You can't even buy the grips in that picture for a $100.

Is anyone keeping score? Seems pretty close to me.

I'd go with the 19.

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Because of the metric system?

That's my fault,I should of had a poll set up

No problem, I was just curious how many people (that picked the Model 29) were wrong!

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Because of the metric system?

Now that there's funny

Go to the Julia Auction site and look at Elmer Keith's Model 29 to be offered in March. If that doesn't make you a fan, nothing will.

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I'm with the banned ...

Had a good look at Elmer's 4 inches in Las Vegas during the antique arms show. I'm still not a big fan of the 4 inch 29 preferring a slightly longer barrel on my .44 magnums. Of v=course that is just me.

I do prefer my guns in calibers beginning with 4 but given the restriction in the OPs post I have to go with the 19. Of course my old 4 inch .44 Special with the lighter contour of their barrels are still just that, special.

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Bill Bates

M29 for me. I really like carrying the M19 but when a shot must be taken without hearing protection the short barreled 357 is brutal. For me the 44 not so much. The only dangerous four legged animals I have is livestock, but if needed for that chore I feel better with the 44. I do handgun hunt and while I don't doubt the 357 works on deer I have never used one. The 44 has always worked well for that purpose.

But.....I ain't gettin' rid of my 19's!

Dan

The perfect compromise...the 44 Combat Magnum, Model 69!

Bill

I have enough trouble keeping my pants up with a Model 36, let alone a K or an N framed gun.

Here are several reference pics from the Julia site of Keith 29s to be offered. As much as i appreciate the 19, if it was either/or, I would go with the 4" 29. It is a perfect creation.

BTW: Only the deepest of pockets need apply ...

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I'm with the banned ...

That is like asking which is best for all-around use, my left or right leg. I have a 4" M-19, M-28, M-629, M-625 Mountain Gun(.45 Colt) and a M-58...my favorite and most used is the Mountain Gun... If the choice HAD to be between the 19/66 vs 29/629 and included concealed carry and extended trekking, the 19/66 would be my pick based on the original reason for a K Frame .357, the weight factor when carrying a revolver with good power and less bulk to tote. In a revolver that will be carried more than actually fired, this is a big issue. I prefer shooting the M-28 but rather carry the M-19...My 4" Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag is the best for a steady diet of the real bear basher rounds but it's a load to carry so I use a chest rig for it...In my part of the USA, a proper .357 load will take a deer cleanly and big bears aren't much of an issue but my sixty year old back and feet are.

Sounds like you need a better gun belt!

hands down the n frame between 44 specials and 44 mags ''one call does it all'' bad guys , target shooting and brown and black bear protection , that's one caliber i've never owned or desired to the 357 mag/38 special i was a firm believer years ago i keep and collect n frames and j frames either style 22/22mag or 44special/44 mag both do anything needed that mother nature will send you

I DON'T HAVE A MODEL 19 OR A MODEL 29. I DO OWN A 686 MOUNTAIN GUN AND A 629 MOUNTAIN GUN. IF I COULD JUST HAVE ONE OF THE TWO, TO HANDLE ALL OF MY SHOOTING CHORES, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE L FRAME 686. WHILE I HOLD ELMER IN THE UTMOST OF RESPECT, MY LIFE IN THE NORTHEAST IS NOTHING LIKE HIS WAS. I DON'T FACE ANIMALS THAT REQUIRE THE KNOCKDOWN POWER OR RANGE OF THE .44 MAGNUM ROUND ON A REGULAR BASIS. I DID TAKE A 300+ LB. WILD BOAR WITH MY 8" COLT PYTHON IN .357 MAG. ADMITTEDLY, THE .44 MAG WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER CHOICE AGAINST BOAR, BUT AT THE TIME I DID NOT OWN ONE. I HAVE CARRIED BOTH MOUNTAIN GUNS CONCEALED, AS WELL AS AN 8" MODEL 629 IN A SHOULDER HOLSTER. FOR 4 SEASONS CARRY, I WOULD OPT FOR THE 686. THE 686+ MOUNTAIN GUN IS THE MOST VERSATILE REVOLVER EVER MADE BY S&W, IMHO….…..

I WILL VOTE FOR THE MODEL 19……..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

A lot of good comments posted here.This topic was started as a result of a conversation I had with one of the counter help at my local Gander Mountain concerning any practical use for the .44 magnum outside of hunting.like most from my era I cut my shooting teeth on the .357 and quickly gravitated towards the .44 magnum and special within that first year.For me I think a hot loaded special round can only be topped by one in .45 acp for self defense.It seems the only real drawback between these two are the weight and bulk.Doc44 hit the nail on the head with a sensible compromise.My fondest memories at the range those first early years was shooting my 19-4 along side my 29-3 both with a four inch barrel.

BAHAHA!
AHAAHAHAHAHA!
HAHAHA!

Now that right thar was funny!

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Even older, even crankier....

Well, almost. Now we just need it with a 3" barrel.

29 - all day, every day!

I have a bunch of .357's - K, L & N frames, but I only have them because they take less powder and lead to shoot. Sort of an economy model. They are S&W's, so they all have a similar feel and allow me to practice economically.

44 gets the job done.

A model 19 will rattle loose long before a n frame will.

Compare the m19 vs m27/28? Both in 357mag.

I chose my ruger security six in 357mag because there are no screws to come loose in the frame. I chose the RedHawks in 44 mag because of that too. I hammered both rugers with stout magnum loads beyond what any s&w could handle.

I like my s&w too but they get standard loads. Plus it's the tales of the gun history about s&w that has my interest.

I shoulder holster revolvers from 5 1/2" to 6" to 7 1/2" barrels for most of my ccw life. I just purchased a shoulder holster for my 10 1/2" ruger super Blackhawks 44 mag.

To me there's only one s&w in 44mag that every s&w lover should have at least one the m29. Everything else is a clone.

The Model 19

Model 19 for the OPs "Actual Parameters" But the Model 29 is one fine gun.
It's not really a fair question...it would be a more even contest if it were the model 19 vs model 27.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I wanted to pick two of the most popular magnums calibers.Then pit them against each other using two of the most popular handguns that Smith & Wesson has ever made.Then to see which one might come out on top with real shooters here.

As a self defense round, either a .44 Special or Magnum is practical as both will do serious damage to living tissue. I always carried a J or K/L on hiking trips until I crossed paths with a curious juvenile black bear. Woods carry soon became a 624 snub with factory HPs, augmented by a Ruger Alaskan. I'm not a ballistics wonk, and a .357 is a solid caliber, but I think the bigger .44 is simply capable of more.

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I'm with the banned ...

The .44 spl loaded just right has got to be one of , if not the best rounds for self defense.Respectable power on target.doesnt need to open up to be lethal.Managable recoil that's also easy on the ears should you need to actually fire it in a defensive situation.I once carried a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 spl that was just a joy to shoot over a model 66 with 2.5 inch barrel I also had at the time.

Don't forget "Dirty Harry claimed to use a "light special" load in his M-29. Not quite exactly sure what was meant by this (could be a light 44 special or light special 44 magnum. Hey it's only a movie.

Apparantly what has been posted here from the writer of Magnum Force John Milios.Clint blew the line,he was suppose to say these are a special light load,meaning for the competition, indicating a light magnum round and not the .44 special round.

Why shoot a .357 when you can shoot a .44 mag?
It's like when I was a kid and drove Mopar muscle cars. I used to think the 383 road runner was fast (and they were) until I drove one with a 440 six-pac in it. WOW!
Most guys just can't handle the .44 mag and will say anything to justify their weakness. I'll shoot them until my hand turns black and blue and smile through it all.
Get a "big" bullet (.44) and make it as fast as a little bullet
(.357) and then you have something impressive.
If your "not" trying to be impressed then the 19 is your gun.
I like my guns like I like my women - big and fast!

As to the Dirty Harry issue, the line was delivered wrong like was said a couple posts above.

That said, the sound track is DEFINITELY a magnum, and a serious one at that.

M19 no way. M27/m28 for sure unless you want a m29? I like the 357mag
But I have more ccw time with the 44 mag.

I reload 38 spl, 357 mag, and 44 mag, but don't have any 44 spl brass. A light 44 mag load with a 220 to 245 gr bullet is pleasant to shoot in a 4" M29 / M629.

Take a 250 gr plain base cast bullet loaded upside down as wadcutter, and you will stop anything with two legs, and most things with 4 legs even if it is loaded as a 44 spl.

If I really have MY choice it would be a 3" M29 or M629 with full barrel lug and unfluted cylinder .

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S&WHF 366

Those first two are stunningly beautiful! I love dark wood that's why I favor those two.I had one like your fourth pic and one without the P&R in a four inch made in 83.

For where I live, I would take the 19/66 over the 29/629 first.

I have two 629s, they are a lot of fun, and they are beautiful, but I have four 357s, and I would grab one of them first.

Either one of these is an excellent option though:

19-4 4"


629-1 4"

Based on my current inventory of 19/66's, I am a 357 whore. That's not even counting my L's. However I will not be selling my 629-4 anytime soon.
All in all, M19 gets the nod.

Model 19, but I prefer the 6" barrel.

For "Dirty Harry" points, all you need is a S&W with a 6" barrel, because most shooters today think a Model 19 is a .44 Magnum anyway if it has a 6" barrel.

Can you say,,,, SHOULDER HOLSTER for the larger revolvers.

I'd never pick a m19/357 there not heavy enough for a constant diet of Magnum loads.

Where would we be today if dirty Harry carried a m19/357?

Dirty Harry make a mistake with his lines? You gonna argue with him? That line he said was out of place. It could of been worse I thought he meant 38 special loads in the 44? I didn't know back then, still don't know now..lol.

This argument is more interesting than the silly 9mm vs. .45 Auto controversy, but they really are guns designed for two different purposes, so I default to the "you need both!" response.

Here in Indiana, if I had to choose between them, the Model 19 would win because the 29 is so heavy to lug around, and so unpleasant to shoot in the 4-inch version. If I lived in any of the big bear states, I would put up with the extra weight - and nastiness. But, in that event, my real preference would be for my 629 square-butt "Bowen Mountain Gun."

After shoulder holstering a redhawk 5 1/2" (summertime) & 7 1/2" (wintertime) for many decades taking the s&w m58 for a ccw walk was awesome. It even shoots great with the 4" barrel. You get used to it.

I used to have two Model 29's, but I realized we're pretty short of bears, T-Rex's, and Tiger tanks around here.

These days, I have two Model 19's.

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John 3:16 .

Clint is a gun guy as far as I am aware. Maybe he slipped because he knew there was such a thing as the 44spl and the writer trying to make it sound hollywood bad-a** thought up the whole "special light 44" line... I know that's not the first place my mind goes to when describing my light for caliber, higher velocity rounds...

Seems pretty straightforward...bigger gun & bigger bullet.

I think my s&w k38 Combat Masterpiece w/4" barrel is one of the finest k frame revolvers ever built. Built by the s&w craftsman of that time, that era.

Ok, OK, I just tallied it all up and the 29 SMOKED the 19. Sorry small bore fans. Theo

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Take my advice Im not using it

It would be very tough for me to choose between these two, now wearing new Kuracs:

19-4 and 629-1


The 19-4:


The 629-1:

Model 19. There's no CCWing a model 29 for me, and nothing around where I live requires a .44 magnum to put down.

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Ban lunatics and criminals

The 44 Magnum, the 41 Magnum and the 357 Magnum has killed every north American game thanks to Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan and the rest of the early hand gun hunters. I like my 44 Magnum for its stopping power plus I can pump the 200gr/240gr bullet to near 357Magnum speeds.(close) but I like the 357 Magnum too. Don't sell the 41 Magnum short either. There's many shooters who can't handle the 41 & 44 magnums for them the 357 mag is fine. It's a K frame vs N Frame? I like the N Frame for its weight and control. I once carried a ruger security six 357. I never felt out gunned.

For me, the Model 19. I'm lucky to own both, though, and wouldn't part with either. But, for this thread, I will go with the 19.

The Model 19 is a great all arounder, for my needs. An all around gun should be a very good carry gun and I'd agree with Bill Jordan, who called the model 19 the "Peace Officer's dream."

Now, if your needs required a steady diet of .357...then the 586 would be a better choice, and still is a viable everyday carry gun.

I don't need the ballistic advantages of the .44 Magnum. The Model 29, while versatile with the choice of .44 Mag or Special, is a little hefty for everyday carry (ok, I am spoiled by years of carrying Glocks!). If my needs dictated the .44, then that's what I'd choose.

Thank God, though, my safe has both.

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Trust, but verify - R. Reagan

I agree with Laketime. The N frame is best with 44's and 45's. You just don't need it for 357 and the extra cylinder weight shows in heavier DA. The 357 shines in L frames and carries perfect in K frames.

While I agree there are more options readily available for the 357,nothing you do with it can make up for the loss of mass and weight in the bullet itself.While I respect the 357 and own a 686 and a 66-1,neither give me the comfort I feel while carrying my 29.When I have the 29 on me I know I have all I can ask for and the rest is up to me.People will not admit it but for most,the 44 magnum is just too much to handle comfortably.A lot of people do not like the recoil of it and never get over the shock of the power of this round.It isn't a macho thing,or a tough guy thing,fact is,the 44 magnum is one heck of hand cannon and it's no powder puff.It takes a little bit different person to embrace the recoil and brute force of this round in a handgun.There is not one thing wrong with 9mm,.38,or 357,they do what they're supposed to and do it well.My vote is model 29 over the 19 any day everyday and twice on Sunday.