11 Best 44 Magnum Revolvers – 2023

Last Updated September 10th 2023

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Winners at a Glance

Image	Product	Detail	Price
	Smith & Wesson 629	Overall Winner	Price
	Colt Anaconda	Best Gun for More Money	Price
	Taurus Raging Hunter	Best Hunting Revolver	Price
	S&W 629 PC Pro Series	Best Target Shooter	Price
	Nighthawk Custom Korth NXR	Best Custom Revolver	Price
	Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan	Best Concealed Carry	Price

America’s Favorite Wheel Gun

The 44 Magnum revolver holds a special place in America’s heart. If you collect guns, like at all, then you almost certainly own one of these charismatic revolvers. And it can become an expensive addiction.

We still think the best 44 Magnum revolver is the classic Smith & Wesson 629, but there are plenty of options these days…

So here is a full breakdown of the best 44 revolvers on sale in 2023.

1. Smith & Wesson Model 629

• Price: $1,116.99
• Action: Double Action/Single
• Barrel length: 4 inch barrel
• Weight: 2.8lb
• Capacity: 6

Overall Winner – The Classic 44 Mag

Price: 3/5 Accuracy: 4/5 Weight: 3.5/5 Reliability: 5/5 Prestige: 4/5

The classic Smith and Wesson Model 629 really had to take the prize. It’s the archetype, the genre in one lump of stainless steel and this is still arguably the best 44 Magnum revolver.

Now there are plenty more capable guns, some of them built on the same 629 platform. But if you’re looking for an all-rounder that sits right on the hip and delivers great bang for your buck, well it’s hard to look past the red ramp front on the daddy of them all.

Effectively this is the Smith & Wesson Model 29 with decades of very minor tweaks and stainless steel construction. This Smith and Wesson Model is a straight six shooter and the only limit when it comes to the parts and upgrades is your imagination.

Personal defense or life on the ranch, this big bore Smith & Wesson Model 629 44 Magnum is designed to do it all.

Check out the Smith & Wesson 629 Deluxe, too, which comes with wood grips and not too many other major differences. Still, those wood grips mean that some target shooters like the extra precision.

These are the best 44 magnum revolvers if you’re looking for a Jack of All Trades.

2. Colt Anaconda

• Price: $1,357.99
• Caliber: 44 Mag
• Action: Double Action/Single Action revolver
• Barrel: 8-inch barrel
• Weight: 3.69lb
• Capacity: 6

Heavyweight Legend Returns

Price: 2/5 Accuracy: 5/5 Weight: 2.5/5 Reliability: 5/5 Prestige: 4/5

The Colt Anaconda 44 Magnum is back. The big brother to the equally fantastic Colt Python has created a family of snake guns with ever increasing venom. That’s good.

Basically the 357 Magnum Python and the Colt Anaconda 44mag are smash hits. With a series of improvements over the first model, this now sits comfortably at the head table of the 44 Magnum revolver world.

Old Colt Anacondas 44 Magnum pistols aren’t really known for their accuracy. The new gun has fixed that issue, and a few others. The stainless steel factory finish shines brighter than the immediate competition and it just feels that little different in the hand.

It’s balance, it’s engineering and the trigger pull. It’s the package really. And this gun shoots straight and true now with the Hogue rubber grip nestled in your hand. It’s also drilled for optics up top, but you get the red ramp front as standard.

The new gun is a major leap forward and has put a gun that sold in reasonable numbers and yet never truly won over the hardcore. If the new stainless steel finish Colt can do it, then it’s definitely one of the best 44 Magnum revolvers in the world.

You can spend a little more, or a lot, at Colt’s Manufacturing custom shop and you don’t have to stick with 44 Remington Magnum. The 45 Long Colt Custom 8 Ball is a $40,000 revolver, and you can easily spend $10,000 on the Custom Shop SAA Special.

3 Taurus Raging Hunter Revolver

• Price: $830.99+
• Caliber: 44 Remington Magnum
• Action: Double Action/Single Action Revolvers
• Barrel: 5.1
• Total: 3.5lb
• Capacity: 6

Best Low Budget

Price: 5/5 Accuracy: 3.5/5 Weight: 2.5/5 Reliability: 5/5 Prestige: 3/5

They finally did it with the Taurus Raging Hunter. Brazil took the top spot, produced the hunting handgun of 2023 in more or less everybody’s eyes and a masterpiece that’s a price most of us can afford.

This is still one of the best 44 handguns in the world and the best hunting revolver on this list.

Finally we have a ported barrel shroud with an integral compensator that helps control the inevitable muzzle rise that goes with this much front end and this much bullet.

It’s a lot of muzzle energy to contend with in that long double action trigger pull and crisp short single action trigger.

For defense, target shooting and hunting, these are some of the best 44 magnum revolvers in the world.

Barrel Shroud is Slick Tech

Taurus used an aluminum shroud on high-grade stainless steel to keep weight down on these large frame revolvers. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Taurus has done it well.

Now the muzzle rise is well contained with So you can opt for heavy ammunition for big game and dangerous game, safe in the knowledge that the Taurus model isn’t out to smash you in the head.

You can order a variety of barrel lengths and there are 357 Magnum revolvers, 44 Magnum revolvers, 454 Casull and even 500 S&W. Look out for gun deals and the prices will surprise you with this double action.

We do like the full size handgun in every caliber, and the smaller ones are kind of fun too. In any size, these are some of the best 44 Magnum revolvers on sale in 2023.

4. S&W 629 Performance Center Competitor PWB

• Price: $1,749.99
• Caliber: 44 Magnum
• Action: Double Action Revolver/Single
• Barrel: 4 inch barrel
• Weight: 2.76lb
• Capacity: 6

Best for Competition Shooting

Price: 2/5 Accuracy: 5/5 Weight: 3/5 Reliability: 5/5 Prestige: 4/5

Just look at the S&W 629 Competitor Performance Weighted Barrel and tell me you don’t want this.

Customer reviews for the best 44 magnum revolver are amazing too. These Smith & Wesson Performance Center guns are arguably the best 44 Magnum revolvers money can buy, for specific sets of circumstances anyway.

And just to be clear, Smith and Wesson are going to feature pretty heavily on this list. You already knew that in your heart.

The Best All Rounder Here?

This matte stainless steel build is our favorite right now if money isn’t a big deal. Yes it’s a little bit operator, it’s a custom pistol and a seriously shiny piece of engineering built around the high quality cold hammer forged barrel. But it’s also a functional new star for gun safes around North America.

This Smith & Wesson large frame revolvers can do it all. It’s a competitive target shooting favorite, it is long enough up front to go handgun hunting with and this is also a serious tool for defense. This S&W Model 629 is one of the best examples of the breed.

Load your Smith and Wesson Performance Center Model 629 with 230gr hollow point ammo and see what it can do in terms of muzzle energy and the highly-technical ballistic coefficient…

And you can mount red dot sights or a scope on that super tough picatinny rail in the same satin stainless finish for the best shooting experience with Smith & Wesson Performance Center model pistols & revolvers. The trigger pull is pretty amazing too.

We love the Smith and Wesson Model 69 Combat Magnum, too, and we might include that soon. But this Smith & Wesson Performance Center is a beast that Dirty Harry would love.

5. Nighthawk Custom Korth NXR

• Price: $5,611.99
• Caliber: 44 Remington Magnum
• Barrel: 4 inch barrel
• Weight: 2.6lb
• Capacity: 6

Best Custom Pistol

Price: 1/5 Accuracy: 5/5 Weight: 3/5 Reliability: 5/5 Prestige: 5/5

The Nighthawk Custom Korth NXR is about as far as we think you can go with a 44 Mag, price wise.

You can find gun deals on Guns.com, but the prices are still insane for Korth revolvers, we accept that.

What’s the concept? We’re not even sure anymore to be honest, but we still love it. It’s a cut down competition shooter with Turkish walnut grips and a massive Picatinny rail running down its spine that’s perfect for red dot sights or mounting a scope.

You can order longer barrel lengths for competition shooting with your 44 revolvers, but we just like this short gun crafted from stainless steel to international competition tolerances and then some.

It will probably end up in a rap video, but doesn’t deserve to. At least give it to an eccentric Bond villain…

This review covers the longer barrel full size Nighthawk Custom Korth NXS, but yeah the basics are here.

You can clearly see the slavish devotion to producing the best 44 mag revolver in the world with the sweetest trigger pull you’ll ever encounter. So we like Korth revolvers really, especially with the right gun deals.

6. Taurus Tracker

• Price: $660.99
• Caliber: 44 Magnum
• Barrel: 2 inch barrel
• Weight: 2lb
• Rounds: 6

Best for Concealed Carry

Price: 3.5/5 Accuracy: 2/5 Weight: 4/5 Reliability: 5/5 Prestige: 2.5/5

The Taurus Tracker 44 mag stainless revolver is a cheap, simple, wholesome gun. It’s also an interesting collection of ideas.

I mean that snub-nose and fiber optic front sight really don’t belong together, but they do help rapid target acquisition with your medium frame revolver and, in a way, best concealed carry.

Maybe you prefer the classic 44 mag 66 Combat Magnum hand cannon, and maybe you’re right. But the stainless steel Taurus Tracker is close enough for us to save the money.

Of course in lots of other ways it will not be your best concealed carry. Unless you live in bear country. The rules are just different there and this is totally legit personal defense in Alaska.

7. Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan

• Price: $1,201.99
• Action: Double Action/Single Action Revolver
• Caliber: 44 Remington Magnum
• Barrel: 2.5
• Total: 7.62 inch revolver
• Weight: 2.8lb

Best for Bear Defense

Price: 2.5/5 Accuracy: 2/5 Weight: 2.5/5 Reliability: 5/5 Prestige: 2.5/5

This is the concealed carry or pocket pistol that Alaskans rely on to stave off bears and wolves. The 44 Magnum Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan is often the last line of defense in bear country and has saved more lives than sex education. Maybe, I’m not good with stats.

That is largely the even snappier 454 Casull round, which is about as strong as big bore pocket pistols get. But even with the Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag revolver, you’re going to feel the heavy recoil when you fire off six rounds. Elmer Keith would love this, I think, and it looks good for its lifetime warranty.

The adjustable rear sight seems optimistic with this close range special, but we like the red ramp front sights. Not many people use a Ruger Redhawk snubnose as a precision tool and the Hogue Tamer Monogrip is suitably cushioned to absorb recoil.

You’re probably shooting at point blank range, not squinting through the rear sight of the Ruger Super Redhawk…

The 44 Magnum Ruger Alaskan is a simple spray and pray double action revolver with a massive kick that can slip into your belt, pocket or sock.

But you’ll need a holster inside that sock, or you’ll lose your Ruger Super Redhawk 44 mag revolver, a lot.

8. Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk Standard

• Price: $840.99+
• Caliber: 44 Mag
• Action: Single
• Barrel: 4.62
• Weight: 2.8lb

Best for Cowboy Fantasies

Price: 4/5 Accuracy: 3/5 Weight: 2.5/5 Reliability: 4/5 Prestige: 2.5/5

These cheap guns are classic cowboy six shooters that might just work for you. This Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk is old school law enforcement, Wild West style.

Now this 44 Rem Mag Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk is a solid stainless finish revolver, and a weapon that some believe is much tougher than the 629.

This matte stainless Super Blackhawk 44 Mag is an old school six shooter, without the bells and whistles. And these single action revolvers are a lot of fun and a reliable firearm based on age old technology.

You do get adjustable rear sights, a squared off trigger guard to save your knuckles with this single action Ruger Super Blackhawk. And not much else in terms of luxuries or performance features.

This gun is over-engineered in terms of strength, durability and pure simplicity, together with a refined trigger pull and the patented transfer bar mechanism and loading gate. We like the textured wood grips too.

There is a lot to like about the Ruger Super Blackhawk Standard single action revolver at short and long range, for home defense and the open plains. Try one of these Ruger revolvers and find out.

9. Magnum Research BFR Short Cylinder

• Price: $1,206.99
• Caliber: 44 Remington Magnum
• Barrel: 7.5 inch
• Total Length: 11.25
• Weight: 4lb
• Capacity: 5

Best for Durability

Price: 4/5 Accuracy: 4/5 Weight: 1/5 Reliability: 5/5 Prestige: 3/5

The Magnum Research Big Frame Revolver was a revelation when it launched, thanks largely to its status as the most powerful production revolver in the world. It also helped establish Magnum Research as a serious manufacturing company.

It fired the excellent 45-70 Government rifle cartridges, felled big game, finished off dangerous game and starred in hundreds of YouTube videos. That wasn’t the only large bore cartridge you could get. It was just the headline act and they were seriously powerful cartridges for a handgun.

This satin stainless steel finish classic Magnum Research BFR looks set to be the volume seller in a range of substantial cartridges that includes the 50AE. But this is 44 Rem Mag and these single action revolvers can handle that more than comfortably.

You can still handle dangerous game with the .44, but you might want to go for the seriously big bore hunting handguns if you’re heading to the African plains.

10. Smith & Wesson Model 329 PD

• Price: $1,373.99
• Caliber: 44 Magnum/44 Special
• Action: Double Action/Single
• Barrel Length: 4.1 inch
• Weight: 1.58lb
• Rounds: 6

Best for Open Carry

Price: 3/5 Accuracy: 3/5 Weight: 5/5 Reliability: 2.5/5 Prestige: 3.5/5

If you’re looking for an all-round carry revolver chambered in 44 Magnum and don’t like to go too small for home defense, then this Smith & Wesson new model is your carry pistol right here.

The Smith & Wesson 329 PD could be a controversial choice as there have been issues, but it’s new technology. We went for the eye catching and unique, but this is the practical option.

Smith & Wesson invented the whole 44 mag revolvers shooting match and the N Frame 29 came into being in 1957. This is the classic police revolver with hardwood grip module with some modern touches

First Radical Redesign in Eon

A Scandium alloy frame, a narrow top strap and a titanium cylinder sound the absolute tits, because they are. This Smith & Wesson is hardcore science at work and the end result is a high price, high spec 1.58lb gun of perfect proportions.

It’s excellent for defensive pistol duties and it’s light enough for an everyday carry pistol, but comes with heavy recoil as the built in compromise. That seems to be something to do with the resonance of this new metal, but it’s so light that you might want to pay the price.

We think Dirty Harry would approve of these Smith & Wesson 44 mag revolvers, especially if the gun deals are good today.

11. Taurus Raging Bull

• Price: $784.99
• Caliber: 44 Magnum
• Barrel Length: 6.5
• Weight: 3.3lb
• Capacity: 6

The Taurus Raging Bull is a cheaper alternative to the Hunter 44 Mag revolvers.

The satin stainless steel Raging Bull is a simple six round revolver with a ported barrel shroud and it has established a solid reputation as an all rounder and hunting handgun.

A 6.5 inch barrel, adjustable rear sight and cushioned rubber grips are key features on the Raging Bull.

Taurus model pistols & revolvers offer value for money pretty much across the board. This one is no different.

It isn’t the best shooting 44 mag revolver in the world, but it is a very competent firearm as the buyer’s guides will all tell you.

2 Wildcards For You…

We do this a lot and you will find bullpup rifles/shotguns in AR-15 features and a deluxe 44 Magnum matte stainless revolver alongside this wildcard semi-auto. So here we are.

1. Magnum Research Desert Eagle XIX

• Price: $1,807.99+
• Barrel length: 6 inch
• Weight: 4.45lb
• Capacity: 8+1

We like the Magnum Research Desert Eagle Mark XIX semi-automatic pistol in 44 Rem Mag spec. There, we said it.

Really take a look. There’s a lot to like about this smaller caliber semi automatic pistol. The big bore 50 Cal pistol is a novelty, which requires love, patience and maintenance. But with the 44 Rem Mag, the Desert Eagle Mark XIX gets due headroom.

Suddenly all the semi-automatic pistol tech in the Magnum Research Desert Eagle that was designed to just about harness the heavy recoil lunacy that is the 50AE round could easily cope with this ballistic coefficient.

OK, so full power 44 Magnum was designed for 44 Mag revolvers. Not a Magnum Research Desert Eagle 44 Rem Mag semi auto pistol. So what?

Now you have engineering operating well within its limits, and these Magnum Research Desert Eagle 44 Magnum semi auto pistols still fire large caliber projectile. And the results are good, really good, for self defense & target shooting.

These handguns & pistols are different, but they are fun in their own special way. And these semi auto pistols come in matte black, stainless finish and just about every other color combo. It’s easy enough to upgrade the front sight and the Picatinny rail can take a red dot sight instead of the standard front and rear sight.

2. Henry Mare’s Leg

• Price: $1081.99

This lever action cut down Henry Repeating Arms is a fun way to send 44 Magnum and it is the same gun that starred in the pretty hilarious Zombieland movies in the hands of Woody Harrelson.

Now this lever action is a modern version of the sawn off rifle that lawmen used to carry in their saddlebags for longer range shootouts.

So this lever action pistol was kind of a Wild West SBR.

Dan Wesson Revolver is an Option

Dan Wesson makes some of the sexiest semi auto pistols on the market now, but it started out with revolvers. You can still find Dan Wesson tuned S&W Model 629 44 mag revolvers for self defense & target shooting out there, and the elusive Dan Wesson Model 14 too.

• Full line of revolvers on Guns.com

Where to buy 44 Magnum Ammo

If you buy your home handgun ammo and handgun cartridges from your local gun store, then you need to fix that. We have some places you can bulk buy ammo, like Federal, American Eagle, Sig ammo and more even in times of a crisis, and save a lot of money.

Find a dealer now for ammunition for 357 Magnum revolvers, 44 magnum revolver and other caliber semi auto pistols & revolvers.

Get our full buyer’s guide on 44 Mag revolver ammo here. Also get your ammo for your bolt action pistol, lever action rifle. All of them really…

Here are our favorite dealers, with direct links to the right section for ammo for defensive duties. You’ll find gun parts & accessories, gun cleaning kits etc, of course, accessories.

• Sportsman’s Guide – Get deals on .44 ammo, 9mm ammo, rimfire ammo and other bullet weight and bullet diameter pistol ammunition. the most powerful Magnum loads at normal prices. Federal, American Eagle deals online for the best 44 Mag ammo. Set the price low to high for real bargains for your revolvers, handguns & rifles.
• Firearms Depot – Great deals on gear, accessories, ammunition, S&W Magnum and others. Full buying guides and 9mm pistols and gun parts & accessories.
• Bulk buy 44 Magnum ammo at Lucky Gunner. 44 rounds cheap. Federal, American Eagle and lesser brands for cheap handgun ammo for handguns, revolvers, shotguns etc with a less specialist ballistic coefficient.
• Palmetto State Armory – Selection of ammo, bulk deals, daily discounts and free shipping with buyer’s guide. Organize the price low to high and look out for free shipping from Palmetto State Armory. The best 9mm pistols, gun parts & accessories too.
• Great deals on handgun ammo, rifle ammo, shotgun ammo, 44 Magnum ammo for sale at Natchez. Federal, American Eagle and more. 9mm ammo, rimfire ammo and a buyer’s guide for each.

Alternatives to 44 Magnum Handguns & Pistols

44 Magnum has taken over, but 45 Long Colt pistols & revolvers are still an option. The likes of the Standard Manufacturing Long Colt revolver with textured wood grips is an old school six shooter and there are plenty of other options in that wheelgun class.

Standard Manufacturing isn’t the only one. Ruger brand, Smith & Wesson and more all have a cowboy six shooter on offer chambered in Long Colt. And there are plenty of other semi auto pistols & revolvers to consider in 357 Magnum.

Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Taurus and more will cover you in almost every caliber, from 22LR revolvers through to 500 Smith & Wesson ammo, 50 Action Express, 454 Casull and other big calibers. Plenty of them see active service as hunters and in bear country.

Of course we can fix you up with buying guides for the best 9mm micro compact pistols too.

Best Stores for Gun Parts & Accessories?

Gun accessories and gun parts are an important part of life. It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping for a scope mount for, well, mounting a scope, a fiber optic front sight, or new rubber grips for your pistols & revolvers.

You need to know where to find a store for gun accessories, or find an FFL dealer, for you guns, firearms, handguns rifles and shotguns, and gun parts & accessories.

Legal Stuff

For terms & conditions of our terms of use, terms of service, gift cards etc, please contact us at the main email address and customer service will try to help.

Lots of these guns are California compliant too. Because the basic designs have remained unchanged for decades and they can easily pass the tests.

Also, you should definitely invest in concealed carry insurance.