Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Choosing a 44

I got a buddy that had a 629, him and i were out shooting and he wanted to borrow some ammo And I told him all I had were hot loads and told him he can't put them through the Smith and he would'nt listen saying that the Smith was a stronger gun than the Ruger. after a couple of cylinders it was real hard to cock it back all the way.


Lol, Guess what he shoots now!! And he really likes it.

If I felt the need to push a .44 hard enough it was ‘twisting’ the frame of a 29/629, I think I’d just step up to a heavier caliber.

Your first revolver should be a 22LR.

Personally I would opt for the S&W between the Colt and Smith, having owned multiple examples of both, as well as Rugers. Most of the stories of how weak the S&Ws are are quite overblown, and get repeated, a retold, over and over. But when you ask to see a gun that is truly worn out from excessive firing, all you will hear is crickets. Or someone, who knows someone.

I have put literally tens of thousands of rounds through various Model 29s, mostly when I was younger. I just don't shoot like that anymore. Most the time a little maintenance and a simple parts replacement, and you are good. If I actually shoot one to the point that the frame is completely beyond repair, I will hang it on the wall, look at it and remember all the good times and adventures I had with it and continue on shooting with another. The ammo to get to that point will cost far more than the price of the gun.

I can tell you that a tall Folgers can will hold 550 rounds of 240 grain .44 Magnums, and after you shoot all those, your typical Model 29, just needs cleaned, that is all.




And when you shoot everything from ground squirrels to rabbits, 500 rounds does not really last that long..









So the punchline is, most the talk about how weak the S&Ws are is talk. Most owners don't ever shoot them enough to wear one out anyways. That majority of used Model 29s I have seen look like they have hardly seen a box or two of ammo fired through them.

^^^This^^^

629 4 or 5 inch

For hunting I prefer single action revolvers. That means Ruger or Freedom Arms.

I have 2 Ruger 7 1/2" Super Blackhawks. I carried the blued one so many years that much of the blueing has worn off. A few years ago I bought a stainless 4" S&W 629, that is now my carry gun in the woods.

I also started feeding it .44 Spl loads that are much easier to shoot, and yes I have to clean out the carbon ring in the cylinders so .44 mag cases will chamber easily.

JFC, never fails.

I had the ultimate .44, although it was a .44 Special not a Magnum. I had Hamilton Bowen build me a .44 Special on a pre'27 5", it featured a Cliff LaBounty rebore and all the options that Bowen offered. Keith Brown grips completed the package, it was a sweet shooting S & W !

Neither, if you do not have arthritis or other hand problems check out S&W Model 69 (5-shot L-frame .44 Magnum). No need to throw money away on "Mountain Gun" gimmiks. These are factory tapped for rail/scope mounting which is big plus in hunting gun. Used samples can be found for around $700. These will be practically unfired. Ole' pistolero fire cylinder with .44 Mag loads 4 out of 5 shots missing target and quickly sells gun ("....can i please make trade for 10mm pistola?")at a loss, their loss your gain.

You have listed some good candidates, and either will do what you want for a lifetime of shooting. However, I’m sticking with my Ruger Redhawks. They have, and will continue to serve me well!