Author Topic: Best DA 44 Mag revolver for hunting?  (Read 4519 times)

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Offline Tom C.

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Re: Best DA 44 Mag revolver for hunting?
« Reply #30 on: January 29, 2007, 07:28:56 AM »
I participated in handgun silhouette in the 80’s. I started with a Redhawk. Much as I like it, it turned out to be a real handicap. I got an 8” DW744 and competed much more successfully. Now that I am long out of that game, I finally got around to replacing the 8” heavy barrel with a 6” light barrel. Much more pleasant to play with now.
If you want to prevent the barrel nut from coming loose, put red loctite on the threads at the frame, shoot it to warm the barrel, then clamp it down with the wrench. The barrel will be under enough tension to shoot well and not loosen the nut.
My Redhawk now has a 5 ½” barrel. I also have a Super Redhawk shortened to 6”, the 6” DW and a 5 ½” SBH. In .44, the DW with a scope is probably my best choice, but I don’t have to limit myself to .44. I also have a 6 ½” S&W .500 mag. that is scoped with a 2x Weaver. I can load it down, and have more power and less recoil than a .44. It helps that it weighs 70 oz. without the scope.
Tom

Offline Old Griz

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Re: Best DA 44 Mag revolver for hunting?
« Reply #31 on: February 03, 2007, 09:23:19 PM »
I've never had a DW gun, or even seen one at any sporting goods store or gun dealer's shop. Nor have I ever seen one at the range. They've been such a on-again, off-again company that most shooters have just gone on to something else.

However, I do have several Rugers and Smiths, and I can recommend either.

The Rugers are tanks that are built to last for your great grandchildren to shoot. They will need a trigger job. Great grips, too.

The S&W N-frames are terrific guns, too. True, you are not supposed to use the Buffalo Bore Mega Blasters in the S&W, but unless you live in Brown bear country, why would you need to? For 95% of us, these rounds are overkill anyway. I've got more .44 mags than I can shoot (no, I'm still not getting rid of any), but if I were getting another, I'd go with the S&W Mountain Gun, but alas, you said you have to have a 6". So that means 629.

You can't go wrong with either. Just handle them all. Pick the one that feels right in your hand - weight, balance, grip, etc. The deer won't know the difference!

(Oh, I do have a Colt Anaconda, too, but good luck in finding one of those now. Plus, they're not worth the asking price as far as I'm concerned.)
Griz
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I Cor. 2.2 "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

Offline Dale53

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Ohio barrel length for deer hunting
« Reply #32 on: February 11, 2007, 08:02:07 PM »
This is just to correct some incorrect information about allowable barrel length while hunting deer in Ohio:

3. Use certain handguns during the youth deer gun season and deer gun season. These handguns must: (a) have a barrel length of not less than 5 inches, (b) use straight-walled cartridges and (c) be .357 caliber or larger.

I have killed a number of deer with both a Model 29 S&W and a Ruger RedHawk. I can shoot either about equally. The Smith definitely has the better trigger but after I did a trigger job on the Ruger it is just fine.

The Ruger is more rugged, without a doubt. However, I have put thousands of full loads through my S&W and it is still as tight as the day I got it. I load full loads but I don't overload it. When the weather is nice, I take my S&W. When the weather is bad I take the stainless Red Hawk.

Dale53

Offline HEAD0001

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Re: Best DA 44 Mag revolver for hunting?
« Reply #33 on: March 11, 2007, 09:58:34 PM »
I like the S&W Performance Center pistols.  I have a Stealth Hunter, It shoots as good as any wheel gun I have ever seen or shot in over 30 years.  Spend a little extra money now on a quality PC 44 mag.  It will last you a life time.  The DW's are nice pistols.  The Ruger's are also nice.  But I believe the S&W's are best.  Tom.
Tom Chase  Passed away at his home on Wed Nov 23

RIP Tom.

Offline gypsyman

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Re: Best DA 44 Mag revolver for hunting?
« Reply #34 on: March 15, 2007, 03:50:38 AM »
 My choice is the Dan Wesson, strenght of frame, accuracy, and price. Drilling and tapping the frame for a scope is a piece of cake.Greybeard, was it recently when you called them about buying a barrel wrench? I'm not doubting you, I know when I talked with Ginny back in December about getting an 8'' barrel assembly for my .445, she even asked me if I needed a new barrel wrench to go with the assembly. Since I already have one, plus an old one, and and probably 8-10 various other one's in different calibers, I declined. If it was her, she musta been having a bad hair day. We keep trying peace, it usually doesn't work!! Remember (12/7/41)(9/11/01) gypsyman
We keep trying peace, it usually doesn't work!!Remember(12/7/41)(9/11/01) gypsyman

Offline gypsyman

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Re: Best DA 44 Mag revolver for hunting?
« Reply #35 on: March 16, 2007, 03:07:36 AM »
I should have said, drilliing and tapping the barrel shroud, not the frame, is easy. You don't a bottom tap. We keep trying peace, it usually doesn't work!!Remember(12/7/41)(9/11/01)-gypsyman
We keep trying peace, it usually doesn't work!!Remember(12/7/41)(9/11/01) gypsyman