Small 44 mag for hunting - still looking - 03/01/09
VERY long post, sorry.
I have a bunch of questions but will start with a few. First I am wanting an easy to carry 44 mag to hunt with. My current 44 mag is a Ruger Bisley Hunter with a 7 �" barrel. Great gun. Shoots outstanding when I do my part. My eyes are too old to be using fixed sights in low light conditions and I had to add a scope or red dot.
I have tried it with a pistol scope and a red dot scope. Both worked good and have their place. But the gun is big and either scope makes it that much bigger. With the Elite 3200 pistol scope my RSB Hunter weighs 4 lbs and 7 ounces (71 ounces). With a full load, that is about what my ULA hunting rifle weighs!
As a result the 44 gets left at home when I carry my rifle. Of course that is when I see a deer, hog or whatever I am hunting at 80 or 100 yards. When I leave the rifle and carry my 44, everything I see is at 300 or 400 yards. Yes, I know they (deer and/or hogs) have a spotter watching me when I leave the camp.
So I think I need a small 4" or 5" 44 mag light enough to carry with my long guns. In all my searching in stores and on the web, I have not found a �small� 44 mag. Included was a Ruger Redhawk 4" I purchased. Another great gun, but not light and really not small. I sold it the same day I received it.
Now I have purchased a Burris FastFire and will purchase the Ruger base for it to fit the built-in base on my Hunter. Better, but that leaves the barrel at 7 ��. I think the Ruger Hunter model alone weighs 52 ounces. The FastFire weighs 2 ounces and the mount may be another 2. Now my gun will weigh 56 ounces. If I have 2" cut off, the max I think, I might be back at 52 ounces. Still too big and too heavy for me to take on every hunt. I don�t think cutting the barrel off is the solution. The scoped Ruger is a good 100 to 125 yard gun in my hands. With a good rest, that is. So I will use it on handgun only hunts.
But now I have another problem! If I don�t put the FastFire on my Hunter, I need to buy a revolver to put it on. Wonder if a good smith could mill a Weaver style on the top strap of a plain RSB Bisley. Anyone know of one who could or would? I would guess that rig with the FF would weigh 45 ounces anyway. Too much. If the gun weighed around two pounds it would get carried every time.
That points to the Taurus Tracker (34 oz), Taurus Raging Bull UltraLite (28 oz) or the S&W 329PD (26 oz). Of the three, I think the Tracker is the smallest even though it is the heaviest. I am leaning toward it anyway. Anyone know of a Weaver style base for one of these three? Ok, how about a smith that can or will build or mill a base for one of these three?
I have ask Burris and they don�t. Will call Taurus in the morning. After you read this, let me know where my logic is off. And please give my your thoughts on a small and or light 44 mag. Also tell me about holsters and other rigs. I am thinking a cross draw will work best for me. Besides my rifle I carry a backpack most of the time when I hunt.
Thanks for your help,
Richard
I have a bunch of questions but will start with a few. First I am wanting an easy to carry 44 mag to hunt with. My current 44 mag is a Ruger Bisley Hunter with a 7 �" barrel. Great gun. Shoots outstanding when I do my part. My eyes are too old to be using fixed sights in low light conditions and I had to add a scope or red dot.
I have tried it with a pistol scope and a red dot scope. Both worked good and have their place. But the gun is big and either scope makes it that much bigger. With the Elite 3200 pistol scope my RSB Hunter weighs 4 lbs and 7 ounces (71 ounces). With a full load, that is about what my ULA hunting rifle weighs!
As a result the 44 gets left at home when I carry my rifle. Of course that is when I see a deer, hog or whatever I am hunting at 80 or 100 yards. When I leave the rifle and carry my 44, everything I see is at 300 or 400 yards. Yes, I know they (deer and/or hogs) have a spotter watching me when I leave the camp.
So I think I need a small 4" or 5" 44 mag light enough to carry with my long guns. In all my searching in stores and on the web, I have not found a �small� 44 mag. Included was a Ruger Redhawk 4" I purchased. Another great gun, but not light and really not small. I sold it the same day I received it.
Now I have purchased a Burris FastFire and will purchase the Ruger base for it to fit the built-in base on my Hunter. Better, but that leaves the barrel at 7 ��. I think the Ruger Hunter model alone weighs 52 ounces. The FastFire weighs 2 ounces and the mount may be another 2. Now my gun will weigh 56 ounces. If I have 2" cut off, the max I think, I might be back at 52 ounces. Still too big and too heavy for me to take on every hunt. I don�t think cutting the barrel off is the solution. The scoped Ruger is a good 100 to 125 yard gun in my hands. With a good rest, that is. So I will use it on handgun only hunts.
But now I have another problem! If I don�t put the FastFire on my Hunter, I need to buy a revolver to put it on. Wonder if a good smith could mill a Weaver style on the top strap of a plain RSB Bisley. Anyone know of one who could or would? I would guess that rig with the FF would weigh 45 ounces anyway. Too much. If the gun weighed around two pounds it would get carried every time.
That points to the Taurus Tracker (34 oz), Taurus Raging Bull UltraLite (28 oz) or the S&W 329PD (26 oz). Of the three, I think the Tracker is the smallest even though it is the heaviest. I am leaning toward it anyway. Anyone know of a Weaver style base for one of these three? Ok, how about a smith that can or will build or mill a base for one of these three?
I have ask Burris and they don�t. Will call Taurus in the morning. After you read this, let me know where my logic is off. And please give my your thoughts on a small and or light 44 mag. Also tell me about holsters and other rigs. I am thinking a cross draw will work best for me. Besides my rifle I carry a backpack most of the time when I hunt.
Thanks for your help,
Richard