I need a stainless .44, help me choose...
- Thread starter Loanshark
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S&W 629 Classic, Ruger Vaquero
I have two stainless .44 magnums and both have performed very well. They are a S&W 629 Classic with 5 inch barrel, and a Ruger Vaquero with a 7.5 inch barrel. I'd say the S&W has one of the best triggers I have felt on a revolver.
I have two stainless .44 magnums and both have performed very well. They are a S&W 629 Classic with 5 inch barrel, and a Ruger Vaquero with a 7.5 inch barrel. I'd say the S&W has one of the best triggers I have felt on a revolver.
+1Regular Redhawk Tames recoil better than a 629, and I like my Smiths in blue anyway, mostly. You can pick up a Redhawk pretty reasonably.
That's the gun I'd carry in the wild if I needed one. I'd add Hogue rubber grips.
I had a 4" Redhawk for a while, and I found the recoil to be pretty bad compared to a 4" 629. It may have just been the fit of the revolver to my hand, but I never could fire the redhawk without opening a gash in the side of my finger from contact against the frame. It doesn't seem to be a problem with the Smith.
Go with whichever feels better in your hand, and if you can shoot them both before deciding then I highly suggest that you do.
Go with whichever feels better in your hand, and if you can shoot them both before deciding then I highly suggest that you do.
I looked at a 5.5" Redhawk today. Das alotta gun!! I am torn now. I'm thinking a Glock 20 May be much easier to pack during some of my activities. I think I want the Redhawk, but it may be sometime down the road.
I need to do some homework. On the areas I'll be in, and what I'm giving up in power to go with a 10mm instead of .44 mag...
I need to do some homework. On the areas I'll be in, and what I'm giving up in power to go with a 10mm instead of .44 mag...
MrPeter
Member
I just ordered this .44 Taurus Tracker from Cabelas for $509. I have this coupon deal I got in the mail where if I buy $500 or more from Cabela's in one purchase, I get $150 in-store credit back (for ammoz).
Its 5-shot, light, slim, very carryable, super-comfy grips, adjustable sights, attractive, ported (louder but better for followup shots) and nice SA trigger (don't shoot these things DA so it's not a big deal for me that the da trigger is heavy).
This gun to me is the best mix of CARRYABLE + LIGHTWEIGHT and MANAGEABLE RECOIL. Much thought went into this gun with the ribber grips and the porting + gas expansion chamber to achieve this.
Only downside to this beauty is that it has a slightly shorter cylinder, so the super high power hunting loads may not fit.
I will have this for the occasional concealed carry for 2 legged predators with .44 spl or lighter .44 mag handloads, and for woods carry with some .44mag jsp.
EDITED TO ADD:
I used to have a GP-100 ss for the same reason. I found I never took it because it was SO FRIGGIN HEAVY, even though I could conceal it if I needed to.
I'm slowly learning that easy to carry guns will get carried, and bigger luggers will be left at home where they do no one any good.
Also, lastly, I would like to add that I would not get an SA revolver for SD. For targets sure. Maybe even for hunting. But I need to know that if I pull the trigger on my gun IT WILL SHOOT. Extra steps outside disengaging safties are not what I want when I need it to go BANG!
Its 5-shot, light, slim, very carryable, super-comfy grips, adjustable sights, attractive, ported (louder but better for followup shots) and nice SA trigger (don't shoot these things DA so it's not a big deal for me that the da trigger is heavy).
This gun to me is the best mix of CARRYABLE + LIGHTWEIGHT and MANAGEABLE RECOIL. Much thought went into this gun with the ribber grips and the porting + gas expansion chamber to achieve this.
Only downside to this beauty is that it has a slightly shorter cylinder, so the super high power hunting loads may not fit.
I will have this for the occasional concealed carry for 2 legged predators with .44 spl or lighter .44 mag handloads, and for woods carry with some .44mag jsp.
EDITED TO ADD:
I used to have a GP-100 ss for the same reason. I found I never took it because it was SO FRIGGIN HEAVY, even though I could conceal it if I needed to.
I'm slowly learning that easy to carry guns will get carried, and bigger luggers will be left at home where they do no one any good.
Also, lastly, I would like to add that I would not get an SA revolver for SD. For targets sure. Maybe even for hunting. But I need to know that if I pull the trigger on my gun IT WILL SHOOT. Extra steps outside disengaging safties are not what I want when I need it to go BANG!
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GRAYRID3R
Member
Walkalong , that ruger looks familiar. 
Guillermo
member
You can always buy a Rohm 44 magnum. Inexpensive and quite lethal. Unfortunately that lethality is to the shooter rather than the target. But hey, it is reasonably priced.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=130834311
Still, it can work. If attacked by a bear give the bear the Rohm and if it tries to shoot you it will loose a paw. Surely you can outrun a 3 legged bear.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=130834311
Still, it can work. If attacked by a bear give the bear the Rohm and if it tries to shoot you it will loose a paw. Surely you can outrun a 3 legged bear.
LlanoEstacado
Member
One thing to consider, since you're talking about bear country, is that the heavier loads are somewhat restricted for .44 mag.... For example, Buffalo Bore specifies not using in pre 1989 S&W's. Garrett Hammerhead +P's are restricted to only Ruger, Dan Wesson, and the Taurus Raging Bull in DA.
lloveless
Member
Hi,
I have a Redhawk 4 inch with the Hogue grips not pretty, but easier to shoot than another Redhawk I had with 7.5 inch barrel and wood furniture. I also toyed with the idea of a Taurus Tracker. I just couldn't get past the porting(I don't like the possiblity of doing a speed rock and losing an eye)
ll
I have a Redhawk 4 inch with the Hogue grips not pretty, but easier to shoot than another Redhawk I had with 7.5 inch barrel and wood furniture. I also toyed with the idea of a Taurus Tracker. I just couldn't get past the porting(I don't like the possiblity of doing a speed rock and losing an eye)
ll
MrPeter
Member
Always wear eyes and ears my friend.lloveless said:
I would argue that in an SD situation the chances of you needing a quick followup shot are greater than the chances of you shooting your eye out.
Lucky Strike
Member
I just borrowed a friends 8" barreled 629 for a full day of shooting (which was expensive, i reload though so i will soon order a set of .44 dies) and loved shooting that caliber so much that I now gotta have something in .44
The 629 was older and shot a lot so the trigger was amazing......not sure if I can afford a 629 so i may go with a Redhawk.
The 629 was older and shot a lot so the trigger was amazing......not sure if I can afford a 629 so i may go with a Redhawk.
krs
Member
I've got a 5" classic like the one Pogo2 shows above and think that 5" is perfect when shooting magnum loads. It handles easily and feels good while not being really cumbersome when holstered. It's a very nice pistol that I gave $450. for a while back, not two years ago.
Cocked & Locked
Member
How about a short barreled fixed sight S&W .44 mag one?
MCgunner
Member
Black bear? You don't need a .44 for black bear let alone a .454. So, I'd get the .44 Super Blackhawk, though I rather prefer my 4 5/8" .45 Colt Blackhawk and I reload for it.
MCgunner
Member
As DAs go, I've been thinking about a .41 mag tracker for some time, now. I really don't do the hiking I once did when I was younger and I don't care much for ported barrels, but that tracker is light and handy and a tough gun. I have a M66 Taurus (.357 mag) which is light on the hip, very accurate, a rugged little gun, and really enough in black bear country. We don't have griz in Texas/New Mexico, so I really don't worry about griz. They got killed out in the early 20th century.
Bonus on the .357 is it's a great small game gun. Wadcutters are uber accurate in that revolver and taking rabbits for the camp is not a problem for it.
Anyway, if those trackers just didn't have that compensator on 'em, I'd like the .41 mag version a lot better. They are way cool hiking revolvers, as the name suggests.
Bonus on the .357 is it's a great small game gun. Wadcutters are uber accurate in that revolver and taking rabbits for the camp is not a problem for it.
Anyway, if those trackers just didn't have that compensator on 'em, I'd like the .41 mag version a lot better. They are way cool hiking revolvers, as the name suggests.
I may have overestimated the chances of running into a brownie. I decided on a GP100. I waffled back and forth with it and decided the .357 should do fine, and be easier to shoot. I still want a .44, and a 10mm, and lots of other toys but they'll have to wait. And right now I want waffles. Hmm, am I going to Waffle House now, or in the morning?
I should be back in a day or two to give you a report on my first six shooter!
And I'll tell you about the waffles too.
Thanks for all the help folks. I love THR!!
I should be back in a day or two to give you a report on my first six shooter!
And I'll tell you about the waffles too.
Thanks for all the help folks. I love THR!!
Rollis R. Karvellis
Member
You already made your choice, but I'll throw my 0.02 in anyway, my choice would be a S&W, UNLESS, I planed on shooting bucket loads of 300gn. thermo nuclear loads, the the Super Redhawk has the smith beat. Hope the waffles were good.
Franco
Member
I prefer the S&W 629 classic in .44 mag
I've shot the Ruger (great gun) and the S&W 629 classic (also great) in .44 mag. It comes down to personal preference but I thought the 629 recoiled slightly less and I liked the feel better. So, that's what I bought (w/ 6" barrel). I think the full underlug helps to reduce muzzle jump too.
I've shot the Ruger (great gun) and the S&W 629 classic (also great) in .44 mag. It comes down to personal preference but I thought the 629 recoiled slightly less and I liked the feel better. So, that's what I bought (w/ 6" barrel). I think the full underlug helps to reduce muzzle jump too.
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Stainz
Member
Franco, That's got to be a 6 1/2" or 8 3/8" 629 - that full-lug barrel looks huge! The 6" 629, like the 4", is a partial lug - like my current production examples below:
The .500 Magnum Hogue rubber monogrip, like my 4" was sporting in the first picture, is the best recoil help for 'real' Magnums. Either 4" or 6" half lugger is fine as shown with .44 Russians, Specials, or my wimpy Magnums.
Stainz
The .500 Magnum Hogue rubber monogrip, like my 4" was sporting in the first picture, is the best recoil help for 'real' Magnums. Either 4" or 6" half lugger is fine as shown with .44 Russians, Specials, or my wimpy Magnums.
Stainz
FLRon
Member
How about a little Colt Anaconda love?
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