Which .44 Mag to get?

katazone said:
S&W 4.2" 629 .44 MAGNUM FTW 100% if you just want to have fun! It can hurt the hand in an extended session. lol

Gun####:
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Cartridge power aside, I found the rubber grips a problem. I swapped them out for proper fitted Hogue stocks and found them much more comfortable to shoot with...hardwood IS softer than rubber in this case! ;)
 
these folks that claim the smith is superior either don't shoot very much or use pussy loads-plus you pay a premium for the BLOODY NAME -I pay for performance, not reputation
 
plinker 777 said:
Cartridge power aside, I found the rubber grips a problem. I swapped them out for proper fitted Hogue stocks and found them much more comfortable to shoot with...hardwood IS softer than rubber in this case! ;)
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+1. I find when the rubber deforms you feel most of the force through the narrow backstrap of the gun during recoil = more psi. The hardwood grips, while they don't absorb anything through deformation, spread the force over a larger surface area = less psi.
 
t-star said:
these folks that claim the smith is superior either don't shoot very much or use pussy loads-plus you pay a premium for the BLOODY NAME -I pay for performance, not reputation
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Another reason the Dan Wesson Model 44 or 744 should be mentioned right here.

If we lived in Alaska where most handguns are carried far more then actually shot in a wilderness emergency, nothing wrong with the 629 for this task. IIRC, this S&W is the most issued 44 magnum for state employees that need a holstered weapon in the back country.
 
I bought a Freedom Arms .454 Model 83. It is a h3ll of a nice package. I shoot .45 Colt in it but the .454 is there if I want it. I don't like the big calibers. In terms of accuracy it is hard to beat the FA M83. I have a bunch of Rugers and S&W and they don't touch the FA for accuracy. I'm at the stage where I buy less guns but the ones I buy are quality.
 
How much shooting are you planning on doing? I loved my 29-10 until it died. With hot loads it was definitely hard on the hands. I would shoot until my hands were bloody until I learned where to pre-apply surgical tape. The 629 with rubber grips blisters my palm between the index finger and thumb but this too shall pass. That's from no less than 200 rounds per session and sometimes a lot more. Both guns are 6.5" versions but the 629 has a full under lug which really does seem to help.
In car terms the S&W's are late '60s B-body Dodges and the Rugers are Cornbinder trucks. Yeah, the Ruger will handle heavier loads but it is fu-uuuuuuuuu-gly.
 
dirtybarry said:
How much shooting are you planning on doing? I loved my 29-10 until it died. With hot loads it was definitely hard on the hands. I would shoot until my hands were bloody until I learned where to pre-apply surgical tape. The 629 with rubber grips blisters my palm between the index finger and thumb but this too shall pass. That's from no less than 200 rounds per session and sometimes a lot more. Both guns are 6.5" versions but the 629 has a full under lug which really does seem to help.
In car terms the S&W's are late '60s B-body Dodges and the Rugers are Cornbinder trucks. Yeah, the Ruger will handle heavier loads but it is fu-uuuuuuuuu-gly.
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Only two solutions to this fffuuuggly and the need for some extra strength IMO; the DW or the Colt Anaconda.

cheers
 
jperos said:
Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll go with the Redhawk.
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Wise choice . I have a Redhawk ; and like most all Ruger revolvers , it is heavily over built / engineered . You can not go wrong with the Redhawk , but if you do not reload , the ammo is quite expensive.....
 
I would pick the 4.2" S&W, but I don't push the envelope very hard with my heavy loads: 240 grain bullets at about 1200 fps. Rugers are pretty bombproof, but they are huge and inelegant compared to the S&W and their double action triggers aren't as good.

Either is a good gun, it just depends on where your priorities lie.
 
rustynut1 said:
I bought a Freedom Arms .454 Model 83. It is a h3ll of a nice package. I shoot .45 Colt in it but the .454 is there if I want it. I don't like the big calibers. In terms of accuracy it is hard to beat the FA M83. I have a bunch of Rugers and S&W and they don't touch the FA for accuracy. I'm at the stage where I buy less guns but the ones I buy are quality.
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Love FA. Such a tight revolver!!! My next purchase as soon as I recover from recent purchases!!!

 
jperos said:
Thanks for the tip? How hard is it to change the spring?
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It wasn't hard. I followed a youtube video and had no issues changing it. It makes a significant difference in the trigger, gets you to maybe 90% as good as the S&W. DA is still a bit heavier and SA has a tiny bit of creep before the break but it is very acceptable for anything but hardcore PPC use. I shoot reloads exclusively and use CCI large pistol primers (not magnum) for everything. Have never had a light strike or other problems with the 12lb spring installed.


Mark
 
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