Author Topic: help for one and only one revolver for hunting (Read 2541 times)

mstake · « **on:** January 07, 2005, 01:47:08 AM »

newbe here. but i need some advise! i am about to buy my first revolver for deer hunting and i have the cal. narrowed to 44mag. the problem is which make to buy. i will only be able to do this once. should it be a ruger sbh. or a s&w 629 classic. or a taurus? i have a 357 ruger blh. and i like it but the grip don't fit my hand( big hands). my little finger hangs off the grip. so if you could do it once which make would you buy! thanks

jschance · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2005, 01:54:07 AM »

If I had to buy one and only one revolver for hunting, I think I would go with a 7 1/2" Ruger Redhawk.

You can get it with the integral scope mounts, or you could add a scope mount at a later time, which ever would be your preferred method.

Special Ed · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2005, 02:30:06 AM »

yup, I agree. Go with the integral mounts though, saves some hassle down the road. Also add aftermarket grips for your large hands, the std ones are kinda dinky.

Good Luck

Spencer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2005, 02:59:28 AM »

I have to say, I don't think you will go wrong with the Ruger, but I am a huge S&W fan and am really fond of the model 629. I have one for deer hunting topped with a ultra dot scope/sight and from the bench can obtain sub 2.5" groups at 100 yards. I do not know if that is good compared to bench rest shooters, but I am not one, just a guy that goes out and hunts and I think that is a great group for me.

good luck

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2005, 03:12:10 AM »

I would say either a Redhawk or the S&W629 would work great.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2005, 03:26:19 AM »

If you REALLY wanna do it once and ONLY once then go ahead and get the best the first time. Buy a Freedom Arms FA83. Yeah it's expensive but once you have it for sure you'll have no desire to replace it later.

Questor · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2005, 04:27:09 AM »

Mstake:

I made that same decision for a big game hunting revolver and got a S&W 629 Classic DX. The DX comes with a test target proving that it is very accurate (there is an accuracy guarantee), two sets of grips (Hogue rubber and pretty wood), a set of interchangeable front sights, a white outlined rear sight, and is tapped for a scope mount. It's an excellent gun and without a scope and with a 6.5" barrel it packs nicely as a holster gun. With a Leupold 2x scope and Weigand scope mount it is a great hunting gun. The trigger also is excellent. This is one gun, like the Freedom guns, that is ready for a lifetime of excellent performance right out of the box. The workmanship is excellent. Cosmetics are excellent.

I have had it for about five years and have wanted no other hunting revolver for big game.

Questor

mstake · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2005, 05:02:20 AM »

thanks for the reply so far. my first pick would have been a freedom arms but its just not in the budget! and so far it seem S&W or Ruger are neck and neck. so from your opinions i think i wont go wrong with either one. i am new to hunting with a pistol and seriously shoot a pistol to be honest. so a lot more question to come

jschance · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2005, 07:39:30 AM »

I'll ammend my recommendation to include the aftermarked grips.

I just kinda assumed you're do that. :-D

I've had my 7 1/2" Redhawk for almost 20 years, and have yet to find fault in it, other than it doesn't have a 4" barrel.

New Hampshire · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2005, 08:35:54 AM »

I vote Redhawk too.
Brian M.

Spyro Andes · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2005, 09:07:42 AM »

Quote from: mstake

newbe here. but i need some advise! i am about to buy my first revolver for deer hunting and i have the cal. narrowed to 44mag. the problem is which make to buy. i will only be able to do this once. should it be a ruger sbh. or a s&w 629 classic. or a taurus? i have a 357 ruger blh. and i like it but the grip don't fit my hand( big hands). my little finger hangs off the grip. so if you could do it once which make would you buy! thanks

It comes down to what you want to shoot for ammo. The Rugers will take the heavy bullet stuff a little better. I have found the S&W to be more accurate.

Seriously, if I was in your boat... I'd probably buy a S&W Performance Center Light Hunter.

My 2nd choice would be a Ruger Super Blackhawk that has been throughly worked over by a pistolsmith like Hamilton Bowen or the like. I'd have him do a standard trigger tune, do the cylinder notch leads, free wheel the cylinder, re-cut the forcing cone, add a Bowen base pin, set headspace, set cylinder endfloat & set the barrell cylinder gap.

If you are planning on shooting lead bullets, I'd have him punch out the chamber throats.

If you are planning on an open-sight gun, I'd think about one of his rear sights.

If you are planning on a scoped gun, I'd get the super blackhawk HUNTER.

I can HIGHLY recommend Hamilton's work.

Lawdog · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2005, 11:14:12 AM »

Go with the Ruger and a set of Hogue grips(I got BIG hands too). I prefer a single action for hunting but whatever floats your boat. Lawdog

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2005, 11:17:30 AM »

super blackhawk. Its the best bang for the buck on the market.

ratgunner · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2005, 01:24:53 PM »

S&W 629 s.s. 5"bbl. .44 mag.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2005, 05:30:06 PM »

Mstake,

I too have a large paw and have a problem with the smaller griped revolvers, so i would think you might get along with the Bisley Hunter the best. It also features the scope placement for scope rings. Any of the guns listed above would do you a good job. The best thing would be to go to your local gun shop and try all of them, You will know when you find the one that cranks your motor.........Good luck........Joe..........

LMM · « **Reply #15 on:** January 07, 2005, 09:40:06 PM »

Ruger Redhawk! What else is there?

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2005, 10:17:46 PM »

Mstake,
You might try Ruger's SBH Hunter with either the regular or Bisley grip.
If there is a gunshop near you that has both it will give you a chance to give them a feel.
Best,
TnNuc

redhawk44p · « **Reply #17 on:** January 08, 2005, 04:03:05 AM »

The Redhawk is a great gun. They will last forever shooting heavy hunting loads.

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #18 on:** January 08, 2005, 04:33:53 AM »

I vote for the SA Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter...Probably because that is what I own...I slapped a Hogue grip on it because I too have large hands.

EdK · « **Reply #19 on:** January 08, 2005, 12:04:31 PM »

Quote from: Spyro Andes

My 2nd choice would be a Ruger Super Blackhawk that has been throughly worked over by a pistolsmith like Hamilton Bowen or the like. I'd have him do a standard trigger tune, do the cylinder notch leads, free wheel the cylinder, re-cut the forcing cone, add a Bowen base pin, set headspace, set cylinder endfloat & set the barrell cylinder gap.

If you are planning on shooting lead bullets, I'd have him punch out the chamber throats.

If you are planning on an open-sight gun, I'd think about one of his rear sights.

If you are planning on a scoped gun, I'd get the super blackhawk HUNTER.

I can HIGHLY recommend Hamilton's work.

I wouldn't argue with one thing you said except: is all that really cost effective? Cost-wise doesn't Ruger + custom work = FA?

Caveat: one must be willing to shop around at least a little bit - not pay full retail, etc.

SingleFan · « **Reply #20 on:** January 10, 2005, 01:53:29 PM »

First choice is definitely FA anything; 83 or 97 over the others. To give you an idea of why I feel this way - I have a Ruger single action that I spent $1200 with Clements Custom Guns...it's great, but it still isn't an FA. Doesn't have the fit, finish, or accuracy.

Second choice...S&W Performance Center Light Hunter. Mine in 45 colt is so accurate, I can't see any appreciable difference between it and my FA83 scoped at 50 yards. Both just make a big hole for a cylinder full. Open sites with the S&W at 25 yards I can put 3 in less than an inch with 2 touching regularly. Good guns. And the scope set up is handy and sturdy. One thing to note: Like the integrally mounted Ruger, the scope is forward of the frame on the bbl and it makes the gun front heavy; I kinda like the scoped FA better.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #21 on:** January 10, 2005, 05:18:32 PM »

Put some houge grips on your .357 the grip area is almost the same as the .44 and unless you are hunting hogs or bear the .357 is plenty.

Have · « **Reply #22 on:** January 18, 2005, 01:28:04 AM »

S&W makes great pistols, that shoot loose after a time.

Smith people will tell you their guns are not designed to handle +P in given caliber, so avoid that problem. The new cannon, of course, will shoot anything you can imagine, but it is huge and do we need it?

FAs pistols, as GB said above, are excellent choice and spendy, but handle A-bomb loads, as do

Ruger Reds, but these do much much better with a good trigger job. (Ruger single actions do well, but shoot differently due to grip, as noted, and are really a bit larger, still ...

Singleshots like T/C will do as much, but are larger etc...but can be changed round easily, very easily-I just bought first one and am getting to know them better. Seem to be a good choice for certain shooters and fooling with loads etc. Singles offer semi rifle type shooting.

In SE MN, while it is illegal to shoot a deer with a 30-06 rifle, a 30-06 Encore is perfectly legal - politicians don't know s--t about anything having to do with common sense - so these guns fill in for some, while others use the 357s, 10s, 44s, 45s and so on. (I had a SS, original muzzle brake 30-06 Lone Eagle with 3-8 Leopold atop. Great gun, great balance, safe, but was made offer for it I could not refuse.

Like I implied above, ask ten shooters, get ten different opinions. Ain't it fun?

catblaster.375 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2005, 07:05:35 PM »

Absolutely love my 629 Classic with 8 3/8" barrel. Will do anything you want it to do and then some.

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2005, 10:28:56 AM »

When I first started shooting 44's I bought a Taurus M44 8+" barrel. Its a up front weight gun. I soon acquired a SBH 7.5" ss,as I too have large hands I added Pachmeyer decelerator grips. I liked the workmanship of the Ruger and traded the Taurus for a RH 5.5" and changed the grips also. This gun really impressed me, and had I bought the Red Hawk first I would have stopped right there. I went on to later get a Red Hawk 7.5" scope model. Most hunting is probably started in the SA mode. I hear all the time on tuning up a SA which puzzels me as my SBH has a crisp trigger with no creep so I am not sure whats needed. If you decide to scope later the Ruger Hunter and RH scope models they come with 1" rings, if you want to use a red dot a 30mm works better and a pair of ss 30mm from Ruger is +$80. You can if you are ordering ask for the 30mm in place of the 1" rings. I recommend the RedHawk as a great choice.
Jim

Del · « **Reply #25 on:** January 20, 2005, 05:31:25 AM »

Ok, I'll jump in to this conversation.

First, I'll agree with Greybeard, if at all possible go with the best: a Freedom Arms model 83, I'd recommend adding a SSK T'SOB mount, 3 rings, & a Leupold 2X scope. There is just no comparison to a Freedom Arms fit, finish, & quality - you will never regret buying the best.

The others that I would look at are:
Ruger Bisley Hunter
Ruger Super Redhawk
Ruger Redhawk
*The above models must be the ones set-up for factory Ruger rings!

If you really like the S&W's get a model 629, w/at least 6" brl.
If you shoot standard factory .44 mag ammo, it will be fine for a long time, and they generally have the smoothest & lightest actions. I believe Leupold still makes a mount & rings set that screw right in where the back sight assembly goes.

So, if it were me making this choice today, and there was no way possible to get the Freedom Arms - I would get one of these two.
Ruger Bisley Hunter
Ruger Super Redhawk

Good luck w/your choice of handguns and your handgun hunting!!
Del

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #26 on:** January 21, 2005, 05:23:20 AM »

My first choice is the SBH Hunter in .45 Colt:

Second choice is the S&W 629 in .44 Mag:

If ya want to go the Contender route think about the .375 JDJ.

Good Hunting,
LL[/img]

Leadlum · « **Reply #27 on:** January 21, 2005, 02:36:42 PM »

My choice is my 6" mod 629 classic. I`ve had three ruger blackhawks and the S & W will out shoot them. My smith has never "loosen up", and it sees alot of magnim loads. I went out today and shot my Ruger vaquero fixed sughts and my 629 and the ruger shoots " a pattern " and the smith shoots 2-3" groups at 25-30yds free hand.

GhosTT · « **Reply #28 on:** January 23, 2005, 10:53:42 PM »

Notice that alot of posts in this thread are people recommending guns that they own.

Not knocking them, I'm sure that they are just telling you what works for them.

But the fact is, if you are looking for a revolver that can kill a deer cleanly at 50+yards, you already own it.

A .357 Blackhawk is capable at that range.
You can upgrade to a 44, but,keep in mind, there is a ALOT of aftermarket grips for your blackhawk.lots of sizes,and shapes.

And you can find bullet weights like 158,180, up to 200 grains.
You might wanna start a new post about grips for your gun,before ya buy a new one.

454-hunter · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2005, 04:58:22 PM »

Well I had a really bad experience with my super(piece of junk) redhawk and here is what happened . The intregal scope mounts on the top of the gun dont hold up under repeated heavy recoil . The guns scope rings were always tight but yet the recoil made the halfmooned shaped slots on the top strap bend upwards and then the rings would not longer staty were they were supposed too then Ruger wouldnt fix it said it wouldnt affect anything I tried to tell them and even shipped it off to be service and they wouldnt touch it because the half moon areas are on the frme part and they said it would be like giving me a new gun . So I sold it and got a taurus RB and aint never looked back I think ruger has went soar in the customer service dept. Get a freedom arms or a taurus and forget that jaky scope mounting system of the RUGER.