The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: jaybet on July 11, 2009, 08:51:23 AM
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Hey guys... I've thought about getting a 44 for a long time, and next time I'm shopping it might be the way I go (unless I'm DISTRACTED by something else, of course!). What keeps sticking in my mind is a S&W model 29 variant that Bud's had for awhile...the "Bounty Hunter". It was a 6 round blued 44 mag with 3" barrel.
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll237/jaybethel/BountyHunterSW.jpg)
I'd like to get one that's big enough to absorb some of the recoil, but small enough to carry if I have the opportunity. 44 SP would be a nice practice and self defense round, and 44 mag would be good if I ever get to go on that fly fishing trip with my SIL- it would definitely deter the black bears.
So anyone have a recommendation for a nice 44? Or better yet...anyone want to sell me a nice one cheap?
While I'm at it in fact, throw in a case of ammo.
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Gringo's Ruger Alaskan looked pretty sweet. Plus you could always beat someone to death with it. ;D
FQ13
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There is a nice S&W 629-4 .44 Mountain gun for sale at www.gunrunnerauctions.com
2 days left on the auction. Right now it is $540.
If it stays around there I was thinking of making a grab at it but funds prevent me. :'(
I've heard good things about gunrunner, easy to work with, no surprises.
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I have a 7 1/2 inch Super Redhawk and a 4 inch 629. Recoil in the Ruger is fine all day, but if you run a couple cylinders through the Smith, you are done with the full power loads. 3" 629? dont think I would shoot it very much. I am not terribly recoil sensative, but I do not enjoy getting beat up. YMMV but its something to think about...
Addict
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I would not buy an S&W with the internal lock. Other than that S&W is a fine gun.
Other options;
http://www.davidsonsinc.com/consumers/subsites/inven_product.asp?dealer_id=62832&item=2-440029TKRT&instock=all&manufact_combo=None&mod_ser_combo=None&category_combo=None&model=None&g_type=Revolver&act_type=&finish_type=None&calib_combo=44M&sight_class_combo=None&price_range=None&left_handed=&youth=&Offset_rec=0&num_rec=50&item_num=
http://www.davidsonsinc.com/consumers/subsites/inven_product.asp?dealer_id=62832&item=2-444029ULT&instock=all&manufact_combo=None&mod_ser_combo=None&category_combo=None&model=None&g_type=Revolver&act_type=&finish_type=None&calib_combo=44M&sight_class_combo=None&price_range=None&left_handed=&youth=&Offset_rec=0&num_rec=50&item_num=
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Stay away from the new S&W's MB has mentioned on his podcasts about problems with the lock engaging on recoil.
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Can't say about the S&W guns, but the .44 is a hell of a round.
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624 no dash no lock +1 Spl.
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I have a 7 1/2 inch Super Redhawk and a 4 inch 629. Recoil in the Ruger is fine all day, but if you run a couple cylinders through the Smith, you are done with the full power loads. 3" 629? dont think I would shoot it very much. I am not terribly recoil sensative, but I do not enjoy getting beat up. YMMV but its something to think about...
Addict
I also have an older 7 1/2 Super Redhawk and love it, but it's no secret that I'm a Ruger wheel gun fan. If you want a snubbie .44 Mag. I would not rule out the Alaskan.
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I also have an older 7 1/2 Super Redhawk and love it, but it's no secret that I'm a Ruger wheel gun fan. If you want a snubbie .44 Mag. I would not rule out the Alaskan.
You'd freakin' LOVE the Alaskan. (GMG goes off to the corner to fondle his 41 ounces of wonderful steel). Read that any way you want to. ;D
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You'd freakin' LOVE the Alaskan. (GMG goes off to the corner to fondle his 41 ounces of wonderful steel). Read that any way you want to. ;D
There was a vid of the recoil, with the Alaskan thread, and it won't be a factor for your pickin hand at all jay.
Don;t be distracted, you guys in Jersey, are gonna need all the big bore's you can get...
For the squirrels..... ;)
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JB I love the Smith, but be advised, in a 3" with full power loads is SNAPPY, that is an understatement. With the specials, slightly snappy and fun. I own some Smiths with the lock, I removed them, I know some will say NOOOOOOO, but you fix whats broke.
The Ruger is a fine pistol, but like GMG said, 41oz, over 2 1/2 lbs, that"s as much as a 6" Smith with a standard barrel, not the underlug type. Ruger beefs up things for no reason, now if they take the same idea they have with the LCR, who knows? + I like the S&W action better. If your not in a hurry watch Gunbroker or Guns America and find a Lew Hortons special, without the lock.
They were the king of short magnum revolvers, and they are just down the street from S&W, they had lots of special order revolvers. I have a 3" 625, .45acp, and depending on loads can be a handful. A Lew Horton special will normally bring a premium, but an old one has increased in price from retail back then, but might actually be normal price now.
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3" 625, .45acp
M25, you got me thinking about this one!!!
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3" 625, .45acp
M25, you got me thinking about this one!!!
Yeah...I've been thinking about them too, but it would be nice to dabble in another caliber. I would enjoy loading 44. Hell...maybe I should go 45 long colt! How much fun is THAT round in a double/single action revolver?
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.44 mag. JUST DO IT. You'll soon find it your new favorite gun. I've said it a hundred times. .44 mag. is all about versatility! ESPECIALLY for the fella's that hand load!
http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44+Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
Say you like .45 ACP? You can match it ballistically. Load for anything from 800-2,000 fps, THAT'S VERSATILITY!
My favorite's, H110 powder behind Hornady XTP's. Mmmm, good stuff!
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Load it right and .44's perfect for anything from rabbit to bear! Zombies easily fall somewhere in the middle. ;)
I think the next addition to my family will either be a snubby revolver like your looking for, or the new S.S. Ruger M77 carbine.
(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww40/BigCheeseStick/44magjpg.jpg?t=1247535725)
The Ruger carbine:
(http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/images/Products/445L.jpg)
IS it still a proper "carbine" without a barrel band?
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Nothing against S&W it's just that I don't happen to have any other than .22. Never could find one that I thought the price was acceptable when I was looking.
I'm pretty fond of Rugers. Both the Redhawk and Super Redhawk are great. You can get the RH and SRH in .44 and .45 variations. The .45 Colt is very versital if you hand load, but in some places a little more difficult and costly to find ammo if you don't. You can load it from mild to wild. I have a 4 inch RH in .45 and .44 in a 5 and a half inch. Love them both. The SRH is availble in .454 Casull in which you can shoot .45 Colt also. I think the SRH Alaskan even with the beefier frame weighs slightly less than the 4 inch RH.
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Dittos for Ruger. Had too many S&W Model 29's to go back to them.
The sweetest .44 mag I ever had was a Redhawk. I sent it to MagnaPort to shorten the barrel to just under 4 inches and port it. Very nice. I wish I'd not sold it for something bigger.
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A .44 with full power loads pounds you pretty good, but it sure is fun. I have the original S&W Trail Boss. The earlier ones still had the fluted cylinder and the firing pin on the hammer. It's Magna-ported, so it kicks pretty straight back. This will keep those squirrels away!
(http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7137.0;attach=3691;image)
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A .44 with full power loads pounds you pretty good, but it sure is fun. I have the original S&W Trail Boss. The earlier ones still had the fluted cylinder and the firing pin on the hammer. It's Magna-ported, so it kicks pretty straight back. This will keep those squirrels away!
(http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7137.0;attach=3691;image)
Nice .44 Fuz.
I really like your choice of backgrounds too!!!!
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Here's my woodsroaming .44, Smith M29-2 with a 6.5"
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/29_with_tanto_left_side.jpeg)
Another Smith you might want to look at is the M329 Night Guardian. I would be a more carry much, shot little revolver. Does NJ still restrict civilians from using HP bullets in a self defense senerio? I would think a 240gr LSWC at 1100fps would be enough for two legged and black bear.
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Here's my woodsroaming .44, Smith M29-2 with a 6.5"
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/29_with_tanto_left_side.jpeg)
Another Smith you might want to look at is the M329 Night Guardian. I would be a more carry much, shot little revolver. Does NJ still restrict civilians from using HP bullets in a self defense senerio? I would think a 240gr LSWC at 1100fps would be enough for two legged and black bear.
The looks just like the one I sold to finance the purchase of Mrs. T's engagement ring, lo those many years ago.
A man can't love a woman more than that. ;D
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The looks just like the one I sold to finance the purchase of Mrs. T's engagement ring, lo those many years ago.
A man can't love a woman more than that. ;D
Wow! That makes me kind of mushy inside, a Hallmark moment.The sad thing is, I'm only half way kidding, selling a good gun like that to buy jewlery is definately a sign that you have it bad. ;D
FQ13
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Another Smith you might want to look at is the M329 Night Guardian. I would be a more carry much, shot little revolver. Does NJ still restrict civilians from using HP bullets in a self defense senerio?
We can own and shoot HP but if we use it in self defense it is considered "malicious intent" and automatically makes you the bad guy no matter how big of an asshat you shot. Sad but that's how we do things in Democrat country.[color]
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Combat Diver, had a chance to pick one of those (M29) up the other night for $500. He wanted $750 but it had rust on it and the trigger needed redone. Very nice and would love to have one but in better condition thatn the one I came across.
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I probably have more .44s than any other gun, largely because I believe in the versatility of the .44 Magnum, both for loaded ammo and for handloads. It's hard to come up wth a .44 handload that really really sucks...the cartridge is pretty forgiving.
The short-barreled S&Ws and Tauruses are bears with hot loads. My Trail Boss clone, built by Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision, is a handful even with 240-gr Black Hills Magnum loads that are baseline in my aging 6-inch M29.
I just looked up some weight specs for various .44 Magnums, and they are revealing:
Ruger Alaskan 41 ounces
S&W Trail Boss 40 ounces
(current distributor special)
S&W Nightguard 329 29.3 ounces
S&W 329 Alaska 29.7 ounces
special model
Ruger Super Blackhawk SA (5 1/2-inch barrel) 45 ounces
Taurus Ultralite series 28.03 ounces
In short, steel guns weigh pretty much the same; miraclealloyium lightweights weigh pretty much the same. You decision hinges (I think) on the following points:
• The use for the gun
• Holster system for the gun
• Factory ammo or handloading
If this is a back-up gun for the woods or a personal defense gun, YOU MUST REMOVE THE S&W RUBE GOLDBERG LOCKING SYSTEM ON ANY ALLOY FRAME GUN BEFORE PUTTING THE GUN IN SERVICE! The lock will jam the alloy frame guns, and if you're being set upon by Herr Bruin or the Oakland Chapter of MS-13, that's a really bad time for a jam to happen.
The ultralights are vicious to shoot with magnum-level loads; do all your practice with .44 Special-level loads (which will, I suspect, prolong the life of the gun). The 2 heavier DA guns will require a little more thought to holsters, but I have found the inexpensive Sourdough Pancake holsters from Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged in Alaska to do a wonderful job of distributing weight, especially when carried crossdraw on a GOOD gunbelt: http://www.simplyrugged.com/
If you plan on carrying heavy loads routinely, get a steel gun. The Ruger will hold up to velociraptor killers better than the S&W over the long term. If I was in bear country, I'd default to the Ruger loaded with Cor-Bon or Buffalo Bore penetrators (that will, additionally, cause the fillings to shake out of your teeth). The loads in my .454 Ruger Alaskan for bear back-up are 335-grain hard-cast Cor-Bon Hunters, and, as I have said on air, they would make God flinch. Cor-Bon makes a similar 305-gr .44 Magnum round that YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY UNDER PAIN OF CERTAIN DEATH NOT USE IN AN S&W YOU'D LIKE TO KEEP LONGER THAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS!
In Thumper, my Ruger Super Blackhawk beater, in bear season I carry Winchester 250-gr Supreme Partition Gold...not exactly a laugh riot to shoot, but okay if you let the gun roll up in your hand like old-timey cowboys did.
In the S&Ws, I'd default to the Buffalo Bore 255-gr hard-cast Keith "reduced recoil" .44 Magum loads..."reduced recoil" is sort of Buffalo Bore's idea of a joke, I think, but it's a darn good round.
If I'm not all bear'ed up, I stick to .44 Special loads.
Michael B
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If you plan on carrying heavy loads routinely, get a steel gun. The Ruger will hold up to velociraptor killers better than the S&W over the long term.
The weight of a 7.5 inch Redhawk tames recoil and the legendary strength of Ruger wheel guns is 100% true.
Quote from: addict on July 11, 2009, 10:18:28 AM
I have a 7 1/2 inch Super Redhawk and a 4 inch 629. Recoil in the Ruger is fine all day, but if you run a couple cylinders through the Smith, you are done with the full power loads. 3" 629? dont think I would shoot it very much. I am not terribly recoil sensative, but I do not enjoy getting beat up. YMMV but its something to think about...
Addict
Quote from: Kid Shelleen
I also have an older 7 1/2 Super Redhawk and love it, but it's no secret that I'm a Ruger wheel gun fan. If you want a snubbie .44 Mag. I would not rule out the Alaskan.
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MB wrote:
If you plan on carrying heavy loads routinely, get a steel gun. The Ruger will hold up to velociraptor killers better than the S&W over the long term. If I was in bear country, I'd default to the Ruger loaded with Cor-Bon or Buffalo Bore penetrators (that will, additionally, cause the fillings to shake out of your teeth). The loads in my .454 Ruger Alaskan for bear back-up are 335-grain hard-cast Cor-Bon Hunters, and, as I have said on air, they would make God flinch. Cor-Bon makes a similar 305-gr .44 Magnum round that YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY UNDER PAIN OF CERTAIN DEATH NOT USE IN AN S&W YOU'D LIKE TO KEEP LONGER THAN A COUPLE OF WEEKS!
As always, Mr. Bane, very good info on the versatile .44.
And, you Sir, are absolutely correct on the Cor-Bon.......
In my short-barreled Super Blackhawk (4 3/4"), those Cor-Bons will (not might, WILL) pound you like the hammer of Thor. I made the mistake (once) of shooting a round from inside an enclosed hunting blind (not much bigger than a phone booth) without sticking the gun out the little window. I WILL NOT, repeat, WILL NOT EVER DO THAT AGAIN AS LONG AS I LIVE... ...unless my life is dependent on it. The concussion was, to say the least, plentiful.
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We had a couple of guys show up at the indoor range with an American Derringer in .44mag, the owner went to the counter and asked what kind of ammo he should shoot, We asked what he had and we said some .44spl, He would'nt have it, ended up with 180 magnum Federal barn burners, We just had to watch, the fireball was awesome, the 2nd shot split the web of his hand, He was giggling and handed it to his friend, He shot 2 shots. The friend decided he wanted a soft drink, got halfway through the store and as he passed our couch, he went white and his knees buckled, he just sat right down and exhaled. Stayed there til the color came back into his face. He did not shoot again, but the owner probably shot 15-16 rounds through it. NO Thanks. I'd try it with a Bond Arms.
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Thanks 25 now yr planting seeds 44Spl. BOND TEXAS DEFENDER TO GO WITH THE 45ACP & 45/410.
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I've got a Bond with .45/.410 barrels...MAN, it is NASTY with 5-pellet buckshot!!! We did a piece on it for SG next year...I've also got a .44 Special barrel that's not TOOOOOOOOOO ugly with cowboy loads!
mb
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MB,
I'll look forward to that SG episode.
I've had a bad case of the "I wants" for a Bond Ranger. How was it with .45 Colt?
Have you tried a Bond in .357 magnum?
Thanks