Today a special hog hunt season opens until the 17th at a nearby National Wildlife Refuge. I have only hunted them before with a rifle so this will be my first handgun hunt for them.

Not sure with other obligations how many times I can get out, and today I can't, but Monday for sure. I have three revolvers I am considering.

1. Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter, 44 Mag with Burris Elite 2-6X scope, which I have been shooting a lot lately.

2. S&W 6.5" 629, 44 Mag, with Burris Fast Fire II red dot, which I have not shot since November.

3. Ruger NM Blackhawk, 4/62" 45 Colt, with iron sights, which I shoot often.

The Hunter is the most accurate and my eyes really benefit from the scope, but it is single action and will be the slowest to get off a shot due to the scope.

The Smith is double action and the red dot is fast, but it is currently not one of may favorites as I have been in a single action mood lately.

The 45 is fast and fun but with my eyes and iron sights I am only good to about 30 yards.

I will be in a swamp, and shots can be real close and fast, or as far as 75 yards away.

I have 280 grain Swift A Frames over 17.0 grains of 2400, in new Starline Brass and Winchester Large Pistol Primers for the 44 magnum and they are accurate in both the Smith and the Hunter. I will have to load up some 45 Colts as I don't have a suitable bullet on hand at the moment, though I can fix that by Monday.

I may take a different one every day, but to start with, which would you choose and why?

I HAVE FOUND HANDGUN SCOPES TO BE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR MOVING GAME BECAUSE OF THEIR SMALL FOV UNLESS, AND MAYBE IF, THE SHOTS ARE VERY VERY CLOSE. I WAS UNABLE TO STAY ON A LARGE MAINED LION, NOT MOVING TOO FAST, AT 30 YARDS OR SO, BACK IN 2001 IN MOZAMBIQUE. IN LOW LIGHT OPEN SIGHTS ALSO SUCK. UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN PRACTICING A LOT OF DA SHOOTING, FORGET IT. CONSIDERING ALL OF YOUR PROS AND COMS, I WOULD GO WITH WHAT YOU SHOOT BEST AND MOST WITH, WHICH IS YOUR SCOPED SBH 44 MAG.

Use the hunter as a primary gun, carry the 45 as a belt gun , best of luck to you.

Limited distance, possible low light due to thick woods (swamp), likely fast shooting? This seems to describe the perfect scenario for your red dot sighted M29 IMHO.

I would use the SBH with the scope set on 2X. You can crank it up if necessary on a long shot. The .44 Mag. is plenty for any hog that ever lived. I have never fired a double action shot on any hog, and can't foresee a situation where I would.
If you have trouble acquiring your target, even on 2X, I suggest that you need more practice doing so, even with an unloaded gun. You can become even faster with a scope than you are with iron sights, with practice.

Thank you guys. Taking the two 44's to the range today to do a little comparison shooting.

Let us know how it goes. I don't think the DA part of the Smith is a factor, but I believe the optic would be an asset.

In my experience with the small reflex red dot sights, they can take some getting used to. Early on I missed a shot on a doe once because I couldn't locate the dot quickly. After a good bit of practice bringing the gun from the ready position to fire I became more adept at it but still find a tube style red dot sight quicker on target.

It's interesting to read about the problems acquiring the for with the reflex sights. I'm used to micro RDS\Aimpoint type sights, which are pretty fast. That's a drag.

Well, I shot only benchrest at 50 yards and conditions were perfect. Low humidity, low 60's and bright sunlight.

Both guns have produced rare 1/2" three shot groups at 50 yards but the norm was about 1" for the Hunter and 1.5 to 2" for the Smith. I was looking to compare overall performance and feel, not just accuracy, but I expected good accuracy from both. Though it is a double action, I shot the Smith only in single action mode. The Smith has a slick action and a terrific trigger. If I can ever bear to be without the Hunter for a few months I will get a trigger job because it is heavy and has a lot of creep.

I started with the SBH Hunter because I knew my Smith @ Wesson was already zeroed for the 280 gr A Frames from last November's deer season. My Hunter was previously zeroed for 240 gr XTP's and 23.7 gr of H110.

The first group was huge, so big I did not bother to measure but probably over 4 inches. I was thinking I was going to have to go with the Smith if I wanted to use the A Frames. I then shot a group with the Smith and got a 1.5" group. One group each is not enough to be conclusive but I was absolutely certain I did not like the Smith as much with regard to recoil or sight picture.

I went back to the Hunter and proceeded to shoot a 3/4" group, a 1&3/4" group and a 1/2" group. I was happy with the accuracy, and in the process got the gun zeroed, but also noted how much I simply enjoy shooting that revolver. At that point I remembered
how much A Frames cost and how few I had left and I switched to 240 gr XTP's and shot several more groups with both the Smith and the Hunter. Then I shot about 40 rounds off hand with each.

The Hunter was the clear winner for me.

Accuracy is very important to all of us but both of these guns are accurate with that load. However, I just enjoy shooting the Hunter more. That is a subjective thing but there are certain factors that mattered.

At 20 with perfect eyes I would choose my 45 with iron sights. At 40 with mediocre eyes I would choose a red dot for the fast sight acquisition. At my age with lousy eyes the scope is more than nice, it is an immense advantage. While slower for sight acquisition, while shooting offhand I practiced getting the shot off quickly at 2X and saw good improvement with just one session. I think I will continue to improve with practice.

Equally important is the way the gun feels to me. Most folks seem to prefer the Bisley grip with its recoil impulse, but with heavy loads the traditional cowboy plow handle just feels better to me, both with recoil and with overall feel.

I am most confident with the Hunter and I need that scope. If a boar charges me at close range I will hope I am having a good day with my point shooting.

I never realized how much difference there was between those two guns until I did this side by side comparison.

Tomorrow I look for hogs.

Good luck!

I believe you will do well.

Good luck!!!

Sounds like you got it all figured out, good luck on the hogs!

If possible I would take the belt gun along with the gun you feel most comfortable with & you will be just fine. As mentioned, a scope on a moving target is pretty tough shooting, it's cost me a shot several times because I couldn't keep the cross hairs on the animal. A red dot is much better if the target is moving, your call. Good luck on your hog hunt!

Dick