ruger redhawks vs s&w 629

[.44 Redhawk]

I have a redhawk .44 and really like it.How does it compare to a s&w .44 629?

[WNY_Whitetailer]

The Smiths seem to have a slicker factory trigger...Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but the Smiths also look better.  Of course, you bought that Redhawk to do a job and not to look pretty.  I would buy a Redhawk myself if I were in the market...Of course I would also buy a Smith if I were in the market for another 44 too...

[Old Griz]

:cb2: I think the Redhawk is one of the finest looking guns on the market. Stronger than the S&W, but the S&W has a much better trigger. The .44 Redhawk I had was amazingly accurate. However, it was the only .44 I have owned that hurt to shoot. That was a major disappointment after wanting one for sooooooo long. Traded it for a .44 Bisley.

I said that the Redhawk was stronger than the 629, and it is a tank, but, unless you are going to shoot nothing but powerhouse loads in it all the time, I wouldn't worry about it. The S&W wouldn't have been such a popular gun for so long if it fell apart so easily.

If you know someone who has a Redhawk who will let you shoot it before you buy it, try it out first if you can. They are both great guns, but the Ruger will cost less. I'd put Hogue Monogrips on the Smith.

It would be hard to go wrong with either gun. They are both high quality firearms.

[Redhawk1]

The Smith & Wessons are every bit a strong as the Ruger 44 Mag. S&W at one time a long time ago had a problem but not todays model 629's. All I shoot in my 629 is power house loads, not one problem.  

But back to the question, either gun will work, it is just a matter of preference.  

[Catfish]

I have a 629 S&W and a Redhawk in .454, but have shot them in .44 mag. also. Both do their job well, but when just plinking I find that I usually take the 629 over the Redhawk as it just seems more fun to shot. When deer, and doing a fair amount of walking around I take the Redhawk and top it with a 2X Leupold scope. If sitting a stand where I have a good rest I use a .500 S&W with a 2 1/2 to 8X Leupold on it. As for the STRONGER Redhawk, I think it is alittle stronger, but the 629 will handle SAMMI max. presures with no problem so unless your loading something stupid it won`t make any differance.

[Gregory]

I traded my blue 5 1/2" barreled Redhawk in 44 Mag for a S&W Model 624 a year or so ago.   I'm not bad mouthing the Ruger, it was a solid, accurate gun, but I just like a S&W better.  Better trigger, and better looking in my opinion, and no extra weight to lug around.

[EdK]

Like Gregory, I too traded off my 5-1/2" stainless Redhawk for a S&W model 629 Mountain Gun about a year ago. I had the Redhawk for 15 years. I got an outstanding action job done on it.  It was accurate and solid as a rock so it was nice in many ways.  As has been mentioned I was never 100% happy with the fit of the grip even after trying numerous aftermarket types and having gotten into single actions for hunting it was a bit too much beef for use as a trail gun, etc. hence the S&W trade.

In the end, if you want a brute strong and reliable double action 44 mag I would highly recommend it (if it handles well for you).

[S.B.]

Redhawk in .454.

That's called the Super Redhawk isn"t it? Joe's gun is a standard Redhawk.