Which would you guys prefer to hunt with, a SRH or S&W 629 and why?

The SRH for me. I have both a SRH and a model 29.

The SRH just fits me better. I also like the scope ring attachment of the SRH.

SRH for me too. I also like the ability to go from optics to irons, and back, in a moment. The grip angle fits me better as well, and you have many aftermarket grip otions (Hogue Tamer)

It is built to take punishment, and it just plain looks better ;-)

That is a no brainer, Super RedHawk.

I own 3 Super RedHawks at the moment, my brother has a 629. I have owned several 29's and 629's over the years also.

Why the Super RedHawk over the Smith & Wesson?
The SRH is a much tougher gun.
The SRH will stand hot loads that would wreck a S&W.
The SRH has a great Scope Mounting system on every gun.
The SRH has Rings supplied with it in 1" with 30mm available.
With Hogue "Tamer" Grips installed the SRH is much more plesant to shoot with hot loads.
Fast Change Front Sight System, with Marble Fiber Optic sight available.
The SRH is much simpler to work on yourself.
The SRH is much simpler to do a thorough cleaning of the internals.
The weight of a SRH is a perfect ballance between soaking up recoil and handeling. It is heavy enough without being too heavy.
If my life depended on one or the other working 100% I would trust my life to the Ruger over the S&W.

I do like Smith and Wesson revolvers. I own a 617, 638, 610, 686, and a 625 at this time. I shoot all of them in IDPA Style Matches, and will probably own more in the future. I shoot them with light loads mostly, and I think they will last a lifetime on that diet.
The 310 grain loads I am feeding my Super Redhawk would probably trash a 629 in a year or two. Not to mention the fierce recoil, and getting your knuckle cracked hard on every shot by the trigger guard.

The Smith & Wessons are good for Matches and Personal Defense. The SRH is a Hunting Handgun designed to handle heavy hunting loads day in, day out, and be accurate, reliable, maintainable, and anvil tough. It is designed to use optical sights which can be removed and reinstalled without loss of Zero.

Just My 2 Cents

My S&W has no problems going hunting. The dead animal won't mind anyway!

Yeah, everything he said! Except the part about recoil. I have two SRHs -- both customs -- one in .475 Linebaugh and the other in .500 Linebaugh, and I don't give a hoot how you load either of my Model 29s (even the 3-inch), they don't kick anywhere near as badly as my SRHs.

Now that I have that off my chest.....

Either will serve you well, but you cannot beat the shear ruggedness of the SRH and its pure functionality as a hunting revolver.

The S&W can not use the heavy boolits, recoil will damage the gun. NOT the pressure.
That means the S&W does not have the recoil of a gun that shoots a heavy boolit.
However the S&W is very grip sensitive. I had many, many 29's all the way to the 10" silhouette models that I tried to shoot IHMSA with. No luck at all. I would shoot a 1/2" group at 50 meters from Creedmore, put the gun down to paint the target, pick the gun up again and shoot another 1/2" group---10" from the first one!
I would center punch the first 5 chickens and miss the next 5 because I had to put the gun down between relays.
The S&W is extremely accurate but you need to super glue it to your hand.
The SRH only needs a firm grip and I was shooting pop cans at 200 yards with mine.
My money goes to the SRH. The best for me is the SBH that can be held any way but the SRH is more accurate.

I think that we were all born with the knowledge that the SRH is infinitely stronger than the 629. It is also heavier. For a 44 mag, I'd be just as happy with the 629 and factory ammo. Whatever you get, I'm sure that it will work well. If looks count, I like the Smith much better.

Good luck.

BoB R. hit the nail on the head, the super redhawk is a workhorse of a handgun, I have 2. my 480 9.5, and a 7.5 44 mag, and yes i have a model 29.

I have a S&W 629 Classic & I believe that it is a much higher quality handgun than the SRH. I did own a RSB at one time and it was a very good gun. But my 629 is a more accurate handgun. It doesn't matter how hot you load your ammo if you can't hit what your aiming at. There is nothing wrong with the SRH;it is a well built handgun. If I had my choice, go with the Smith.

Whitworth
Your comparison of a 44 Smith to a 475 and 500 Linebaugh Super RedHawk was not exactly an Apples to Apples comparison. But I did not need to tell you that.

The Swiss Watch Action of a Smith & Wesson does not apply to all Smith & Wessons either. I believe I have owned 6 Smith & Wesson 44 Magnums over the years. I had one 29 that was not all that special right out of the box. Cylinder lock up was terrible on all 6 holes. It was probably made somewhere between 1975 thru 1985 I would guess.
Depending on who owned Smith & Wesson at the time, they have put out some trash over the years. I had ahold of a 22 magnum at a Gun Show a while back that I was real interested in until I checked the cylinder lock up. It was junk, and reportedly unfired. I believe it was made in the 1980's.
My 610, 686, and 625 are all 3 Power Custom Combats done by Ron himself. My 617 and 638 both have really good actions from the factory. As I said before I really like Smith & Wesson Revolvers. The 29 or 629 will kill Deer, Elk, Moose and Bear with good shot placement, and a careful selection of ammunition. If I were going to use a 44 S&W as a hunting handgun I would try and keep the amount of Full Power ammunition I fired through it as low as possible. I have never shot a S&W loose, but I have been told, and read forever that a steady diet of Full House ammunition is hard on a 29, 629, and 19's, 65's and 66 S&W revolvers.

With a Super RedHawk very little is required to have it up to speed for hunting.
It is plenty useable right out of the box.
Add Hogue Tamer grips and the recoil level will be reduced noticeably.
If you would like to use a scope the rings are provided.
If you would like to use an Ultra Dot, swap the rings out for 30mm, and mount the larger diameter Ultra Dot.
If you would like a higher contrast front sight, a Marble Fiber Optic front sight can be installed in a couple minutes, and changed back to factory just as fast.
If you would like a lighter trigger pull, Wofle springs can be installed in a few minutes.
Then we have the ability to shoot 300+ grain bullets that will shoot through about anything in North America.

I will continue to use my Smith & Wesson revolvers for plinking, personal defense, varmints, and at the range for matches. I will use my Contenders and Super RedHawks for hunting game animals.

Again Just My 2 Cents

Yes you can push the Ruger a little more. But I seriously doubt that a deer will ever be able to tell a difference. With all that has been mentioned, I would buy which one YOU like the best and spend a LOT of time at the range with it. IMHO, that is going to make the difference.

Quite a few deer have been shot with warm 44 sp rounds. I have to think the S&W with 44 Mag rounds will still out shoot the 44 sp rounds. If you put the bullet in the right place a game animal is going down...

PS, with that being said, I own 3 Rugers... LOL

Nothing wrong with a S&W 44 mag, I like mine


50% at 50 yards