.44 Mag thread

[wonderwolf]

S&W .44 magnums are just about as American as you can get. Developed by a crazy Cowboy and shot by all.

These are the 4 that I own. The first one I got was the 629 when I was 16 and I shot it loose after just 4 years (it was new to start out with for the most part). I got the other 3 in the past few years. The 8 3/8's and 10.5" for $300 each from a guy who never really shot them and the 4" from a guy who used to live in "bear" country. The 10.5" silhouette gun will shoot minute of gong at 200 yards with my hand loads and its a lot of fun to shoot at that range with a hand gun when others are shooting at 50 yards with rifles and just kind of stare at you like "how are you doing that?". :rocker:

I cast and shoot 250g Kieth style bullets for the most part. I have 2 matching 4 cavity molds for the 250's. A 2 cav lee 200gr wad cutter mold I use sometimes if I want something lighter. And a 2 cav 310gr GC lee mold but have not experimented with them as much as the others. I use straight wheel weights for my bullets and dump them in a 5 gal bucket of water right out of the mold.


http://www.militaryfirearm.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=588&stc=1&d=1173649162

[ditchtiger]

I have a 6'' Anaconda. Tried using the Lee 310 gc bullets but not long range accurate enough, could not hit a 55g. barrel at 225 yards any more than 1 in 12 rounds. Great bullet for short range violence though. Oh, also, I average 9-10 hits on the barrel per 12 rounds using Lee's 255gr.swc.

[AK AJ]

Great collection wonderwolf especially like the 10.5, I understand the love for these guns.I have a 29 with the 8 3/8" barrel myself, and love it.
AJ

[snapshot762]

My first .44 was a 6" S&W model 29. It was the one handgun that i really regret selling. I picked up a 6" Anaconda earlier this year, so far i love it.

[cimmaronkid]

A man after my own heart! I have had several Smiths and like a dumb ass, sold them when I was young and stupid. I am down to two now, both Taurus.(Please don't look down on me:crying: ) One is the M44 with the 8 3/8 inch ported barrel and the other is the 44 Tracker. I like the porting on the Taurus and I only load the Keith bullet cast from wheel weight. They shoot way better than me, especially the M44. I am going to put a set of the Hogue big butt laminate rosewood grips and a scope on this one for a hunting and long range handgun. Also, I found this case the other day while surfing. Perfect for a long barrel .44 mag. Here is the site:

http://www.wickedgrips.com/page7.html

I defy anyone to watch Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry" and NOT want a Mdl 29 Smith.:coolgun:

Nice set of Smiths! I vote "Yes" for a .44 mag spot.

[weasel_master]

I've never shot one. I had a chance once but I was pretty aprehensive about it.

[cimmaronkid]

Weasel-master, the thump is highly overrated! A lot of the problem was the damn target grips that Smith put on the 29's as they just weren't conducive to not hurting the hand. But there was nothing else at the time. Most of us went to gloves until Hogue came out with the rubber grips. Also a better grip in wood is the Bill Jordan style grip and the Hogue big butt finger groove grip.

[wonderwolf]

I have some nice "Hot" loads I use If somebody thinks they are the "BIG DAWG" and can handle anything. I had some such loads one time and a guy was bragging about how he had shot such and such BIG AZZ hand gun one handed hitting the target every time. So I handed him the 4" with Hogue grips filled with some 250's loaded WAY up. He shot 2 and handed it back to me with a twitch in his eye. I smiled and ejected the remaining rounds and went back to shooting my normal loads.

John ross has some interesting reading on loads for the .44 magnum

http://www.john-ross.net/_44_loading.htm

I have several grip styles for my .44's and Until just a few months ago I only had square but N frames but A 625-2 came into my life so now I have to get some new grips for that. Though a good friend stepped up and got me some Hogues for it for Xmas. It had Hogue wood grips on it prior to that.

That poor 629 was the 1st gun I hand loaded for. It got a couple of bullets stuck in the barrel and some HOT loads that made me think I damaged the gun somehow. It was used when I started experimenting with lathe turned bullets and loading shot shells using gas checks and those plastic capsules. It needs to be sent in for a worn out trigger stud and some work on the cylinder ejection rod.

I got it on my first paycheck at my first real job. Dad knew I was looking for one and by chance found one while chasing a .357 Ruger listed in a newspaper ad. Guy said the Ruger was sold but he had a Smith he was willing to sell to fund a motor cycle project. Dad called me up at work asking if I wanted a S&W 44 mag for $300 only a few rounds run through it. I said yes and he picked it up for me. I've shot through several 5 gal buckets of cast bullets since then and have learned a great deal about handguns since then. I used to give my dad crap cause he would go in on a security call with his S&W 41 magnum 4" and not a semi auto (I was really young then)...but today I know that I would be in better shape with my 4" 29 than with my 1911 .45acp....I plan on carrying the 4" for my CCW gun when I turn 21

A well loaded .44 is pleasant to shoot. Its a good all around caliber. However I do have to admit that if .45 colt brass was more abundant I might have gone that way instead. But I got a 5 gal bucket of .44 mag brass for X mas so I'm set for a while. I have trouble keeping ammo loaded around here though.

[wonderwolf]

Went out this weekend and ran a couple hundred rounds through my N frames. I couldn't come up with a decent load to stabilize those case 310's @ 200 yards...they were going everywhere. Guess I'll stick with the 250 Kieth's for that stuff. I only had 1 time where the recoil from my warm loads walked the last bullet out to the point it jammed up the gun...need a heavier crimp on those I guess. Tested some of my loads on Kevlar and I'm going to suspend further testing until I can come up with a better frame that wont allow the panel to be launched 15' back when the bullet rips it out of the clamps thats already holding it in.

Anybody ever shot the 329 yet? I'm curious about those :book:

[cetme]

I've got an 8" Dan Wesson VH44. I found a sightron 1.5X optic for it and an aimpoint base. Shoots great. I've been using 240 rem HP ammo for deer and this and that for range visits. Working up 320 LBT loads and lil' gun powder. Accurate but wow do the snort!:icon_eek:

[wonderwolf]

320 :wow:

[dad31392]

i have 2 myself i love to shoot every chance i get. my wife and son bought me a desert eagle .44 and i have a ruger hunter's model 7 1/2 inch

[cimmaronkid]

Dad, :welcome2: :welcome2: to the forum. You have found what most of us here have come to know as one of the most helpful and friendly forums on the net and we discuss all types of firearms. The knowledge base here is amazing and it is a shame it cannot be compiled into a book. Get involved here as no one flames another or looks down on you for your choice in firearms. Why even some of us have come out of the closet and admitted we own Hi-Points!:roflmao: Go introduce yourself in the introduction thread and good to see you aboard.

[cetme]

wow you have done alot of shooting for a young pup! If a read rite you under 21?

[wonderwolf]

Till August 16th

It forces me to make friends with adults and they teach me alot. I got help when I started working on my 1911 from my "Old gunsmith mentor" he used to work on them back in "the day" I've learned so much from him that I'm starting to work on other peoples guns now. I know some people say I should not advertise the fact that I'm under 21 but I do so to kind of show that there are "kids" who are in fact responsible and willing to learn and teach. I coach the junior rifle program at our club and this summer I will be a assistant coach to the Ohio Junior high power team of which I was a member for several years.

P.S. we had a combat practice match today for pistol and I got my 2nd place mens revolver plaque I didn't even know was coming to me +$20 in paybacks from last year. I shot using my 4" 29 with 250 keith styles. The guy who took 1st place is a guy who trains Corrections officers all over the state of Ohio with revolvers and auto's...So I felt like I really accomplished something by being 2nd place just behind a guy that gets PAID to do that stuff. This year I'm using a 625-2 in 45ACP I got back in December

I know the gun looks very rough in that pick but Its just cause I didnt wipe it down after I handled it and put some thin oil on it.

[cimmaronkid]

WW, unfortunately you are on your way to becomming a full fledged gun crank and will be hounded in your later years by people like yourself. I guarantee you will have a lot of fun! Keep up the good work.:coolp:

[rep30cal]

As usual, here I am, late again. This is my Dan Wesson 8 3/8 inch model
744HS with Hogue grip. I am going to have to get it out again to try a
few of the loads you guys mentioned. Sorry, the pic isn't to good.

[wonderwolf]

How many scopes have you shot loose with that thing?

[rep30cal]

Actually, I have only put 2-250 rounds through it but I haven't had a
scope issue yet. The Pro-point seems to be staying tight in the rings
and the B-square mount locks in on the vent rib. I call it the "Ronco"
assembly, "Set it and Forget it". I also have only shot 240g factory
ammo and full power reloads, so it's holding up pretty good.

[k98k792]

I would love to have a Smith N frame in .44 magnum. I have a nice model 28 in .357 that I love.
I do have a Ruger Super BlackHawk that is a blast to shoot. The first time I shot it I was shooting at a bench. The recoil made my hand raise up and to the rear. However my elbow went down and smacked on the bench. Ouch! Learned a lesson on that one!

[wonderwolf]

Yep thats the problem with big bore guns...I have a nice blood trail on my shooting mat from my elbow shooting heavy hitters. If you get a N frame smith try your hardest to get one that dosnt have the lock. IMHO I think the cylinder release is a lot better on these than the new tear drop versions and they are built a lot better.


On a side note. Has anybody tried wolff mainsprings in their N frames? I've tried a reduced mainspring with some success in my 629 but I decided to put it in my 625 instead that has a SA problem in hopes to correct it which it seems to although now if you pull the hammer back smartly and let go it goes forward :icon_question: I need to get this one worked on as well as the 629 when I get the money

[cmidkiff]

Here's a rather poor shot of my 29-2. AFAIC, it's about the nicest handgun I've ever owned. Polishing and finish are beautiful, accurate, balances well, SA trigger breaks like glass, DA trigger like butter... Wouldn't trade it for anything. Oh, and I like a 240g truncated cone over 20gr of 2400 with a heavy crimp.

http://www.midkiff.us/44small.jpg

[cetme]

had some old wilson combat spring kits put in my N frames and tey worked fine with all sorts of amm/primers. I think the WC kits were wolf in a different package.

[cetme]

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r265/sw24_photo/100_0066.jpg

8" Dan wesson, pachmeyer stocks, 1.5X sightron scope, and aimpoint scope base.

[robocop10mm]

6" 29
4"629

I like my .44's but I love my .41's

6" 57
4" 657
4" 58 (Yeah, a real 58. 1964 manuf. $165 at a pawn shop)

[iocane]

I have a Ruger Super BlackHawk, got in from my father in a trade. That gun did turn out useful for him one day. Father once caught someone who had stolen a van from him. Thief probably never suspected stealing a van at 5 in the morning would result in a car chase. The van rolled around a corner. Theif came out with a knife, turned out the knife was totally outmatched. So criminal crawled back into what was left of the van and waited till the police took him away.

[wonderwolf]

My 629-1 turned out to be a gun that was in a series that was recalled a while back. I called S&W and they dug up the info...they will fix my gun for free :thumbup:

[Longhorn789]

Smith & Wesson 629 Power Port with 6.5" barrel.

Ready for duty in a pinch.

[wonderwolf]

That style front sight is great for long shots. Wish I had the money to pick up the 629 hunter that a friend wants to sell and have it worked on just for long range shooting..I think it has a 8" barrel and unfluted cylinder but I can't recall

[Old Jimmy]

I Love .44's, been wanting one for years and just seen a lil bit rough looking Anaconda for $600 but I backed away. I think the Ruger Super Blackhawk would probably take more abuse of hot loads than the Colt.

Old Jimmy

[tomoshenko]

Dad, :welcome2: :welcome2: to the forum. You have found what most of us here have come to know as one of the most helpful and friendly forums on the net and we discuss all types of firearms. The knowledge base here is amazing and it is a shame it cannot be compiled into a book. Get involved here as no one flames another or looks down on you for your choice in firearms. Why even some of us have come out of the closet and admitted we own Hi-Points!:roflmao: Go introduce yourself in the introduction thread and good to see you aboard.

Cim,
Welcome back! Last I heard you were recovering from some ticker problems.
Been there, done that. Glad to see that "rumors of your death were greatly exagerated"! I always enjoyed your posts and advise 'specialy 'bout scatterguns.

I have a 6" 29 and one of those unfluted cylinder 3" mountain gun flame throwers.
I used to have a 5" 29 but traded it for a rifle some years back.
The 6" has an incredible trigger and is the most accurate handgun I've owned.
..Taken many a predacious woodchuck with it.
regards,
Tom

[tomoshenko]

I've never shot one. I had a chance once but I was pretty aprehensive about it.

Just to give you a perspective on it...
A box of +P through my KelTec PF-9 is more uncomfortable than full power loads through my 6" 29.

[wonderwolf]

Cim,
Welcome back! Last I heard you were recovering from some ticker problems.
Been there, done that. Glad to see that "rumors of your death were greatly exagerated"! I always enjoyed your posts and advise 'specialy 'bout scatterguns.

I have a 6" 29 and one of those unfluted cylinder 3" mountain gun flame throwers.
I used to have a 5" 29 but traded it for a rifle some years back.
The 6" has an incredible trigger and is the most accurate handgun I've owned.
..Taken many a predacious woodchuck with it.
regards,
Tom

Not one of the 500 production ones was it? :eek:

[tomoshenko]

Not one of the 500 production ones was it? :eek:

Not sure what you mean??? It wasn't a commerative. A blue 29 off the shelf.

[wonderwolf]

here is a excerpt from an article that mentions it

"it was about this same time that the first of the long barreled .44 Magnums arrived as the Model 29 joined the Model 27 .357 Magnum with an eight and three-eighth's inch barrel length. These quickly became quite popular with hunters and long range shooters. At this same time in 1958, the H.H. Harris Co., a Chicago distributor, placed an order for 500 five-inch barreled Model 29's. These sixguns are now very rare and quite valuable. I've never seen one."

MUST READ .44 MAG ARTICLE (http://www.sixguns.com/range/SmithWesson44Mag.htm)

However I think they did make more after that. The prefix on the Serial number might be HH or something along those lines. Not sure

[wonderwolf]

Has anybody seen or shot Rugers new 4" Redhawk? It looks like something that would be nice to beat the snot out of instead of my good smiths. The grip seems like it is a little small. Also I know S&W and taurus makes light weight .44mags I'm wondering if anybody makes a .44spl light weight? I know I could just use one of the .44mags but this would be my carry gun (CCW) and thats like having 38 in your 357 carry gun.

[Cavalryman]

Has anybody seen or shot Rugers new 4" Redhawk? It looks like something that would be nice to beat the snot out of instead of my good smiths. The grip seems like it is a little small. Also I know S&W and taurus makes light weight .44mags I'm wondering if anybody makes a .44spl light weight? I know I could just use one of the .44mags but this would be my carry gun (CCW) and thats like having 38 in your 357 carry gun.
I think your logic is a little flawed. You should carry the ammunition that you believe is most appropriate to the situation and everyone else's opinion be damned! In fact, in the summer I DO carry a 4" S&W 629 which I load with .44 special around town, and with 320 grain hard-cast flat nose magnums in the woods. There's absolutely no reason (in my opinion) that you should not get a light-weight .44 magnum and carry it with specials in it if that suits your needs. (Now, what would really rock would be an L-frame with 4" barrel in .44 special, but S&W apparently has no interest in that.)

[vpost]

This is my Super Blackhawk, 10 1/2 in. 2X scope good for 6 inch groups at 100 yards with 180 grain Rem JHP. My Wife bought this for me on my birthday back in 87 at a cost of $180.00. She's a keeper, so is the wife!

Vince

[wonderwolf]

Those are some nice grips, I antecedently picked up some hogue wood grips last weekend at a gunshow thinking they were for a N frame. Turned out they are for a redhawk didn't pay that much for them but they'll go on a RH when I get one.

I looked at one of Rugers new RH .44mag/.45lc 4" pcs they have out right now. Funny grip on them and is it me or are the ejection rods on those just THIN? They are in gun shops around my area for $670ish New....:icon_biggrin: