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New 6” Anaconda vs. S&W 629 Competitor?

  • New Colt Anaconda

    Votes: 6 75%
  • S&W 629 Competitor

    Votes: 2 25%

New 6” Anaconda vs. S&W 629 Competitor?

10K views 19 replies 12 participants last post by  Jaey  
#1 ·
Title says it all. I’m in the market for a 6in. 44 magnum, mostly for target shooting with the occasional white-tailed deer hunting sprinkled in. Both have glowing reviews and are roughly the same price. I can’t help but feel that the Competitor is just more for the same price. It’s a performance center (with all its benefits), has a rail for sights, and has the versatile weighted barrel. The only thing that tugs my brain towards the Colt is that the Colt is safe to fire the highest power loads (such as Buffalo Bore). Certainly not something I would be shooting often, but as part of my work, I often end up in Alaska or the Yukon where a bigger bullet goes a long way. Not sure I would want to hike around with either monster, but I won’t rule it out either as it’s easier than a long gun. What do you think? Is the characteristics of the Competitor worth the trade off of having to go down a bit of top end power? Or is the Colt good enough while also having the ability to comfortably eat 340 grain +P+?
Thank you!
 
#2 ·
While this is not current production and took place about thirty years ago...some friends and I performed an unscientific comparison of .44 Magnums...Colt Anaconda...Smith Model 29...Ruger Redhawk (don't remember if it was a standard Redhawk or Super Redhawk). We used 240 grain ammunition in all three. After each of us shot each revolver we decided the Anaconda was the more accurate...the Smith handled best with the smoothest action and the Ruger seemed the strongest due to its weight and mass.

It was all subjective...someone else could have different results. Again...this was nearly thirty years ago and the revolvers have certainly changed since then.

Regarding the ammunition...as long as it's within SAAMI specs for pressure, etc., you should be good to go...but be prepared for the extra recoil and blast. If it's beyond SAAMI recommendations it's your choice whether to risk potential increased wear or worse on your gun. Check the manufacturer's specs for such things. I'm sure both Colt and S&W each have or tried to test their respective products to destruction to know what to recommend or not recommend to consumers.

I would vote for the Anaconda because...well...this is a Colt forum and we like Colts.
 
#3 ·
Colt all the way and I own way more S&W's than I do Colt's. The new S&W's do nothing for me and the PC guns are overrated. The only advantage I can see to the S&W is that you can keep your iron sights with an optic mounted. The Colt requires you to remove them to install the base. The Colt is stronger, lighter, probably more accurate, will have a slick action and is far better looking.
 
#8 ·
I hate to be that guy but I gotta ho outside the OParameters and suggest Super-Redhawk.

Otherwise, a fella can well-scope an Anaconda as-is should that be needed for hunting.

Other-otherwise, I'd look at a straight-up 629 and forgo the perceived benefits of a P.C. S&W as that ship has sailed (guaranteed P.C. quality and attentiveness) and besides... that 'Competitor' is uglier than a truckload of smashed... well, anything. Has some nice features generally speaking but I should think that holstering it will be a challenge.
 
#12 ·
I have both. Both can be extremely accurate. My new anaconda is a tack driver but so are several of my Smith 29s and 629s. I say accuracy is a toss up and that is from many bench rested 25 yard and longer 6 shot groups.(almost all handloads). The mass of the anaconda provides less felt recoil but any full power saami ammo is fine in both. I don’t think you will wear out either. The Smith has a significant advantage in single action trigger pull. Much better than the colt. Most Smiths are 3.5 pounds triggers out of the box. The colt can be over 6 pounds. For squeezing off that shot on a whitetail at 40 yards The smith wins. Most rarely shoot 44 mags double action especially hunting. Having said that I hunt with both but I shoot a lot and can control the heavy trigger on my anaconda. Fit and finish goes to anaconda except for some barrel chatter on mine that has no affect on accuracy or leading.
dogdoc
 
#14 ·
Just a point about ammo selection. Any modern .44 mag handgun is (should) be up to firing SAAMI level factory ammo safely. Thing with some of this Plus-P, and Plus-P-Plus ammo in the .44 magnum is that there is NO official SAAMI standards or recognition of this category in the .44 mag. It is left to the ammo's manufacturer to decide when enough is enough.

I doubt it would blow up any reasonable .44 mag revolver in good shape, but these loads can cause much increased wear and tear, even in Rugers, with little real gain. I've taken a lot of big game with a handgun, and frankly a 240 / 250 grain flat nosed hard cast at 1200 fps or so will do any job a handgun might reasonably be expected to do in the field. Almost always better a caliber upgrade than trying to push a cartridge past its design parameters.

R/E the guns, I have a S&W PC ".44 Magnum Hunter", and a 6 inch new model Anaconda. The Smith is a shooting machine, with a red dot mounted, and a SA trigger much better than the Colt. I have taken 2 deer with the Anaconda so far. The Smith has not yet hit the woods. No idea which gun is "stronger", though I wouldn't use non SAAMI level ammo in either.

Larry
 
#15 ·
The big +P+ is for Alaskan Brown Bear that I encounter often as part of my work. Buffalo bore (the ammo manufacturer) explicitly states that the ammo is safe for Colts but not for Smith’s. While a 200gr flat nose would do the trick, (plenty of people carry 10mm), I wouldn’t want to leave money on the table so to speak. It’s a minor difference but I’m debating pretty minor differences.
 
#18 ·
I've had several 29s and 629s over the years and recently purchased a 6 inch Anaconda. You really need both, a 4 inch 629 to pack around and a 6 or 8 inch Anaconda for serious stuff. The biggest surprise I had with the Anaconda is that it doesn't kick much at all, I guess it's the weight. Very pleasant to shoot and I never thought I would say that about a 44 maggy!
 
#19 ·
Title says it all. I’m in the market for a 6in. 44 magnum, mostly for target shooting with the occasional white-tailed deer hunting sprinkled in. Both have glowing reviews and are roughly the same price. I can’t help but feel that the Competitor is just more for the same price. It’s a performance center (with all its benefits), has a rail for sights, and has the versatile weighted barrel. The only thing that tugs my brain towards the Colt is that the Colt is safe to fire the highest power loads (such as Buffalo Bore). Certainly not something I would be shooting often, but as part of my work, I often end up in Alaska or the Yukon where a bigger bullet goes a long way. Not sure I would want to hike around with either monster, but I won’t rule it out either as it’s easier than a long gun. What do you think? Is the characteristics of the Competitor worth the trade off of having to go down a bit of top end power? Or is the Colt good enough while also having the ability to comfortably eat 340 grain +P+? MK
Title says it all. I’m in the market for a 6in. 44 magnum, mostly for target shooting with the occasional white-tailed deer hunting sprinkled in. Both have glowing reviews and are roughly the same price. I can’t help but feel that the Competitor is just more for the same price. It’s a performance center (with all its benefits), has a rail for sights, and has the versatile weighted barrel. The only thing that tugs my brain towards the Colt is that the Colt is safe to fire the highest power loads (such as Buffalo Bore). Certainly not something I would be shooting often, but as part of my work, I often end up in Alaska or the Yukon where a bigger bullet goes a long way. Not sure I would want to hike around with either monster, but I won’t rule it out either as it’s easier than a long gun. What do you think? Is the characteristics of the Competitor worth the trade off of having to go down a bit of top end power? Or is the Colt good enough while also having the ability to comfortably eat 340 grain +P+?
Thank you!
Another option would be to move up to the .460 S&W. Practice with .45 Colt, .45 Colt +p, .454 Casull for hunting, and .460 S&W for Alaska. Some of these are odd looking revolvers, but the 5 inch .460 is a beauty.
 
#20 ·
X frames are very cool but not quite what I would be looking for. I know a couple guys that carry 5in or snub X frames on Kodiak but the chance that I personally hit a follow up shot with 460 recoil is pretty low. Max load 44mag I’m comfortable shooting. I would be interested in an X frame down the line but likely as a range queen or designated hunting handgun with a long barrel.