....I think I just lucked into one. I traded off a Taurus Raging Bull in .44 magnum for it (okay, so I added a little cash as well ). But I feel it was worth it. Kept trying to look it up and see how rare it is (or isn't), but in the end, I'm just happy to have a .44 mag that is handy enough for me to carry. Don't get me wrong, I like the Taurus a good deal, as an 8 3/8" barrel and porting makes the .44 pretty easy to shoot, but I'm not very recoil sensitive to begin with, and I have sizeable hands.

But this gun....just seemed "right." It just fits. What kind of accuracy can I expect from it at distances up to 25 yards or so? Will I lose much in the way of velocity and energy from a shorter barrel .44? Also, what are good loads to carry/shoot from this platform? I already have some .44 special loads that I plan to carry (Gold Dot hollow points), but I will probably also carry some magnum loads once me and this pistola get comfy. Any recommendations? Have some PMC Eldorado Starfire .44 mag loads in 240 grain flavor.

I welcome any and all advice, warnings, admonitions, and enthusiastic emanations. I'm not new to guns, but I'm new to THIS gun.

Look here, the topic of 44 Magnum snubbys and recoil is discussed:

.44 snubs: What about the recoil

Does it look like this....?

Speer Short Barrel 200 grain GDHP .44 magnum rounds do well out of a 4" S&W 329PD, so I suspect they will do fine in a 3" 629.

__________________
Hook686

Rollin' Hot,



It does look like that, only mine has Pachmayr grips. I have no idea where the grips are, they're not in the original box.

Hook686,


Thanks! I'm gonna give those a try.

Anytime you can rid yourself of a Taurus and replace it with an S&W you've done very well......

Sounds like you got a decent deal. The 3-inch is a cult carry gun.

We are no 'cult'....we just have a fine appreciation for the balance and concealablity that only a 3" barrel can achieve

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We are not a cult.....we are not a cult....we are not a cult....join the cult.....we are not a cult.....we are not a cult

You must not resist........the all powerful..... 629 Cult.. 'errr ahhh Club.. yeah that's it CLUB..

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Picked up an older one as well. Well, it's a 29-4 with a longer barrel. Bluing on it is still quite nice.

That's a beautiful 44 magnum! I have a 629-1 with a 3" barrel
with a fluted cylinder. I prefer unfluted cylinders though, I think they look more sexy and probably alot stronger too.
Mine has been modified with three ports on each side of the barrel and a trigger job. It's very fast, even with full magnum loads you can get back on target immediately. Who says a 44 magnum is not a good self defense gun! My instructors were amazed at how fast and accurate I was during firing drills, but it's the gun that allowed me to be that way. I crucified the guy next to me with the 45 auto!

I recently joined the cult myself... 629-2

It's a great shooter! Haven't been able to find a holster for it yet.

Owning a 629-2 with a 4inch barrel make me a cult member?

Mine's blued, but same idea. Great balance of the weight (forward) make it very pointable and accurate as well. Can't resist the 3" cult.

So who wants to join the cult, er... Club?
http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sa...#post135867812

the 3" .44's are excellent shooting guns and the recoil is actually pretty manageable.
I have found that Hornady 200gr XTP's will try to implant the front sight into your forehead though!

I just put a Crimson trace laser grip on mine. At 30 ft it puts 6 touching holes in the center ring.
That was double action with the butt braced on my belly.
It is now my CC gun . I carry it in a ill fitting fanny pack for now - until I can find a better one.
It fits in the pack ok and is totally unnoticeable, but is too uncertain getting it out quickly.

Cult??? Cult??? We don`t need no stinking cult!!!!

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