.44 Magnum Advice South - S&W versus Ruger versus Colt

A

Anthony

New member
Hello Everyone,

As many of you know I am an acknowledged .41 Magnum fanatic, but I am going to add a .44 Magnum to my battery soon for load versatility and would like some advice on the three brands I have narrowed my search to...

Colt Anaconda with a 4 inch barrel
Ruger Redhawk with a 5 1/2 inch barrel
Smith & Wesson Model 629 or 29 with a 4 inch barrel

This is going to be a general purpose packing gun and I am not averse to used revolvers.

Any opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of each model?

How do the actions of these three models compare to one another?

How does the general accuracy of these models compare with each other?

Are there specific versions or generations of any of the models which have advantages of flaws?

Are any of the above models known for preferring specific types of loads over others (e.g., lead bullets, heavy bullets, etc.)?

Thanks for the assistance.

- Anthony
 
I would suggest you just go ahead and buy the first one you come across since they're all about equal in their advantages/disadvantages. If it were me I'd pick the Ruger but that's just because I want one.
 
Greeting's Anthony,

May I suggest that you take a look at Smith & Wesson's
629-5 "Classic" .44 maggie with a 5" barrel. I bought one
in July of 2000, and its unbelieveable. Absolutely, the
finest double-action trigger that I have ever been able
to obtain, straight from the factory!:cool: Fit and finish
are damn near perfect, in every respect. The 5" barrel
makes for a darn good compromise! I always had liked
either 4" or 6" tubes; but after owning this 5", its made
a believer out of me. Take one for a test drive at your
nearest dealer today!:D :)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
The words "revolver" and "Smith & Wesson" are synonymous. I haven't owned a Redhawk or Anoconda, but I have owned other Colt's and Ruger's. I always trade them for another Smith. I had a Super Blackhawk .44 that I sold soon after acquiring my M29. My 6 1/2 M29 likes my cast 240gr Keith bullets particularly well. Loaded with Unique to about 1000fps for a general purpose load or a healthy dose of 2400 for a full house load. With this latter load I shot the smallest group I ever shot with a handgun, including .22's. Less than 1/2" at 25yds, from a rested position. It also shoots a 190gr wadcutter at midrange velocity almost as well. These 3 loads cover the range of what I do with my .44.
As for strengths, I think Smith is the smoothest, Ruger probably the strongest and most 44 magnums are very accurate. If you shoot a .41, you'll probably not be able to tell the difference in recoil between it and a .44. I can't. Well, maybe a little.
 
I used to own a Super Redhawk it was a decent revlover and hell for stout. DA was waaaaay heavy but the SA was OK.

Currently own a 5" 629 Classic which has the best trigger I have ever felt on any gun any where. Good shooter too.

Also have a 7.5" 629 with a scope mounted which does not have as good a trigger but just impressed the Hell out of me two weekends ago on the 50 yard range.

I also used to own a 6" Anaconda and it was a POS.

Were I looking for a new .44, it would be a 629 Classic with a hammer mounted firing pin.
 
I own a Ruger RH & a S&W 629.

Sorry, no experience with a Colt so I can't comment about it. As far as the Ruger and the S&W are concerned both, IMHO, are excellent but somewhat different. The 5.5" RH is pretty bulky when compared to the Smith but it is also a heck of a lot stronger. If you handload then the RH is the way to go. It will handle the strongest of loads with safety and ease. I think that the 629 is just plan "purty" and for day to day shooting with normal loads it just can't be beat. Both are equally accurate and both have been, for me, 100% reliable. Good shooting:)
 
It depends on your purpose. If you want to impress on folks that you just don't want ANY crap, get a full sized, dark blue (the darkest blue looks mean, man.), big bore. Wear it on your hip in a rig that shows off a lot of steel. If you want to keep it a secret that you can blow big holes in even the biggest baddies, one of those S&W, 5 shot, .44 mag fire breathers would do you well, I think.
 
Good guns, all

The Smith is more aesthetic, the Colt is more expensive, and the Ruger is stronger.

If you want a pretty gun that's an excellent shooter with a sweet trigger, get the Smith.

If you want a status gun that's also an excellent shooter and don't mind paying the price, get the Colt.

If you want a strong gun that you can throw in the tool box after spending all day shooting loads that would destroy the Colt or Smith, get the Ruger.

The Colt and the Smith have a reputation of being a little easier to "tune". The heavy DA trigger pull on the Ruger is easily solved with a $12 Wolff spring kit.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them.
 
choice of 44 MAG

I HAVE OWNED MOST OF THE SMITH MODELS, THE RUGER, THE COLT ANACONDA, AND THE MARLIN 44 MAG RIFLE WHICH IS ALSO A GREAT TOOL. THE BEST BY FAR IS THE SMITH 44 MAG CLASSIC DX IN 6 INCH. THE TRIGGER AND BALANCE ARE SUPERB. I SHOOT AT LEAST 125 ROUNDS EACH WEEK THRU MY CLASSIC DX. THE RUGER TRIGGER PULL CAN'T COMPARE UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME WORK DONE ON IT. THE COLT IS GOOD BUT THE GUN FEELS BULKY. MY ADVICE : GO TO THE RANGE FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS ONE AND TRY IT. COME UP TO MASSACHUSETTS TO THE DF&GC IN MIDDLETON AND I WILL LET YOU TRY MY SMITH
HERB
 
We own a S&W 29-2 and a Ruger Redhawk. Its just like they already said. The Smiths prettier and lighter, the Ruger is much stronger.

And as WESHOOT2 said, the cylinder length may or may not be the key for you. The Smith (Not sure about the Colt) has a shorter cylinder than the ruger and won't let you shoot all brands of the 300 gr bullets. The XTP's will go in a Smith, but not much else that I know of. The Rugers cylinder will let you shoot any of the 300+ grainers.

Other than that you probly couldn't go wrong with any of the three. Personally, I choose the Rugers.
 
I bought a S&W Model 29 about 15 years ago. It was an ok gun. I have 3 SBH Rugers, a SS Super Red hawk, Numerous MKII 22 auto, a S&W 32 top break, and a Ruger P-89. I would not trade my Rugers for a box of S&W revolvers. Nothing takes a beating like the SRH. I am not putting others down for what they use, its just what I want. :rolleyes:
 
I have 4" 629, 5.5" Redhawk and 7.5" Super Blackhawk. Hate the SBH with heavy loads. Square triggerguard hurts. Redhawk is heavy but soaks up recoil like it has shock absorbers. Very accurate also. 629 is by far the most comfortable to carry but can be a handful with heavy loads. I hunt with the Redhawk and use the 629 for woods and farm carry.
 
Have you ever noticed that anytime the subject of 44mag revolvers comes up Ala Dan raves about his S&W 629-5 Classic with a 5" barrel? Well, I noticed this and it persuaded me to go with the 629 classic with a 5" barrel. Man I am glad I did it truly is a great gun(very accurate too). So I would like to take this time to suggest the 629 Classic, and I would also like to thank Ala Dan. Thanks for the great advice.
 
There really is good reason to rave about the 5" 629 Classics--they are very sweet shooters.

If I were going to shoot a whole lot of hot loads, I'd go with the Ruger; otherwise the Smith. The only Anaconda I've shot was actually scary, not sure how it made it past quality control. The trigger was so light that if you even thought about thinking about beginning to squeeze the trigger, it went boom.
 
Greetings Again All,

Kcustom45, Many thanks for the kind word's. As always,
just sharing good info with my many friend's!:) :cool: :D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I highly recommend a SW 29-2 versus any other 29. The workmanship is phenomenal and the finish second to none. I also own an Anaconda, but it does not compare to my 29-2 or Python (not .44).
 
Well, I'll try Herb

The short answer is that it is a model 29 (3 screw). No longer in production.

The longer answer, if your still reading, is that it's predecessor was the model 29 (4 screw). distinguished by the presents of two screws on the right sideplate. This model was produced from 1957 - 1961 then discontinued.

I assume but do not know (fear not someone here will know and likely someone will disagree but that's OK), that the 29 - 2 (a three screw) took the place of the 4 screw. It continued in production for some time before the "29" came along. It was discontinued in 1991.

Not to be confused with the 629 in current production in stainless.

PigPen
 
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