.44 mag recommendations

So, my son is kinda disappointed with his Henry lever .44 mag lever gun. It won’t group accurately and the action jams. He’s getting rid of it. This season he borrowed my daughter’s CVA Cascade 350 Legend and he loves it.

I told him I’d support getting g rid of the levergun if we replace it with a revolver for deer hunting. A Taurus is under $1k and a Smith or a Ruger is well over $1k. Will the Taurus be Ok? I want 7-9” barrel. Full lug is better. Scope mount dovetails preferred.

Recommendations being accepted. Aaaaaand go!

I have no insight, but why a handgun?

I have no insight, but why a handgun?

Why a handgun? Well:

1) The seasons we hunt, pistols are allowed in addition to the appropriate long gun. We hunt the “gun” season, which is straight wall rifles and shotguns with slugs. We like to carry a pistol as well, since it’s legal, and several times we have either filled a tag with the pistol, or administered a coup de grâce with a pistol. We also hunt the “muzzleloader” season and, again, pistols are a legal method of take. So a smokepole and a pistol make a good combo.

2) I’ve always wanted a hogleg

3) I have dies (isn’t it required by law to have a gun if you have dies for that caliber?)

4) I have a boatload of .44 mag and .44 spcl ammo (sorry Shooter’s Apprentice, I already had the .44 special ammo, so now I need something to shoot it in)

5) …and I don’t think he’s going back to a .44 rifle after seeing what a 350 Legend does out at 200 yards. (He borrowed my daughter’s rifle and, let’s just say, it might not be her rifle any more.)

I wouldn't advertise the item in #3, according to the USC, it's a felony. I better look in my die cabinet, I might be in violation myself.

[The Shooters Apprentice]

You rang?

Of course this falls right in my wheel house. I shoot a lot of 44 both magnum and special. The last two episodes of the podcast have been about 44s and then next two might be as well.

Anyway. I’ve had a couple Henry’s and haven’t been the biggest fan of them. My current 45/70 doesn’t shoot nearly as good as my marlins do with most loads. They can be worked over but without having it in my hand I don’t know what it would need.

Now as far as revolvers go I do not recommend Taurus. I’ve shot several of them loose and their crimes service is non existent and no aftermarket support for them either. No body will work on them. Lots of stories of barrels shooting of, frames breaking, ect, etc. if you get a good one cool, if not. You’re stuck with a paper weight.

I’d start with deciding if you want a double or single action. And then decide if you want to mount a scope or run irons. Personally I like irons.

Anything past 7.5” becomes too hard to pack in a holster in my opinion. 7.5” Ruger single actions are common and usually shoot well. You can find a used super Blackhawk for under 600 with a little shopping.

I like the light weight smith mount is guns. Don’t underestimate a short barrel. I have a 4 5/8” super Blackhawk and I shot this group with it today at 25 yards with iron sights.

[The Shooters Apprentice]

I forgot to mention. Don’t rule out a 44 special only chambered gun. If you’re gonna handload the 44 special with a Keith bullet is amazing. After about 1000 fps you don’t gain much terminal performance and just beat yourself up so I tend to load down my 44 mags these days anyway.

I’m not a fan of shooting specials in magnum chambers. Lots of reasons for it but accuracy loss is a big one.

The current run of 5” GP100s in 44 special are pretty sweet….

[RocketFoot]

I don't know much about Taurus Tracker series but I do have a Raging Bull 8" .44 Mag and it is amazing! Comfortable to shoot and locks up like a bank vault! Another good choice would be the Ruger Redhawk...also built like a tank!

I’m a Ruger guy. I love the Super Blackhawk (my Super Single Six 9” is my second favorite wheelgun of all time) but I’m sharing with my son. Have to take his preferences into account, too. On my own, I’d go Super Redhawk, with the option for red dot or optics in the future. (Taurus just seems like a cost savings- but at what cost?) Probably my favorite wheelgun of all time is my Security Six.



Pic is 5 shots, 25 yards. But- I’m out of those bullets and my eyes aren’t as young as they once were.

I know about the special/magnum ammo issue- NOW, since reading your post. (Yes, that was me with the question over on Instagram.) I hadn’t considered that before.

The thing is, maybe a hogleg will get some range time, but for hunting it will get shot a few times at the range before season, and -maybe- once or twice at game each season. It won’t get shot tons.

(sigh) I’ll probably bite the bullet and get a Ruger. The used market isn’t very active in my area, so I’ll likely spring for a new one.