer]

I'm a huge fan of the 10mm cartridge, and on occasion, I will CC a Rock Island Armory TAC II commander size 1911 in 10mm. Ammo is obtainable with a little internet searching, so that's not a great problem. The trouble is, 10mm cartridges come in such huge varieties of power factors. Some commercial offerings are downloaded to the point where they are no better than a standard 40 S&W. Others, from boutique loaders such as Double-Tap, Buffalo Bore and Underwood are set to downright nuclear specs. There are also offerings from these loaders that are meant for woods-carry applications, and are hard-cast lead in the 200 to 230 grain range, and are meant for medium-size game and bear protection. Using these woods-carry rounds on two legged critters will result in some serious pass-through, being way more than is needed. The cartridge is fairly easy to shoot in the somewhat light Glock 20, and even more controllable in heavier pistols. Using Underwood loads at the range, recovering from a shot is not all that bad. 10mm loads can be worked up to the .357 magnum, light 41 magnum range.

That being said, it is not a .44 mag by any stretch. If you have something you need to shoot with a full load .44, a 10mm is not going to do it for you, regardless of what people try to tell you.

The 10mm shines in it's versatility: going where there are human predators, load up on appropriate ammo. Going into the woods, slap in a mag of the hard cast nuclear stuff. Of course, you get more shots with the 10mm. In a Glock 20, you get 15 plus 1 as opposed to the 6 shots with a .44 mag.

 

[S42N8]

Second on the 10mm. I like the 29/629 for two-legged critters, but the clear advantages of the semi-auto in 10mm for big nasty critters are undeniable. I would consider the Desert Eagle in .44 Mag, but size and weight are prohibitive (cost is kinda silly too.)

 

[Harkrader]

I carry a 29-10 Lew Horton Special with 4" barrel, just because I can.



There are two important considerations, for me:
1. Holster. It's heavy and needs to be well supported. *I* like the Galco CM126B Combat Master Belt Holster. Snug fit, firm without digging into me.

2. Ammo. Full-spec 44 Magnum ammo is way too hot for self-defense use in a 4" gun, I don't care WHO you are. The kick, recoil and muzzle blast make follow-up shots slow and difficult, and may give you pause even on the first shot. Of course, if you're close enough to your target, you can burn them to death with the blast.

That said, I do like Hornady LeverEvolution 44 MAG 225 GR FTX ammo, and Federal Cartridge makes the PH44HS1 Hydra Shok, or P44XB1 Barnes Expander total copper bullet with a deeeep cavity, that I find controllable in the 4" 29.
My preferred self-defense round is the Hornady 44 Special 165 gr FTX Critical Defense. Quite manageable, and highly effective. I keep them all on hand.

Another caution: big booletts mean more heavy stuff to distribute around your body, and another deterrent to reloading under stress.

Also keep in mind that such a large, heavy revolver will almost certainly be slower to bring into action than smaller ones, or autos. Soooo:
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice - - -

 

[SilentKnight]

I am a fan of the 44 magnum for hunting trips. I carry a 44 special or 45 ACP with fragmenting bullets for EDC. I think the magnum rounds could over penetrate in crowded places plus getting the second round off is faster with lighter recoil. If it is bear or big ugly hairy critters you worry about that is one thing... we need to adjust to the situation. Good news is you can carry 44 spl in a 44 magnum as the situation dictates. Good luck.