$700 .44spl or magnum?

I own and shoot 3 .44 specials. The Ruger flat top is still available and is a dandy shooter. Just my opinion, if you don't reload, you should and look into casting too.
 
The real question is: If you are looking at both for the same price, why wouldn't you get the one that shoots both?? Leave yourself the option in the future should you decide to ramp up to mags...Comparing apples to apples in terms of frame size and bbl length, there will be very little difference in overall weight and handling between the 2.

The new m69 is kind of a game changer and does bring alot of good things to the table as far as easier carry for a 44cal. It's on my list!
 
The Charter Arms Bulldog. An old one with the muzzle polished. 19 ounces of pure terror for an evil doer.
If your pants end up around your ankles you've done something wrong. Like get caught. snicker
 
StemcelRoy's got a very good suggestion. I have a current production M629 with a 5" tube on it that does equally well with either home loaded .44 Specials or Magnums. It's heavy, that's for sure, but when shooting that weight doesn't seem so bad. Ruger makes some beautiful .44's...both magnum and specials that I especially like...hell, I've got 'em all with the standard grip. But without handloading the .44 Specials are not for those that have to work for a living.

So pick your own poison, DA or SA, they're all good...never had a bad one of either S&W nor Ruger. Here's my favorite this afternoon...the choice varies almost weekly...this is a .44 Special, 4-5/8" bbl, Ruger Flat Top...Rod

 
I picked up a 4" Ruger Red Hawk in 44mag. It's fun to shoot and reload ammo for. I also have a 44mag Henry rifle that is fun to shoot.
 
44mag in a red hawk 7 1/2" I also got a 44mag Marlin that I shoot the same ammo I reload.That is the thing about reloading you can match what you like to what you have .
 
Last Model 24-3 3" I saw, the Lew Horton version from the 1980s, was at my gunstore in Virginia for $750. That was maybe 2 years ago.

I was in the process of buying a Colt .32 at the time, and just couldn't swing it, even though I desperately wanted it.

Next time I was in, it was gone. I've seen them pushing $1000 on Gun Broker.

Around 2001 or so I picked up this Model 24-3 target from a shop in Pennsylvania via Gun Broker. It cost me a shade under $400 by the time shipping and fees were factored in. Came with the box and tools. :)

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For a while I was a S&W collector. I have as many 44 Specials as I do magnums and like all of them.

If I weren't collecting I would get the magnum, it's more versatile. It can shoot a special or mag.

Ammo for the Special is hard to come by and expensive. If you aren't going to reload for the special go with a magnum.
 
There is one reason to purchase a revolver in .44S&W Spc vs one in .44Rem Mag that I can think of: a few years [or decades?] ago, S&W capitulated to the cries from all of the dozen or so .44Spc fans out there and made up a .44Spc on their L frame [5rd cyl]; I believe the version anyone who wants to carry the .44Spc regularly would want, however, was only offered as a distributor special [3" barrel; all the regular factory models had 4"+...]

So let's hold one high for the 3" 696, and remember that it probably still weighed as much and was one shot down on the 629 Mtn. Gun in .44Rem Mag... but surely was sweeter shooting!
 
My got my first .44 Magnum in the sixties. It was a Flat-top Ruger Blackhawk with a 5 inch (or so), barrel. I hurt my hand to shoot it. Shot it anyway for years with 23 grains of 2400 under a 236 grain hollow point Lyman 429421...for years. Finally found that, unless hunting deer, there was more joy in shooting the same bullet with 7.0 grains of Unique (Hercules)...a mild .44 Special level round. After that, hardly shot magnum loads again. Therefore, if you do not expect to hunt with it, take advantage of my experience and just get the .44 Special...no point in getting or shooting the magnum...it will be a better choice for everything save, hunting. On the other hand, if you think that you are going to get into hunting with it, by all means get the magnum. I would not take the advice of those who state that you should go with the .44 Magnum because you can shoot both .44 Magnum and .44 Specials in it...a jack of all trades is almost never the master of any. .44 Magnum guns are usually on N-frames and/or have long barrels. A .44 Spl. can now be had in the L frame, and usually have four inch or shorter barrels.
 
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