44 mag NMBH or Redhawk?

[chiltech500]

I am enjoying my 45 NMBH so much that am thinking about a 44 mag.

I do not have a large hand so I am quite comfortable with the grip size/trigger reach of the 4 5/8" NMBH.

If I bought the 44 mag NMBH it would be in the 5 1/2" barrel.

Thought, opinions please.

 

[cj06]

My thoughts would be for the REDHAWK with several SPEED LEADERS !
I love my blackhawk in 44 and for heavy loads it is great. !
I use a S&W 29 with 6 speed loaders for self defense !

Both are great pistols .
That 45 can be loaded with heavier bullets than a 44 can be .
Also loaded with black powder .

 

[bannockburn]

I have had both and definitely feel more comfortable with the smaller single action grip design of the Super Blackhawk over that of the Redhawk. With a set of slightly oversized custom grips the Super Blackhawk is much more manageable (especially if you have small hands to begin with), than with the grip configuration of the Redhawk.

 

[CraigC]

A standard Redhawk was my first .44Mag at 16yrs old. I shot it for years but ultimately found the single actions to be much more comfortable to shoot. It went to a good home and I don't miss it.

That 45 can be loaded with heavier bullets than a 44 can be .

The .44 has the advantage across the board.

 

[farm23]

The only big bore gun I have ever sold was a Redhawk. There was nothing wrong with it but I have a smaller S&W for all around and Blackhawks for hunting. For me the Blackhawks are more comfortable and I seem to shoot better but then I started many years ago shooting SA so I have a bias for the SA.

 

[MinnesotaFats]

You talkin new or used or it dosent matter? Because if new, im not sure Ruger currently makes the Redhawk. Just the Super Redhawk or so i thought. In that case id go with the Blackhawk cause the SR is just plain ugly.

 

[ECVMatt]

Like Craig, I got my first Redhawk at an early age, 17.

Here is a pic from Montana shortly after I picked it up:



I still have that one, it was my first handgun and I worked hard to get it, but since then I tried a 4" Redhawk to take to Alaska and quickly replaced it with a SBH. I found that I much prefer the SA grip frame and it was easier to shoot. I ended up going with the Ruger Alaskan for my tent/late night SD gun.

I would go with what you feel most comfortable with and enjoy it.

 

[il.bill]

Shooting that Redhawk at age 17 out in the country knocked your shoes off?

Hopefully maturity and experience have made handling the recoil easier.

 

[chiltech500]

I fondled a 44 mag Super NMBH in 5.5" barrel and it felt great in my hand.

Is that setup the same grip and frame as regular NMBH?

 

[Manny]

I fondled a 44 mag Super NMBH in 5.5" barrel and it felt great in my hand.

Is that setup the same grip and frame as regular NMBH?

IIRC for the 4 5/8" & 5.5" .44's the only difference from the regular NMBH is the grip frame is steel on the .44 and alloy on the others.

I've owned a number of .44 mag & .45LC Ruger's and found I don't care for the muzzle blast of most full charge .44 mag's in a short barrel. Truthfully the only .44 mag SBH's I REALLY enjoyed shooting were the 7.5" and especially the 10.5" silhouette model. The long barrel's tamed the muzzle blast very nicely and the 10.5" with the undercut partridge front sight seemed to almost aim itself and shot like a laser beam. That long tube really got the full measure of the .44 mag power instead of wasting it in noise and muzzle flash like the shorter barreled guns and was without a doubt the funnest, most accurate .44 mag I've ever shot and would be the one I'd get if I were spending my money.

In shorter barrel guns I prefer by far the "kinder, gentler" muzzle blast of the classic .45 LC and just a week ago bought a 4" Redhawk in .45LC that I think may be the best balance between shootability and portability available. It has a very trim Houge grip that feels great in my hand and a very nice DA trigger. The larger case of the .45 LC and the resulting lower pressure makes for far less muzzle blast & flash even in +P loadings. I can tell you in my experience that it's far more pleasant shooting .45LC in a short barrel than the .44 mag. Just my .02