44mag itch

Clifjr · Aug 10, 2018

I’ve owned a few 44 mags over the years. My first handgun was a blued Ruger Redhawk that I bought used from the old Rockville Trading Post. It had a red dot sight on it and a 7 1/2 barrel. This was in the late 80’s or early 90’s and I wish I still had it. My current collection includes a Desert Eagle, S&W 629 8 3/4 barrel & a Ruger Super Redhawk 9 1/2 barrel which is my favorite. I know not many people like the SRH but I’ve always liked them as the barrel reminds me of the big battleship guns!

SavageShooter · Aug 10, 2018

firemn260 I also have two Dan Wessons. An original high gloss blue Vented Heavy 8" barrel with extra shroud and barrel. Second generation stainless VH 8". I bought the first one in 1979 when I was 22. The second in the early 90's when I had my FFL the good old days. I put Pachmeyer rubber grips on them. I'll never get rid of them both are like new. I do handload and shoot reduced loads and .44 Spl. through them. Take your time choosing one. Check Gun Broker I'm always on there. I've made three good purchases on there since last year. These were out of production in excellent condition for a good price. Good luck with your decision.

fidelity · Aug 10, 2018

If you want blued, here's a pre-lock 29-5 ...

http://summitgunbroker.com/s-w-29-5.html

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

ADCOLE · Aug 10, 2018

Another Ruger Super Blackhawk 10.5" barrel. Sole purpose for this gun was to hunt hogs.

Jimbob2.0 · Aug 10, 2018

Generally I prefer .45LC but here is my .44 They are getting mighty price (and I have the 4 barrel pistol pack)

Czechnologist · Aug 10, 2018

Biggfoot44 said:
Used .44mag revolvers tend to be in 2 and a half conditions ;

1. One box or less fired
1a . Sighted in occasionally for hunting , and resultant holster wear etc from carrying in the woods.
2. Beat to death by an IHMSA shooter

I Interpeted the OP as specifically interested in DA revolvers . Otherwise I would have lead off with Super Blackhawk / Blackhawk/ Bisley / Vaquero .

Certainly true of Redhawks and Dan Wessons. They were by far the two most dominant DA revolvers in IHMSA during the 1980's. I shot a Model 57 just because I adored .41 Magnum and it was such an overbuilt gun compared to the Model 29. It had no problems with repeated use of heavy competition loads for IHMSA matches. I rarely saw anyone shooting Model 29's until the 10 5/8" Silhouette model came out but most everyone stuck with their original Redhawks and DW's. I used a Model 29-3 Silhouette for a couple of years and shot it no better than my 8 3/8" Model 57.

I agree that the upside of shopping for a used .44 is that the majority of them are lightly used.

crolfe1984 · Aug 10, 2018

I've recently re-vamped my wheel gun collection to all stainless models. I've had this Dan Wesson 44 for a long time now and it's about time that it finds a new home. I'm not an expert, but I think it's on the rarer side of their model range. It's a true 44-HFB6: 44 Magnum, heavy fixed barrel, 6" model.

Rockzilla · Aug 11, 2018

Biggfoot44;5293654[B said:
]The Dirty Harry gun was a 6.5in , but not too long after that, S&W standardized on 6in [/B]. Still in S&W , the 629s with 5in full underlug balance similaar to the 6.5in standard bbls .

In other mfgs , the (plain, not Super) Redhawk in 5.5in is a fine gun .

Some nice wheel guns...Elmer would be happy....

-Rock

Magnumite · Aug 13, 2018

Here is my baby in all its unglorious splender, a hard use gun that just keeps going. I have sweat on it, bled on it, got it wet, shot it in the snow, it even survived the bubba jeweling on the cylinder flutes, hammer and trigger, wayyy back when. 44 Magnum 5.5” Ruger Redhawk bought new in 1983. It has at least 22,000 rounds, calculated, through it and that is probably a little low. The ammo use is about 60% full magnum or maximum capacity ammunition, 30% midrange (930-1150 fps) and 10% lower level to pipsqueak loads. Clark rear sights, trigger work, cylinder timed, front crane lock replaced at about 2,000-3,000 round count, don’t recall, and has never loosened. I fitted a longer firing pin and a new firing pin bushing for DA shooting. You can see where I shortened the bushing retaining pin so I wouldn’t need to do an immediate blend or refinish. I saved it for later...that was over 10 years ago...LOL. I have all the accessory sights Ruger offered. You can see this is a red insert front sight with the insert removed and the post back cut for a superior sight picture. That’s my modification. Shown in a target shot way back off bags with good eyes at 50 yards. With a similar recipe at 1275 fps as opposed to this target’s ammo at 1425 fps it shoots about the same and is easier on the gun - and shooter. I usd this revolver in Hunter’s Pistol to win state championships and to win bowling pin matches in under 3.30 seconds on more than one occasion and even touched that under 3.20 second barrier a couple times. You can see where I relieved the Uncle Mike’s grips to fit the gun to me. It is left in the rough because smoothing it out increases slippage.

metalman3006 · Aug 13, 2018

I like my blackhawk and CNR to boot. pic with its brother in .357

Magnumite · Aug 13, 2018

CNR...define please

Uncle Duke · Aug 13, 2018

Magnumite said:
CNR...define please

Those are Old Model 3 screw Rugers. Some Old Models are now curios and relics, depending on the manufacture date.

pbharvey · Aug 13, 2018

This popped up on gundeals yesterday.
I have a Ruger SuperRedhawk but I really like this gun.

S&W 69 Combat 44 for $610

https://gun.deals/product/smith-wes...44-mag-275-ss-5-rd-640-shipped-after-code-jns

Magnumite · Aug 13, 2018

got it. Thanks.

dreadpirate · Aug 13, 2018

If I got a 44 mag I would probably shoot 44 special out of it 90% of the time.

firemn260 · Aug 14, 2018

I’m really considering selling my SA 1911 trp so I can buy something nice. A new one maybe?
I’ve watched hickock45s review on the 29 classic and the only con he brought up was the grip that comes with it.
I’ve heard good and bad about the new 629s. I also feel like I’d be rolling the dice picking up a used one on gunbroker.
I have been reading a lot of literature from Elmer Keith and his go to is a 4 inch barrel. He claims you can do anything with that barrel length and I believe him. He was also a way better shooter than me. That got me thinking about what I would be really buying this gun for. Other than the impulse of wanting a 44 I figure I would be mostly target shooting but also maybe some hunting thrown in there too. I consider my self a mediocre shot with a handgun so I’m thinking the extra sight radius will help. So now I’m torn between the 4” and 6”.

Gordon · Aug 14, 2018

Don't know about any bad on 629 I love mine. No issues with used on gunbroker either.

Czechnologist · Aug 14, 2018

firemn260 said:
I’ve heard good and bad about the new 629s. I also feel like I’d be rolling the dice picking up a used one on gunbroker.

Most reputable sellers on GB will have a two-or-three day policy for you to thoroughly check it out and if anything's hinky, they'll let you return it for full-credit. If they don't, take your business elsewhere. I've bought two used handguns off GB in the last year and have had no problems.

Magnumite · Aug 14, 2018

firemn260 said:
That got me thinking about what I would be really buying this gun for. Other than the impulse of wanting a 44 I figure I would be mostly target shooting but also maybe some hunting thrown in there too. I consider my self a mediocre shot with a handgun so I’m thinking the extra sight radius will help. So now I’m torn between the 4” and 6”.

If you hunt deer in Maryland rifle legal counties with a handgun, minimum barrel length is 6". In my experience, the 6" barrels balance and shoot more comfortably than the 4 inch guns. Get the heavy underlug barrel and it is a ***** cat...for a 44 Magnum. Using that barrel and midrange or light loads for fast double action shooting (pins or club timed shoots) the barrel just keeps laying right back where it belongs.

firemn260 · Aug 14, 2018

Magnumite said:
If you hunt deer in Maryland rifle legal counties with a handgun, minimum barrel length is 6". In my experience, the 6" barrels balance and shoot more comfortably than the 4 inch guns. Get the heavy underlug barrel and it is a ***** cat...for a 44 Magnum. Using that barrel and midrange or light loads for fast double action shooting (pins or club timed shoots) the barrel just keeps laying right back where it belongs.

I didn’t even think about that. I guess that kinda makes up my mind for me. I completely forgot about md deer laws.

44mag itch

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