44 magnum
I am going to purchase a 44 magnum revolver. I don't particularly want it for hunting or defensive purposes, I just want one. I am looking at a 4 inch barrel. Any thoughts on the quality of Taurus, Smith&Wesson, Ruger etc. I don't want the single action. I want a double action. As always thanks for your replies.
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I just got a 44 Magnum in a trade and must admit I know nothing about the round itself. I don't hunt and mainly use my weapons for plinking/self defense. Is the 44 Mag a good Self Defense cartridge? How expensive is the round? What other types of comparable loads are there out there? What is the best deal on good plinking ammo for a 44 Mag.Thanks,Mad Monkey 0 -
I'm usually a die Hard Ruger man and have owned a Redhawk and shot a friends S&W 629 Classic with 5" barrel, I'd have to give the Smith the nod on this one, if single actions are out. The look is great as well as the trigger. 0 -
I used to own a S&W 629 5". Nice gun, but sold it. Why? Because I had a 6" ported Colt Anaconda .44. You might want to try one of those. I am not a big magnum man so it takes a lot to impress me and the Anaconda had. It was more accurate and smoother than the Smith. Also have shot Redhawks in the past and they too are nice guns but I would rate them this way:
1. Colt Anaconda
2. Smith and Wesson
3. Ruger
4. Taurus
Hope this helps.0 -
Try a Taurus, I think you will be pleasantly suprised at how nice they are for a less expensive firearm. 
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Taurus makes some excellant handguns. I own a Taurus Raging Bull in .454 Casull. Awsome gun that will drop a 200 lb.deer dead in it's tracks. The .44 magnum is available in two different models, (at least they were a few years ago) the Raging Bull and the Model 44. Both are great guns. Being stainless steel is a plus also. What ever brand you decide to get, I recomend that you buy a one with at least a 6" barrel. Someday you might decide to try hunting with it and most states require a 6" barrel to hunt with. And of course they're much more accurrate than a 4". So,go out and checkout all the different brands and see which one feels right and is appealing to your eye. Have fun, Bubba 0 -
I am partial to the S&W29-2 with 6" barrel that I have used since 1980. Have also had the 4" & 8&3/8" but find the short barrel gives too much muzzle-blast and the long barrel is just cumbersome. All shot well. Have had both single and double action Rugers and they are excellent; however, the triggers on the S&W firearms are way better. If you should be fortunate enough to find a Smith & Wesson 29-2 in the presentation case, regardless of barrel length, you cannot go wrong. 0 -
About a dozen years ago I shot a model 29 at a indoor range,just to see what all the hubbub was about re: these guns.
I had seen "cloverleaf" groups in magazines,but had never shot one,being a very average shooter.
Well ,I shot one!
Haven't shot one since.:( a cloverleaf that is.
Very Very nice revo.,and super accurate.
Guess you can see who Id vote for.
Throckmortons' the alias,cas is the game.0 -
Good advice from all but let me second SP's idea: Handle all of them. In fact, shoot all of them, if you possibly can, the different makes and try different barrel lengths too. Find a range where you can rent them, spend a few bucks on ammo, and then decide. That way you will get the one that suits you and your situation best.
For example, personally I prefer 4" barrel revolvers, but in .44 Mag the blast and flash are tremendous. Somewhat less as the barrel length gets longer, and the longer sight radius may also help. Porting tends to increase the blast and flash, but really helps with recoil and muzzle flip. So try as many variations as you can, and use both full power and lighter loads.
redcedars0 -
if all you want is to have a 44 with no real other intent, save your money and just buy a single action ruger. extremeley reliable and much less the cost of DA's. my s&w model 29 use to always loosen frame screws after a while. thats my vote....single action ruger.
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.0 -
I have the Tarus with the built in muzzle brake, I believe it has a four inch barrel. It is accurate with the red dot I have on it and the price is excellent. The ammo you put thru it does affect accuracy. I hand load the hornady xtp's and find they print half the size of the copper washed of the same weight, about 2" @ 40 yds. with a two hand weaver stance for me. I think the compensator does make it more plesant to shoot. 0 -
I agree with shopping and finding what you like. Looking around may eliminate any "buyers remorse" later.
Look at used guns also. It doesn't sound like you want a used gun, but I'm saying this for a reason. Some of the used guns were manufactured differently than current production. New designs aren't necessarily better! They are good quality, but made with newer equipment, materials and processes. In my opinion, some of this has eroded the appeal of some of the "original" designs.
Case in point; Early S&W Model 29's have "pinned" barrels, recessed/counter-bored chambers in the cylinder (the rim of the cartridge seats within the recess), the markings are "stamped" as opposed to laser-etched, and the grips are wood...I think the finish is better also.
The new production Model 29 (or 629...whatever they are) is a fine handgun...as are some others, but the original S&W Model 29 I described above is in my opinion the "standard" to which all others are compared to.
What makes the original design better? Well, it is a piece of history in a way, and I think the craftsmanship is better. It was more expensive to make these guns as I described because it involved more time/work/material.
If you want an earlier design that you like better than what is offered now, look at this web-site, Gun List, Shotgun News and other web-sites for one that is NIB (New In Box). You might even find a new one at a dealer if you look awhile.
I found mine 6 years ago at a local dealer. It was new, had the wooden box (walnut) they used to come in, and also had the original price tag that was with it when the original owner bought it!
Many people bought this gun in particular because of the movie "Dirty Harry" and never shot them. They just wanted what Det. Harry Calahan (Clint Eastwood) described in the movie as: "The most powerful handgun in the world!" There was a period of time shortly afterward where they were unobtainable, or were selling for more than the retail price.
Research and shopping is a fun part of the process involved in your aquisition. If you find something you are truly happy with you will also have the sense of satisfaction in having done your homework and being patient enough to find your prize. [:)]
I'm not trying to discourage you from buying something newly manufactured, okay? I'm only making you aware of another option. [;)]
Best Regards0 -
I have a Colt Anaconda and S&W N frame and have shot the Ruger and Taurus. Ask anybody, I love my Colts but I would have to give the nod to the S&W N-frame then the Redhawk, next would be Colt (I still can't believe I rated it 3rd) and LAST Taurus. If the felt or percieved recoil wasn't so bad the Anaconda would rate #1 in my book.
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY0 -
The Smith&Wesson M.29 is the classic 44 mag.It doesn't get any better-Bob
Gun control is a steady hand0
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