Thinkin' about a .44. Advice?

[Combat Diver]

Here's my woodsroaming .44, Smith M29-2 with a 6.5"


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.

[tt11758]

Here's my woodsroaming .44, Smith M29-2 with a 6.5"


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.   

[fightingquaker13]

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.   

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.
FQ13

[jaybet]

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]

[Ping]

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.

[Sponsor]

[Michael Bane]

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

[Kid Shelleen]

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.

[PegLeg45]

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.

[m25operator]

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.

[mudman]

Thanks 25 now yr planting seeds 44Spl. BOND TEXAS DEFENDER TO GO WITH THE 45ACP & 45/410.