My new 29-2

Emerson · #1 10-17-2009, 07:54 PM

I promised yesterday I would try to get a picture of my new 29-2 up today. I traded for her from another forum member. This girl is in great shape and I got to put a few rounds through her this morning. She's a good shooter. Now I just need to work up a good load.

Gun 4 Fun · #2 10-17-2009, 07:59 PM

You will enjoy a good 29.

Am I seeing things, or does that have a newer cylinder on it? It has the elongated stop notches, and doesn't appear to be recessed.

Actually, that would be cool on a shooter grade gun, since the 29-2's throats were reamed .433" while the newer cylinders are correct at .430", which will make the gun a great shooter!

HAWKEYE10 · #3 10-17-2009, 08:23 PM

Congratulations on your 29. It sure is
a beauty. Don

fyimo · #4 10-17-2009, 08:29 PM

Congrarts on the great Model 29

Nframe_is_no1 · #5 10-17-2009, 10:03 PM

I agree. That looks like an endurance package cylinder with the longer stop-notches along with an interesting front sight. Can you tell us more about that front sight? I didn't know that newer cylinders could be retro-fitted like that. I hope that cylinder isn't a repair from abuse of some type.

Gun 4 Fun · #6 10-17-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nframe is no1

I agree. That looks like an endurance package cylinder with the longer stop-notches along with an interesting front sight. Can you tell us more about that front sight? I didn't know that newer cylinders could be retro-fitted like that. I hope that cylinder isn't a repair from abuse of some type.

Smith tells me that they can retrofit the newer style cylinder now that they are doing blued guns again. It requires a new ratchet as well, since the new cylinders are cut out for the new ratchets only. New hand as well. Hopefully someone just wanted to make it shoot better, by having the correct size throats.

The front sight just has a black insert instead of the red one. A lot of guys do that to help them get a clearer sight picture in bright sunlight.

29aholic · #7 10-17-2009, 10:28 PM

My pet 44 load is 7grs IMR 700X with a 240 cast SWC. About 900fps. You can run it up to about 9grs which is pretty stout, but I have killed a ton of deer with the 7gr load.

Shoots good too

Emerson · #8 10-18-2009, 12:08 AM

Honestly didn't know about the cylinder. The gun isn't re-blued and doesn't have any wear on it. The cylinder is NOT recessed. The cylinder/forcing cone gap is pretty tight. I've not measured it with a feeler gauge but visually it appears smaller than all my other S&W's. The blueing on the cylinder matches the frame and barrel perfectly, although you can't tell that from the picture.

So you're saying the 29-2 should have a recessed cylinder? But this cylinder appears to have the endurance package features? I'm not totally clear on exactly what all the endurance package consists of. A little help to clear all this up would be appreciated.

Another question, the trigger seems to be chromed, is that typical of guns of the -2 vintage?

Yes the front sight is just an insert in the dovetail in place of the little red one that fits flush. The insert stands up like a partridge sight.

bmhiii · #9 10-18-2009, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 29aholic

My pet 44 load is 7grs IMR 700X with a 240 cast SWC. About 900fps. ....

Emerson,

I've shot Curtis's load above and it's pretty good. This observation is just from the recoil aspect. Since I can't shoot very good in the first place, I can't judge accuracy...

Congats on the 29!

robsonrider · #10 10-18-2009, 02:41 AM

Good looking gun!

Gun 4 Fun · #11 10-18-2009, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

Honestly didn't know about the cylinder. The gun isn't re-blued and doesn't have any wear on it. The cylinder is NOT recessed. The cylinder/forcing cone gap is pretty tight. I've not measured it with a feeler gauge but visually it appears smaller than all my other S&W's. The blueing on the cylinder matches the frame and barrel perfectly, although you can't tell that from the picture.

So you're saying the 29-2 should have a recessed cylinder? But this cylinder appears to have the endurance package features? I'm not totally clear on exactly what all the endurance package consists of. A little help to clear all this up would be appreciated.

Another question, the trigger seems to be chromed, is that typical of guns of the -2 vintage?

Yes the front sight is just an insert in the dovetail in place of the little red one that fits flush. The insert stands up like a partridge sight.

Yes, all 29-2's have recessed chambers. The change to the dash 3 is when the recess was eliminated along with the barrel pin. The cylinder stop notches on your cylinder are longer than those on a -2 gun and indicate the cylinder is from an endurance era gun (post 1990) , and the rear of the cylinder isn't snug up to the breechface. Instead, there's a small gap that allows space for the case rims to fit in between it and the breechface.

Your trigger looks like it was simply polished and smoothed, not chromed. I will send you a PDF that will explain the endurance upgrades in detail if you PM me your e-mail addy. That is a lot easier to do than trying to send through the forum to your e-mail. Actually I have two of them you will like, and they explain it all very well.

no dash · #12 10-18-2009, 05:03 AM

Nice N frame you got there!

Emerson · #13 10-18-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun 4 Fun

Your trigger looks like it was simply polished and smoothed, not chromed. I will send you a PDF that will explain the endurance upgrades in detail if you PM me your e-mail addy. That is a lot easier to do than trying to send through the forum to your e-mail. Actually I have two of them you will like, and they explain it all very well.

PM sent with my e-mail address.

Many thanks.

E.

Wheelgunner840 · #14 10-18-2009, 10:05 AM

Beautiful piece Emerson. Good luck with it.

153 · #15 10-18-2009, 11:42 AM

The front sight insert and the thicker rear sight blade look like early night sights.

smitholdtimer · #16 10-18-2009, 11:45 AM

What 9303 said, especially the front.

Gun 4 Fun · #17 10-18-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9303

The front sight insert and the thicker rear sight blade look like early night sights.

Actually, I went and looked close today, and that is exactly what they are. You can even see the dot in the front site. It was late at night when I looked the first time, so I though that they had just replaced the red with a black one, but, those are definately night sights. Good catch!

Jimmymac46 · #18 10-20-2009, 01:09 AM

Another good load is the cast 429421 250 grain Keith type with about any powder you choose. I like the favorite of many before me, 9 grains of Unique. Runs roughly 1000 FPS depending on the barrel length. Will do about anything you would require of a handgun, with modest recoil and light muzzle blast.

Appears your gun is modified for shooting....go to it.

bmhiii · #19 10-20-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmymac46

Appears your gun is modified for shooting....go to it.

I have a feeling Emerson will follow the above recommendation...

VonFatman · #20 10-20-2009, 10:34 AM

Emerson,
NICE .44 Magnum!!! I sure like 29s.

Curtis,
Thanks for the load suggestion. I have a BUNCH of 700x on hand and will try out your loads soon.

Bob

NavyVet79 · #21 10-20-2009, 04:48 PM

Another great looking 29-2. Congratulations!

Hawg Rider · #22 10-20-2009, 05:25 PM

Nice looking piece! Just picked one up myself the other day (see thread "Snagged a 29-2"). Now you'll have to look around for a nice set of wooden target stocks. And I agree with the rest of the Forum, the original cylinder would have been P&R'd. Great pickup, enjoy!

michael thornton · #23 10-20-2009, 05:39 PM

my 4 inch 29-2 bad pic its a pretty clean gun

Emerson · #24 10-20-2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmhiii

I have a feeling Emerson will follow the above recommendation...

I expect to have at least 500 rounds through this gal by the end of the year. It would be more, but I can't just quit shooting my 625-3 and my 24-3.......oh and my 686-4. Or my Ed Brown.

Dang. So much shootin to do, so little time.

By the way thanks for the suggestions on the loads.

Yes, I'm gonna have to put a set of wooden grips on. I'm thinking a nice set of Ahrends would really set her off nicely.

Snapping Twig · #25 10-21-2009, 12:37 AM

Nice roscoe!

Two favorite loads for my 29-2 are:

Lyman 429421 over 7g W231/HP38, WLP

and

Lyman 429244 over 22g W296/H110, WLP

Obviously the first is a "useful special" to quote EK at @ 900fps and the second load is a 1200fps 265g magnum - enough to do damn near anything you want it to w/o firewalling things.

bmhiii · #26 10-21-2009, 08:43 AM

Emerson,

Get with me. I have a bunch of different wood you can try on your 29 to see what you like so as to make your quest for stocks more specific. I have Ahrends, factory targets, magnas and combats, Spegals (sp?) and maybe a few more.

Emerson · #27 10-21-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmhiii

Emerson,

Get with me. I have a bunch of different wood you can try on your 29 to see what you like so as to make your quest for stocks more specific. I have Ahrends, factory targets, magnas and combats, Spegals (sp?) and maybe a few more.

Thanks for the offer. I'll take you up on it.