Unboxing
When I opened the box containing the Competitor, I wasn't exactly ready for it. I was immediately impressed with the size of this handgun. It is certainly not for the faint of heart. As is typical with Smith & Wesson revolvers, it felt fantastic in the hand.
The Competitor is built from stainless steel all the way around, which helps build the weight to over 57 ounces. With their additional weight, big wheel guns like this are a lot easier on the hand, and the Competitor includes a weighting system for better balance.
The revolver is just over 11 inches long, so it has a large sight radius. But it also has a rail for mounting optics across the top of the barrel, giving you even more sighting options. The rubberized grip makes it very easy to hold – definitely a plus with this big handgun.
The controls all worked smoothly and without taxing effort. I wanted to feel the trigger, as I wondered just what a Competitor's trigger would feel like.
My Impressions
Drawing back the hammer for that satisfactory click as the trigger set, I rested my finger on the smooth chrome trigger and started pressing. The smooth crack of the hammer dropping was extremely clean, and the gun barely moved as a result. I smiled to myself, thinking this gun would be a blast to shoot.
The sights looked very high quality and easy to pick up. But like a real optics weenie, I really wanted to mount a red dot, since I don't have a pistol scope.
I started putting together some supplies to take the gun to the range and get it warmed up. I had some Hornady Lever Revolution 240-grain ammunition and some 240-grain semi-wadcutter handloads that I figured I'd try as well. I also had the proper mounting devices to incorporate a red dot to my shooting, so I grabbed that to see how the gun shot using the optic.
Specs
- Width: 1.7 inches
- Length: 11.3 inches
- Height: 6.1 inches
- Weight: 3.6 pounds
- Caliber: .44 Magnum
- Size: Large
- Capacity: Six rounds
- Trigger: Single/double action
- Barrel Length: 6 inches
- Grip: Synthetic
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Sights: Patridge; optic-ready
On the Range
With ammo, tools, red dot, and the weight system for the Competitor all in tow, I hit my favorite shooting spot. I spread everything out on the tailgate of my truck and started my process of evaluation.
The revolver’s large size definitely helped reduce felt recoil, and my initial concerns about why someone would want to competitively shoot a caliber this big were immediately resolved.
Shooting the big Competitor was actually very fun and enjoyable. The trigger felt immaculate. Even the double-action pull felt better than I expected, though I don't know how accurately I would be able to shoot with it that way.
The Competitor came with a set of various weights that you can add to a vacant bore that runs underneath the barrel. The system allows you to add or take away the cylindrical weights to tune the recoil. While the system seems to have a good purpose, I didn't notice any significant improvement in my ability to shoot it. This could just be me and nothing to do with the S&W.
Shooting for accuracy at 10 and 25 yards was actually pretty impressive, even without the fine aim point of a red dot.
Pros & Cons
Just like many other S&W models, the Competitor has some fantastic qualities, and the high quality of its parts and function are at the top of my list. The trigger is certainly suitable for a competition gun, as it breaks cleanly and allows you the pinpoint accuracy you want. The barrel length optimizes the ballistic performance of the .44 Magnum, and it also gives great accuracy.
I can't get excited about guns that aren't accurate enough to be useful, and this one is certainly very useful. While I am not competitive pistol shooter material, I still found it easy enough to hit my mark. I'm more of a hunter, and I could easily see myself taking down a deer or elk in the deep dark forest of these Rocky Mountains with just such a handgun.
The weight system I could take or leave, as it didn't seem to make a difference for me. But the smooth rolling cylinder and crispy clean trigger sure go a long way. The sights are perfectly suitable for most of my kind of shooting, but the bonus of being able to mount an optic increases my affinity for this gun.
If you are a competitive shooter, then you surely might find the weight of this pistol to be an asset. If you aren't a competitor, you might find it a bit heavy. The good news is that either way, it's going to shoot well for you.
I really wish I'd had a pistol scope, so I could try shooting the Competitor with a scope. As it was, I tried shooting it with a red dot mounted to the rail, which turned out to be pretty interesting. I like the fine aiming point and the ability to keep my eye focused on the target and not worry about the sights.
