Hi. I've been looking at purchasing a Model 629 in 5 inch. Anyone have any experience with this weapon? Any preference for the 5 inch over the 4 inch?
Thanks for the advise.
~Russ

I love mine.... It is a "Classic" with the full under-lug. It's my "work horse" hunting gun and it has served me well. The convertible front sight blade is a wonderful feature for different sighting conditions.....

There are many negative conceptions floating around about the latest 629 models (all new S&W's for that matter) and I've found nothing so far to support any of those assertions.

The N frame 5" guns have always been my favorite barrel length, and as many others have found, it has the best balance of any S&W handgun. I own many S&W 44 Mags and I've gotta say the 629 Classic is the most accurate of my shooters...

JMHO...

i like my 629-3 5 inch a whole bunch. it is better balanced than the 4 inch, but not so muzzle heavy as the 6 1/2.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I prefer the 5" barrel over the 4" because of the interchangeable from sight blades. I have really come to like fibre optic front sights, and this option allows me to simply lift the existing blade out and drop in a Hi-Viz fibre optic replacement blade.I find this to be an especially important feature for a hunting handgun.

The firing pin broke 2 times within a month but the replacement has been flawless it is however a 629-6 so it has the dreaded MIM hammer and floating firing pin and MIM trigger, I have been searching for at least a model 629-4 or even 629-3 just to compare the different hammer/trigger set up but to tell the truth I can't imagine a better trigger then what mine has and the 5" barrel is definitely my favorite.

Having owned the 6, 6 1/2 and 4" my 5" 629-3 is the best balanced of the lot. I do not know why S&W did not make more. IMO it is the perfect barrel length. I especially looked of a dash 3 so I would not get the MIM parts.

Interesting comments as several of us up here think a 5 inch N frame has the perfect balance.

I've decided I'm not buying any more S&W's unless they have either three or five-inch barrels. The others are nice, but just don't have that perfect feel.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Looks like the 5" for me!