S&W or Ruger

[FogOfWar]

Hello all....

I'm in a bit of a quandary.  I am wanting to buy a double action revolver in 44mag to do some close-in deer hunting in Michigan.  I am a capable pistol shot and I can easily hit clay pigeons at 100yds off a rest about 90% of the time.  The pigeons are stationary...

I would like a bit of sage advise from you who are in the know.  Which is a better pistol,  Ruger Redhawk with 5" bbl  or a S&W 629 with 5"bbl.  I practice with factory ammo and I shoot about 50 rnds per month from my pistols.  I used to own a S&W 629 6 1/2" PP and regret the day I sold it.

I am looking for advise on which one would hold up better in a hunting environment with years of use.  I can only afford one pistol right now, and it will be in stainless.  Is the reputation Ruger has for ruggedness better than the rep S&W has for accuracy, or is there much difference?

I look forward to reading your replies and just seeing how ya'll think about this.  And all things being equal I like the looks of them both and I plan to do a bit of dressing up with new stocks, etc.

Thanks plenty,

Fog

P.S.-  This is an excellent site by the way..!!!

[Redhawk1]

I like them both, but when it comes down to choosing just one, I would have to go with the S&W 629. I like the trigger pull better and the overall look. In my opinion and it is my opinion only. The S&W will hold it's value better for resail if you decide to sell it.  

[southern utah]

I agree with Redhawk  about the S&W as first choice. I have both and go to my 629 mtn gun for the trail. Ruger is stronger but I don't use hot loads and prefer the weight and triger pull of the S&W.

[Badnews Bob]

I know which is better, I like the feel of a smiths trigger but the ruger feels better in my hand. Both shoot well enuff that I think you are splitting hair as to which is more accurate, both resale well, a bit of an advantage to smiths there. Rugers however are built like tanks, thats why I own six of them.  They fit me and have never failed me, Good nuff.

[Gonzo Joe]

As far as accuracy is concerned, they are close. But go with the S&W if you want a sweet trigger. If you plan on shooting hot 300 grainers a lot, the Ruger would be the better choice. Both are well balanced a feel good in the hands. I shoot a 629 Classic DX 8 3/8" and my dad shoots a Ruger Super Redhawk with the 7 1/2" barrel. Both are really sweet revolvers.

[VeryOldDog]

I also have both (629 Classic 6.5 inch barrel and the SRH 7.5 inch barrel in 44 magnum). Both shoot very well. After I put on Hogue grips and a Burris 2x long eye relief scope for the SRH, it really shoots very, very well. Yet, I also think that the S&W out of the box is very well balanced and shoots very accurately between 15 to 25 yards with iron sights. When I hunt, I take the SRH because it can handle the Buffalo bore and Grizzly 300 grain ammunition without any problems. I am somewhat hesitant about putting that ammunition in an S&W after I had a phone call with one of the S&W factory technicians in Springfield, MA. He gave me the feeling that he was somewhat non-committal about putting factory loads over 240 grains in the 629. There are certainly plenty of 240 grain loads on the market that would certainly do an effective job. I happen to like the Federal Premium Vital Shok. I had to kill a Black Bear once while fly fishing so I prefer the SRH over the S&W for hunting.

[longwalker]

fog

I went with the Ruger, but with the Super Redhawk. The biggest reason was ability to handle lots of full power loads.  Now saying all that I found that one factory load worked just perfectly for me so I don't load "hot" I just use factory 240 Grain JHP rounds.

In stainless steel I doubt you will find a stronger production revolver. I wanted a gun to hunt with not target shoot with. For me the answer was easy Ruger  in 44 magnum.

longwalker

[Lloyd Smale]

If i was restricted to factory level loads id take a smith. But there both fine guns.

[Lawdog]

I tent to lean towards durability/strength and that translate to buying the Ruger.  The trigger can always be worked over so I discount that so called advantage.  Lawdog
 

[Redhawk1]

Where is it written that a S&W 629 will not handle near max or max loads from any reloading manual?  I shot some max loads in my 629 and have for some time now. I shoot 20 gr. of 2400 with 240 gr. bullets and it is the max load in the Hornady reloading manual.

[VeryOldDog]

Redhawk1,

Here is some contact information for S&W:


By Email:
qa@smith-wesson.com

By Telephone:
1-800-331-0852 (USA)

Maybe you can get a more definitive answer than I did and report your findings on this website to keep us better informed especially +P ammunition such as Garrett, Buffalo Bore, and Grizzly.

You may also want to either visit the Garrett, Buffalo Bore or Grizzly websites and/or talk to them on the phone. Some of their ammunition clearly states what revolver is acceptable and what are not for those 44 magnum rounds.

Thanks.

[Redhawk1]

I did find this one the Garrett site.

330-GR SUPER-HARD-CAST GC LONG-HAMMERHEAD AT 1400-FPS

THIS 44 MAGNUM  AMMO IS RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN RUGER AND DAN WESSON DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVERS, AS WELL AS THE TAURUS RAGING BULL. IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR THE GARY REEDER 5-SHOT ULTIMATE 44 MAGNUM, AND THE JOHN GALLAGHER CUSTOM LONG-CYLINDER RUGER SINGLE-ACTIONS. THIS  AMMO SHOULD BE FIRED ONLY IN THOSE RECOMMENDED REVOLVERS! THIS AMMO IS BOTH TOO LONG AND GENERATES TOO MUCH CHAMBER PRESSURE FOR SAFE USE IN S&W AND RUGER SUPER BLACKHAWK REVOLVERS. IT IS ALSO TOO LONG FOR USE IN THE FREEDOM ARMS REVOLVER.

[TScottO]

It depends if you want a Cadillac or a Crown Vic. The Smith is a nicer gun all the way around but if you had to use the grip to drive nails with on occasion I’d go with the Ruger. Both are good guns but the Smith is more refined. For your use I’d definitely go with the 629.

Take Care,
Scott

[Gregory]

I traded a perfectly good blue Ruger RH even up for a S&W 624 44 Special.
I think I got the better end of the deal.

[FogOfWar]

Thank you all for the replies.  If I counted them I bet they would be close to 50% each way.  I am leaning towards the S&W mainly because I, "Don't plan to have to hammer nails in with it."  I am one of those meticulous gun cleaners, (read anal-retentive).  I wipe my guns down at the end of the day, unless it's a range day, then they get stripped, but at the end of the season they get a thorough cleaning.

So unless this country goes south real bad and I am looking at a survival situation my gun should last longer then me.

When I make the purchase I'll post some pics of it and maybe a range report.  Thank you all again and I look forward to many nights of browsing this site in the future, (after the season though).

Thanks,
Fog

[Tom W.]

:grin:  :lol: Did anyone mention a Ruger Super Redhawk? :-D

[oso45-70]

Fogofwar

Ruger Redhawk or S&W 629 , Good question, One that there is no answer to. It comes down to personal choice. You see a lot of comments about the trigger of the ruger not being as nice as the S&W29 or 629, Its a very simple opperation to slick up a Ruger trigger and it becomes as nice as, or better than the S&W.

Redhawk, My loading data tells me to back off the S&W loads if i don't want tinker toys. No pun intended, But have seen S&Ws transported in shoe boxes that had too healthy a load, Seems such a tragady to try to make a Hand cannon out of a nice handgun, It seems to me that all the 29s and 629 shoot better with a slightly reduced load ( LIKE) 1/2 grain or so. This is just a few of the things i have picked up in my short life. .......Joe........

[Lawful Larry]

Hey oso45-70,
I think a lot of people think that if it ain't loaded to the max, it ain't ****!  I like my 629 too much to abuse it in any way.  I always found that the max listed loads are not always the most accurate.  

Everything that I load can go in any of my guns (I  have four .44's), no matter what they may be.     :wink:

[Questor]

I picked the S&W because you take it home, open the box, and it's ready. There is no need for any customization of any kind.  In my case, the 629 is a piece of equipment that satisfies me so much that I have had no interest in any kind of new guns for that niche. I just look at the gun and say to myself that it will do anything I want it to do. In that sense it's a bargain because it's so good that there's no need or desire for anything else in that niche.

Yes, I've been tempted by the .480 Ruger and now the .460 S&W, but still can't think of a revolver application where the 629 wouldn't be just fine.

Some Freedom Arms shooters feel the same way about their guns. It has to do with design, quality, and pride of ownership.  Somehow we just know there isn't anything better out there.