This beauty came home with me this afternoon...



Smith & Wesson Performance Center 629

That should be a hand full when you light'em up. How about a range report after you try it out?
Nice pics.

^ Sure will. I know it's gonna be a booger to hang on to, but I can't wait to get out there with it.

...and thanks for the compliment.

Incredible pics! If you took those, you must be a professional photographer.

Please give us a range report and let know how it handles and shoots! Or is it going to be Safe Queen?

i have a 3" M29....lots of fun...congrats!

__________________
SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Thanks for the great compliment and I'm glad you enjoy the photos. I did shoot them myself, but am far from a professional. Believe it or not I shoot all my photos with an old 6 megapixel Sony Cybershot pocket camera. I've been experimenting with lighting techniques and camera angles a bit lately and it seems to be working out ok. I've found that a tripod is your best friend!

Again, thank you for the kind words.

Wow! Beautiful pistol and pictures! Those are much nicer than in the catalog

__________________
NRA Certified Instructor

Range report will follow. I know she's gonna be a handful, but I've always been a glutton for punishment. Oh, and there's no such thing as a safe queen in my house...

Lazy Eyed Sniper;
Really nice photos of a VERY attractive revolver. However, YOU can have all the fun you want shooting that one with full house loads.

I can see it doing lots of .44 Specials but I doubt you'll shoot very many full house .44 Magnums with it (that is NOT a criticism, but merely supposition).

A very nice bullet for that revolver is a double ended W/C from a Group Buy on the Cast Boolit Forum. Relatively light weight to reduce recoil and a VERY wide meplat for maximum terminal effect!

Dale53

L.E.S.... lighting that beast off with full house magnum loads is akin to grabbing and twisting the testicles of a 1200 lb. Brahma bull with a bad attitude.

I just got my 629 Talo 3" and shooting the hot mags is definitely a handful.

Enjoy that beautiful PC Smith.

__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ..."ERIN GO BRAGH"

Agreed, and thanks for the heads-up on the W/C loads.

I've got plenty of plinkers and range toys for shootn all day. Don't get to see too many PC revolvers around my area and I couldn't pass her up. I walked into my LGS and saw her starin up at me with those puppydog eyed and I didn't stand a chance. I bought this monster for the sheer joy of a big boom every once in a while. I'll run plenty of .44 special rounds through her just to get her wheel turnin, but there's somethin to be said for lett'n her rip every once in a while.

...and thanks for the compliments Sir

.......now there's an image!

Dats a beauty and the photography is incredible.... makes me want one o dem... I was at S&W Retail store and range last night for my weekly monday nite shooting spree.. of course I drool on the show cases with all the guns and lately been hanging over that cabinet with those little monsters, left lots of DNA behind too...

__________________
Jack C

I was going to joke about why does it say magnum on the side but that has already been said. Brilliant job with your lighting. That always gets me in my pictures. The only thing that would make that any better is a three inch barrel. But that is still one sweet shooter.

Yeah, we used to pick on a buddy of mine who drove a Jeep Wrangler and insisted on having the word JEEP custom stitched on the spare tire cover hanging off the back. I guess he really wanted folks to know what he was driving!

From S&W perspective I guess they figured if they were gonna laser etch "Performance Center" into one side they might outta put something on the flipside. Not really necessary from my point of view either, but it certainly wasn't a deal breaker for me. To be perfectly honest, all I needed to see was those grips and that cylinder and I was hooked.

I was told that there was a small run of these, 300-500 made - that were made without the IL/Lock... can anyone confirm?

Yup, there were two pre-lock versions... I have the one factory cut for moonclips.

Can you tell me approx..how many?

Value?

What were these marked? 629-?

Does that thing have a front lock in the yoke or something? The front of the ejector doesn't touch the frame.

Molto bene!
Are those Hornady?

It is a beauty, Question tho I have the same gun and my hand was to big for wooden grip so I got a hogue grip for it, I let some go at the range and recoil still is getting the best of my hand, PLEASE tell me there's another grip out here for this gun thanks for your help if you reply.

I take an X-large glove, I recommend the Tamer/500 grips sold on the S&W website. It reduces recoil better than any I've tried and it fills the hand better.

I recommend the Barnes Brand .44 mags. Barnes loads their own, they are available at Midway and an excellent SD load IMO.

I own this same 629PC and let me tell you, the bull analogy was spot on. After 15 rounds, I had a deep cut on my right thumb and a tear in the web between my right thumb and index finger. After the second tear of flesh, it was no longer fun. Next time I take it out I will be wearing a pair of shooting gloves.

I know this thread started nearly two years ago, but I just wanted to add my appreciation for both the gun and the photos. The Performance Center UDR models in .357, .41 and .44 Magnum are some of the most attractive short-barrel heavy-frame guns ever made.

I have the .357 version with IL (the re-issued "Blood Work" model) and wouldn't mind having the .41 and .44 versions some day. I can't imagine shooting full boat .44 Magnum rounds in one with my aging and arthritic hands, but since the company no longer makes a snubnose .44 Special, this is the gun you would have to buy to take advantage of the several perfectly satisfactory .44 Special loads out there.

__________________
David Wilson

A quick question for you guys from a relatively new S&W enthusiast.

Can you order the Performance Center handguns such as this 629? Or do you just have to shop around for one?

We have a few large S&W sellers here in Houston and I dont know that I have ever seen a PC gun there at any of them. I might not have been looking hard enough though.

I am interested in a shorty 44 Mag. I have and regularly shoot several 44 Mags, but mine are all longer barrels.

I was with a buddy looking for him a 357 and I saw a couple of the Ruger Alaskans. One in 44 Mag and one in 454 too. I would like to give one of these shorty's a run.

While I like the Ruger I have a couple of them in 44 and I would prefer the S&W. As a matter of fact, other than my 44 Super Red Hawk , there might be some other Rugers for sale .

But I dont know what the wait might be for a PC gun. I have intended to call S&W and ask, but I thought it might be answered here.

Also what are the chamber lengths in the 44 PC guns?

Thanks guys.

I had 2 order mine from a place in town called gander mountain $1052

WOW- Thats a beauty ! Who said they didn't find the Holy Grail !!!!!!!!!
Fire that sucker at night n take a video.
Lots of luck with your new gun n hold on tight..
S&W357

This weekend there are two shows. One in North Caroline n the other is in PA. My gun guy is going to the North C. one and is getting me the S&W 44Vcal. performance center gun. If you know of anyone going, talk to them. Or i can give you the name of my gun guy. There are two gun guys going -one is going to PA n the other to North C. They both are going to look for me n they will call each other. S&W will be at both shows!
He should only charge you $35 for shipping n Ins. The wait for those Performance guns --can be up to one year !!!
S&W357

I have a Ruger Alaskan in 44 and shoot it regularly. It's a hoot. Not sure why, but it's one of my guns that EVERYBODY wants to shoot. We shoot the PMC 180gr. HP's and the Remington 180gr. UMC SP's until the barrel gets so hot you'd think it was going to melt.

Only the biggest gun stores will regularly stock Performance Center models, but any gun store should be able to order one for you.

If you are lucky, you will sometimes find unwanted PC guns on the consignment or trade-in shelves at even the smaller gun shops.

If a particular PC model that you want is out of production with no prospect of reintroduction, you just have to keep your eyes open for offerings on the usual auction sites.

__________________
David Wilson

Been a while since I signed on here.

I appreciate all the kind words. Figured I'd stop in a post a new photo...

It looks beautiful I have been looking for one but cant track one down and if I do its gone before I can grab it.

Well from one glutton for punishment to another, there's nothing like hard bucking recoil --------- (-;
I also have NO safe queens as well.
Great looking Performance Center 629, she's a beauty !




Ernie

__________________
S&W .500 Magnums RULE !

Been carrying this gun for a while now. Practicing with Berry's 220 grain flat point bullets in a Magnum case. 6.5 grains of Bullseye makes for a nice range practice round.

I also own the Ruger Alaskan in .44M. Nobody else touches this gun, nobody. Agree the 180gr Rem load is super. The Hogue grips make it a pleasure to shoot. Never would have thought I could do double-taps with a .44M.

I am a published photographer having worked for a magazine for several years. Your pictures are EXCELLENT, period!!

Looking at them I am reminded of an old saying, " It ain't the bow and arrows, it's the Indian". Or, to paraphrase, "It's not the equipment, it's the photographer"...

You obviously have a great eye and know how to use them (eyes).

FWIW
Dale53