Having had a few back and neck surgeries I can no longer lug around a rife for hunting.
I'm thinking of converting to handgun hunting and have a 29-3 in excellent condition. Would you have it drilled and tapped for a scope or keep it pristine and buy another gun for hunting?

I think I would buy another one, maybe a 629, for hunting and keep the 29-3 in its original condition.

No

I'm not a fan of putting holes in perfectly fine firearms, just buy a no drill scope mount or buy a 29 that came from the factory with the proper holes.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I had the same decision with a 8 3/8" Model 57. Have had the gun a long time and just couldn't bring myself to having it drilled and tapped for a scope. It is my best shooting M57.

In my case, I bought a Ruger Super Redhawk (SRH) in 480 Ruger as my deer gun. Have not hunted the woods with a rifle since.

I would find a 629 that is already drilled and tapped and leave this one alone. I have a 2x Leupold on my SRH. I don't know if I'd mount a traditional scope on one again. Scopes take some getting used to.

+1 for the Super Redhawk.

It comes with integral ring mounts, plus the 1" rings, and the whole scope and ring assembly can be taken off and on whenever you want by turning two screws.

I also feel you should pick up a drilled and tapped 629 or Ruger Super Redhawk. Stainless is the way to go for a woods gun and the 29-3's are going up in value every day.

The Ruger scope mount system for the Super Redhawk is pretty tough to beat.

I hope not to ruffle any feathers on anyone, but first of all; no, I wouldn't D&T a 29-3 unless you care absolutely nothing about selling it "one day". It WILL take a hit in value.

Secondly, here's the ruffle feather part...
If you do get another pistol for hunting, a better alternative would be to go with a T/C Contender.
With interchangable barrels, you can suit the caliber and barrel length to your game, and of course, it's deadly with a scope on it.
Then for cheap fun, you can pop a .22 barrel on it and kill some cans.

You would be better served to purchase a Ruger super redhawk and scope it for a number of reasons.

The suggestion on the TC Contender was a good one as well.

I would not drill and tap the model 29 unless it was the last option.

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The American dream is alive

The Thompson Center Contender, in 44 mag, using the Hornady LeverRevolution ammo is awesomely accurate. A scoped 10" TC in a shoulder holster is very easy for "older" shooters to carry in the woods. I know as I am one.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

That's what I did...

629-4


... this one had a low fixed power scope on it when I bought it. I took that off after awhile and put the rear sight back on.

But I'm gonna buck the trend here, if you don't want to trade guns and find a model with a drilled and taped topstrap go ahead and set your revolver up like you want it.
Just use a competent gunsmith...I say again a COMPETENT gunsmith who knows how to tap holes and mount a scope base that fits under the rear sight assembly, to do the job.


Your gun, your custom job.

GF

29-3 version aren't all that collectable... for now. I would drill & tap under the the rear sight if I really wanted to, it's not that obvious. Fortunatley, I have a 629-4 Mag Hunter Plus for my scoped gun.

I think rugers are made for this purpose. and I am not knocking them at all. I would love to own a redhawk one day when we all escape this economic funk. but leave that 29 alone. have confidence without the magnifying glass for now.

Thanks for the opinions. I've come to the conclusion that I'll just sell something else and get a handgun that's already set up for the scope.
I'm not ever planning on selling the 29 but I just can't bring myself to change it from it's original set up.

Thanks again.