I've owned five .44 Magnums over the years; 4 Smith's and a Ruger Flat Top. All were accurate beyond my ability to hold without a scope mounted. All, easily beat my personal definition of good accuracy as less than a 2" group at 25 yds from a rested shooting position.
The Ruger is a 50th Aniversay model with the signature 'flat top' and is a real joy to shoot. With a 6-1/2" bbl. however, it suffers from 'packability' to coin a word. I just don't strap it on for anything short of range sessions. It's easily as accurate as my Smiths and handles both cast and jacketed bullets with aplumb.
Three of the Smiths sport 6 & 6-1/2" barrels and are superbly accurate, had enough weight to allow repeated firing with full house loads but are a PITA to carry unless you're walking. The long barrels make sitting (in autos, tractor, or garden mower) all but impossible. They're strictly range toys, or hauled out to a deer stand, then kept in my lap while hunting.
I've had the 3rd Smith, for two years now and is a new Model 69 with a 4-1/4" barrel. Designed for the "L" frame, and weighing less than 38 oz., it's chambered nevertheless for the .44 Magnum. Smith has graced this model with rubber grips that really soak up the recoil...better by far than anything else Smith has stocked their revolvers...ever, and I've owned them for 50 years now. Accuracy with this new model is all that I could have wished for (see pic) with both .44 Special or Magnum rounds. While others have had trouble with leading with lead alloy bullets, that has not been the case for mine.
But arguably, the best feature of the new model is its weight...and short barrel. It makes carrying it, in any conveyance, an all day comfortable exercise. It's often on my hip while doing chores here on the farm and rides, without digging into my ribs, on the tractor, truck, lawn mower or aboard my mare, Juniper.
While definitely harder in recoil than it's larger, "N" frame safe mates, it's ok for short durations on the range or while hunting. And I'd add, that most .44 Magnums fire far more .44 Special level loads than the full house types, in spite of the crowing of some macho types on the web. Those rubber stocks, while not esthetically as pleasing as good wood, really soak up the pounding.
Now, you're going to hear about that infernal S&W internal lock (IL), and the shrouded barrel...features that I myself don't like...but...and it's a big but...this is one very usable, packable, and superbly accurate revolver...and that trumps the IL and shroud in my bookl In truth, I no longer notice...it's that good. If you're looking for a belt gun, not a range toy, I don't think you can do better.
Here's a pic of the M69 with a representative target (BTW, that's a 1050 fps chrono'd load), and another of it and my Smith M629 with a 5" bbl. Both are equally accurate. Note the similar grips...recoil absorbing for sure. The add'l pics give an indication of the size difference between an "N" and "L" frame. The last pic is of the Ruger Flat Top with a pair of home made walnut grips.
HTH's Rod
Thanks.
