Which 44 mag to get?

[BigBill]

The 6.5 inch classic 29 is a nice add to any S&W collection a shooter has. However, If I were going to do a lot of 44Mag shooting or hunting with a 44 Mag I would opt for a Ruger Super Blackhawk. The latter is easier to shoot well and will hold up longer under heavy loads.

My ruger super Blackhawk 7 1/2" barrel ate all my over loaded 44Magnum rounds and wanted more. It's one of the strongest revolvers out there. The Blackhawk was so scary when I fired it people were leaving the range. I was young, dumb and didn't care. But what an animal. I own a sbh with a 10 1/2" barrel for hunting now.

I ccw two redhawks in 44 mag. A 5 1/2" in summertime and a 71/2" in the wintertime. On the bike at night.

 

[LimaCharlie]

My first handgun in the 1960s as a teenager was a Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 10 1/2" barrel. The .44 magnum is still my favorite cartridge. I have an 8" Colt Anaconda, an 8 3/8" S&W 29-2, a 4" S&W 29-2, a 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk 50th Anniversary, and a 10 1/2 Ruger Super Blackhawk. The 4" 29-2 is great for concealed carry in the woods. The long barrels are great for open carry or hunting.

 

[M29since14]

I'm not familiar with the 629 Competitor model but if you have not owned a .44 Magnum revolver before I would suggest the 629 Classic with 6.5-inch barrel. It will be easier to shoot well, the recoil will not be too severe, and you will get maybe another 100 FPS out of the .44 Magnum cartridge, which may or may not be important to you. If you might hunt with it at all, I would stay away from the 3-inch and 4-inch guns. Some people do shoot them very well, but my experience is that I don't, and they kick a LOT more, as far as I am concerned. I'd stick to the 5- to 6.5-inch models for a first .44.

 

[RobertJ.]

Question: Do you reload? If you don't, and you want to shoot a bunch, especially the .44, consider it.

This is just my opinion, but for the man who reloads his own ammo, the .44 Magnum takes a back seat to no other cartridge for versatility!

My collection is not huge. I have a 6" 629-4, a 2.75" Ruger Super Redhawk, a 10" T/C Contender, and a Marlin 1894. Each one has several loads that they like, from powder puff to bear busters.

But if I had to keep only one, of course it'd be the 629-4!

 

[ladder13]

For hunting, this:

For plinking/general use, this:

They can even be wussed down with lighter handloads.

 

[silentflyer]

If you want a variety of choices consider a Dan Wesson .44 mag, anything from a 3" to 10" barrel, takes about 5 minutes to swap barrels.

DW's are the most accurate big bore hog legs I own, with the 10" barrel 3" groups at 100 yards off a rest.

 

[Geo. T.]

My current 629 Classic in 6 1/2 inch barrel ended my search for the perfect 44 magnum! Try one you'll love it!

 

[b_san]

The perfect 6" 629 IMO

 

[ccjcc81]

Since I have little use for the .44 Magnum, and I collect .38s and .357s myself, I have to note that I can't see how a .44 Magnum adds anything to your fine collection of .38s and .357s. That's just me.....



If you're rifle hunting a .44 Magnum just weighs you down. You can target shoot with anything. A .44 Magnum just beats you up at the range unless you load it with light loads or .44 Specials.



You can probably tell how worthless I think the .44 Magnum is but it's one real glowing use is handgun hunting. Long barrel, scoped, steady rest, that would be fun if you're so inclined.



It could but I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you load .44 Specials in it. Then it's worthwhile. Low recoil, big, slow moving, heavy bullet. I had a 3" M629 for years and that's how I used it; bedside gun loaded with .44 Specials. The Magnum loads will give you too much penetration if you miss and make it hard to recover for a second or third shot. The noise will scare the intruders away......




It's nasty. Been there, done that. My 3" M 629 was like a boat - best two days were the day I bought it and the day I sold it.

That 6" gun is your hunting gun if you're inclined and you need to shoot it at a range for practice but for routine use I simply do not se any practical purpose for the things.

I know that makes me a hated anti of some kind in some parts of this Forum, and the shooting world generally, but I have enough experience to believe in what I say and I'm old enough to not care what others say about me.

The fact that .44 magnum makes a horrible home defense or self defense load is damping my obsession to buy a 629. Hearing you say it made it a little more real. Maybe I should just buy a 6" 686+. Hmmn. I wish S&W made an 8 shot .357 magnum on an N frame that had traditional looks, not like the futuristic scandium hoglegs they're making.

 

[SeamasterSig]

I am torn between a 629 classic or a 629 competitor? Any preferences between these or recommend any others? Preferably a 6" barrel will consider 4 or 5 on other models. Thank you in advance.

First of all: Welcome to the forum! My experience with the 44 is limited to a recent purchase of a 5" 629-3 Classic. I reload and worked up a bunch of ammo ranging from very mild 44 spc to medium-fast 44 mag with 240 grain LSWCs. Compared with the 4" 66-2 that I am more familiar with and carry whenever I head out into the woods, I was very impressed with the overall balance of the N-frame with the 5" barrel and super smooth target trigger.

The accuracy of the 44 caliber is legendary, and since day 1 I have been impressed with how tight the groups tend to be if I do my part. The recoil is predictably impressive, too, but hardly daunting – less sharp but more "persuasive" than 357 with considerably more muzzle rise. As others have noted, starting with the dash 3, the 629s come with the Endurance Package and are pre-drilled for a scope. I find that I really like how the 5" barrel length looks and handles, but it seems there aren't many holsters designed specifically for it.

If you are thinking of a 44 mainly for backup in the field, a 4" barrel might be more practical. If you are thinking of actually hunting with a 44, a 6 or 6.5" barrel will provide a slightly longer sight radius and better velocities in a gun that is shorter than a "country mile" and thus easier to draw in a hurry if need be. Something else to consider is that if it is humid or rainy where you live or plan to hunt, a stainless 629 ought to be easier to maintain than a blued model 29.

 

[SeamasterSig]

The fact that .44 magnum makes a horrible home defense or self defense load is damping my obsession to buy a 629. Hearing you say it made it a little more real. Maybe I should just buy a 6" 686+.

Obviously, you can load any 44 magnum handgun with 44 special for HD or self-defense duty, which I feel is at least as good as 38 special (which is a great choice, too) in the same roles and significantly better than 357 magnum – at least in the former role. If these two scenarios are your main reason for wanting a large-bore handgun, maybe you would be better served with a 624 instead.

As for the 686... on the one hand, unless you plan to open carry, a 6" full lug 357 is more suited to target practice than self defense and provides no particular advantage at HD distances, either. On the other hand, if what you really want is a 6" 686+, go for it! I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

[ccjcc81]

Obviously, you can load any 44 magnum handgun with 44 special for HD or self-defense duty, which I feel is at least as good as 38 special (which is a great choice, too) in the same roles and significantly better than 357 magnum – at least in the former role. If these two scenarios are your main reason for wanting a large-bore handgun, maybe you would be better served with a 624 instead.

As for the 686... on the one hand, unless you plan to open carry, a 6" full lug 357 is more suited to target practice than self defense and provides no particular advantage at HD distances, either. On the other hand, if what you really want is a 6" 686+, go for it! I doubt you'll be disappointed.

What I really wanted was a .44 magnum. I have a 2.5" 686 for carry. I would probably carry the 3" 629 as well. I'm torn between a 3" 686+ or the 629. If I bought the 3"686 I'd probably want to sell the 2.5 after a short while, as the 3" would probably be just as easy to carry. I'm more in favor of the 629, though, as I used to have a Ruger Alaskan, and I regret selling it. I think the 629 would be a better .44 than that...

Do any ammo companies make a .44 mag that is lightly loaded, but with a good SD bullet on top? Something right between full house factory .44 mag loads and .44 spc +P, but with a good Gold Dot or something on it?

I don't reload, and don't see myself doing so in the near future.

Why do you think the .44 spc is better than .357 mag for SD?

 

[RobertJ.]

The fact that .44 magnum makes a horrible home defense or self defense load

Wait...what?

My Ruger SRH, with the 2 3/4" barrel, is my nightstand gun. Speer 200 gr. GDHP's, enough Blue Dot to push them about 900 FPS, it's a great load. Shoots like a target pistol!

However, I should add that they aren't for everyone. I believe it was Inspector Callahan, in the movie Magnum Force, who stated, "A man has to know his limitations!"

 

[SeamasterSig]

What I really wanted was a .44 magnum. I have a 2.5" 686 for carry. I would probably carry the 3" 629 as well. I'm torn between a 3" 686+ or the 629.

The 3" 686 has an amazing balance and it's about as short as I would want to go with a 357 magnum. Any shorter and you might as well be carrying 38 spc +p IMO. The gain in muzzle blast is not worth the loss of velocity. Similarly, I would prefer at least a 4" barrel in 44 magnum, though a 3" barrel seems perfectly fine for 44 special.

Do any ammo companies make a .44 mag that is lightly loaded, but with a good SD bullet on top? Something right between full house factory .44 mag loads and .44 spc +P, but with a good Gold Dot or something on it?

Hornady is the first company that comes to mind. The XTP bullet is excellent for both hunting and self-defense due to the tightly controlled expansion that allows for relatively deep penetration. And Hornady ammo tends to be pretty mild.

Why do you think the .44 spc is better than .357 mag for SD?

The "former" role I was referring to was Home Defense, or in other words: self defense in close quarters. I wouldn't want to shoot a magnum indoors without ear protection.

 

[M29since14]

Buy the 629 and don't worry too much about ammo. You can order about anything you need or want over the internet or telephone and the selection is close to unlimited. There are those who think if you own a .44 Magnum it should only get magnum loads. I am not one of them. My guns have always got about a 1:4 ratio of magnums versus 900-1000 FPS target loads. I have always done the same with Model 19s and have been well served over the years.

Buy a longer barrel than 3- or 4-inch unless you are one of those folks who doesn't mind being abused by recoil. No matter how tough you may think you are, excessive recoil will take a toll on your hands and wrists if you do enough shooting. If you don't plan to shoot that much, then it might not make so much difference.

 

[TfflHndn]

Don't worry too much about needing a bullet designed for SD in a 44 special. A flat-point or SWC 200 or 240 grain bullet will do quite nicely. You don't really need expansion to be effective with a big-bore. The weight will penetrate clothing and the diameter of the bullet will punch a sufficient hole. The flat point will reduce risk of over penetration. It'll handle about anything that goes bump in the night.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I miss my 4 inch Model 629 but I couldn't handle it after some surgical modification of my elbow...

<Sigh.>

 

[ccjcc81]

Don't worry too much about needing a bullet designed for SD in a 44 special. A flat-point or SWC 200 or 240 grain bullet will do quite nicely. You don't really need expansion to be effective with a big-bore. The weight will penetrate clothing and the diameter of the bullet will punch a sufficient hole. The flat point will reduce risk of over penetration. It'll handle about anything that goes bump in the night.

Good point.

 

[Buffalobillcody]

Any input on the 629 V comp?

 

[ridgewalker]

I haven't shot a 629 V-comp but have shot a buddies 627 V- comp quite a bit and my feelings are while it looks kind of cool, the modifications don't IMHO really make it any better to shoot or more accurate than my 627 Pro. YMMV.
I am with the folks who are recommendind a 629 Classic with 6.5 inch barrel. Mine is very accurate and fun to shoot with lighter loads. I got a heck of a deal on a lightly used one. Funnyy there seems to be a good supply of lightly used 44 magnum revolvers. Just a little tip to keep in mind that can save you a lot of bucks.