7 or 8 years ago the only handgun I owned was a Ruger Single Six 22 and the only other handgun I had ever shot was a Star 9mm. A friend and I were coaching a high school shooting team and he mentioned that he had a "Dirty Harry gun" and the next week brought it to practice. Although I couldn't hit anything with it, you might say I fell in love. He said he bought the gun at a deal and would sell it for what he paid. My friend, my wife and my son colluded, a word you might have heard in the news lately, and that Christmas the handgun, complete with holster, was wrapped and under the tree with my name on it. An 8 3/8" 29-2. After that it was reloading, casting, homemade shotshells and several more Smiths. I still can't shoot a handgun worth a hoot but it sure is fun trying.

Welcome to the Forum.

You have a wonderful family and friend that gave you a great gift.

Practice more with your .22 and step up to the .44 Magnum slowly. Shoot more .44 Special level rounds.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Welcome! Sounds like you need a little instruction. There are lots of little things that you can do to improve your handgun shooting, I would recommend a basic NRA pistol course, and shooting with an instructor or other accomplished marksman that can analyze what you are doing and guide you to improve.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

292

H Richard is absolutely correct. With a little bit of good instruction and a decent amount of practice, just about anyone can become proficient with handguns (though not necessarily a marksman). There are several relatively small items an experienced instructor can teach you that will improve your ability rather significantly.

I've been an instructor since the 1970s and got my NRA handgun instructor's certificate about 25 years ago. Since then I've taught the basic course to dozens of people, from complete beginners to "experienced" shooters. All of them improved their shooting skills after a half dozen or so hours at the range. Some of them actually became quite good and would end up competing against me in local matches.

Find an instructor and take the course. Not only will your skills improve, you will gain more confidence and actually have more fun.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

292...... you need to get a K-frame .22..................easier to shoot and master than a .44 magnum even loaded to .44 special.

I smile the big smile when I see that statement.

First of all, I love that you have fun when shooting your revolvers - that is exactly what the shooting sports are all about and I am guessing that since your son and wife conspired to get you that 8.375" barreled 29-2, you spend time shooting as a family.

Second, I generally do not shoot most of my 44 Magnums, but when I do, I shoot the first shot well, but every shot thereafter...not so well. I have decided that I am NOT one of those shooters that has to shoot the most punishing loads to have fun (...which is what the shooting sports is all about). Although, I do have to admit, that on occasion it is fun to bring out the hand cannons to blow up milk jugs or some other such fun.

Third, I love shooting .38 Specials (with an occasional cylinder of 357's) in my N-Frame 357s - now that is a fun and pleasant experience. I have discovered that .38 Special's punch holes in paper just as well as .44 Magnums, albeit a bit smaller holes.

Fourth, I take lots of new shooters shooting with me. The teenage boys and men all want to shoot the 44 Mags, but I have had very few of them shoot more than 6 shots of 44 mag. They quickly find shooting the 38 Specials (and even 22 LR's) to be more fulfilling, as they start to take instruction, hit what they're aiming at and don't feel like someone is banging the palm of their shooting hand with a small sledge hammer every time they pull the trigger. The women that shoot, instantly gravitate to the 22's and 38's and become much more accurate, much more quickly.

Fifth, welcome to the forum! But know that if you really want to show your Smith Fandom, you need to post some photos of your guns... We love photos.

All the best and thanks for sharing,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I think maybe my "can't shoot worth a hoot" comment was misleading. I actually am proficient. Not saying I wouldn't benefit from a lesson but I can keep my shots on a sheet of notebook paper with my new 637. I load a 250 gr Kieth bullet with 19.3 grains of 2400 for the M29. I'm minute of milk jug with those. But, there's always room for improvement.

Big +1 for having good friends and family, that's as nice a way as I can imagine to get into Smiths. You probably know this already, but that barrel length is even more Dirty Harry than Dirty Harry.


I don't like to presume lower skill levels, so I'm guessing that's at 100 yards with both? A decent 8 3/8" M29 with decent loads should be bouncing milk jugs at 200 if not more.

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TEAM DNF

Try the classic "Skeeter" load of 7.5 grains of Unique and a cast 250 grain Keith style bullet in .44 Special brass. It has plenty of thump and won't beat you up like full power .44 Magnum loads.

I had a feeling you were probably being modest. Everyone likes to jump on everybody else and tell them how to shoot. LOL. Lots of good shooters on the internet. Real and imagined. hehehehehe

My best friend and I went shooting not long ago, and I asked him to bring his model 29, and K38, both with 8 3/8" barrels. We shot several .44 mags shells that I had load some 35 years ago. All went BOOM! We had a blast, pun intended. :-)

You are giving me too much credit. Most of my 44 shooting is done at 25 yards. So far just 10 yards with the J-Frame.

Too many combinations, too little time.

Yes I do have the original walnut grips.

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Well, I bought a new 637 for my wife, thought I'd go shoot it before giving it to her...good thing I did, it was very harsh shooting +P's so bought her a box of full wad cutters. Not bad now. She wanted some thing in .22 to practice with about the same size so got her a small Charter arms with a 2" barrel. Just right size. She fell in love with my 1903 HE in .32long. now going to try her on my 1911.

My experience with S/W is due to the fact about 50+ yrs ago everyone here in Eastern Ky seemed to carry Smith's I've owned about every brand but always seem to go with my Smiths. Not interested in their auto's, always went with colt or Ruger in Auto's.

Became a S&W fan in 1976 when I became a LEO. We carried Model 10s. When your life and that of others may depend on a reliable sidearm then you go with the best!