Searching for 44 mag

A

Airman Basic

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Possibly an impossible task, but I'm looking for a Smith or Ruger, single or double action, hopefully 4 to 5 inch barrel, though that could be remedied with a saw, I guess. A Smith 29 or Ruger Blackhawk would be perfect, but open to others. Anybody see some around?
 
Why, yes, I've seen some around. In Ruger, Smith, and some Ubertis. They seem to be plentiful. You lookin' for new, or used?

Last time I was in a pawn shop I saw a couple of Hawes in .44 Magnum also.

Bob Wright
 
And there's a little more involved than a hack saw in barrel shortening. Muzzle needs to be squared and re-crowned, front sight needs to be re-located. Unless you're real good, a job best left to a gunsmith.

Bob Wright
 
None around here. I would love to have price comparisons. The ones I have seen online run close to a grand for a smith, or over 600 for a Ruger, new or used. Is this how it is most everywhere?
BTW, I've had barrels cut before, by professionals, but that was years before you could get Rugers with 4.58 barrels. Probably the cost would scare me nowadays.
 
Airman Basic - 'south of interstate 20' covers a lot of territory. Where are you? Also if you ARE an airman in basic training and not in your home state I could see where that could add some problems to your search but maybe some benefits too if the base exchange handles handguns.
 
I'm in Mississippi. Studying an offer from TN, 6 inch used for $650. Whatchall think. Best method to assure satisfaction from both sides?
 
I use a 7.5 inch Ruger for deer hunting, but for HD and carry, I've got a S&W 6 inch and a 4 inch. I've had a couple 5's, and I think I'd be happiest with a 3 inch. A 4 inch isn't too bad, If my dealer would sell his 3 inch I'd buy it. 5's & 6's pinch too much when seated. They drop below the light jacket bottom. 5's and 6's can be a bit nose heavy shooting single handed. Even the 4 inch can be a bit sensitive to where the holster is along the belt. A 3 inch would be most user friendly even though it seems like a guy would want to have a larger revolver. I think a 4 inch stainless S&W is not a bad choice. I use my 4 a lot more than a 5 or 6. If I had a 3, I wouldn't carry my 3 inch 357 Mag at all.
 
Get one while you can. Especially an older one.

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My 629-2, the one shown, is a 4 inch standard. I load 240 gr simi-jacketed HPs at around 950 fps from that 4 inch for most uses. Plenty for hog. I only use top loads if I go in bear country and there ain't no bear country in Texas (well there are black bears but that just isn't the same as the Grizzly by far.)

Just throw on the El Paso 1942 holster, six or so spare rounds, and a field knife and you are good to go in the woods.

Nothing like a good N frame.

Deaf
 
Looking for a fun shooter, really. As a cop, haven't carried anything heavier than a Colt Cobra in 20 years. N frame would probably break my back for every day use.
 
Ruger snubs...

I'd check out the Ruger Super Redhawk. It's a robust, well engineered & a popular wheel gun. I like the snub AK version(Dwayne Johnson uses a .454 snub if Faster www.IMFdb.org )
The S&W 629, 29 & rare, light-weight 329 line are well made but many disdain the "lawyer locks". :mad:
The Nightguard S&W .44 is cool.
Taurus produced a few .44magnums but many gun owners & armed citizens do not care for Taurus firearms, save the Judge .410/.45LC revolvers.
The QC is iffy at best in 2013.

ClydeFrog
 
I highly recommend the four inch Ruger Redhawk. It is the John Deere of revolvers. Brute strong, reliable as can be and very accurate. And you don't see "S&W only loads"... But there are Ruger only for a reason.

The Redhawk trigger can be vastly improved as well
 
didn't john deeres go downhill, I heard they were living off there past reputation :D
but in al seriousness, cant go wrong with an old ruger
 
Massad Ayoob; lawyer locks...

Smith & Wesson was purchased by a AZ based corporation in the early 2000s.
The new owners/mgmt changed a few designs and to reduce civil lawsuits/make elected officials & police chiefs happy, started to add security locks. :rolleyes:
Author & tactics trainer Massad Ayoob put out a few gun press items in the 2000s about how the Sc & N frame type Smith and Wesson magnums would break or malfunction. :mad:
Ayoob(a reserve/sworn LE captain) told the story of a police investigator who purchased a S&W security lock 329 .44magnum to replace a model 629 Backpacker he'd carry on duty. The cop's new .44magnum misfired several times. He went back to carrying the older S&W N frame Backpacker snub.

CF
 
"Studying an offer from TN, 6 inch used for $650."

What brand?

For all-around use, I don't think you can beat the Redhawk.

My 3.5" custom Redhawk is, while too heavy for EDC, is amazingly accurate at the range and a real hoot to shoot.

Taurus makes some 5-round models that are easier to carry (I have one) and their reliability is (I've heard) better than the general Taurus reputation. I've had no problems with mine.

BTW, that "make elected officials...happy" caused S&W a whole raft of heartburn.

Whatever you choose, you'll have a great time with the 44.

Will
 
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