Which .44mag?

[sumpnz]

Help me out guys. I'm going to buy a .44mag as a bear defense gun for backcountry hiking. Spare me the "anything less than a (insert bigger caliber of choice here) is pointless" comments. I ain't going where griz or polar bears are likely to be enountered ('cept maybe the zoo, and I won't likely be carrying a heavy revolver in there). That said which of the above would y'all recommend?

Pros of each choice:
S&W 329 - very light weight, and shorter barrel make it easier to carry
Ruger Redhawk - least expensive, next to longest barrel increases effectiveness of ammo, tough as nails
S&W 629 4" - lighter than the Ruger, shorter barrel makes it easier to carry, less expensive than the 329
S&W 629 6" - lighter than the Ruger, longest barrel increases effectiveness of ammo

Cons:
S&W 329 - very light weight, and shorter barrel reduces effectivness of ammo, most expensive
Ruger Redhawk - heaviest, longer barrel makes it a little harder to carry
S&W 629 4" - shorter barrel reduces effectivness of ammo, not as tough as the Ruger
S&W 629 6" - longer barrel makes it a little harder to carry, heavier than the 4", not as tough as the Ruger

 

[BusMaster007]

The Redhawk is tougher than the other guns AND the bears...

 

[sumpnz]

Mods - Thanks.

 

[Bullet]

I voted for the Ruger but I believe either of the 629's would be good also. The 329 would be to light for me.

 

[RCL]

I have both a .44 Mountain Gun and a Ruger Redhawk. The MG is much better suited for a packing gun.
Also, I find it just as easy to control as the heavier Ruger, mainly due to it's much better grips (stock Hogue monogrip).

 

[Imaginos]

Size Matters

Based on what Elmer Keith and others have written on the subject of bears, I would choose the Redhawk loaded with 300gr LBT WNFP to get all of the penetration possible.

According to Ross Seyfried, the Mountain Gun is supposed to be really nice to carry, but recoil with the heavy loads is brutal.

If you do need that gun, you are going to need it BAD, and you will need to be fast and very accurate. A gun that is no fun to practice with will probably not see enough range time and might cause you to develop a bad flinch. That flinch might cause a miss in a critical moment.

FWIW you left out my personal choice: Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 4.63" barrel. It is not the lightest piece, but it pack easily, and recoil is very manageable due to the single action grip style. Using a two hand hold and cocking the gun using my off hand thumb allows me to get my follow up shots off at about the same speed as a double action.

 

[rbernie]

You can pick up a lightly used stainless steel 5.5" Redhawk for less than $400 in most places. That would be my choice....

 

[rick_reno]

I've been looking at the Taurus Tracker, having never seen one it looks like a nice 4 inch 44 mag.

 

[cookekdjr]

Ruger Super Blackhawk or Taurus Tracker.

 

[Preacherman]

Another vote for the Redhawk. It's heavier and longer than your other choices, but in a chest holster, it's easy enough to pack: and it's hell for tough, able to handle the hottest Garrett Hammerhead or Buffalo Bore loads, which would disassemble a S&W in short order. Also, being heavy, it absorbs recoil better than the lighter guns, which means you'll practice more. As Imaginos pointed out, a lightweight gun you haven't used in practice is going to be pretty useless in a crisis situation!

 

[sumpnz]

How do those Taurus Trackers compare to the Rugers for toughness and durability? IOW, will they get disassembled in short order by the Garrett Hammerhead or Buffalo Bore loads, as Preacherman described the S&W's.

 

[lawboy]

I agree with Imaginos. A SBH in 4-5/8 is better than the listed choices in the poll. Even better than that would be a Bisley model in 4-5/8, but you'd have to cut down a 7-1/2 model to get it. Some will say double action is needed in a bear defense gun. I disagree. When you are talking 300gr bullets loaded to max, you are getting no increase in rate of ACCURATE fire with a double action.

 

[ChristopherG]

I'd definitely pick the 329 or 629 MG, 'cause I know I would not be bothered to haul around much more. These are packing guns, and they are built too spare to take a constant pounding from full-power .44 mag ammo, they also have a built-in safety mechanism preventing you from firing too many such loads; they hurt. I think probably the 629MG represents about the pinnacle of woods-carry guns.

 

[Magnum88C]

I voted "other".

My choice would be a standard 629 4", rather than the Mountain gun. I can't believe that someone that can go out and hike, is unable (or can even feel) an additional 3-4 ounces of weight versus the Mountain Gun. However, with all the additional weight is up front, making it a LITTLE more controllable. IF you ever actually have to use in in defense from a bear, you'll want a maneuverable handgun (i.e. long barrels are out), that can be fired quickly under stress (unless you practice a lot with a single action, this means you'll want a double action).

 

[Ben Shepherd]

One thing not mentioned yet- the ruger will field strip MUCH eaiser than the others WHEN you fall in the mud/water while out hiking the backcountry. A small can of WD40(temporary use only) and you're back in business.

 

[tbeb]

I voted Redhawk. It's the heaviest and that'll help handle recoil. 5 1/2" barrel may give more velocity than 4" guns. It also cost the least.

 

[Bacon]

For a primary weapon in that kind of country, give me the 6" M629. More accurate.

 

[paul105]

I voted 329PD

I'm out hiking in the woods with my dog almost everyday. For me, a heavy handgun is a real pain in the Hip. I usually carry a S&W 396 Ti Mtn Lite .44 special. With a 3 1/8" barrel and weighing in at 18.5 oz., it is a real joy to carry and is never left behind. It's loaded with 250gr Keith (Leadheads) at a chronoed 1,030 fps. I also have a 329PD which is my second choice for every day use. Both of these have the S&W 500 Hoque rubber grips (only available from S&W) -- the grips provided by the factory with these guns (Hoque Bantams on the 396 and Aherns wood/hoque mongrips on the 329) are absolutely brutal recoil wise.

I live in Southwestern Montana where we bow hunt elk in the fall. This involves cover/attractant sents and calling. Various non desireable critters have been known to respond in these situations -- much more likely to encounter a bear or Mt Lion under these circumstances than just woods traipsing. One of the two above mentioned guns will always be with me during bow season (this is legal in MT). By the way, I started with .454 FAC 6", which was replaced with a 629 Mt Pistol .44 Mag which was replaced with the 396 Ti Mtn Lite .44 Spl. I just recently got the 329 and I do like it.

I like double action revolvers on the theory that you might have the use of only one hand and that might be your weak hand. In fact, you may only get one chance and that might be at "stick it in their ear" distances. A lot of reported attacks are of the "suprise" variety and at extremely short range. A charging bear can cover a lot of ground in a very short period of time and in a suprise defensive situation a number fast follow up shots are unlikely to present themselves.

There is no question that that the heavier guns are more comfortable to shoot and more accurate. Maybe I'm a wimp, but these heavier guns are just plain uncomfortable for ME to carry for any period of time and would end up at home when I needed them.

Just My Humble Opinion.

Paul

 

[sumpnz]

Well, two masochists have voted so far I see. I had figured that if I got the 329 that I'd practice with .44 specials so that I would, well, actually practice.

Ben - Could you explain why the Ruger is easier to fieldstrip than the Smiths. I'm not terribly familiar with either (or revolvers in general for that matter).

Based on the comments so far, I have say I'm leaning towards the Redhawk. But, with the poll results so far favoring the 4" 629, along with the comments about it are putting it a close 2nd. Talk me out of it (or reinforce as appropriate).

 

[paul105]

If you decide on the 629 Mt. Pistol (and it's a good choice), consider purchasing the Hogue S&W 500 Grips (covered backstrap) from S&W. When I was testing loads for the the .44 Special mentioned above, I shot the 250 gr SWCs (1,030 fps fr 3 1/8" Ti vs. 1,050 from the 4" Mtn Pistol) in both pistols to compare the recoil. I had a set of the Aherns finger grove wood grips on the Mt. Pistol (37 oz.) and the Hoque 500s on the Ti (18.5 oz). Recoil with the Ti .44 Sp was sharper than than of the Mt. Pistol, but the Ti (18.5 oz) was much more comfortable to shoot with the Hogue 500s.

Be assured that the 629 Mt. Pistol's recoil can also be brutal with heavy loads.

Eventhough they are call Square Butt Conversion, the Hoque 500's are for Round Butt frames (Which all Mt. Pistols are). So if you end up with a Standard Square Butt 29/629, the Hoque 500s won't work.

http://www.store.smith-wesson.com/store/index.php3?cat=293449&item=831269&sw_activeTab=10

These are a little more expensive than you would expect, but I couldn't find any other normal Hogue sources (Midway, Midsouth, etc.) that carry this version.

 

[sturmruger]

I have shot quite a few big Ruger revolvers and can honestly say I wouldn't shoot anything else. They are as tough as nails, and easy to dissasemble for cleaning.

 

[Marshall]

Mountain Gun

 

[cookekdjr]

From what I've read, the 629 and the super blackhawk are the two most popular in Alaska. The superblackhawk is so popular that one Alaska State trooper said it should be called the state's officia handgun.

 

[double0757]

Mountain Gun

I don't own one yet, however I own 629 6" and recently a 340PD. I'm an avid fisherman and hiker. I taken my 629 to fishing trips that I wish I had lefted at home. I have encounter bears when I didn't have the gun. Why? because it was too heavy to take to that trip. Then I would carry the 629 for a few trips then leave it at home again.

As a CCW I carry a H&K .40 USP compact. Some times because of the closing or what not I leave it at home. The 340PD I carry ALWAYS, no excuse. Yes, I practice less with it but at close range ( where it will be used) I don't need to practice that much. I translate this to the Mountain Gun. Not a plinking gun but a gun that you will not leave at home because is to heavy. You will take in your shorts hikes as well as your'e week long hikes.

Double O

 

[orangeninja]

when it comes to revolvers....Ruger is king of the hill.