Take the standard 629, stretch the barrel to 7.5", add Magna-Port muzzle treatment and Performance Center trigger work, and you have the Stealth Hunter. At 55.2 oz it is one of the heaviest revolvers in this caliber — that weight, combined with the porting, is what the gun is designed around.

The Magna-Port treatment vents gases upward at the muzzle, which reviewers and owners consistently report reduces muzzle rise noticeably on full-house .44 Magnum loads. That matters more on a hunting revolver than on a carry gun, where second shots are part of the use case. The matte black two-tone finish also distinguishes it from the standard satin stainless 629 — it absorbs light in the field rather than reflecting it.

What this gun does better than anything else in its class: combining the S&W Performance Center trigger treatment with a ported 7.5" barrel. The Ruger Super Redhawk offers a similar 7.5" barrel at 53 oz with integral scope cuts, but no porting. If you shoot iron sights and want the smoothest DA pull available in a factory .44 Magnum revolver with a long barrel, the Stealth Hunter is the answer. If you need a scope mount without aftermarket work, look at the Super Redhawk instead.