Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns New production 44 Magnums?

Just traded my 629-6 w/ 6.5" bbl. Very nice revolver in my opinion. Would still be enjoying it if not for a 657 that I couldn't resist.

been wanting to try the 69 5 shot, but after in the last 5 years sending 4 brand new revolvers back to smith I am scared too.

I've owned 1 with the short barrel, either 1 or 2 with the 4.2" barrel. I intended to swap the 329PD for one of these thinking the additional 10 or so ounces would damp recoil. Maybe it does on paper but my hand can't feel it, they're all pretty damned unpleasant with the same 250 grain SWC handload I shoot in almost all of my .44s now. I decided if the recoil wasn't better, I'd keep the extra cartridge and the weight savings so the 329PD went back in the holster and the 69s went down the road.

The only logic I see to a S&W 69 is as an alternative to a GP-100 .44 special that I don't have to worry about the thin forcing cone and cracking problems if I warm it up a smidge.

I was very surprised at how big and clubby the new Anacondas felt in my hand.

I would keep an eye out for a nice used 629-4 in a 6” without the lug barrel (the full lug 6”+ guns don’t feel right to me). These are the sweet spot to me - still forged trigger and hammer, endurance mods, no MIM.

Some of the Ruger Bisley guns sure look nice as well.

I would go with the S & W 629 or the Ruger Red Hawk. The Blackhawk kills my middle finger every time I pull the trigger because of that squared back trigger guard. Never owned a Colt.

From my experience, I vote Ruger Super Blackhawk or standard Redhawk with Pachmyrs. Probably need spring kits and trigger job on both. Mine are from the '70's so neither needed them. My Super had a shortened barrel and lived in a hip holster. You might think about a Bisley but I've never handled one. The trick to the Super is to grip it lower and curl you little finger under the butt like a Colt SAA. I never had the trigger guard touch my middle finger.
I also had a new Smith M29 enough years to run Keith loads through it until the forcing cone cracked. The trigger was great, but the grip frame shape caused it to drive recoil straighter into to the web of the hand. The fun factor left much sooner than with the Rugers.

I prefer the S&W's. I've owned Super Blackhawks, Redhawks, and Super Redhawks and they were fine guns, I just prefer the looks and triggers on the S&W as a general rule. My 69 is a nice wood guns, but the 629 seem to handle recoil a bit better with the added weight.

I do like my 6.5" Bisley 454, but I figured it might be worth branching out. I'm a big fan of an unfluted cylinder and full lug, so the hunter model is looking the most tempting.

Not sure what ranges the OP wants to shoot at, but that choice is less fun at 200-500 yards : )

Somethin a little different: https://www.nighthawkcustom.com/nxr-44-mag-6

The Bisley does not have that square trigger guard. That is an advantage as well as the larger grip dampens recoil, at least in my big meaty paws.

The SBH bisley hunter has the full length rib above the barrel, (all hunter models do). That does much to dampen muzzle rise. I often shoot mine with a Nikon 2x20 scope mounted. That really dampens muzzle rise, even with 250 gr bullets loaded to the max in my 41 mag.

The SBH bisley hunter is a joy to shoot, if your hands are big enough to use the grip.

It is not a joy to pack.

My new Super Blackhawk does not have the square trigger guard.

I had a 44 like this it was a great gun. I was shooting it one and the front sight came flying off.
At this point, my friend asked if he could buy this from me. He really liked the look. He said, not to worry about the sight he would get it fixed.

So, I sold it to him. I miss have that one in my possession.

A Thompson Contender Super 14 is a lot of fun at the range.
I`ve had mine since 1981.

Many good choices available. You may want to consider if you would ever want to mount a red dot sight or scope on the revolver. What would be involved to do so for any firearm on your wish list?

I have owned five 44 mag revolvers (Ruger S/A D/A, and a couple of S&W 629s). I sold off the ones I could live without, and now I am down to one. My favorite: a S&W 629-3 with 4 inch standard barrel.

You’re having a hard time narrowing it down because you’re limiting yourself to new production.

Whatever you buy new check it out closely and I think you will be ok.
I personally like S&W’s and would seriously think of buying used. You could save some money and get a better revolver.
Bought my 629-4 used a few years ago. Has the all the strength improvements and all the parts are forged. No MIM or lock. Very accurate and very easy to mount a scope or red dot on.
Guns are expensive now, do you homework and handle as many as you can to see what suits you.

I have owned several Super Blackhawks over the years, but unlike my S&W double action revolvers, they just never felt "right" in my hands and eventually went down the road. I've settled on a 4" S&W 329 (scandium) for trail carry with .44 special-level loads, and a 5" full underlug S&W 629 Classic for the range, and if should ever hunt with it.

Just thought I'd say, back in '84, I wanted an 8 3/8" S&W 686 (.357 mag) with the 4 position front sight so bad!!! I finally bought one just a couple years ago and have concluded two things as a result. One is, that long of a barrel is a little too much weight out front for me; and two, with the addition of a red dot, that much barrel length is no longer needed.

If accuracy is your main concern then buy a BFR.
Or buy a Freedom Arms if you want a revolver that is finished better but doubt it will be any more accurate.

This is my opinion after shooting the 44 mag for 50 years and pretty much owning every major brand other than a Taurus.

For my eyes I thought the Super Redhawk won the gold for ugly. I was wrong.