Gentlemen, and Ladies, so as not to Hijack, and complicate my own thread in the Ammo Forum...

My buddie and I are considering getting a 44 Mag Snubbie, to use as a backup/second/spare gun when on traveling hunting trips.

We both feel that a 2.5" barrel is as long as we would want to go, after all if you go to a 3", then why not just get another 4" Mountain Gun???

We both like the size of the 325 NG we have shot, but we "feel" that a Scandanium framed 44 Mag is just too much of a good thing [we have both shot a 329] and we feel that they are just too fragile for long term use...

Is that a correct assesment???

So if you can please post some pictures of the 44 Snubbies you have, 3" barrels too as our minds could be changed, and also tell us how they shoot, what loads you have shot in them, etc.

Mind is a rare gun.
Use to carry it CCW, and fired it with spls. I can't hit anything with it being a 3 inch gun beyond 7 yrds. If you shoot 240gn mags the gun is a 1 shot because of the recoil. It's not unpleasant to shoot, just uncontrollable. It's also very loud to shoot.

The lighter you go and the shorter you go causes these conditions.
It looks cool, so I hang on to it. This is a non ported 629-4.

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NRA Benefactor Member

If your in Texas, you don't really have to worry about polar bears...you might give the 41 mag a try....they shoot flatter and can be loaded up with 265 grain Keith style bullets if you really need penetration...if you are just talking about popping hippies up at Enchanted Rock, then you could get by with 22 CB's

Here is my 41....loads less fuss than a 44...more bang than a 357, but not nearly as punishing as the 44....if you're close to me, I would be happy to let you try a few out of my 3" 41.

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I have and use a 24-3 3" alot. This is the 44spl version, and I find it more than capable to take care of anything around here. I'm not sure if you guys reload any of your own ammo, but if you do then the 44spl is an incredibly versatile cartridge. I like to use Win Silver tip bullets in my reloads. You can load these up from little target loads, to some that would rival a 44 mag.

I cannot speak for everyone as we all react differently to different types of fireamrms and recoil, but I find this one to be very controllable and accurate. I've shot this one at targets set up well over a hundred yards away and it can do it all. It all depends on your load and how much you practice with a given firearm in my opinion.

I personally find my 3" 44spl to be very close in accuracy to 4" versions I have owned and shot, but that is me and my personal experience. Good luck!

I have the 2 1/2 inch pre lock 629. Its actcually quite accurate to 15-20yds. You can load anything from 180-320 gns or so . The .44 short bbl 200 gn is an excellent load to use in this gun. If you load the SAME bullet weight in the 44 and 41 the 44 will actually shoot flatter. But at the ranges its intended for its a moot point. This is one of the guns ill keep

629-3 PC Quadport..
Love it!!

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

My 2.5" Model 629-6

I dont agree with the theory that if you go with a 3 incher you might as well go with a 4 inch. If that was the case, if your going with a 4 inch, you might as well go with a 6 inch. I think a 3 inch will serve you well.

Personally I have never understood the appeal of .44's or .41 mags with less than 4" barrels. Tougher to shoot accurately than a 4" or 5" gun. More muzzle blast and less velocity. That in my book is a LOSE/LOSE situation.

I've carried duty and off duty guns for thirty plus years. You get accustomed to a few extra ounces or inch or two of barrel length.

FN in MT

Since this is a S&W forum...forgive me, for I have sinned:



It weighs 40 oz and has a 2.5 inch barrel. I was surprised at how well it shoots. Misses are my faults out to 25 yards. After that, well, it IS a snubbie.

That said, I can shoot no more than 30 full power rounds alternating hands before it just hurts to shoot. It also has a fair bit of muzzle jump. If I had to do it over again, I'd get a 4 inch barrel 629. This isn't a concealed carry weapon regardless of barrel length. The cylinder and frame are way too big for concealment. A 4 inch barrel still carries and draws well from a belt holster, has a better sight radius, better ballistics and a bit less muzzle jump.

But if you really want a short barrel 44 Mag, the Ruger is certainly built strong and shoots well - but I would rather own a 4 inch 629. If you really NEED a 44 with a shorter barrel, then I'd consider the Ruger in .454 Casull. Shoot 45s for fun, and load 454 when you want to blow the end of your arm off!

One advantage to the Ruger? If you are out of ammo, you can ugly them to death!

the gunshop by me had a "bear kit" with a pelican case, flares, and I think a snub 29. It was pretty cool, but I remember it being prohibitively expensive for me. I don't know if it was a factory kit or something the gunshop put together. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

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Joshua Brown(Town)

629 in 3"


629 3" Mountain Backpacker


I have four N frames in 3" and three L frames in 2.5". They all serve a purpose.

I have a 3" 24 and have shot the 3" 29. I like them and shoot almost as well with them as the 4". The 3" are much more comfortable if carrying IWB, it seems like that 4th inch is the one that digs into your hipbone trying to get to the sciatic nerve. If you are carrying outside the pants, go with the Mountain Gun.
Yes the 3" are tougher to shoot than 4" or 5" (the perfect length) guns, but the 4" & 5" are harder to shoot than the 6" or 8 3/4" revolvers and those are harder to shoot than y .375 H&H, really you can go on forever with that nonsense. For what your are using it for yours will be fine, and if you have a 24/29 you can use the adjustable sights to zero in, you aren't limited to 7 yards, although if you are more than that away from a bear, try getting away instead of shooting.

Agree big time. Although if you practice enough with them, or any gun for that matter, you can begin to gauge how much to raise your sights up to compensate for a long shot. Like I said, I shoot quite long distances with mine and it does very well, especially considering the 3" barrel. I mean I'm accurate with a dart past 7 yards! Can't imagine having or using a gun that wasn't, and I have never found one that wasn't. My 442 with +p loads would be close, but as long as you are not shooting bulleye with it, even it gives good accuracy at that distance.

I have a 3" 24-3 that is very accurate, (once I changed the grips). I couldn't shoot it very well with the combat grips that it comes with, so I modified some Kelley's Rd to Sq butt grips and it now fits my hand and shoots fine. I carry it in the field in a Simply Rugged holster, and it it rides so comfortable I forget I have it on. (Did forget one day, and went into town in So Dakota and was in a repair shop before my shooting buddy mentioned it to me). I'm sure a 3" 29 would carry as well.
24-3 with modified grips


Simply Rugged holster (With 3 1/2" Pre 27 in it)

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

the survival kits have come out in a number of calibers...9mm,44mag.,460mag.&500mag.all come to mind

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

i have a ported 3"657 that i carry most all of the time...also a m29 3" and even a snub 460 mag.all are fun to shoot...

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Gents

Thanks for the info and the pictures. It MUST be a 44 Mag so it can shoot the same ammo as my Primary 44 that I will be carrying as well.

Actually I have found that a good S&W even with a 2 " barrel still shoots good to 25 yards. Even a 2" J Frame can be accurate to 25 yards, and I have a 2.5" 19 that shoots as good at 25 yards as any custom bull barreled PPC revolver I have ever fired.

Keep the info comming, I appreciate it.

For some reason I really like the barrel profile of 500 Magnum Nut's 44.

I prefer it to the full lugged barrels...

My S & W Model 629-5 (no IL) 2 1/2" fixed sighted .44 magnum. It actually shoots great!!!

I have a S & W Model 629 3" also but I really like this fixed sighted Model 629!!!!

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RABULL

Your 44 has a lot to recommend it. It is much better carried in a pocket without the "sharpness" of adjustable sights.

Where does it print at,say 10 and 20 yards with full power 240 gr Mag ammo???

NE450No2 , I have the 2 1/2 "Bbl 629-5 like the one RABULL has. Ive been using speer GD 200 gn short Bbl 44 mags in it. Its dead on at 15 & 20 yds. I havent shot anything heavier in it yet. But since I use it mainly as CCW The 44 Gold Dots seem to be the ticket for it and the recoil isnt bad with this load.

I really like this Performance Center Ported 3" 629. The trigger pull is beautiful, and I like the fixed sights for outback carry. Recoil feels a little less than my 4" 629. I've shot Speer Gold Dots in it and some lighter to medium hot reloads. All showed pronounced recoil, but nothing unbearable. Very accurate gun. I prefer Pachmayers to the nice looking wooden grips, for recoil control.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

Here's a couple of pics of my 2.5" 629-5...its a keeper!

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C & L

I really like that 2.5" 629-5! I may have to hunt around for one of those...

Here's mine, a PC 2 5/8" gun.

Question guys.. i'm looking to get a 629 or 627 snubby which i understand is a N-Frame. I have the 686 4" which i carried for my last 12 years as an LEO & put over 30,000 rounds through it. Also have the 2.5" 686 as well. In size & actual "Bulk" ( i guess for a better word) how does an N-Frame compare to a L-Frame ? . None of our gun stores/pawn shops have any S&W N-Frames in. Is this frame "chunkier" ? Thanks for your suggestions.
Carl

another consideration to ponder...the 657 snub version...the 41 mag.is a great round...
yes N frame is a bit larger then the L frame which of course is going to help absorb recoil..

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO