Quick question about cost effectve .44s

M

MeekAndMild

New member
The answer for this question seems to change ever year or so which is why I'm asking it now. The answer used to be S&W then it was Ruger then it was Taurus.

What is the most cost effective, dependable and 'good' double action .44 magnum?
 
I don't know, but the word on the street is that Taurus's quality is much better now than in decades past. Certainly they're less expensive.
 
I just purchased a Taurus Model 44B6 and am impressed, The lock up is rock solid and the cylinder to barrel gap was at .003. The trigger pull is much better then older models, not as good as S&W's but then again I paid three hundred less then a smith.
 
.44 mag, not at all; much prefer discussion to debate. I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk which I like a whole lot, have shot many S&Ws and Tauruses (Taurii?) and Colts plus others through the years and find you can have good and bad prices, good and bad guns of any brand or style.

But if you want a debate I'll stir the fires. I really like the Blackhawk, as its handle absorbs shock when it is shot so it doesn't hurt as much as a double action. But it was bought back when guns were cheaper. 'Way cheaper. In looking for a DA to carry when I go on my great bear hunt in a couple of years I'm frustrated at the huge price jump where the only advantage is being able to shoot faster one handed when you're being eaten by a bear. http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159013


dan, let me be the first to welcome you to TFL. :D My brother in law has a big Taurus as well and really likes it. I have a little bitty one, a .38, which is very nice, so I can see your point about quality. But what are the realistic price ranges for such a gun? Smiths are over $800, which waters my eyes just thinking about it. But you can sometimes luck into a used one easier than a used Taurus.
 
Most cost-effective DA .44?
Ruger Redhawk. Blued models can be had new here for $442.

Most cost effective .44 period? Super Blackhawk.
 
MeekAndMild,

I think the first consideration you should be making is what .44 magnum load you are going to carry in your gun. This could very well cut your options down a little. With an animal like a bear, you are going to want a heavy hard cast bullet that will penetrate with lots of force. These type of loads produce lots of pressure, not all .44 magnums are going to be strong enough to handle them.

I personally own a M44 Taurus in the 12” barrel. I enjoy it, have owned it for a few years and shoot it every Saturday. It has held up, but I have never loaded it heavy. I also own two Smith’s, a 629 4” and a 4” Mountain Gun. I also don’t load either of these guns heavy. While these actions are not weak, I don’t have the same confidence with them that I do with other products. This brings me to my suggestion.

Since you have enjoyed the Blackhawk, I would suggest the Ruger Redhawk. The action will shoot the heaviest loads as much as you want to shoot them and still be reliable. Add Ruger’s stellar customer support, durability, economical price, and you have your choice IMHO. Good luck.

.44mag

P.S. My earlier post was regarding the explosions from the S&W crew that usually happen when the name Ruger comes out. :) And, I love my .44 Super Blackhawk, no debate there.
 
Model 29 S&W for double action, Old Model Super Blackhawk for single action. I don't like taurus, I got burned once, never again. I've heard, mainly through this forum taurus has improved, for them to stay in business they had to. My choices are based on resale values, plus they kinda stand out.
 
MeekAndMild back in the old days people would have to spend 6 to 8 times for a gun compared to what they made each week. We have it easy to these days. Compared to the old days and what I make now. I would have to spend about $6000 for a lever gun :eek:
 
Its really hard to say which is stronger. I like the smooth cylinder on the Blackhawk which looks stronger than fluted ones. Thing is, I'm working up to going on a bear hunt either this summer or the next one and after reading about so many bear related deaths I'm just not confident in my ability to shoot six shots in a single action very quickly, especially if I'm being chewed on. So I need a gun which will hold up shooting six hammerheads or the like one handed as fast as the trigger can be pulled.

I've mentioned my brother in law's big Taurus several times here in the last couple of years. It is a .454 Casull caliber, which to my mind would seem to be a pretty powerful load compared with the .44. I'm thinking that maybe if a gun was built for .454 and they use the same frame for .44 that must be a strong gun.

Concerning the S&W, I really don't know much about them except that the first .38 I shot was over 40 years ago and I've shot several since and never had problems shooting them. Only problem I ever saw was a SS .357 cal 686 which had cracks in the rifling. But that is a MAJOR problem so since I saw it I've wondered about their stainless steel guns.
 
44 mag, well ok here is what I think

Rugers are very good guns, strong beyond doubt.
but there triggers are and never will be a smith.
Last, if you want an N frame get a Smith all others are vega's
 
I gotta go with what Magnum88C said.

Original poster said cost effective, not which has sweetwst trigger (S&W). I can learn to live with the ruger triggers which aint all THAT bad, and I know the Rugers will be around for my great grandchildren.
 
Edward429451,

Amen brother. I have my grandfather's Mark I and still shoot it on the weekends. It is the first pistol my 12 yr old shot and will continue to shoot until she is ready for a heavier caliber. Four generations and counting.....

Have a good night.

.44mag
 
What is the most cost effective, dependable and 'good' double action .44 magnum?
Click to expand...
A used Smith and Wesson Model 329PD.
New they sell for big bucks.
Used (1 or 2 times) they should be hitting the shelves pretty soon now at some very reasonable prices.
The only "wild card" here is the current selection of .44spl. ammunition.
Back when the *Dirty Harry* craze was sweeping up all the Model 29 Smiths, .44spl ammo wasn't all that common and was pretty expensive.
Today, if the magnum is too much, there is some good and affordable special ammunition available.

A lot of people bought the .44, shot the .44,,, and dumped it because it was too much for them. Many of them only had a few rounds fired through them. They were essentialy new guns, but discounted deeply because the new ones weren't selling all that great anymore.

The 329PD should be just about ready now to fall into that catagory,,,or at least that's what I'm counting on. My search for a used one is going to commence in earnest somewhere around tax time, when I'm hoping some poor shlep will need a few bucks to pay their taxes, and thier "too much to handle" gun makes for the perfect item to sell to raise the loot.
 
FWIW,

Find a clean, used Monson Mass. Dan Wesson Model 44 or 744 if you prefer stainless. Don't worry about barrel length that's a 5 minute swap.
These guns ruled the IHMSA shoots usually taking the top 5 places in most matches. They are strong, as any, more accurate than most, and usually cost about $100 less than a S&W Model 29.
Only drawback, Dan Wessons are for shooting, not collecting, if you swap guns frequently is the resale is low. That said the 44 and 744 Monson guns in good shape do hold their value better than most other DW's. If you plan on keeping the gun you'll have a great shooter.

Take Care
 
You know, a lot of people pooh-pooh the Ruger triggers, especially compared to the S&W line. However, the blued Redhawk I bought not to long ago came out of the box with a better trigger (lighter AND smoother) than any of my newer Smiths. I don't know if I got a "factory freak" or if S&W hand-crafting has gone down the tubes THAT bad (S&Ws are still sweet, don't get me wrong).
 
I got the Taurus 44B6 to the range yesterday and was very happy with it, the SA trigger was very light and crisp, as good as my S&W Model 14-3 but the DA was a little different kinda felt like it got a little harder in the middle and then got easier just as it let go...........but I think it's Ok I will just have to get used to it.

It was accurate I was able to go 25 yard slow fire and was in the black with 17 of 18 shots :D Can't ask for better then that for a 4 hundred dollar gun.

I think the only thing I did not like was the grips. I think I will have to change them, I was feeling the recoil after a box and a half or fun :eek:

It's a keeper!!
 
I have a Raging Bull .454 Casull and I love it. I gave up on S&W years ago and prefer Taurus for quality control and customer service. Mine was a "Demo Model" in a gunstore/shooting range and although it was new, someone had messed up the crane screw. I made a repair that allowed me to shoot it, but I never settle for less than perfect. I called them and a screw came one fine day : No Charge. A fine company for me.
I like the 44 Special a lot and this 44 magnum would handle both rounds. A great choice for "Dirty Harry" work!
 
Last couple of Smiths I bought new, it seems that lawyers designed the triggers ... Dry fire and trip to local "smith" fixed 'em tho.

Double action trigger on my Ruger SBH bought a year or two ago ain't all that bad. Single action pull out of the box was quite acceptable for my purposes.
 
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