im thinking of something big like a .44, but what? s&w revolver, desert eagle, what else?

go big or go home

 

 

S&W 500 and S&W 14-3 k38 target masterpiece (38 special)

 

If you decide to go the 44 route, get S&W. Classic, highest quality, best customer service.

S&W 29-2.

S&W Model 29 - Dirty harry

I had the urge for a long time until I was able to satisfy it. I have a 5 1/2" Ruger Redhawk I bought over 25 years ago that has more than satisfied the urge. i have a gazillion rounds through it and it just keeps going and going.

you can't beat a ruger 44 mag. you can shoot just about anything out of it from 180 gr to 325 gr bullets .

I have both the ruger redhawk 7.5 in barrel and DE .44 mag...

 

Since you show intrest in both I enjoy the DE more than the redhawk, certian powders yield flame throwing fun from the .44 mag also..

 

On another note i own the 1st edition of the DE the new one is also capable of shooting the .50AE so now you can have both calibers on one frame with the conversion..

A Ruger Redhawk is hard to beat. Are you a reloader? Whats great about revolver 44Mag is you can tailor reloads. I make medium strength to full power magnum. Try to find a used Redhawk with 7 1/2 barrel. I picked one up for $400 in awesome condition. If you don't like it you can just sell it and not be out a lot of coin. Many people buy 44 Mags and don't like shooting full power rounds, but it's an awesome gun for a reloader. There are lots of recipes and bullet types to choose from. Good Luck!

i have a S&W 29-2 AND LOVE IT its a tack driver at any distance, we hit 12" steel targets at 100+ yards

Ruger Bisley Super Blackhawk. Single action revolver. Built like a tank. The Bisley grip makes any amount of recoil comfortable. One gun I regret selling.

 

I have the S&W 629 classic with the 6 3/4" barrel. Love it and it is accurate... I like the way the classic looks with the full underlug.

I have the S&W 629 classic with the 6 3/4" barrel. Love it and it is accurate... I like the way the classic looks with the full underlug.

 

I'm not knocking the 629. It is a good gun. But I don't see anything classic looking about a full underlug. I understand why they are used, but they ruin the classic lines of a revolver. Give me an old N frame with a partial lug any day.

My first love is S&W but I am a logical individual and reluctantly agree that a Ruger is a better choice if you reload. The Ruger frame is beefier and stronger than any other manufacturer. The reloading manuals have recipes solely for the Ruger wheelguns. This is true regardless of caliber.

 

I will never concede the Smith's are prettier!!!!

The M29 is classic and more refined, the Redhawk is certainly rugged enough, the DE is probably the softest shooter. I had a Super Blackhawk when the New Model came out yet it was the first handgun I ever sold so quickly. It was simple, rugged and accurate, I just didn't care for the recoil in the plowhandle grips. I tried the Pachmayr grips but they weren't an improvement for me. (The Bisley design is much better.)

 

I would recommend the Redhawk. I like the Redhawk's modular design for easy takedown and cleaning. And in the right hands, the action can be easily tuned with a spring kit from Brownell's and further smoothed with some handwork to give a very acceptable and crisp trigger pull w/ consistent DA reliability, provided you've had experience doing such. If not, leave it to a gunsmith. I had thoughts of selling my Redhawk last Spring then changed my mind after a buyer backed out. I'm glad I kept it. My buddy hunts with a scoped Super Redhawk model in PA with the longer barrel and loves it, I use iron sights and carried mine in a DeSantis crossdraw holster. I prefer the type of sights I have on my pistol now. I bought mine new in '84. Its attributes make me like it as much as my M29 8 3/8", the "other" .44 I have and shot extensively since 1980. I like them both, and each has attributes the other doesn't possess which makes them both unique.

It's no secret that I'm a S&W fan, but everybody and their brother have already suggested you get a model 29, so I'll take a different tack. As far as S&W's go, I'd look for a nice .44 Special. That would be a model 24, 624 or 696 for adjustable sighted all-steel versions.

 

Don't forget SA's, and in those I'd recommend a Ruger, again in .44 Special if you can find one or .44 Mag. A little less money than the S&W's, but no less fun.

 

Either magnum or special is an expensive beast to feed, unless you hand load. Unless you intend to hunt, or feel the need to compensate for some shortcoming I'd look at the .44 Specials. Even if you got a magnum, chances are you'd shoot primarily specials through it anyway. I'm a big fan of this bore size and have five .44 Specials and two .44 Magnums (and no, I'm not compensating - they were used for hunting and handgun metallic silhouette).

 

Have fun.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

As much as I like the S&W 29's I have never found one that I can shoot more than 4 rds through. The grip places my knuckle right under the trigger guard and by round 2 I have a dent in my knuckle. Hurts like a bitch. I have shot with several different grips. I had a Redhawk and had no issues shooting it. It had a trigger almost as good as a Smith. I just did not shoot it enough to keep. Now my next pistol will be a Ruger Bisely in 45 Colt. If you are going to reload go for the Ruger if you like hot loads.