jack black
Hunter
S&W 44 mag or Ruger 44mag and why? They are about the same price .
For Hunting Black Bear or smaller
- Thread starter jack black
- Start date
bogus bill
Hunter
I doubt the bear could tell the difference.
clintsfolly
Single-Sixer
The one you shoot best!
clintsfolly said:
Yep. I have tons of experience with both, and continue to own both.
I shoot the 629 best, and it's the most comfortable, but I almost never shoot it, in favor of my Super Blackhawks. :?
There is no wrong choice.
.
OP
jack black
Hunter
Thank you all I was deciding between the 629 and the super Blackhawk. I love my Rugers but they seem clunkier than the Smith and the smith seems more refined . S&W has beefed up their lockup .so end shake should not be an issue with heavy loads.
Back in the 80's I ran S&W's. Over time I decided the Rugers worked well for me. When I spent time in the bush of Alaska my carry gun was predominately my Super Blackhawk. Mostly because I've used a classic Single action for so many years they point well for me. A good first shot is important to me. I also like my Ruger Redhawk. I've got no use for the Super Redhawks, although I likes my Alaskans. I still have one in 454 (which I usually use heavy 45 Colts in) and 480 Ruger. Friend of mine used one of my Alaskans for a black bear and then bought it.
Just depends on what feels good to you. I really like the look of the S&W 629's but they have more flip than I like. Hope this helps.
Just depends on what feels good to you. I really like the look of the S&W 629's but they have more flip than I like. Hope this helps.
sixshot
Buckeye
There's not a bad choice either way, just make sure it has a good trigger job & if that's the gun that suits you then you'll be happy. You can wound a Black Bear with either one so placement is #1.
Dick
Dick
BearBio
Buckeye
I've had S & W and Ruger SAs in most calibers. Comparing the two, I prefer the Rugers over the S & Ws but I grew up on SAs!
powder smoke
Hawkeye
Personally I'd go with a 5.5 in Redhawk, simple reason your follow up shot! YMMV. ps
powder smoke said:
Because it's double-action? I know a lot of folks prefer DA revolvers for that reason, but personally, I can rattle off shots more quickly from a single-action that has sizable recoil. But that's just me.
MaxP said:
And I've seen the video of him. It's impressive. And he was using a F/A 454.
Here's a video. https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2014/7/15/video-the-454-casull-challenge/
I prefer my 629 Classic 5". I used to do SA Rugers, but bad thumbs don't like SA big bores. Otherwise it is personal preference.
Heliman said:
Once your bionic thumb is all healed, you'll be sporting a hawgleg on each hip, firing them both single handed, one in each hand.
WAYNO said:
Yeah, slow progress on that! Today I was able to rack the slide on my new LCPII 22lr. :roll: No slide to rack on the 629! :D
Bear Paw Jack said:
Towsley did it and we saw his target as proof.
The challengers were quick, but we didn't see their targets. :wink:
Ale-8(1) said:
I didn't do the editing, but the targets are shown as each challenger is shooting. The last cylinder full I shot was at 2.89-seconds. I'll try to dig up the target. I'm sure it's somewhere in my office. Oh, and Towsley's FA83 is ported... :mrgreen:
Editing is everything. Your last shown run was 3.1 seconds.
I don't doubt the "bear drill" can be done in three seconds or slightly less, but it's hits in the five-inch circle that count the most. All the shooters shown were serious, "pro" shooters used to running the drill in heavy-recoiling single-actions. I'd like to see a similar contest with a half-dozen similarly-talented guys using double-action guns, as that's the other half of the debate here. S'pose y'all could get Jerry Miculek to participate? :wink:
And the results of either of these contests cannot really be representative of the results run with "everyday" shooters. All said, it's an interesting subject for comparison and an effort to answer the perennial question "what gun for bear?" :mrgreen:
I don't doubt the "bear drill" can be done in three seconds or slightly less, but it's hits in the five-inch circle that count the most. All the shooters shown were serious, "pro" shooters used to running the drill in heavy-recoiling single-actions. I'd like to see a similar contest with a half-dozen similarly-talented guys using double-action guns, as that's the other half of the debate here. S'pose y'all could get Jerry Miculek to participate? :wink:
And the results of either of these contests cannot really be representative of the results run with "everyday" shooters. All said, it's an interesting subject for comparison and an effort to answer the perennial question "what gun for bear?" :mrgreen:
Ale-8(1) said:
That was my first run. They didn't use my second run. No, they were not pro shooters and in fact I brought my FA 83 to the party that day and we didn't spend any real time warming up. Most of those guys hadn't shot anything with meaningful recoil prior to the recording. With a little instruction everyone was able to aquit themselves pretty well.
I stand corrected.
I'd still like to see a similar "match" using DA revolvers.
I'd still like to see a similar "match" using DA revolvers.
I nominate Contender, and Wyandot Jim! Man they are fast!
gramps
gramps
MaxP said:
+2
JStacy
Blackhawk
If Rugers seem "clunky" compared to a S&W 29 or 629 it is because they are overbuilt with extra margin of strength built in.
In the 80's we loaded the JD Jones 330 grain truncated cone 44 bullets and they had a stiff recoil but slid right out of a SB Ruger. The same load caused the S&W's cylinder to flex enough that the empties had to be "tapped" out with a wooden dowel rod . If you are going to shoot standard loads , 240 grain or less, S&W will be fine if you are going to shoot 300 and 300 plus grain bullets I would get a 5.5" Red Hawk .
In the 80's we loaded the JD Jones 330 grain truncated cone 44 bullets and they had a stiff recoil but slid right out of a SB Ruger. The same load caused the S&W's cylinder to flex enough that the empties had to be "tapped" out with a wooden dowel rod . If you are going to shoot standard loads , 240 grain or less, S&W will be fine if you are going to shoot 300 and 300 plus grain bullets I would get a 5.5" Red Hawk .
OP
jack black
Hunter
New Smiths have been strengthened and are stronger than the early ones.
JStacy
Blackhawk
Jack you are correct that S&W has improved their heat treating and have strengthened their frames in some key stress points but I have seen 629 PC guns jingle bell loose from people shooting hot 300 grain loads out of them for hog hunting. I have also seen loose 629's at the silhouette range. I have a 629 Hunter Plus but for the heavy stuff I use my 9 1/2" SRH
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