Posted: 2/18/2016 9:19:52 AM EDT
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My next revolver is gonna be a big boy and I'm debating the Ruger Redhawk against the S&W 629.
My intent is to use it for handgun hunting on western white tail and as a test mule for load development. I don't plan on running the gun absolutely balls to the walls with super hot loads, rather, it will see a good deal of shooting with standard pressure .44 loads and maybe a few forays into some pretty heavy stuff. My major concerns are durability and the ability to absorb recoil. Accuracy and trigger are close behind that. The Ruger seems to have the reputation as the stronger of the two, albeit with a less than spectacular trigger and fit and finish. The Smith has the reputation of being a better finished piece, albeit not as strong as the Ruger and in my experience with them Smiths all seem to have great factory triggers. What say the experts? |
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I have the redhawk in .45 and the DA pull is as good, if not better than any modern smith I've handled. The single action is ok and only a little behind the average smith.
I cant speak to smiths long term reliability The redhawk handles fast 300+ grainers with ease |
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Both make good guns. Depends you your taste...
ruger can probably handle hotter loads due to more beef in the frame.. Smith might have a better trigger or atleast have a easier trigger to work on.. Stories I've read about the new S&W tells me that CS is better at Ruger. |
Both will kill Javelina. 
My redhawk had a pretty crappy trigger. Someone  attempted to polish up the trigger parts, that didnt go so well. The redhawk was sent back to ruger and in about a week it had all new trigger parts in it and the trigger is very nice now. 
You can't go wrong either way. Eta. If i were to get a new .44 revolver I would probably go with the 629 Lite Hunter. They are just so sexy!!!!! 
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Get a S&W Steath Hunter Performance Center.  I have this gun and it is amazing. The single action trigger break is like a thin, glass rod snapping. The barrel is magnaported from the factory, and you can tell. I have a Super BH Hunter, and it's a fantastic product from Ruger, but the Stealth Hunter is hands down superior. I have do not own, and haven't shot a SRH, but I've fingerbanged them in gun stores and again, 692 Sealth Hunter all the way. |
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Quoted: I have the redhawk in .45 and the DA pull is as good, if not better than any modern smith I've handled. The single action is ok and only a little behind the average smith. I cant speak to smiths long term reliability The redhawk handles fast 300+ grainers with ease I've owned S&W Models 14, 19, 28, 686, and 442. I've shot the Models 10, 15, 57, and 29. I love Smith's triggers (maybe not the 442 so much  ), but am astounded with the DA on the Redhawk. The SA has just a bit too much creep, but it's not objectionable. |
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If you ever plan to shoot 300 grain or larger rounds, many of them will not fit in the cylinder of the 629. Ruger, no problem.
The Redhawk is a beast of a revolver, and is significantly stronger than the Smith. I will admit though, the 629 classic looks 20x better than a Redhawk. If you anticipate this purchase being a high round count gun since you want to test various loads with it, I'd probably go with the Ruger. |
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I have owned or own redhawks , blackhawks and 629's
My take is use the 629 for standard factory loads (of which there are plenty) or similar reasonable handloads . If you feel there is a need for the heavy stuff skip right over the redhawk and go for the Blackhawk . I am not entirely convinced the super heavy handloads really give you much advantage in the hunt . Most guys don't shoot them as well as the standard loads for various reasons . In most hunting the ability to hit your critter where you are aiming is more importiant than what you are hitting with. Years back a friend and I were getting set for a hog hunt with our 629's and we had cooked up some handloads with 240 cast semi-wadcutters and 2400 powder. We creaped up until we were getting 1300 fps or so but the guns were a handful to shoot . When we backed down to just about 1200 fps everything but the number on the chrono was better and both our hogs that we hit fell over dead . |
| All I can add is, whatever you get, if you plan on hunting with it, make sure it is not ported.I have a 454 casull that is ported, and after killing my first deer with it while wearing no ear protection,my ear rang for most of the day. I am scared to shoot it like that again. |
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That's all really good information. I appreciate it.
Im starting to gravitate towards the Rugers for one main reason, ammo. I'm currently set up to reload .45 LC, but not .44 Mag. All my LC loads have been basically cowboy and plinking loads, 255 LRN's at about 800 FPS. Can the LC be safely loaded up in these guns to power levels capable of reliably and humanely dropping a deer with proper shot placement? |
Lots of great info in this thread. I'm a Ruger guy and far prefer how they fit my hand. That being said, the two Ruger revolvers I've bought in the last six months had absolutely terrible finishes filled with swirl marks like I've never seen on revolvers. In addition, they both had very bad single action triggers. One had so many scratches on the muzzle, I had it recrowned. I had to have them beadblasted and have the triggers worked on. However, I have noticed some rough finishes on Smiths I've seen in the shops as well. 
For me, the hand fit is paramount and I'd buy a SRH w/ 7.5". If you have handled both and don't have a preference, I'd recommend going the 629 w/ 6". It's lighter for packing while hunting, is accurate with a pretty decent factory trigger, and strong enough to handle a lifetime of standard magnum reloads (BTW: Piles of Muleies and WTs have been taken with 240 gr. 44 loads, you don't have to shoot 300 grs. at 1400 fps to take deer). Best of luck, and post pics! PS: If you're interested in custom work, Smith and Wesson offers custom service with expedite available. You can get the custom work you want without breaking your warranty. Ruger offers no such services. |
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The Redhawk is stronger. If you are going to shoot a lot of heavy loads, then it is the way to go.
Heavy 45 Colt loads can be used in the Redhawk and Blackhawk. Really, a 1000 fps 250 gr large meplat load from a 45 Colt will be fine for 99% of the uses for a handgun. The 300 gr and above loads will probably need a higher front sight, so keep that in mind when you buy. Some models have an easy to change front sight. |
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Quoted:
That's all really good information. I appreciate it. Im starting to gravitate towards the Rugers for one main reason, ammo. I'm currently set up to reload .45 LC, but not .44 Mag. All my LC loads have been basically cowboy and plinking loads, 255 LRN's at about 800 FPS. Can the LC be safely loaded up in these guns to power levels capable of reliably and humanely dropping a deer with proper shot placement? If you are handloading for a modern gun (certainly no single action army's) the 45 Colt cartridge is the equal of the 44 mag. Some will argue the Colt is slightly ahead but the difference is slight and I would argue the 44 is easier to find components |
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The Redhawk is stronger. If you are going to shoot a lot of heavy loads, then it is the way to go. Heavy 45 Colt loads can be used in the Redhawk and Blackhawk. Really, a 1000 fps 250 gr large meplat load from a 45 Colt will be fine for 99% of the uses for a handgun. The 300 gr and above loads will probably need a higher front sight, so keep that in mind when you buy. Some models have an easy to change front sight. Thats my load Unless im headed to AK. Then I load up 300+ grainers |
| I've owned and hunted with both, and prefer the Super Redhawk. Not sure why, it just feels better in my hand and recoil is a little more controllable. I will admit I am a little biased as a Blackhawk collector, but Smith revolvers have never done it for me (and I have owned at least a dozen from .38 - .44 Mag). |
| I have a 7 5/8" Redhawk in .44 and my longtime hunting buddy a Model 629. Every year for the first 3 days of gun season, we hunt exclusively with the wheel guns. Every year we have both been successful taking nice Whitetails with them, and I have taken 2 in some past seasons. I cleaned up the trigger somewhat and added a Wolf spring kit, everything else (including sights and grips) is bone stock. I can tell you from shooting both, my lightly polished trigger is better than his stock trigger, but the Smith is a fine gun for sure. I think the Redhawk is built a little more stoutly, but I would be proud to own either. |
| Once upon a time, I had a Smith 629 Classic and a Ruger Redhawk. The Smith had a better trigger until I got a trigger job on the Redhawk. Then they both shot about the same with a slight edge still to the 629. However, I sold it because as mentioned, I could shoot hotter and longer length .44 magnum rounds in the Redhawk. Plus I made a couple of extra bucks selling it, where I might have lost a couple of bucks selling the Redhawk. |
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S&W told me not to shoot 300gr magnums in my 629 
the rugers are not as smooth & pretty, but they are strong make mine a single action superblackhawk <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/derek45/media/RUGER/DSC_0039_zpshsivybes.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/derek45/RUGER/DSC_0039_zpshsivybes.jpg</a> 315gr LEE flatpoint gaschecks ( note 45ACP brass for size comparison) <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/derek45/media/RUGER/IMG_0565_zpsd920d285.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/derek45/RUGER/IMG_0565_zpsd920d285.jpg</a> This is what I hunt with too. Ruger Super Blackhawk can take the hotter loads, is nice shooting with the proper grips, and is a lot lighter carrying long distances than either the Smith or the Redhawk. As long as you are ok with single action. |
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Quoted:..., is nice shooting with the proper grips, .... I used to put Pacmeyers on them, but eventually listened to the guys who said, - "put on a pair of gloves, and let the single action ride up in your hand." they were right, I can shoot full magnum loads with these stock grips, without pain, and keep shooting, and enjoying it, without developing a flinch I could never do so much magnum shooting with the S&W 
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Derek45, are those loads .44 mag or .45 LC? What kind of velocities are you getting out of that barrel length (looks like its about 6")? 44 magnum Ruger Superblackhawk 5.5" LEE 310 mold http://www.midwayusa.com/product/511417/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-c430-310-rf-44-special-44-remington-magnum-44-40-wcf-430-diameter-310-grain-flat-nose-gas-check 20gr H110 loaded short OAL -1226fps loaded long OAL - 1195 I haven't gone past 20gr yet. I've been too busy/lazy to cast more of them ...it's too easy to call SNS, MBC, or Bayou and just order 500 240gr SWC Coated |