RE: S&W 629 44 mag.
When it comes to pistols I hunt with Rugers, They are built tough and are reliable to a fault. That's what I'm looking for in a hunting pistol.
That being said the S&W is a better quality pistol with a better stock trigger. You will have to spend some money to get a Ruger trigger to feel like a stock S&W.
I'm not so convinced the Smith will handle the loads a Ruger will. Don't get me wrong it will handle some pretty stiff loads but there is no way it will digest the loads a Ruger will on a prolonged basis and not end up with some timing issues down the road. The Rugers you can blast away with anything and never have a problem.