Best .44 mag under $1000

[flan7211]

Hey all going to be off the grid for two months in the woods. Need a good .44 mag. Looking to spend under $1000, probably over $600. Need your opinions.

[Bailey Guns]

Double action = S&W 29 or 629, or Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk. I prefer the S&W.

Single action = Ruger Super Blackhawk. I don't care for the SA revolvers...but a lot of folks do.

Buy a used one and save a ton. I recently bought a mint condition Model 29, 4", pinned and recessed barrel from GunBroker for a little over $700 shipped. You should be able to buy a new Ruger for that, though.

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/32518230.jpg

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/a27413b3.jpg

[nontactical]

Yeah, you won't have any trouble at all finding a S&W M29 for that kind of $$.

In fact, at that price point you have a choice between a classic M29 in just about any configuration you can think of, or one of the Performance Center 629 variants such as this one
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=221437652.

Something else to consider: even though I really am a Smith fan, I had a Taurus Raging Bull in 454 Casull that I traded in on a S&W Performance Center 460XVR. The Raging Bull, which I paid under $500 for, would shoot sub 3" groups at 100 yards. The 460, which I paid a little over $1k for shoots closer to 6" groups.

They make the raging bull in 44mag, and if you look around you can find one for under $500, like this one http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=221437218

I know we are all supposed to scoff at Taurus, but 3" at 100 yards is pretty serious stuff for a handgun of any kind, let alone a pretty cheap big-bore. I love my 460xvr, but its pretty tough to swallow paying double for inferior accuracy.

One last thing to consider, unless you already have a bunch of 44mag brass sitting around, why not go for a 454? I've taken quite a few big game animals with both, but its a lot more comfortable with a 454; there is a pretty serious difference in ME. Here is a smokin' deal on one http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=221005912

[flan7211]

Honestly the price of ammo is the big difference to me. I have been considering the 454 though. I might look into a Taurus but wanted to see what everybody thought.

[sneakerd]

The strongest 44 mag in that price range is the Ruger Redhawk, hands down. Get an Alaskan model. Look at them on Gunbroker.

[SA Friday]

I've had both the red hawk and the 629. I sold the redhawk and kept the 629 mountain lite. It's heavy enough to shoot, but light enough to carry all day without cursing the gun. the redhawk is a Sherman tank, can reload to Thompson Encore levels in it, but it weighs the same as and is as large a Sherman tank too. Real pita to carry that big thing.

Scandium framed 44 by S&W is awesome to carry, then you shoot it and swear off annoying that light ever again.

[sneakerd]

I agree with you as far as the weight is concerned. Especially with the regular-sized Redhawk and of course the monsterous Super Redhawk. The Alaskan is a bear of a pistol, but the short barrel makes it quick handling and an easier carry. I would assume that most anyone going off the grid would want a pistol as durable as it is strong. The S&W action goes back 100 years, and is inherently weaker and more prone to breakage and fouling problems than the Redhawk. Also there are across the chest holster options that make the what- 8 oz? difference between the 2 irrelevant. Imho[Pepsi]

[Graves]

Yeah, you won't have any trouble at all finding a S&W M29 for that kind of $$.

In fact, at that price point you have a choice between a classic M29 in just about any configuration you can think of, or one of the Performance Center 629 variants such as this one
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=221437652.

Something else to consider: even though I really am a Smith fan, I had a Taurus Raging Bull in 454 Casull that I traded in on a S&W Performance Center 460XVR. The Raging Bull, which I paid under $500 for, would shoot sub 3" groups at 100 yards. The 460, which I paid a little over $1k for shoots closer to 6" groups.

They make the raging bull in 44mag, and if you look around you can find one for under $500, like this one http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=221437218

I know we are all supposed to scoff at Taurus, but 3" at 100 yards is pretty serious stuff for a handgun of any kind, let alone a pretty cheap big-bore. I love my 460xvr, but its pretty tough to swallow paying double for inferior accuracy.

One last thing to consider, unless you already have a bunch of 44mag brass sitting around, why not go for a 454? I've taken quite a few big game animals with both, but its a lot more comfortable with a 454; there is a pretty serious difference in ME. Here is a smokin' deal on one http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=221005912

6" groups - Got flinch? [Flower] [Coffee]
The 460 is a friggen laser! My 460 on occasion would hammer out 1.75" groups (leupy mounted) and that's with ME on the trigger, so I'm sure it could do better. The one thing I didn't care much for on the Raging Bull's is the fact that you need to engage two levers to crack the cylinder open. You should be able to find a new 629 Classic for under $800.

[Irving]

How do you even SEE a 6" target at 100 yards? Or are you guys using a scope?

[Graves]

How do you even SEE a 6" target at 100 yards? Or are you guys using a scope?

Yep, Leupold VX3 2.5-8x32.