need help for next gun, desert eagle, 29 classic or raging bull?
- Thread starter DIRTYCLEAN
- Start date
The S&W Model 29 is the best, hands down:
-Best looking
-Half-lug barrels give the best balance
-Usually have good triggers out of the box and respond well to tuning
-Good warranty support
Compare with the Taurus:
-Non-existent warranty service or replacement parts
-Crummy triggers
-Gaudy styling, especially the gigantic billboard lettering on the barrel
-Extremely front-heavy balance
The Desert Eagle is even worse:
-Huge and blocky; the grip requires the hand of a sasquatch!
-Can't use cast bullets or reduced loads
-Tosses expensive brass all over the place
-Extremely ammo sensitive
The only thing I would seriously consider a non-S&W .44 Magnum for is for high-volume shooting with bullets weighing more than the standard 240-250 grains. The Rugers are better able to stand up to this sort of thing.
-Best looking
-Half-lug barrels give the best balance
-Usually have good triggers out of the box and respond well to tuning
-Good warranty support
Compare with the Taurus:
-Non-existent warranty service or replacement parts
-Crummy triggers
-Gaudy styling, especially the gigantic billboard lettering on the barrel
-Extremely front-heavy balance
The Desert Eagle is even worse:
-Huge and blocky; the grip requires the hand of a sasquatch!
-Can't use cast bullets or reduced loads
-Tosses expensive brass all over the place
-Extremely ammo sensitive
The only thing I would seriously consider a non-S&W .44 Magnum for is for high-volume shooting with bullets weighing more than the standard 240-250 grains. The Rugers are better able to stand up to this sort of thing.
RevolverRodger
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in QC
I had both the DE and 629
sold the DE.
sold the DE.
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
Whatever you pick , it will be fun to shoot , have fun...I like 45 LC , and ACP 
How about a used Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk? There are plenty of them out there and just as nice as a 29/629.
The 29's are good guns but since they are the most refined round guns, I've seen them wear out faster than a Ruger with the .44.
Raging Bull is good but a pain with the front and back release. No warranty service to the USA with a Taurus.
Desert Chickens are great fun for those who can afford them. Drawbacks... you can't constantly use lead bullets. They are hard on brass. You loose a lot of the .44 "experience" from the action of the slide and gas system.
If you can afford a round gun and a Chicken, by all means get both. But the Chicken may be fun at first but hard (less fun) to keep shooting after half a box or so. A round gun you are good for at least a complete box or two and you don't get chewed up rims on your brass.
The 29's are good guns but since they are the most refined round guns, I've seen them wear out faster than a Ruger with the .44.
Raging Bull is good but a pain with the front and back release. No warranty service to the USA with a Taurus.
Desert Chickens are great fun for those who can afford them. Drawbacks... you can't constantly use lead bullets. They are hard on brass. You loose a lot of the .44 "experience" from the action of the slide and gas system.
If you can afford a round gun and a Chicken, by all means get both. But the Chicken may be fun at first but hard (less fun) to keep shooting after half a box or so. A round gun you are good for at least a complete box or two and you don't get chewed up rims on your brass.
Tjhaile brings up some excellent points. Any revolver is going to be far more easy going with a variety of loads vs a semi that is quite specific about what makes it happy. For flexibility I'd have to say that the revolver option would rule. Either one being leagues more flexible to use than the DE. While my first choice would be S&W the price on the Taurus sure draws the eye. I'd have to do a lot more research to decide if I was in your shoes but it WOULD be between the two wheelguns.
Now if it was down to .44 vs .50AE/.460/.454Cassul/.500 then the DE would still be dumped and I'd go revolver for the same reasoning, flexibility in loading tolerance. It's more fun to load up rounds that you enjoy shooting on any given day at whatever power you feel like and that don't hurt you vs shooting the one power level mandated by the gun itself.
Now if it was down to .44 vs .50AE/.460/.454Cassul/.500 then the DE would still be dumped and I'd go revolver for the same reasoning, flexibility in loading tolerance. It's more fun to load up rounds that you enjoy shooting on any given day at whatever power you feel like and that don't hurt you vs shooting the one power level mandated by the gun itself.
Desert Eagle, doesn't turn my crank, too heavy for ATC carry.
Taurus, no service, no parts, no thanks.
SW 29, great revolver and the way I'd go if I was willing to settle for the puny .44 magnum.
Ruger SRH .454 Casull, much more powerful, very accurate and is easy to ATC in the real world.
Taurus, no service, no parts, no thanks.
SW 29, great revolver and the way I'd go if I was willing to settle for the puny .44 magnum.
Ruger SRH .454 Casull, much more powerful, very accurate and is easy to ATC in the real world.
my very first gun(s) was a 24k gold desert eagle 44mag and a glock 22. I love taking my eagle to the range, it does turn heads! but very picky with ammo, lead bullets are a no no with my gun, always jams, and even with premium ammo, it still jams. First time I fired it, it jammed, lol! I was so upset, i quickly went back to the range officer (which also sold me that gun) and told him it was broken. People around me looked and laughed, "it's a desert eagle, they jam". But, it's still a lot of fun, and for some reason i can shoot that thing a lot better than my glock 22, or any other pistol i own.
S&W 629 for me (6 or 6.5"). I held the 5" at Epps already. It feels nice but just need to hold the 6 or 6.5" to make sure which length I want. Been waiting so long for Epps to get one in stock. :-(
The most poweful calibre I fried was a 357 magnum (S&W 3" I think). They had the Dirty Harry one at the store, but it was busted so the guy said use this one, it's gives about the same kick. LOL! I fired 50rds. I think I was gripping too hard. Hand hurt afterwards, but was fun! BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Don't think I want a DE 50 cal. Too much gun for me.
I'll start hunting for one again in October. I need to buy some reloading equipment first this month (Dillon XL650 is what I'm after).
The most poweful calibre I fried was a 357 magnum (S&W 3" I think). They had the Dirty Harry one at the store, but it was busted so the guy said use this one, it's gives about the same kick. LOL! I fired 50rds. I think I was gripping too hard. Hand hurt afterwards, but was fun! BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Don't think I want a DE 50 cal. Too much gun for me.
I'll start hunting for one again in October. I need to buy some reloading equipment first this month (Dillon XL650 is what I'm after).
