Little scared of this one

[CJH]

Looking forward? To tenderizing my hands with the 329. Intrigued by the weight, got some of the buffalo bore “lower” recoil and x frame grips. We’ll see how she goes. I’ll save the 300+ grain ammo to my steel frames. Assuming the buffalo bore will still smack me around.

Got a 629 2 5/8 inch a little bit ago and the wood grips and hot loads don’t make it horrible. Hopefully the x frame grips will help with the bite on the 329 with some milder loads

[GTS197]

Nice!!!!

Interested in hearing how it does.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[twodog max]

My buddy has a 329. I shot one cylinder full of full house loads. That was enough for me. My Model 69 is almost as portable and a darn sight easier to shoot.

[murphydog]

It takes .44 Special too. Just saying.

[Valmet]

You can practice by smacking a mailbox with your palm going about 30 mph.

[Hawg Rider]

10+ years ago I bought a used (2001) S&W PC Model 386PD...scandium-aluminum frame with titanium cylinder, and 2" bbl. It was a really cool looking revolver, very light and easy to carry, and it provided 7 shots of .357 Magnum. However, the recoil was absolutely painful! I don't think I'm a wuss (I routinely shoot my N-frame .44 Magnums), but this little revolver was too uncomfortable for me with .357s. And I wanted more "pop" than carrying .38 Specials. So, a year after I bought it, I ended up trading it back to the local gun store for a used PC Model 627-5 with 2-5/8" bbl. Heavier N-frame, but much more pleasant to shoot. Good luck with that 329!

[A10]

"Carry lots, shoot little".....

[Paul105]

Buffalo Bore "Lower Recoil 44 Mag" not so much. 255gr Keith at 1,264fps from 4" M329 (per BB website). From my 329, I chronoed Remington factory 240gr JHPs at 1,244 fps at 5 long paces and 75 deg f.

The X frame grips are a definite plus.

[Shibadog]

My 69 with full house magnums is about all the “fun”(?) I can stand��. With .44 mags loaded to .44 Special velocity it’s pleasant. For most places I ever carry those are more than adequate. If I was carrying it where there were large 4 legged carnivores, yup, .44 Mag. For just shooting or defense against anything east of the Rockies .44 Special work just fine. Your 329 will be much the same, though even more unpleasant with full boat loads. Back ‘em down and you’ve got a great woods/field gun. A nice “heavy” CCI shot shell with #4’s is great medicine forMr No Shoulders and pests.

[CJH]

Originally Posted by murphydog

It takes .44 Special too. Just saying.

Definitely won’t forget this advice. I know I already have a small reliable 44 mag shooter. If nothing else I’m sure this would make a fantastic easy to carry 44 special shooter. I do have lots of respect for the 44 special round

[Paul105]

The 329s (had 3, still have 2) were my all day every day carry gun for the better part of a decade. Still carried one while bow hunting elk until mobility issues ended that activity a couple of years ago.

Shot mine a lot with mid level .44 Mag loads (240/265s at 1,100 - 1,150 fps). They did not hold up to continued used with this level of abuse (multiple returns to factory for repair).

Load and use with ammo specific to the threat level in you area and these make wonderful packing revolvers.


.

.
Paul

[Retired W4]

Those little wood grips that came on my 629-5, 2 5/8" are ridiculous. Big Hogue's work well.

[Krogen]

In the kitchen, I use a hammer with pointy thingys on its face to tenderize meat. You might find whacking your hand with it would hurt less than your new toy! Seriously, the grips will make a huge difference. Let us know how it goes when you can type again!

FWIW, short barrel steel revolvers don't hurt me as much as lightweight revolvers. For example, my 3" 29 hurts less than a 4" or 6". Light guns just smack your hand hard.

[Green Frog]

One of my favorite gun stories came from an older friend who bought a very early pre-Model 29 with 4” bbl and a box of factory ammo containing 49 loaded rounds. The lgs owner gave him a good deal on it because a college kid came in and bought gun and ammo and took it and girlfriend out to the range to impress her with his manliness. He came back the next day with a new notch in his forehead and traded it for a 357. The 44 Mag just ain’t for everyone!

Froggie

[dave1918a2]

I had a 329PD for a couple of years. Full house 44's stung a bit, but were manageable. Never shot anything but full house loads in it. Ended up selling it to a Friend who was going to Alaska. This was when they first came out and there were no X frame grips. Bought a 475 Linebaugh to replace it.

[Shibadog]

Originally Posted by Green Frog

One of my favorite gun stories came from an older friend who bought a very early pre-Model 29 with 4” bbl and a box of factory ammo containing 49 loaded rounds. The lgs owner gave him a good deal on it because a college kid came in and bought gun and ammo and took it and girlfriend out to the range to impress her with his manliness. He came back the next day with a new notch in his forehead and traded it for a 357. The 44 Mag just ain’t for everyone!

Froggie

😊reminds me of a local experience. My favorite gun shop got in a shiny new .500 S&W when they first came out. I was there when this young pup came in and just had to have it. Bought it and a box of cartridges. Couple weeks later I’m back in the store and there it sits, with a box of shells missing 3 rounds. Sold the following week. Week after that it was back with a box of shells missing 9 rounds. Finally sold it and it stayed sold😊. Two owners and less than 2 cylinders full fired🙄

[67tempest]

Went shooting with a friend and he pulled out his brand new S&W 500 Magnum. He handed it to me with a box of ammo and asked me to try it out. I fired 5 rounds through it and handed it back to him. He told me to keep shooting, I told him no thanks, 5 rounds was enough.

[huthike]

On the other hand, after shooting the 500, a 44 Maggie seems tame.

Also, downloaded 500 Specials out of that big monster makes me giggle and puts big holes in things.

[poprivit]

I've hunted giraffe and lion with my S&W 500. I also have run thousands of rounds through my Ruger Super Blackhawk that I bought new in 1971. My S&W 342 PD snaps a little but is no big deal.
Personally, and only personally, recoil is what you make of it. My African Rifle is a Ruger #1 in 458 Lott. I think it's easy to shoot.
Not bragging, just stating facts.
Oh yeah, I just turned 78.

[Green Frog]

Originally Posted by Shibadog

😊reminds me of a local experience. My favorite gun shop got in a shiny new .500 S&W when they first came out. I was there when this young pup came in and just had to have it. Bought it and a box of cartridges. Couple weeks later I’m back in the store and there it sits, with a box of shells missing 3 rounds. Sold the following week. Week after that it was back with a box of shells missing 9 rounds. Finally sold it and it stayed sold😊. Two owners and less than 2 cylinders full fired🙄

Not a revolver, but a great gun tale I experienced personally. My dad became the third owner of a Ruger #3 carbine in 45-70. It should have been a hint when it came with a box of factory 385 gr ammo with two rounds fired. He fired one round then handed it over to me. I was young and foolish, so I handed back with two more rounds discharged. We decided it was good trading material!

Froggie

PS Since this is the S&W Forum I’ll add that he traded a very early Model 645 for it. I kinda wish he’d kept that 45!

[llowry61]

I am not very sensitive to recoil, but extremely light guns with heavy bullets getting pushed fast get your attention. I do not find it fun anymore. I still shoot a few full house 44's out of my 29's and 629's but one cylinder is usually enough fun for the day.

[CALREB]

Years ago when the 500 first came out I worked a weekend for the S/W distributor on the west coast keeping the guns running at a weekend event at Raahauge's Range just a few miles from my home.
They used lighter loads in the 500 and I saw 12-year-olds shoot it with some supervision. The 329 was a different matter. Lots of leather wearing big biker types shot it and I never saw one shoot the whole cylinder full.

[Pantherclass2004]

Love your comment “tenderizing my hands”

[CJH]

First outing at the range, shot a box of 240 grain ~1400 FPS rounds through it. Honestly it wasn’t bad. I know they aren’t super stout but the difference between these and stiffer loads has never been that noticeable for me in other 44’s.

The x frame grips REALLY cut the acute sting out of the recoil. Does it smack the hand a lot? Yeah, but honestly my exposed back strap 44 snub “hurts” more to me.

The thing is very accurate too. Only bothered to take a picture of the first cylinder but the floaters were both my friend and my first “this is gonna hurt” shots and the last 4 I wasn’t worried and actually trying to see where I could place them and relaxed. Just at 15yds offhand but good enough for me

[Pirate6134]

I purchased a model 329 PD-Airlite Sc in 2003. It came with both Hogue rubber grips and wood Ahrends grips. I prefer the wood grips and carry in a cross draw holster when I go to the range.
Full 240 grain magnum loads are a hand full but not too bad to me. My friends have only shot one round though.
Really like this one!

[CJH]

Hand a little raw but it didn’t “hurt” while I was actually shooting it. I just noticed some redness afterwards and was honestly surprised. It did not feel like it was biting into my hand. Not sure where the red mark came from. I don’t think it was the hammer jamming into me? Hard to tell.