What Is Your Favorite Self Defense Revolver? S&W629

[GBExpat]

Pachmayrs do protect the skin, but that added bulk makes the fit even worse, due to my less than large-sized fingers and thumbs, as they increase the reach distance to the trigger. ...

Yeah, I understood from your post that in your case it is a hand-size issue. Your comment about the damage to the base joint of your right thumb just hit home for me.

Actually, while those Pachmayrs (Presentations?) resolved my immediate hand damage issue, they were never truly comfortable for me, even with my size-large hands. As I recall, part of the issue is what you just described paired with a too-narrow backstrap for my taste.

Years later I replaced them with a set of Hogues. Better, but still not a pleasure to shoot.

About a decade ago I got a set of the new Pachmayr design (Diamond Pro?) and now my 629 is a real pleasure to shoot.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Just finished this one up- except a New front sight dot is needed

S&W 296 44 spl Scandium with a Action job from a well known Gunsmith. I took the Ti cylinder and put it back in the original box… Then Obtained a SS cylinder that added some weight. Had that Bead blasted. Now with the SS cylinder I can shoot heavy projectiles without worry of crimp jumping.

It weighed 18 oz originally and is probably another 6 or more now. Definitely easy to carry all day.

I have many 44 rifles and Spls. My Favorite is definitely the Special.
I just got my 29-2 Tuned up and forcing cone recut with cylinder gap tightened up. A smooth action job as well. It’s a Gem

I will agree with the OP- The 44 mag can do it all. Mice to Elephant.

Yet I do Enjoy my 357 lever actions and revolvers.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Just finished this one up- except a New front sight dot is neededView attachment 1038217

S&W 296 44 spl Scandium with a Action job from a well known Gunsmith. I took the Ti cylinder and put it back in the original box… Then Obtained a SS cylinder that added some weight. Had that Bead blasted. Now with the SS cylinder I can shoot heavy projectiles without worry of crimp jumping.

It weighed 18 oz originally and is probably another 6 or more now. Definitely easy to carry all day.

I have many 44 rifles and Spls. My Favorite is definitely the Special.
I just got my 29-2 Tuned up and forcing cone recut with cylinder gap tightened up. A smooth action job as well. It’s a Gem

I will agree with the OP- The 44 mag can do it all. Mice to Elephant.

Yet I do Enjoy my 357 lever actions and revolvers.

Oh, I do like that!

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Easy to carry all day at approx 24oz and with modern ammo companies available choices… Very much powerful.

Oh, I do like that!

 

[Lnf Crzr]

The Mag Is spectacular, Yet for carry? Most of the magnum guns are a bit large outside of Grizzly country. My preference is a 44 spl revolver- usually slightly smaller. That’s my favorite caliber…. And in a N frame- it’s a bruiser. My 296 696 and 624 are 3 of my Favorites for carry. Tho the 624 is a tapered 3”… it can handle 1000plus fps - Don’t need more power for social situations yet is welcome in the woods with a hardcast. I usually carry my L frame 44s winter and summer. I also carry a 357 L frame to change it up. Yet the 44 special is just that- Special.

The Remington 44 Magnum is a very versatile cartridge, with loadings from mild to wild. I know this is going piss-off many readers but before moving on to your other favorite firearm blogs take a deep breath and continue reading. Keep in mind I am not saying the 44 Magnum is perfect or best suited for a firefight, the best range cartridge or even the best hunting round. But what I am saying is paired with the right handgun or carbine the 44 Magnum is the most versatile cartridge known to man.

Because of this versatility I believe this is the best or “The Ultimate Self Defense Revolver” On the Ransom Rest for Accuracy

What is your favorite self defense revolver?

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I'm a fan of the .357, but what I like about a .44 or .45" is that full wadcutters at a velocity a bit over a target load are extremely effective and really hit hard. No need for velocity dependent hollow points. I have found that if you drive them too fast, they tend to tumble. (in my guns/my experience) But, 850fps is plenty fast for a large caliber full wadcutter.

My 24-3 with bobbed hammer carries pretty well, but yeah a .44 Special saves some size and weight, and can throw a full wadcutter as fast as you would want to. On the other hand, facing a snub-nose N-Frame might take the fight out of someone before the first shot was fired!!

 

[303 hunter]

My 4” Redhawk 45 convertible would be my choice. 45 auto for two legged problems, and 45 Colt from the Ruger only section of the reloading manual for four legged ones. 45 Colt is a very versatile cartridge. 700 FPS cowboy loads for fun, and 250 grain bruisers at 1450 FPS for serious stuff.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Ya, Yet ya need a wheel barrel to haul it around. Had one

View attachment 1038405 My 4” Redhawk 45 convertible would be my choice. 45 auto for two legged problems, and 45 Colt from the Ruger only section of the reloading manual for four legged ones. 45 Colt is a very versatile cartridge. 700 FPS cowboy loads for fun, and 250 grain bruisers at 1450 FPS for serious stuff.

 

[Huntolive]

Colt King Cobra 3”

 

[tomrkba]

The Remington 44 Magnum is a very versatile cartridge, with loadings from mild to wild. I know this is going piss-off many readers but before moving on to your other favorite firearm blogs take a deep breath and continue reading. Keep in mind I am not saying the 44 Magnum is perfect or best suited for a firefight, the best range cartridge or even the best hunting round. But what I am saying is paired with the right handgun or carbine the 44 Magnum is the most versatile cartridge known to man.

Because of this versatility I believe this is the best or “The Ultimate Self Defense Revolver” On the Ransom Rest for Accuracy

What is your favorite self defense revolver?

Barrel is too short. Four inch or bust!

 

[tomrkba]

Hilarious!...Really?

Keith did write about how the 35 calibers failed in his books.

 

[tomrkba]

View attachment 957154 AF’s 66 is a sweet looker! She’s got all the right curves and you know she’s female by the way her dungeree’s are fittin’ her! That 686 is Pretty too! Back to the topic a nice “warm” 41/44 special has got to be ideal for Everything! Ticks all the boxes. I’d love to have my gp100 5 inch in the 44 but then my 357 would sit around and not earn its keep! The “king of the street “ 125gr magnum has been good enough for enough LEO’s.. good enough for me!

Ruger got the lines on those new GP100's just right!

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Doug Wesson Killed Grizzly, Elk, Moose and Antelope (Documented distances-and Shots) with a 357…. Most required 1 shot and distances were not close. It has been stated the approximate Fps was 1550 from a 8” S&W… Keith Loaded those 158s Hot!
Of course Kieth Said the 357 failed, So he could promote “His” (Actually-44 Associates) new Magnum cartridge as better. He didn’t like Sharpe Getting the Spot light on the 357 without his acknowledgment, so his claim to fame was the 44 mag.

It is a Exceptional Cartridge… I favor the 44 spl. However, Kieth was a writer and the 44 associates provided him tons of information. He claimed a lot of the work they did. John Lachuk did a large amount of development on the cartridge.

Keith did write about how the 35 calibers failed in his books.

 

[Pat Riot]

Keith did write about how the 35 calibers failed in his books.

Well, I guess it’s probably no different than the caliber wars (squabbles) of recent times. 9mm vs .45 ACP, 10mm vs .41 mag or even .357 mag, 308 vs 6.5 Creedmoor, 5.56 vs 7.62x39 on and on and on…
It’s what keeps selling guns, books, magazines, tacticool accessories, etc…

Not discounting Keith or anyone else I would prefer the .357 magnum or the .45 Colt, personally. Depending on circumstances, of course.

 

[westernrover]

Keith did write about how the 35 calibers failed in his books.

Modern bullet technology. At least that's what the 9x19 guys say.

 

[DM~]

If only Keith would have been the man gun owners have INFLATED him to be!

If he was alive today, he would be 10 feet tall by now!!

DM

 

[Dave T]

Wow! I've never encountered this much Keith bashing before. Tell us more about how the old man peed in your bowl of Cherios?

Dave

 

[Targa]

Bullet designs aside, if you enjoy magnum revolvers it is because of Keith. Although no John Browning, I think he is more than worth the praise he continues to receive from us gun lovers.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Keith…. The guy who blew up guns, Over loading every cartridge he could, used a 458 win mag on Elk when a proven 270 (Thank you Jack) would do just fine….. Shot 600 yards with a 44 mag 4” (Ha!) and Shot down a Russian Satellite with the 44 mag…….

Hogwash! Was a little guy with a huge Ego. O’Conner knew it and it wasn’t difficult to see that.

Old “Saint Elmer” wanted the recognition that Philip Sharpe got from the 357mag. The 44 associates Did A LOT of the development. Kieth Wrote about it.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Yet I Love the 44 mag- He Did assist the 44 associates and Remington to produce it. Not saying he Didn’t- Yet he is held to such high regards By people who never read some of the 44 associates information. John Lacuk was one of them…. And has a lot of good information.

 

[DM~]

Keith worked for P.O.Ackley for a while, I knew Ackley pretty well, and one day when I was sitting in his shop, BSing with him, he had a fair amount to say about Keith...

He said Keith would stand in front of a mirror in the shop every chance he got, adjusting his hat and drawing on his image in the mirror, like they do in the cowboy TV shows, stuff like that. Parker would tell the stories and just shake his head... lol

When Keith went antelope hunting, he decided you needed a .338x74 Keith, loaded with 275 Speers just to get enough penetration on an antelope! I forget who went with him, but they used a 7 Remington mag., loaded with 175NP's and Elmer wasn't sure that would be enough!

I'm pretty sure he got enough penetration with those Speers, because I used them out of my .338-06 and could shoot corner to corner stopping wounded brown bear. AND they would expand well and still drive on through, giving an exit wound!

DM

 

[Lnf Crzr]

PO Ackley was the Teacher to the owner of Mg Arms in Texas…. Kerry. He Builds custom rifles for people like Craig Boddington. I had a custom 375 A.I built from him. He spoke highly of PO Ackley and his knowledge. All of this is second hand hearsay… Yet - I would value Ackley’s opinion…. And take it at his word.

Much more over a Little guy trying to prove to the world How Great he was.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Anyway- I’m Literally hunting today with a 44 mag 29-2. A Hot loaded 44 spl is plenty- for deer or Antelope size game

 

[westernrover]

Bullet designs aside, if you enjoy magnum revolvers it is because of Keith....

...Old “Saint Elmer” wanted the recognition that Philip Sharpe got from the 357mag. The 44 associates Did A LOT of the development. Kieth Wrote about it.

What we now call the 38 Super was more onus for the first magnum revolver than Elmer Keith. That cartridge didn't just one-up contemporary revolver cartridges, it threatened to completely upend the biggest revolver market in the world - US law enforcement. Keith had nothing to do with the response, which was the 357 Magnum, except as a witness.

As far as I know, Remington and S&W produced the 44 Magnum and Keith was shown it. While he did overload 44 Specials, I'm not aware that he ever produced a lengthened case or modified a cylinder to fit one prior to the manufacturer doing it. Ruger probably knew more about the 44 Magnum at first than Keith did.

I have no animosity toward Elmer Keith. I used to read his articles in G&A when I was a kid. Facts are facts. It seems to me that Keith's ego, fame, and wealth were primarily built on an exploitation of macho American braggodocio. If he had any character weakness, it is what appealed to consumers at the time.

 

[westernrover]

I think big bore revolvers are meaningful for shooting a heavy bullet for good penetration on big game at extended ranges - say 100 yards. The short barrel of a handgun limits the practical velocity. There isn't a practical way to get a bullet with a high BC up to speed out of that short barrel, so we shoot high-drag bullets that have slowed way down once they've arrived down range. That leaves us with mass as the primary means to penetration. A 45 Long Colt will deliver the mass and penetration at range on the game people shoot most, but it's trajectory is going to get steep as the range is extended.

Modern pressures and 'magnums' deliver a flatter trajectory and even more mass for the huge bovines and the biggest ursines. That's great if you shoot those with a handgun, but personally, it's been three years that I haven't won a deer tag in my state's lottery. In the next 25 years, I'll have to be very fortunate to get three bull Elk tags. Bighorn? I might not see a tag for decades. I do have the choice to spend thousands of dollars on an out of state hunt. Either way, I'm not sure why I should bet it all on a handgun instead of taking my rifle. If I was shooting two or three whitetail every year, I'm sure I'd use a revolver on a hunt, and 357 would be good enough to penetrate that. On a rare tag? I'll take the rifle.

I don't know how much this conversation is still about the "self defense" in the thread title, but other than protection from dangerous big game, I'm not sure the penetration of the big bore magnums is useful against the most common threats. Load it down for less recoil and I suppose there isn't too much to detract from the big bore for self defense. The main thing that remains is the high cost of training and practice. Classes are typically around 300 rounds per day. Take a three-day class, and that's a lot of big bored magnum ammo to go through. If you reload, the bullets are the biggest difference in cost. You could train with one thing and carry another, or just use 38/357 which has no ballistic disadvantage to the 9x19 that everyone else uses.