I’m in the market for a .44 Magnum and wanted the T-Nation’s gun enthusiasts’ opinion. I’d like to spend less than $800 on a .44 Magnum. What do you guys think of the Ruger Redhawks and the Super Blackhawks? I’ve always felt the S&W guns are high-quality but overpriced nonetheless. I’ve owned nothing but shotguns my whole life so I don’t know much about handguns in general. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
One other thing. I’m also thinking about something bigger than the .44 Magnum. Are the .454 Casulls from Taurus any good?
The Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull might be worth a look. Yes, it’s a big heavy honking piece of stainless steel, but that is what you want if you are going to be firing a round like the .454. A couple good features are its premilled scope mounts and its ability to fire .45 Colt cartridges as well, which you might find useful for low cost (or at least, lower-cost) practice with less punishing ammunition.
Actually, I would recommend the regular Redhawk, in .44 Magnum if you like the round, but .45 Colt would be my choice. A really hot .45 is actually superior to a .44 Magnum, because the case has greater powder capacity and fires a larger bullet at lower pressure. Not that high-pressure rounds are a particular issue with a Redhawk in either caliber: it will comfortably fire loads that would blow a Smith model 29 or 25 to pieces. And of course you always have the option of using .44 special or .45 Colt “cowboy loads” in the two revolvers for practice.
[quote]theBeth wrote:
I like this in 44 Mag. Super accurate. I have .357 Ranch Hand and love it. Only downside is it’s a lever action. I hate those. [/quote]
I shot that exact same gun at the range yesterday. Very nice. You’re right about the lever action, though. Pain in the ass to deal with.
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Actually, I would recommend the regular Redhawk, in .44 Magnum if you like the round, but .45 Colt would be my choice. A really hot .45 is actually superior to a .44 Magnum, because the case has greater powder capacity and fires a larger bullet at lower pressure. Not that high-pressure rounds are a particular issue with a Redhawk in either caliber: it will comfortably fire loads that would blow a Smith model 29 or 25 to pieces. And of course you always have the option of using .44 special or .45 Colt “cowboy loads” in the two revolvers for practice. [/quote]
Thanks for all the info. You’re right. I’ve been doing some more research and it seems that the .45 is the preferred choice for all the reasons you’ve listed. Bigger bullet, more powder behind it, easier on the gun due to lower pressure, and they’re more powerful than the .44 by a significant amount.
They’re also pretty hard to find, apparently. There’s quite a few gun shows coming up in the next few months down here in LA, so I think I’ll be able to find one there. Do you recommend any particular online dealers?
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Actually, I would recommend the regular Redhawk, in .44 Magnum if you like the round, but .45 Colt would be my choice. A really hot .45 is actually superior to a .44 Magnum, because the case has greater powder capacity and fires a larger bullet at lower pressure. Not that high-pressure rounds are a particular issue with a Redhawk in either caliber: it will comfortably fire loads that would blow a Smith model 29 or 25 to pieces. And of course you always have the option of using .44 special or .45 Colt “cowboy loads” in the two revolvers for practice. [/quote]
Thanks for all the info. You’re right. I’ve been doing some more research and it seems that the .45 is the preferred choice for all the reasons you’ve listed. Bigger bullet, more powder behind it, easier on the gun due to lower pressure, and they’re more powerful than the .44 by a significant amount.
They’re also pretty hard to find, apparently. There’s quite a few gun shows coming up in the next few months down here in LA, so I think I’ll be able to find one there. Do you recommend any particular online dealers?[/quote]
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Actually, I would recommend the regular Redhawk, in .44 Magnum if you like the round, but .45 Colt would be my choice. A really hot .45 is actually superior to a .44 Magnum, because the case has greater powder capacity and fires a larger bullet at lower pressure. Not that high-pressure rounds are a particular issue with a Redhawk in either caliber: it will comfortably fire loads that would blow a Smith model 29 or 25 to pieces. And of course you always have the option of using .44 special or .45 Colt “cowboy loads” in the two revolvers for practice. [/quote]
Thanks for all the info. You’re right. I’ve been doing some more research and it seems that the .45 is the preferred choice for all the reasons you’ve listed. Bigger bullet, more powder behind it, easier on the gun due to lower pressure, and they’re more powerful than the .44 by a significant amount.
They’re also pretty hard to find, apparently. There’s quite a few gun shows coming up in the next few months down here in LA, so I think I’ll be able to find one there. Do you recommend any particular online dealers?[/quote]
[quote]theBeth wrote:
I like this in 44 Mag. Super accurate. I have .357 Ranch Hand and love it. Only downside is it’s a lever action. I hate those. [/quote]
You’re right about the lever action, though. Pain in the ass to deal with.[/quote]
Why?
I have a pre 62 winchester model 94 lever action and it is the most natural feeling gun I have ever shot. Not a great gun for much over 100 yards though.
I never did understand the large loop in the lever like the one shown though.
I have a old top break single-action Schofield in .45LC (really just “colt”) that I love. I think I’ve posted pictures of it before here.
OP: I am not a huge fan of the .44. I think the .357 with a long barrel is much the same, and you can plink with .38, which saves both your hand and your wallet.
If you do go for a .44, get something with a longish (6in or more) barrel, preferably ported to help you control it. Bullets need a decent barrel to get velocity, so you’re making a lot of noise and smoke with a big bore short barrel, but not nearly the stopping power. (Same recommendation with a .357, actually.)
I have a Smith & Wesson 686plus (7 shot) that’s a great “car console” pistol.
I’m in the market for a .44 Magnum and wanted the T-Nation’s gun enthusiasts’ opinion. I’d like to spend less than $800 on a .44 Magnum. What do you guys think of the Ruger Redhawks and the Super Blackhawks? I’ve always felt the S&W guns are high-quality but overpriced nonetheless. I’ve owned nothing but shotguns my whole life so I don’t know much about handguns in general. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
One other thing. I’m also thinking about something bigger than the .44 Magnum. Are the .454 Casulls from Taurus any good?[/quote]
I would prefer the Super Redhawk simply because I like double-action, or at least like to have the option. You can’t go wrong with Ruger. They make the Red Hawk in .454 Casull too.
The S&W revolvers are pricy but the triggers and feel of the guns are epic. My next gun is a .44 Magnum revolver. That’s a bit down the road.
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
The Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull might be worth a look. Yes, it’s a big heavy honking piece of stainless steel, but that is what you want if you are going to be firing a round like the .454. A couple good features are its premilled scope mounts and its ability to fire .45 Colt cartridges as well, which you might find useful for low cost (or at least, lower-cost) practice with less punishing ammunition. [/quote]
I have a old top break single-action Schofield in .45LC (really just “colt”) that I love. I think I’ve posted pictures of it before here.
OP: I am not a huge fan of the .44. I think the .357 with a long barrel is much the same, and you can plink with .38, which saves both your hand and your wallet.
If you do go for a .44, get something with a longish (6in or more) barrel, preferably ported to help you control it. Bullets need a decent barrel to get velocity, so you’re making a lot of noise and smoke with a big bore short barrel, but not nearly the stopping power. (Same recommendation with a .357, actually.)
I have a Smith & Wesson 686plus (7 shot) that’s a great “car console” pistol.
[/quote]
I could go for a nice .44 Mag in as short as a 3 inch barrel.
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
The Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull might be worth a look. Yes, it’s a big heavy honking piece of stainless steel, but that is what you want if you are going to be firing a round like the .454. A couple good features are its premilled scope mounts and its ability to fire .45 Colt cartridges as well, which you might find useful for low cost (or at least, lower-cost) practice with less punishing ammunition. [/quote]
