Ruger GP100 or SP101 in 44 mag

Magnumite · Dec 28, 2021

I had a 44 Carbine, bought new in 1982-3, IIRC. Great handling carbine, pussycat with full house ammo. You’ll like it. Got rid of it because practical range wasn’t much farther than with the 7.5” Super Blackhawk.

I wouldn’t want a scandium lightweight shooting full power ammo. The 5.5” 44 Magnum Redhawk goes 52 ounces (two times the weight of the Smith 329) shoots very well. Its barrel length would carry well in a chest rig. The Super I mentioned doesn’t carry as well. I only use it in Maryland for deer because of law.

calicojack · Dec 28, 2021

Reloader said:
Although it's not common, don't leave out the 41 magnum as an option. I've been a fan after picking up a revolver chambered in it years ago and since added a Henry lever carbine in the same caliber. Being .410 in diameter compared to. 429 for the 44, there's not much difference.

I like 41 Mag as well. Need to be reloading though, as the ammo is expensive.

MTplinker · Dec 30, 2021

41 Magnum reasonable choice in Rockies

I've pondered the same sort of question for the last couple of years: what's the right big bore revolver for bear defense out in Montana and Alaska? For me, I want one that I'll shoot (hence practice with) vs one that I dread shooting.

For what it's worth, my uncle in Montana used to carry a Smith and Wesson Model 58 in .41 Magnum into the Bob Marshall Wilderness on his pack trips for a couple of decades. The "Bob" is as wilderness as you can get in the lower 48, and he must have felt reasonably comfortable with his bear medicine.

Now, I understand the OP might be going for commonality in the cartridge, so a .41 Magnum won't help if he is already carrying a .44 Magnum in a lever gun. I'm a revolver guy, but I'm unsure I'd be able to make much use of an Alaskan outside of 5 yards on a freight train weighing 700 pounds and moving over 20 mph. I guess that it'd work for your backup gun application.

I've shot the 7.5 in barreled Redhawk in .44 Magnum (pretty gun, not the fugly Super Redhawk), and it was controllable at distances like 25 yards. I don't think it's a handy piece to draw from a chest rig.

I don't have the background with the Taurus like John from MD, but I can appreciate either the Taurus or the Model 69. They seem so light, though. I just can't bring myself to buy a gun that I know I'll not enjoy shooting, which means less rounds downrange and less practice with it.

For me, I'm leaning towards a 629 with 4 in to 6 inch barrel, but I'm also not figuring to have the lever gun, so I want to be able to use it before it's a last ditch effort.

John from MD · Dec 30, 2021

MTplinker said:
I

I don't have the background with the Taurus like John from MD, but I can appreciate either the Taurus or the Model 69. They seem so light, though. I just can't bring myself to buy a gun that I know I'll not enjoy shooting, which means less rounds downrange and less practice with it.

For me, I'm leaning towards a 629 with 4 in to 6 inch barrel, but I'm also not figuring to have the lever gun, so I want to be able to use it before it's a last ditch effort.

I worked up reduced power loads that would shoot to the same POI at 20 yards and practiced with those. At least twice a year, I would put two five round mags as fast as I could into my target using the Grizzley or Buffalo Bore stuff. The Taurus with a Hogue grip and internal muzzle brake did not hurt as much as my Model 29 with Magnaport cuts.

Biggfoot44 · Dec 30, 2021

There IS an answer , but it's not what everyone wants to hear .

Visualize the size and weight of a 4 inch M29 or 4 5/8 Blackhawk . This is the floor .

Visualize ammunition between a 250gr .45 @ 900 fps and 240gr .44 @ 1200 fps . This is the ceiling of power / recoil to retain good control with reasonably rapid fire . .41 Mag and many " Ruger Only " .45 Colt fall inbetween that range . Full Power 10mm or .45 Super can fall inbetween , if you just gotta have a bottom feeder .

Crosseye Dominant · Dec 31, 2021

Let's not forget that the Ruger GP100 comes in 10mm now. Bet those could be really hot rodded.

Magnumite · Jan 2, 2022

Biggfoot44 said:
There IS an answer , but it's not what everyone wants to hear .

Visualize the size and weight of a 4 inch M29 or 4 5/8 Blackhawk . This is the floor .

Visualize ammunition between a 250gr .45 @ 900 fps and 240gr .44 @ 1200 fps . This is the ceiling of power / recoil to retain good control with reasonably rapid fire . .41 Mag and many " Ruger Only " .45 Colt fall inbetween that range . Full Power 10mm or .45 Super can fall inbetween , if you just gotta have a bottom feeder .

Practice is the key. The 44’s can be shot very fast. More than once I have cleaned 5 pins off a table in just over 3 seconds using 240 grain @1275-1350 fps loads (ran out of my pin loads) using my 5.5” Redhawk. The gun being fitted well to the hand certainly helps.

Ruger GP100 or SP101 in 44 mag

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