Which .44 Magnum?

C

Covert Mission

New member
I'm interested in having one .44 mag revolver. It might get some use for hunting, in which case something with a 5"-6" bbl seems good, and maybe an easy way to mount a scope/dot sight. It will likely be used more often when hiking/camping in the MT area, where bears exist (not that I want to shoot one, esp. w/handgun).

My first thought is that the S&W .44mag Mountain gun (even in the wake of today's cave-in to Clinton), with its lighter weight 4" barrel would be good for a gun carried more than shot. But, the heavier 5"-6" would be betterfor hunting. I'm not sure whether the extrat weight penalty of the longer barrel is worth worrying about. Is it the best compromise/choice?

Thanks
 
Sorry...I got lazy and posted this before searching the archive. Mea culpa. Here's at least one thread on the subject already here:

[Link to invalid post]

[This message has been edited by Covert Mission (edited March 17, 2000).]
 
Covert Mission; I've had 44mags come and go but If I were to do it one more time it would be a Ruger Redhawk 5' blued. Imho it's the best compremise. Seems to me it's just a nice gun for the woods. Good Luck, j.s.
 
Mr. Covert;

If you are going to carry a handgun in bear country, get the biggest, baddest, FO/FO there is; a Glock 20. 16 rounds of 10 mm 200 grain solid bullets may possibly take down a BIG bear if you break him down. You ain't goina kill no BIG bear with no handgun, but you may stop him or her.

BTW Many of the rangers in Yellowstone Park carry Glock 20's for just that reason.



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Uncle Jack

"If you put the first two where they belong, everything else is rhetoric and theory."
 
Read this post and laughed..........own a M20. For sale........

I also own 5.5" stainless Redhawks in all four calibers.
If you reload I suggest the 5.5" 45LC version; if you are limited to 'store-bought' ammo I suggest the 44 MAG.

The 45LC will deliver 300g XTP-HP's at 1300fps easily, and it can do better, even with heavier bullets, both jacketed and cast.
The 44 is only slightly less potent, yet it too can deliver 300g bullets at 1300fps+.

Both calibers and launch platforms are field-proven, and Redhawks are the most durable pistol of their type.

Mine wear Millett orange-ramp front sights and Pachmayr Decelerators.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
I have the Super Redhawk with a 7 1/2 barrel. It has a Leupold scope on it and is very, very accurate. I kinda like the half moon cuts in the top strap for scope mounting and It comes with the rings from the factory. I don't care to confront a bear with it but it has taken a few deer with no problem.

Joefo
 
I would like to second the Ruger Super Redhawk. Either in 44MAG of 454Casul. To HE!! with S&W!!!!!!

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BOYCOTT SMITH AND WESSON!!!!!
The only justice for a traitor is at the end of a rope!!!!
Off my meds (quit smoking), armed to the teeth, and loose on an unsuspecting society!!!
 
Mr. WESHOOT2;

Don't mean to be argumentative, but I was just trying to pass along the conventional wisdom of most of the professional Fish & Wildlife personel whom I know who work in and around bears in Montana and Wyoming.

While I agree with you that there are a lot of better cartridges than the 10mm, the bottom line is that 16 rounds of 200 grain solids at 1200 fps are going to do you a lot more good than 6 rounds of anything else, and when charged by a pissed off Mama Grizzly, or her exhusband, it is highly unlikely that anyone will have time to reload.

It is entirely possible that you have had more actual experience with large bears than I. If that be the case, I will defer to the expert.

BTW How much do you want for the G20??

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Uncle Jack

"If you put the first two where they belong, everything else is rhetoric and theory."

[This message has been edited by Uncle Jack (edited March 18, 2000).]
 
If you can't do it with one or two in the woods as a bear closes on you, then the rest is academic. Six is more than enough. That being said, I see no reason except bragging at the bar to bring a high capacity "bear gun" into the woods.

Erik
 
The Mountain Revolver is far too small for use as a hunting revolver, at least for big game. It's light and carries easily, but recoils too heavily for use with full power hunting loads.

For all around use, I really like the Ruger Super Redhawk. Although the trigger is a bit heavy and rough from the factory, it is easily cleaned up with a budget tuneup and, due to its two spring system, is then capable of the finest of trigger pulls. It sports a longer than standard cylinder (.050-inch longer than Super Blackhawks or any S&W) that allows the use of longer ammo, which allows greater power, and is also stronger than any other six shooter out there. It also accepts a scope in the most versatile manner, allowing it to be installed or removed in moments without a change in the point of impact.

They are also extremely accurate. With our 330-grainer at 1385-fps, the SRH will routinely group 6-shots into about an inch at 50-yds! Two MOA from any revolver is spectacular! They also seem to be the most rugged revolvers we have ever fired, with our shop guns digesting over 30,000 rounds each (3) without a single malfunction or failure.

Best regards, Randy Garrett www.garrettcartridges.com
 
Super Redhawk (SRH) and Randy Garrett's loads. The SRH is substantially wrought, accurate, and reliable. Garret's loads are indeed more accurate (precise) in my SRH than anything else I've tried. I use my SRH and Garrett loads for deer hunting, and that combination does the trick. One shot, one kill, meat in the freezer.
 
Uncle Jack,

My M20 has:

ARS grip reduction
Jarvis hard-fit barrel (and stock barrel)
LightningStrike titanium striker
3.5lb trigger group
Heinie serrated-ramp front sight (with Millett orange-ramp NOT installed)
MMC adjustable rear sight
(4)factory drop-free hi-caps, (2) with Grams +4 basepads
(3)factory non-drop-free hi-caps, (1) with Grams +4 basepad
spare parts

retail- $1800

ON SALE NOW! $1250

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
WESHOOT2

Thanks for the response. Everything except the grip reduction works for me. It's taken me long enough to learn how to shoot Glocks with standard grip configuration. If you wait a little longer, the mags alone will probably fetch $1250.00

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Uncle Jack

"If you put the first two where they belong, everything else is rhetoric and theory."
 
I have enough hi-caps for different guns to put my kids through college............


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"all my mags are factory mags"
 
Don't forget to look at Dan Wesson, I have one in 44Mag with a 4 inch and 8 inch barrel. Mine shoot 2.5 to 3.5 inch groups at 100 yards off sandbags.

Markk9
 
Covert, if you're seriously concerned with the bear problem (which is well warranted in that location) you should look into guns that can take extremely hot .45 Colt loads (Ruger Super Blackhawk or Super Redhawk or Freedom Arms or a .454 Casull. While I'm sure that a .44 Mag would do for most problems, it'd be my luck to p!ss off the biggest, meanest, mama bear in the land, so I'd want to be the biggest, meanest, hombre. I have a Casull, and if you're worried about recoil, it's really not that bad.
 
Covert Mission, I just bought a Ruger Redhawk in stainless with a 5 1/2" barrel. It is my favorite handgun, very accurate, rugged, and pure fun to shoot. I highly recommend this gun. I went with the 5 1/2" barrel as a compromise because of ease of carrying and yet suitable for hunting. This gun will never be for sale - if you get one you'll never be sorry! :D
 
My .44 is a S&W 29 that I had cut to 5", MagNaPorted, and tuned by Andy Horvath. Laminated Hogue grips. Very accurate with the Federal 300 gr hardcast hunting rounds.

It's not as strong as a Ruger Redhawk, but it carries ALMOST as good as a mountain gun, but shoots ALOT easier. The 5" bbl doesn't poke you in the ribs seated like it did when it was a 6". And it's concealable "around town" when I'm on a hunting trip. Works real good for me.
 
Uncle Jack, pardon me, but if serious hunters took to your beliefs, then there would be a lot more dead guys around. When hunting Buffalo (not Cape Buffalo anymore, as they don't live in the Cape), most hunters will carry a double rifle or a bolt action...not a machine gun. It is well known that the Buffalo is one of the meanest animals there are when hurt, but the safest way to kill one is by standing your ground and place great shots, rather than by spray and pray. You're in the same realm when dealing with angry bears, and by the way, .44 Mags, .45 Colts and .454 Casulls have taken many large bears.
 
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