Advice on Buying a Magnum Revolver

C

COASTER

New member
Hi folks
I am looking for advice in purchasing a magnum calibe rrevolver. I own a 38 special S&W and am quite happy with it and am feeling the need to try a larger caliber bigger than a 38. I primarily want the bigger bore for the range and perhaps hunting- since the 38 SP serves as my defense weapon.

Is it better to buy new or used? 41 or 44 Mag? 454 casull? I really do not want a barrel longer than 5 inches as it gets too cumbersome. Is a S&W 329 PD Scandium a good shooter? I also want to stay below 700 bucks incl.taxes.

I would appreciate advice from the rich experience out there.

Thanks for reading my posting and Have a Great Shoot !
 
Definatly go with .44 mag, .41 mag ig decent, but isn't very popular and not a very wide selection for it
 
My advice would be to shop around for a used S&W 629 .44 Magnum. (That is exactly what I've done actually.) I personally prefer a 6" on the bigger calibers (just for shootability), though I am keeping my eyes open for a 4" .44 Magnum. The .44 will do just about anything you need a handgun to do. Actually, if I were making a decision to have just one handgun, it would be a 4" 629 in either the Mountain Gun profile or the standard half-lug.

Good luck and happy hunting!
 
Do NOT buy a 329! They have their place but it isn't in the hands of someone who is just "getting to know" magnum revolvers. You can always go back to it after you have mastered a 29/629/Redhawk etc. Starting out with a 329 would virtually guarantee you a very strong flinch. Not to mention getting discouraged entirely and taking up golf.


It is fun to talk about 41 and 44, etc but you have just been shooting .38's. The _logical_ progression would be to a nice .357 Magnum. It is a whole different critter than your .38. The only way you could realistically think about jumping straight to 41 or 44 is if you are going to handload for it from the start. You can then load light loads from the beginning and slowly work your way up.

Don't start off with some big booming cannon or you will just get frustrated. I don't meet one person in fifty who shoots a .44 Magnum that comes even close to the potential of their gun. They flinch all over the place and are happy to get a six inch group at 25 yards. Getting to be a good handgun shooter is a progression; don't try to skip ahead and expect to get the same results. And it can be hard to "unlearn" bad habits once you acquire them!

Gregg
 
The S&W 629 44 Magnum is a great gun. It's my favorite.

The 629 is a big-boomer. She is going to have almost three to four times the muzzle energy of your 38 Special. Probably four to five times the recoil as well. I would encourage you to rent one at a range before you buy it. You might not like it after a dozen or so shots. It will take a serious toll on your firing hand. By the end of one 50-round box of ammo your hand will be numb:-)

I don't want to scare you. I just advise you to shoot one before you buy one. Also...the 44 Magnum is not going to make you a lot of friends at the shooting range. Most people seem to get very irrate at the shock waves when they are shooting next to you.

But she sure is a hoot to shoot !!!!!
 
Hunting view point

If you are going to use it for hunting the longer sight radius is a must. The extra weight from the length of the barrel will also help to reduce the jump of the barrel and felt recoil. I would suggest a 44 Mag with at least a 6 inch barrel. It will allow you to practice with the 44 spc for cheaper and increased range time. I would discourage the .357 for hunting unless you are very proficient with it. A .44 mag will allow you to take almost anything in the lower 48. From what I hear the .41 Mag is a good cartridge but you are limited on model choice and ammo availability.
 
You can't go wrong with either the 44 or the 41. I own a 5.5 inch barrel Ruger Redhawk .41 and it is just about perfect -- well for me at least. It is the right size with very manageable recoil. The most important thing for you to do before you buy one is to shoot a couple different magnums .357, .41, and .44 in different makes and barrel lengths. I wouldn't buy one before I was sure of what I liked and could handle. I have known two or three shooters who were gung ho about a new .44 Mag until they got it and tried to shoot more than ten times, some folks just don't enjoy the recoil.



Matt
 
Love my 5.5 inch Ruger Redhawk...it is one of my many keepers...I use it for nearly everything...for HD I would use .44 Specials...for hunting the Magnums from Federal in 300 grain cast bullets...very versitile caliber and the Redhawk really tames recoil...My next handgun will be another .44...I cannot imagine keeping house without a couple of .44 magnums around....
 
Just a mention about the * other magnums*

- .45 LC Ruger Blackhawk

Use the rest of the $700 to buy into a reloading press and gear.

The .45 Colt can be loaded from mild to wild (past the .44mag and just below the .454) in the BH.

- Smith 610 in 10mm.

(329 is a dandy lightweight ,,,with the emphasis on lightweight. Best to get some trigger time in with a 629 before thinking about the 329)
 
Simple and honest advice, avoid any S&W with a 3 in front. I don't care for 629s that much either. I prefer 5 to 10 inch barrels. 357 Magnum or 41 Magnum or 44 Magnum? What have you got? 38 Special. The 357 Magnum can shoot 38 Special. 41 Magnum is like my beloved 44-40, great, hardhitting and not that available. 44 Magnum is also able to shoot 44 Russian, 44 Special and 44 Magnum. There are more choices used than new. I like 5" barrels best. If I were going to buy a Magnum, it would be S&W, 357 Magnum and an N frame. There aren't many choices there. The best made for my taste was the M28 Highway Patrolman.
 
Get a used Ruger .41 Blackhawk. They are cheap. Usual gunsmith comments apply (get it inspected) Get a decent reloader for the caliber and start out at about 800 FPS with a light bullet.

In about a year you can work up to full magnum loads, and have a lot of fun.

Geoff
Who isn't having much fun, I'm working too hard, and relaxing too little. :(
 
if you look

Best might be used Redhawk in 44 Magnum (huge ammo selection). Plenty around for not-too-much, Millett orange-ramp front sight blade, Hogue or Pachmayr stocks.
 
quick price note

I have been pricing the Super Redhawks in my area and they are running $600 new for a 9.5 inch barrel in .454 Casull.
 
I've owned 454's, 44 Mags but the 4" 500 Mag is the best shooting Mag I've ever owned. It's got less felt recoil than either the 454 or the 44 Mag and it's a lot more powerful.

Smitty

500mag1031a.jpg
 
.41 Mag....the way to fly

I have a nickle S&W 4" .41 mag. ACCURATE to a fault and fun to shoot. I hand load all my ammo, so I can make this round hot or mild or anywhere inbetween. I use Hodgden TitGroup powder for light loads and never a hang fire....Blue Dot for the heavy stuff. This gun has never disappointed me. Those who don't reload...the 44 mag might be a better choice.

Advice on buying.....as a owner of 10 or so differnet hand guns, consider this carefully. Go to a gun store that has an indoor range. Look at the used guns, ask to shoot the two or three you think you are interested in buying. Two identical guns, made at the same factory, can shoot way different groups. Get the one that groups the tightest from a rest. It doesn't matter how big or how fast the bullet, if it misses the mark, it does you no good.

This way, you save a little cash, and get a tack driver that you will be happy with for a long time. (Also....go for stainless if at all possible). My 2 cents.
 
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