I've got a couple of Winchester 94s in 44 magnum and love them dearly. I've pretty well decided that I want to get a revolver to go with them and have been looking at Ruger's New Model Blackhawk Bisley Hunter but would appreciate inputs from the group here. I've got a S&W 627 in 357 magnum that's a great shooter, but since I've got a whole bunch of 44 caliber moulds and bullets already, it just seems right to get a revolver to go along with the leverguns.

So, share your opinions, good bad or otherwise on what I should be looking at for my upcoming 44 magnum wheel-gun.

I have a Ruger SBH 5 1/2 inch. It does fine. I have put a lot of rounds thru it and it has held up. I think the Redhawk is too big but I would love to have an old Smith in 44 mag. Can't beat those old Smith triggers.

super blackhawk. Hunter if your going to scope it if not a regular one.

My pick would be Ruger for a target or hunting revolver.
The three bottom revolvers are .44 caliber. Ruger SRH, 7.5 inch. Smith 29, 4 inch and Ruger SBH Hunter, 7.5 inch.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e153/Lumberjak/Picture.jpg

I've never been a single action fan, but the Blackhawks are a tough gun. I shot the Smith 29's for years and Chief is right the triggers are probably the best and when tuned by a smith that knows how even better.

If you plan on using hot loads or pushing the envelope on pressure and bullet weight then my recommendation is the Redhawk or Super Redhawk. These are the toughest guns I've ever used or ever worked on from a gunsmith point of view.

If your going to pack this revolver the four and 5/8 inch super blackhawk is a dandy to pack. The Smith mountian gun is about the next choice. The Redhawk in 5.5 inch is about the limit you can put on your belt and really is more comfortable in a shoulder holster.

I finally went to one of the Taurus Stainless Trackers that weighs 36 oz as a pack in the woods gun, mine is in 41 mag, but you can get it in 44 also.

For a reloader I'd go with the Rugers, their longer cylinder and excellent strength allows you a much wider margin of safety and strength, especially in the Redhawk.

Bottom line is how much are you going to shoot it? If you plan to put lots of rounds thru it the Redhawk is the best. If it's just a pack-along companion piece that doesn't get shot a lot then a lighter gun is better to carry.

When I stopped handgun hunting both my Redhawks went to younger folks that actually hunted. The little Tracker shoots well enough to plink with and often finds it way onto a belt holster to go to the woods with me.

Durned trouble with buying a new gun is there are so many good ones out there. Define exactly what your going to do with that pistol and it'll help with the decision.

Here's the two Redhawks I sold and the Tracker I now carry in the woods.

I highly recommend the S&W model 629. I have one and it is a fantastic gun. I am not a big single action fan either. I guess the most honest reason I can recommend this gun to you is I think it is a quality gun and I really, really like it! I use my .44 to go along with my Marlin. You will love the combo.

I agree with RifleFan. You already have a Smith so you know how nice the triggers are. The Ruger is very strong gun and if your going to use your .44 for hunting I would get a SRH or SBH probably in 7 1/2".

If your just looking for something to shoot I'd go with the Smith in 6".

I have a 629 Classic in 8 3/8" which is a great shooter. But for messing around shooting steel plates, I'd rather have a 6".

Hope this helps.

As a companion piece for the lever guns a single action is the way to go. A Super Blackhawk with a 5 and 1/2 inch barrel is a good compromise size for a hunting/packalong piece. The balance is just about perfect. Try one on for size.

I have a 629 Classic and love it. I have shot the Redhawks and Blackhawks and I like the Smith much better.

I have shot the ruger super black hawk. Its very rugged if you like SA hunting pistols.

I own a SW629 with a 6.5" barallel and a taurus tracker with a 4" barallel. The SW has the best triggers on stock guns bar none.

A primary hunting pistol should have a longer barallel (6.5" minimum). This is especially true for open sights. A backup gun is better on the short side as you will more often have it but not use it (4-5" is acceptable).

If you are mountign a scope, the rugers can't be beat becasue of the integral mounts. Taurus RB is nice, but thet are front heavy and really heavy when a scope is mounted. The longer Redhawk cylider allows longer bullets at more velocity, but is only practical on elk sized game and up. For deer and the likes, standard 44 selections are adequate.

The SW has some scope mounts available, but you have to remove the sights, and it appears a bit on the flimsy side from the ones I've seen.

Smith & Wesson 629 all the way!
A "pre-lock" 5" 629 Classic that would be my pick.
I own Rugers but I love me some S&W's!

I am a huge fan of the .44 Rem Mag cartridge and have two Marlin 1894s in the caliber.

For SA revolvers in this caliber I have a nice collection of them with most converted to Bisley grip frames.

Ruger Super Blackhawk (Bisley conversion) stainless steel 10.5" barrel (superb target gun)

Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter stainless 7.5" barrel and built for my by Gary Reeder (Great hunting revolver)

Ruger Super Blackhawk blue Liberty model 7.5" Mag-Na-Ported, etc. (Excellent brush gun)

Ruger Vaquero 7.5" Blue, with brass grip frame for CAS use

Ruger Bisley Vaquero 5.5" Stainless for CAS use

Ruger Blackhawk Bisley 5.5" stainless (nice carry gun)

Ruger Super Blackhawk (Bisley conversion) 4 5/8" stainless barrel (near perfect size for all day carry)

Ruger Flattop 50th Anniversary 6.5" blue

S&W Model 329PD AirLite 4" barrel (made to be carried a lot and shot a little -- gets carried a lot on my farm)

S&W Model 629-5 6" Classic (my got-to-gun when I am serious)

Any one of the above would be just fine for hunting, but if I am strictly handgun hunting it will be a Ruger and most likely the Super Blackhawk Hunter with the B&L 3000 2-6X scope on it. Lots of variables, though.

Regards,
Rich

I have and still do own several different 44's.

If I were buying one today, my choice would be:

Ruger Redhawk...if double action. This is in my opinon one of the finest 44's ever. I never thought I would see any that would compare until I fired a....

Ruger SBH Bisley Hunter model. WOW what a sixgun. It shot every load I tried very well out to 100 yds with the open sights. I never tried it with a scope. This is a friend's revolver and I was "testing" it for him. Darn near just kept it for mytself.

I had a chance to handle a Ruger Blackhawk Bisley Hunter the other day. I'm sold. Now to figure out how to pay for one. . . I may have to part with a couple of my unfired Winchesters.

I also own both Smith 629 and Super Blackhawk, would hate to pick between the both, the Smith is great, but the Blackhawk is a better shooter, it will shoot 1.5 at 100yds, 4x scope on both. I use the Blackhawk more so I had the trigger smoothed, and the action slicked and had ports lazer cut into the barrel ( 10 inch Barrell ) you wont be sorry for choosing the Ruger, but either one would do you fine.

I would go with the Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter model, even if you don’t want to scope it. The gun just points well and is very accurate. I had an S$W stainless model 629 with an 8+ inch barrel and it was a good gun, but I shot it loose after five years on regular use. The Ruger is very strong and accurate. It is one of the best hunting revolvers I have owned.
I also have the Ruger Blackhawk Bisley 5.5" stainless and it too is a shooter, but I hunt with the hunter model.

How about an older 29 Dirty Harry special? Here is mine made in 1972.

If you shop around, they can be had for less money than a new 629.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/500magnumnut/29-2.jpg

How about an older 29 Dirty Harry special? Here is mine made in 1972.

If you shop around, they can be had for less money than a new 629.


That's a thing of beauty! I was watching the Dirty Harry movie on a DVD the other day and counted the shots in the famous bank robbery scene where he's asks the robber if he's feeling lucky; he had only taken three shots. . . Not to spoil a great movie, but you'd think that they could have figured out how to at least get the shot count correct.

Nice choice with the Hunter. I have the same, but in .45Colt. You will simply be amazed on how well that thing will shoot.

Jim

There is nothing quite like loading a single action revolver, unless it's thumbing shells into the loading gate on a lever action rifle.

I love single actions in general, and Rugers in particular. But I shoot Double Action revolvers much better, especially Smith & Wessons.

My battery of 44 Mag revolvers is:
629 Mountain Gun (4" Lightweight)
629 4" Pinned & Recessed (standard 629)
629 6.5" Classic (underlugged barrel)

629 6.5" Classic (underlugged barrel)
That would be my dream S&W 44; I have its little brother, the 686