I have a Marlin 1894 sbr with 13” bbl in .44 and then got a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley with 3.75” bbl.

I have a Smith 629 4 inch and a Ruger Redhawk 7.5 inch. I like shooting the Ruger better, but the 4 inch is nicer and easier to carry in a field holster. If I was only buying one, I'd get a 4.2 inch or 5.5 inch Redhawk (not a Super Redhawk as it's not needed for .44 Mag IMO) and not look back. The Ruger handles recoil more comfortably than the Smith, is more rugged, is more nicely finished, has better sights (aftermarket William's Firesights, user installable w/o specialty tools), and has just as good a trigger.

ETA: If I was willing to settle for a .44 Special instead of the Magnum, I'd get a Ruger GP 100 in a heartbeat. I think LincolnSixEcho's 5.5 inch in the post above is the best possible compromise of size, power, strength, quality and price available.

Ruger Redhawk 7.5" prior to installation of Williams sights.



Smith 629 4"

quote:

Originally posted by 1lowlife:
I had a 3" barreled S&W 629 for about a year.
Great pistol, shot it well considering, better with special loads than magnum..
Other people at the range hated me when I shot magnum loads through it..












I sold it for what I paid for it when the novelty wore off, much like many of my firearms..

I had one of these once. The only time I shot it was at a small range, 6 lanes, and I had to wait for a free lane. Fired 6 rounds, reloaded fired 6 more. While picking out brass I looked around and the range was empty. Was using the classic Kieth load, the dammed thing killed on one end and maimed on the other. Sold it not long after.

I have a 4.2" redhawk that I really like.

I am thinking I will start looking for a Ruger Redhawk. I am going to have to postpone the purchase though as I just ordered a Sig Legion P229 SAO.

One option, on the expensive side, is the Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 629 V-COMP. Kit includes compensator and flush barrel adapter.

Looking for a packable .44? How about one of these:

From the top: 629 3-inch, 629 2.5-inch fixed sight, 624 3-inch.

Ruger Super Blackhawk with 5.50" barrel.

I can shoot this gun accurately for 15 - 20 rounds and then I'm done.

Since you plan on pairing this with a lever gun, the SA is the only real choice.

If you're going to pair it with a Lever Action I'd go with a Super Blackhawk.

Look at the Marlin for the Lever Action.

Then, you'll need a nice rig to carry your new revolver.

Then you'll realize that you only need a second revolver/holster/Double barrel shotgun to "play Cowboy" and you'll be hooked!!!!

Really .44 Specials are serious fun to shoot out of both the rifle and revolver for practice or plinking.

When you are talking .44 Revolvers, I say for the money and realistic use, Ruger all day.You can make the trigger as nice as a Smith and you can feed it a steady diet of HOT ammo and it NEVER quivers.It begs for more. Try that with a Smith 29.

I keep my 4.2" redhawk loaded with 360g buffalo bore hardcast or something from Garrett Cartridge. Its a pretty lethal combo.

If money isn't an object, find yourself a nice 4" Colt Anaconda in excellent condition. It is one of the finest 44mags ever made and will only go up in value. Good luck!

A round butt 5 inch S&W 629 is one of my favorite all time guns.

Redhawk, 4".

Except in .41.

S&W 629 Trail Boss 44 mag. A very nice ported carry piece.

Wouldnt be my first choice for Bear gun but its about as good as it gets for the range:

Range use vs. carrying in Bear Country can be two very different guns. Carrying in Bear Country you'll probably want something lightweight with a short barrel, not much fun at the range. At the range you'll want something heavy with a long barrel, not much fun to carry in bear country.

I have a Smith 629 Mountain Gun which is my bear country sidearm. It's a steel frame gun with the lighter 44 special barrel profile as well as some chamfering and other lightening tricks. The recoil from it with full magnum loads is my limit of controllability. Ruger also offers a snubby version of the Redhawk as well as the Alaskan model of the Super Redhawk.

With the lever action, are you wanting to go full cowboy with a single action Ruger? I much prefer the Bisley style grip frame over the Blackhawk. To me it's more comfortable with hotter loads.

For range guns the full lug Smith 629 Classic tames the muzzle flip quite a bit. The long barreled Ruger Bisleys, redhawks and Super Redhawks are also nice guns.

Then there's some in-between guns. Something like a 4.2" barreled Ruger Redhawk. It's still small enough for field carry but not so light that you'll never want to shoot it.

Then there's always a 6" barreled blued Smith 29, because every gun guy has to have a Dirty Harry gun...

Depends what you will use it for.

I've had great experience with the Ruger Super Blackhawk hunter, most accurate revolver that I've owned.

For an ironsights only, I favor the Ruger Blackhawk, flattop. It's what I have now.

SW 29, is nice, have no experience shooting one.

It all depends on your intended use. FWIW, I have been shooting .44 mag since 1974.

The Ruger Redhawk in 5.5 would come as close as any to a do-all .44. If you prefer single action, versions of the Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk can be had in a similar barrel length.

While a 4 inch is a great holster gun, (a Smith 629 Mountain gun is a grail gun for me) I think you need at least a 5 inch to get the potential of the .44 mag. The Redhawk is a bit heavy, but you appreciate it when firing full magnums.

If I am just starting with a .44. or just having one, it will be a full size frame with a 5-6 inch barrel. Smith 29/629, Ruger Redhawk, or Ruger Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk. If I wanted a Smith, I think I would pay extra to get an older one that was pinned and recessed. Newer ones look and feel ok, but I haven't shot one. Even though I like the looks of the little Smith 69, I would stay away from that if I really want to shoot magnums. Personally, if I was going to buy my first .44, it would be the Redhawk in 5.5. The triggers out of the box are a little rougher than the Smith, but it isn't expensive to correct.

Just carrying in the brush, a vaquero isn't a bad choice, albeit limited in sights.

If my concern were bear, I'd rather have something double action, or an auto loader, which would shift the choice more to a G20 with hard cast in a Buffalo Bore type loading.