Ruger SRH Alaskan vs. S&W 629 Backpacker

Get the Ruger Alaskan. It will save you money and the trigger will be just as good as the S&W out of the box. The amazing S&W trigger out of the box is thing of yester-years.
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EdInk

I respectfully disagree on the triggers there is no way they compare. Even though I would agree the Smith triggers are not what they were in the 50's and 60's the Ruger triggers on this specific platform still do not come close. And considering what this sort of Revolver would be used for I would still not alter the trigger. The trigger actually got the worst grade in my review compared to the rest of the characteristics.

Quoted from my review

Trigger Grade = GoodThe trigger on the Alaskan like most double action Ruger’s has a long pull. The pull was smooth, crisp and consistent on each pull. The double action pull on this revolver was some what heavy but that is subjective, this pull weighed in at 12 pounds with my RCBS trigger guage. The single action pull was very nice with not much over travel and weighed in at 4pounds on the trigger guage. A friend and I talked about the heavy trigger pull and the possibilities of why. His thoughts were it may be needed to consistently ignite the small rifle magnum primers which are used with 454 ammunition. Though this is heavy compared to other revolvers I have reviewed on this site I suspect and trust Ruger has a reason and I will not be attempting to change anything. Again the trigger does deliver a consistent feel each and every time and with more trigger time I am sure I will get used to it. It can also be very detrimental to your health to have a gunsmith do a action job to lighten the pull, be in the backwoods of Alaska and stumble upon a grizzly and have to pull the trigger only to discover a round will not go off. As Allstate insurance would say your in good hands with the Alaskan as it is out of the box. Seems fitting considering the Alaskan was developed as an insurance policy you hope you will never have to use.
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the dealer told me he can also get me the 454 srha for the same price, but from what i am hearing the 44 is a more common round, (even more so than 45lc) and i dont like worry about ammo shortages. and i havent started reloading yet, but i will be come the early part of 2013.
 
Buy the one without THE LOCK.

The Alaskan's trigger is as good, or better, than the trigger on my S&W Performance Center 327 revolver. It is much better than that of the J-Frames I have. Frankly, I prefer the Ruger since I can buy a $25 kit and replace a few springs.

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“Buy the one without THE LOCK.”

Sad but true… in the past decade, this incredibly wrong decision has likely cost S&W 20% in revolver sales, which Ruger has clearly benefited from. Unbelievable.

As for J-frames and your 327, the PC 327 should have a better trigger and J-frames are today out-engineered by Rugers new (out of the box) small frame revolvers which have excellent DA triggers. Puzzling.

But there is hope for S&W…after all your 44 Mag Alaskan does not come with an unfluted cylinder (unless you get the 454 Casull, which btw is ammo affordable if handloading), it only needs paw prints and a bears face to snare me.

In the meantime S&W can only hope that Ruger continues making small marketing errors like that wonderfully huge barrel banner – ‘ READ INSTRUCTION MANUAL’

Classy that, very classy. Wonder if it scrubs off …hmm… could always spray paint it black …
 
well i do believe I am just going to go with the ruger srha in 44, and i do plan on painting it black.. very similar to this one..
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Now that is a seriously good looking gun !

I'd do it total black, like the S&W Night Guards, and (bonus) I wouldn't have to remove any lock.

Well I know where my Christmas money is going this holiday season.



PS: You think Ruger would offer it in black.
 
it would be nice if they offered it in black.. and this is my christmas present, (albeit early). this is another image i found that is actually a SRH but i cut the barrel off to appear as a srha..


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me too, and my plan is to have it coated with teflon and buy the grips. although i may short cut it and just duracoat it matte black for now and eventually send it out for the teflon coating.
 
Ok, so i bought the srha 44 today. Thing feels great in my hand, although didnt take her home yet. At any rate since this is my first revolver is there supposed to be any play at all when the hammer is cocked. There is a minute amount of play but the shop said thats normal. Just curious thanks.
 
Did you say list.... next is a remy 870, xd9 5", ruger lcr357, taurus raging judge, 2nd AR for some 3 gun type work, ruger m77 hawkeye .375, marlin 1895gbl in 45-70, ruger gp100 3", Arsenal ak47,3rd 10/22, and more. I have to limit myself to no more than 2 per year. Ive gone far beyond that in 2012.
 
Ok, so i bought the srha 44 today. Thing feels great in my hand, although didnt take her home yet. At any rate since this is my first revolver is there supposed to be any play at all when the hammer is cocked. There is a minute amount of play but the shop said thats normal. Just curious thanks.
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There is some backward movement of the hammer when I apply pressure to it. It is nothing new and seems to be part of the design.
 
tomr,

I should have clarified better, my question was when the hammer is cocked the cylinder has a slight amount of side to side movement.
 
Very cool man thanks. And by play in the cylinder i mean i can rotate the cylinder back and forth ever so slightly; like a hairs width in either direction.
 
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