Now I`m down to S+W 629 and Ruger Redhawk.I know that I want an 8 inch barrel......
Both Ruger and Smith & Wesson make fine guns. I have a 629 Classic with 8-3/8 inch barrel and a Super Blackhawk with 7-1/2 inch barrel. A friend of mine has a Redhawk. All of them shoot well, but the Smith has a better trigger than the Rugers. Any of them will take a lot of usage. The Smith is a tad slimmer and the grip fits my hand better than the Rugers, and it is more accurate than the Rugers.
If you are serious about a heavy-duty 44, then I would suggest you also check out Dan Wesson revolvers. I have one of their SS models with an 8-inch barrel that is as robust as the Rugers, has a trigger that is smoother than my 629, and outshoots any other 44 that I or my friends have. Plus, if you want a different barrel length at some time, you can simply buy another barrel (2", 4", 6", 8", or 10") to give you a selection in that aspect, too.
Good Luck
S4F