Hello there Shooters,
Well, a couple thoughts on this subject. The first directly from Dave Andrews, the editor for the Speer reloading manual a number of years back. Standing across the table from him at a gun show in Moscow, Idaho, I ask him which revolver would stand up to long term use. His answer was, buy Ruger as the other makes used in Speer's testing
needed to be returned to the factory for service while the Rugers seldom needed such service. I bought a Security Six that day an it is still going strong.
As to the 29 S&W, it was pretty well said by S&W in their own early ads for the 29 CLASSIC. In their ads it was stated that with the 29 CLASSIC, they (S&W) had now built a 29 made for "sustained" use of heavy .44mag. ammo. That pretty well puts it in B&W at least as far as the older 29 goes.
As for my own .44 use, I have owned 2 or 3 Black Hawks and presently own a Red Hawk. Using the heavy - 310 to 350 gr. bullets in the BH, I found that the cyl. pin wanted to move against the keeper (cross pin) until the recoil caused damage to both parts of involved. I know there are after market parts to prevent this problem, but with the Red Hawk it just takes a lick'en and keeps on tick'in. 19gr of AA#9 behind a hard cast 310gr LBT and the Ol'RH is just coast"in.
Keep em coming! :wink: