S&W 329 26 ounces 6-shot $1008
Taurus Tracker 34 ounces 5-shot $547

I recently bought a Taurus Tracker .44 Mag to go with my Marlin 1894P in the same caliber.

.44 Special loads including Cor-Bon are manageable. .44 Magnum Cor-Bon 165 grain JHP are also manageable.

I shot some 240 grain JSPs. These too can be shot well but follow-up shots take a little longer to get on target.

Never having shot the 26 ounce 328, I'd imagine the recoil is pretty severe.

I picked the Tracker because I liked the looks, size, and the $417 street price was a kicker. I considered the 5-shot vs 6-shot but didn't consider that a major consideration.

I hope my decision was right but after 50 full-house loads and 100 lighter loads plus a couple of boxes of .44 special, I like the Taurus and the way it shoots. I also like it on my hip. My 629 always feels like a large gun - because it is. The Tracker fits in a K-Frame holster.

What do you think?

Sounds like you done good. Taurus is reportedly making some good stuff nowadays. Besides, if'n YOU like it, its just fine.

BMT

bmt - I think so too. I like their revolvers but am still uncertain about their semiautos.

The trigger is pretty good - smooth double action and just a little creap on single action but that's probably due to having lawyers on staff.

My guess from living in Indiana, a little hotter 44 Special should handle all your needs, especially having the rifle as well. Sounds like you are well armed for your needs. I hope you enjoy. When you need to shoot something a little hotter it's nice to have something a little heavier as well.

I've been debating the same thing....Taurus .41 Mag Ti at 24 or 22 oz???...vs 329PD at 26oz...vs 444 Multi Tracker at 28 oz...vs 34oz stainless tracker...ported vs. non-ported... I wanted something for bowhunting and fishing and am tired of packing the Desert Eagle 44 mag. The most expensive 329 PD I've seen in AK is around $750.00. I think I may end up buying the same one you did in the end.

I have often "looked", long, and hard at many Taurus hand guns, (revolvers and auto's). Researching many models on forums and reviews: I am impressed that Taurus firearms are dependable, accurate, and well crafted. But I still, always have chosen something else.

Yesterday, I looked at handguns on clearance at Gander Mtn. and saw a little DA revolver, small frame (like a kit gun), grey satin stainless, 8 rnd. cylinder, 4" barrel, calibered for .17 HMR (not your 44 Mag.). To me, this revolver looked right (perfect), it felt right (perfect). I put it on lay-away. It is my "first" Taurus.

A good gun is a good gun- whether it's a Colt or S&W, an HK or a Sig. It's also a very good gun even if it's a Taurus, a CZ, a Bersa, or one of my Dan Wesson's.

It's like the guy said, ..."If'n You like it"... then it's a great gun.

-- Weed

I have a M44 Stainless 4" 44. I am very pleased with it. I think Taurus is a good buy.

I have looked at a bunch of 44 mags in the last month (own 2), and also decided on a Tracker 44. You will note that I did not "settle" on one-I chose it OVER a S&W Mountain gun, or any of the new generation "lite" guns. This thing is just a beauty, well balanced, excellent fit and finish, and the weight is about right to control recoil. I carry while hunting with a muzzleloader in the Cascade Mtns., as well as other frequent woods outings. I like this one! ChuckD

After playing with them all in the gunstore, here is my vote, for many of the reasons already stated above....
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Matt,

Is that the Ti version, or the stainless?

I'm about to buy one down here, it's a 41Mag, 5 shot, stainless model. They want $440.

The wife has started hiking again, and I want her to have something for all the critters. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Stainless .44 Mag, 5-Shot. If you're looking for a .41 ti I'll pass on a pm to you... I paid $419.00 in the Anchorage Sportsmans Warehouse.

Caribou -

I missed your post. Sorry for the delay in acknowledging. Thanks for your comments. The most danger we face here while hiking is from 2-legged varmints.

I just couldn't pass up the Marlin and it had to have a mate, right? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Chuck - You hit all the nails right on the head. I'd like to add size to the panoply. As I've said my k-frame holster fits the Tracker like a glove.

375Matt -

Great photo. Great gun.

Thanks,

I looked at both the Tracker Ti and the M357PD and ended up with the S&W. This was mainly because I have mostly N-Frame guns and in 4" their size and weight have never bothered me no matter if they be stainless, Mountain or AirLite.

That being said if I run across a Tracker Ti used in nice condition for the right price it will be going home with me. The ones that I have tried have a very smooth action. The only drawback being that as the cylinder is shorter than the S&W so Keith and LBT type bullets can not be seated in the normal crimping groove.

I've fired the M329 PD with target and full loads...with 240 grain Speer Gold Dot HPs the gun could not be stopped from rising right off the target. Did not have near the problem with the M357 PD.

Sounds like you did fine Norm...now stop feeling guilty for not buying the S&W... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bob

BW, For the wife I would go with stainless over TI. That TI Barks pretty good and if she's afraid of it, it would be of little use. I would rather see my wife carry a 357 with 180's (which she does) than something she's afraid of. I got my wife an "old" security six 357 and put the Hogues grips on it. She feels very comfortable with it. And it's still fairly light.

Just fired 20 rounds out of mine...she jumped and barked more than I thought it would compared to the Desert Eagle I've been shooting. I definately like it and it shoots good...I am debating the best way to teach my girlfriend to shoot it? Maybe use some .44 specials to break her in?

Maybe get some 44 spec cowboy loads. They got 'em at Sportsmans Whorehouse.

Cariboujack,

Agreed, the extra heft of the stainless is probably better for the missus.

She wanted to use my Para-Ordnance 14-45, which she loves to shoot with loads I made up that barely cycle the action reliably. She's claimed that pistol as hers. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

But after messing with the Para, she agreed it was too complicated for self-defense at her comfort level. I want a 'point and shoot' handgun for her, not a military or police type firearm.

Hard to beat a revolver resting on an empty cylinder with nothing more to do than pull the trigger.

Matt,

Thanks for the great PM!

But, I think I'll stay local, and stainless. We'll swing by the gunshop tomorrow.

As an NRA Instructor who has trained well over 100 women please start her off with a good quality .22. You can not imagine the number of women who have come to class with horror stories about how their fathers, boyfriends or husbands gave them too big a gun to shoot and in some cases they didn't shoot again for decades. Better than teaching her yourself, buy her a NRA Basic Pistol Class for a birthday or Christmas present...

Bob

She doesn't really seem too interested in learning much or I'd glady buy her a course. She always asks if she can teach me to knit!!! I had a hell of a time just trying to get her to learn the funtions of some smaller autos I keep stashed in places. She is scared of them because she doesn't care to spend time to learn them and always says she can figure it out if she needs to. She's got the basics and has been through the use of revolvers, autos, bolt rifles and shotguns...I just need someone to shoot a bear of the top of me and if I bought her the class for Christmas the bear wouldn't have much to worry about as I'd be taking the lead!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

RJM - Thanks for the comment. One of the most beautiful shapes in the world is an N-Frame S&W revolver. If S&W had an L-Frame 5-shot .44 Mag I certainly would have looked at it long and hard before going Taurus.

However, I've been able to put any guilt behind me. S&W has had my support I don't know how many dozen times starting with at Model 10 in 1968, soon followed by a M60, M28, M39, and so on. I now have several S&W's in the battery.

Having said all that. I think the Tracker is darned close to S&W now in quality - trigger pull, fit and finish.

Re: Fit and finish - Taurus has gotten better. It is sad to say that I think S&W may have fallen off a bit fit & finishwise in revent years.

I don't know Norm...I have several Smiths like the M357 that was just made in the last few months and it is as perfect as a revolver gets. Come to think of it I just got a M57 Mountain Gun and although I have not fired it the gun is finished just fine...

You are right about Taurus. They seem to be nicely made. On some of the Boards however a lot of people comment on how the Raging Bulls in the heavier calibers loosen up very quickly.

I will still buy one of the TTT in .41 when I find the right one.

Bob

RJM;

There's a barely (as in ten shots, total, fired) used .41 Titanium Tracker 4" in my local shop. Asking price, IIRC, is around $400. If you're interested, I'll check on the price tomorrow and PM you with details.

Bob - I didn't mean to disparage S&W - fine revolvers. I've nust noticed lately (specifically a 5" m60) that I've seen tool marks and the polishing is less than perfect (with grain going in different directions.)

I'll keep an eye on the "shooting loose" issue. I plan to run some more 240 grain jsp ammo through the Tracker this Saturday at a bowling pin match. If it's going to shoot loose, I should see some indication after a Summer of pin shooting.

Thanks for the comments,