Need help choosing revolver

I'm looking to purchase a revolver to deer and hog hunt with. I have many rifles and shotguns that I have inherited from my dad and grandpa. Im looking to start a new tradition and pass it down to my son when he gets old enough.

I'm in between two different revolvers. They are the Smith wesson performance center 629 44 magnum and a Ruger black hawk hunter in 44 magnum

What are yalls thoughts on which one would be better.. I do have smaller hands for a man. I've held the ruger 44 magnum Bisley just can't find smith wesson to hold.

I like the grip on DA revolvers myself.

I would add the Super RedHawk to your list of choices. Add Hogue TAMER Grips, and you should have a winner.

Bob R

I just looked up the PC 629s. I knew they were pricey, but wow! The Ruger won?t give up any accuracy to the Smith, and the money you save can go to optics or ammo for practice.

I assume you are wanting a scope based on the models you specified. If so, the Blackhawk Hunter does not have the same grip frame as the Bisley you tried our. You can change the grip frame if you prefer the Bisley grip, or buy a scope mount to fit a Bisley model.

Also, you could look at a regular 629 or 69, add a scope base, and be much closer to the Ruger in price, have more for optics or ammo, and not give up anything to the PC models as far as hunting goes.

I too have smaller hands and prefer the feel of the Bisley grip and find the 69 balances a bit better than a 629 for me. If you?re looking at longer barrel lengths you would have to go 629.

I don?t think you would go wrong with either. I?d say others with far more experience than me will be along shortly to give you the finer nuances between the two that might make it easier to make a choice.

You will be fine with either one

With the two options you presented. I prefer the Smith , as for myself it simply feels better and I shoot it better.
If you will be shooting a lot of ?full-house? loads....the Ruger may have a slight endurance advantage! JMO. memtb

Either will do what you want, it?s a matter of preference. I will say the longer lock time of the SA might contribute to a little less accuracy over the DA unless you practice a lot. That said, I like the SAs better because I just do.

The Smith you mentioned is on my want list. I have held a couple and tried the trigger. If money is not a big issue I would go with the Smith because of the trigger if for no other reason. It has the best trigger I have ever felt on a revolver.

A Ruger SBH Hunter (preferably a bisley) is a nearly perfect hunting revolver. Enough weight to help tame recoil, enough strength to shoot even the heaviest loads, and accurate out to beyond the range of the chambered round.

I much prefer the way the bisley grip deals with the recoil over a standard plow handle or a double action grip. Plow handle rolls up too much with heavy loads and a double action comes straight back and fatigues my hand.

Mine has been my constant woods companion for the last 12 years. It was replaced this year only because I dipped my toe into the the really big bore waters with a BFR in 500 JRH.

I would pick this all day over the Blackhawk, but with a scope.
I don't need to push things hard to kill game with.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879226258

Ernie.....its kinnda funny. Id take a redhawk or even a blackhawk....and wouldn?t have your choice stuck up my hind end. Lol!
We have Similar interests.....but different choices/likes for each individual.

No problem...Softest shooting 44 Magnum I have ever shot, beautiful trigger pull, incredibly accurate, and with a faster lock-time than a SA revolver if I remember correctly.

As others have stated this is really subjective.
The performance center mod 29 that Ernie linked to has always been my dream double action revolver. BUT, my magna-ported 8&3/8 mod 29 not so much. It shoots great but I have arthritis and with heavy loads (300_320gr @1300+fps) always pained my hand no matter what grip I put on. It's built like a fine sports car.
I always wanted a super blackhawk hunter and finally picked one up in 44 mag. Accurate and more pleasent to shoot than the mod 29. Built like a pickup. I have always been a ruger revolver fan but this new one disappointed in he area of fit and the trigger was pathetic.
My favorite is still my 7.5" Super Redhawk in 480.reasonably gentle on my hand, accurate, and built/feels like a nice ford f350 with a 7.3 diesel. I just have complete confidence in that gun.
With 400gr bullets at 1200fps more pleasent to shoot than any of my 44 mags with 300 or 320s @1300.
Don't know if any of that helps!

Fits me better too.

Love my 629 stealth Hunter accurate and a lot more comfortable to shoot after putting x frame grips on it. The Hunter model is next on the list just because of the 2 tone finish and I just like performance center guns. Don't over look the BFR revolvers I'm playing with a 500 jrh now nice fit and finish.

Off the shelf S&W M629 Classic with your choice of 6 1/2 or 8 3/8 inch barrel. Easily scoped with a Weigand mount as they are already drilled and tapped from the factory. A $15 Wolff spring kit to lighten the trigger and you are good to go. I have both barrel lengths and prefer the longer for stand usage and the shorter for slipping through the woods. I have owned two Performance Center 629's, a "Magnum Hunter", and a "Stealth". Both were excellent firearms and looked awesome, but the more I used them the less I liked them over the standard Classic model. Both of the PC's were heavy due to the slab sided barrels. The 44 magnum cartridge really didn't need this extra weight to soak up recoil, at least not in a hunting situation. They both had 2 port Mag-na-port vents that caused sooting on the objective lens of the scope. Not that you couldn't see after one shot, but it would build up after shooting several shots. I eventually sold/traded off both of the PC's and haven't looked back. I have a FA M83 in 44 mag and a Ruger Bisley in 44 mag as well, but the Smith's get tossed in the truck 8 out of 10 times when I'm heading out to the ranch. I typically look for the 629-3 and 629-4 models as they have the endurance package but not the EDM'd rifling. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that. I have one of each model and both will easily hold 2 inch groups at 50 yards from sand bags, with their favorite loads. Just my opinion.

I have a new 629 Standard classic 6.5" it shoots really well. 3"ish at 100. The trigger needs springs. Should have those installed soon.

I have a Leupold Base and rings and a 2x B&L

I've gotta say, of all the revolvers I've handled, the double actions from every brand just felt better in my hand. The Ruger would be a more solid handgun, but I'd probably pick the S&W.

I had a Dan Wesson for years and in all that time I'm willing to bet that I didn't put 1/2 a dozen cylinders full in DA. Had to let it go. Couple of years latter with a new and steady job got the opportunity to replace it with a sold to me sight unseen Ruger Supper Blackhawk. The "Blackhawk" turned out to be a Red Hawk. I played with that for a few weeks until I was telling a co-worker about it (another big D.W. fan)he offered to swap a SBH for the RH. I jumped all over that offer and never regretted doing so.
S&W 29/629 are nice revolvers. Every one that I have shot has been accurate and trouble free. I can't see where you would go wrong with ether.

If going double action I recommend the 460V S&W revolver. I have one and absolutely love it. A versatile revolver that can chamber and fire 45 Autorim and 45 Schofield along with 45 Colt and 454 Casull. And 460 S&W magnum too.

Ruger SBH Bisley Hunter is best option you can find. Just 3 oz less than FA M83 is more than enough weight to have pleasant shooting with .44 Mag. Very easy to install optics or red dot and to replace front sight if you prefer other than red ramp. If you are considering DA, pls mind Ruger Redhawk instead of SW; waaay stronger construction and significantly smaller grips which you might find interesting. I personally have RH 7 1/2" but as my eyes are getting older, I became fun of a red dot. With that in mind, sight radius have less importance and I would swop 7 1/2" with 5 1/2" TODAY.

A Magnum Research BFR in 454 Casull or 475 Linebaugh/480 Ruger with their Bisley style grip would be a great choice. Their Bisley style grip is a better recoil absorbing grip than the grip on the Ruger Bisley. IMO anyway.

Well, something I don't see mentioned is: What is your experience with revolvers? If you are more familiar with one type over another, that could sway your choice. Also, if you have no experience, I'd suggest getting a .22 to practice with AND one of the choices you listed.

As can be said of most "either or" scenarios we see in this world - either gun you mentioned will do the job admirably.

If this is your first big bore, I'd go with the cheaper one so you can have more money left over to buy ammo for practice with.