which 44 mag between smith and ruger

Try some 270gr Speer Deep Curls. Much better performance than XTPs. Especially on critters larger than deer. Once you use them, I'm sure you will agree.......
 
I bought a 629 Classic back in the late 80's I believe. Mine still retains the spring loaded firing pin on its target hammer, and a serrated target trigger.
With this revolver I get single ragged hole groups at 25 yards from a sand bag rest with iron sites. It's just a very accurate revolver. I put a scope on it for a short time, but found I could shoot it better with iron sites than with the scope.
I killed my first ever handgun deer with this revolver the first year Indiana allowed handguns for deer. I shoot Hornady 240 XTP's over 20.5 grains of 2400, and it works great on deer.
I've never owned a Ruger SRH but do know they are built like tanks. If I were considering shooting full power loads from one of these revolvers, I'd opt for the Ruger. Since I only use my S&W with full power loads for hunting, and shoot mid power loads through it for fun, it works perfectly for my needs.
 
Originally Posted By: ironworkerAre you a hand loader ? The Ruger is stronger it will take much much heavier loads then the S&W . But I like the looks of the S&W more so if your don't load Big Foot loads or just shoot factory ammo I'd get the S&W .

+1, But, along with all that strength comes a clubby, hunky, heavy blob of stuff with less resale value and the entire owners manual stamped heavily into the side of the barrel. Not to mention a very low alloy stainless that will rust anyway...isn't "rust free" the whole point of stainless???? That said I would look for a used, slightly older S&W 629. They have had some quality issues in the last several years. I mean, how godforsaken hard can it be to put a barrel on with the front sight at 12:00 high???? It aint rocket science but I have had 6 S&W revolvers come into the shop for this problem in the last year. S&W will fix it, but as I see it they had their shot. Most S&W's have a way better trigger and they have 5 groove rifling which is better for cast bullets. In the new ones they cut the rifling with an EDM machine and it has a very fine "sandblasted" appearance, when viewed thru a borescope. So, plan to take the time to give it a good break in period before you see the best accuracy and it quits fouling. Ruger has no barrel issues and I have never seen one with the barrel screwed on wrong. If you like single actions better I would suggest you look at the Freedom Arms revolvers. It is sad you have to pay so much for such simple things, like real stainless steel, a straight barrel, a good trigger and a smooth tool mark free bore that shoots right out of the box. The last two S&W's I bought had to have the barrels removed and put in a lathe to turn a new crown, because the factory one looked like a circus chimp with a bit brace tried to crown them!!!! Ridiculous.
 
I've shot the Ruger, but I bought a Smith 29 (not the 629). As msinc said, the Ruger is just plain heavy and clunky. The trigger on my Smith is comparable to those on my vintage Pythons.
 
My Smith 629 will out shoot my Rugers.
the 629 is a 8 3/8 barrel scoped.
will shoot 3 shot clover leafs at a 100yds.
with federal 180gr hp.
the rugers won't even come close to doing that.
love the 629. hope this helps.
 
Back in the mid 80's I had a Ruger Redhawk w/7.5 barrel. It was used but in nearly new condition, paid $250. Only issue I had with it was the grips were on the small side but nothing a set of Pachmayr's didn't fix. My dad and I shot that pistol more than probably any other revolver I've ever owned. Was easily the most accurate of the different 44's either my dad or myself have had since. Would still have that Redhawk today but some low life felt they wanted it more than we did and stole it out of my dad's pickup. By this time the new Super Redhawk was out but its looks never really caught my eye so I bought a 629 6in S&W. Have had a few 629's since and they all shot fine just none as well as that Redhawk.
 


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