Just trying to decide on a 4" barrel .44mag for backwoods carry. Is the 329 really that bad to shoot. I would probably carry the lighter recoil Buffalo Bore ammo.

I would consider the 2.5" barrel guns but I feel that you give up accuracy and velocity.

My only .44 experience is my wife's 9.5" super red hawk, but there is no way I would carry that every day. My SW99 .40 is a bit small for some of the critters we may run into.

I've had two friends run into moose with their sled dog teams this winter up in Alaska, and it has me thinking way too much. The moose here in Utah are generally more standoffish but they are definitely in the area where we are.

629 with 3" barrel works for me.

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they are both great guns - they are worlds apart from a 9.5" SRH - a 329 is a handfull but they are shootable - I have several of both and can shoot the 629's all day , the 329's are best used in small doses - just a few cylinders a day depending on your load.

The 329 is definitely easier to pack and if you can handle the recoil and still be honestly accurate with it that's the way to go.
For me, the 329 is too much and follow up shots too slow. I would pay the price and use the 629 in a comfortable Shoulder Rig. I can shoot the 629 with a slightly reduced Elmers' type load accurately and relatively quickly enough to deal with mean critters.

S&W329pd Information

If you really want to carry on your person, as opposed to "carry" from the safe to the truck and back again, then the 329pd is your best option. Pull on your big girl panties and it is not difficult to shoot.

I have a 629-3, 4 inch barrel, just for the back woods!

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Deaf

I can only speak for the 629 but I love my 629 5" but sometimes wish I would have got the 4" just for the fact I think I could get the 4" out of the holster faster in an bear encounter situation. But like you mention the velocity is better out of the longer barrels. You should check out Garrett Defender ammo no matter what your 44 choice. Big animals take big heavy cast bullets and the Defender is lighter recoil but 310gr cast bullets. Read Garretts thoughts on heavy bullets construction and penetration.

You are right on the moose. They scare the **** out of me as they are so unpredictable. Had one chase me on my X-country skis one year and if it hadn't been for me swinging and banging my ski poles together she would have stomped me good. It was after I had already gone past her and had my back turned that she came after me. She didn't have a calf with her either so don't know what her problem was besides me just being there.

BTW. Welcome to the S&W forum

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44 Garrett Defender Ammo 4 me.

Can't help myself, sorry....backwoods .44 mag = SA Ruger.

Can't help myself either, sorry....396 Mountain Lite! 1/2 the weight. .44 Special w/ some Buffalo Bore Anti-Presonal rounds. Or just bring a slow in-law

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Tim

I know a couple guys who have a 329. They don't shoot them much, especially with hotter loads.

I have a 629-3 with a 4" barrel. I like it a lot. It is all I can handle with hot loads.

Moose are more dangerous than bears. My boys have had more run ins with moose than bears here in MT.

John

My 329PD carries MUCH better than my 6" 629. Your opinion is the only one that matters however. FYI I bought my 329PD after carrying my 629 in a shoulder holster on a back woods hike and have been VERY happy

If you can find one, think about a 629 Mountain Gun. If you put the Xframe Hogues on it (you can do the same to a 329) it makes recoil manageable.

the 329 is so light it is silly, it kind of fells like a plastic toy...But it stings your hand pretty bad...I couldn't bring myself to buy it. I friend let me try his (think it had wood grips) and loaded with full house 265gr cast, I think I shot 3 of the six...I knew by round 2 it was not for me cause I like to shoot when I walk the backwoods and bought the 4" 29..it still packs well and I can shoot it a lot better.

I do still go handle the 329's at the store and will probly have to add one to my collection some day. But it kind or doesn't feel robust enough to stake you life on. The word "seriously??" always come to mind...lol

I've carried my 2 5/8" 629PC in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster a lot for backwoods carry, and have sometimes hauled it in a Maxpedition courier-style bag along with other hunting essentialls when rifle or shotgun hunting. I don't find it uncomfortable to carry on a sturdy belt. And the gun is quite accurate. I suppose an extra 1.5" of barrel would add something, but not that much.

Having said that, I'd really like a nice 5"..... I like the balance of the 629 with the 5" full underlug barrel. It is high on my "next gun" list.

dla says it all. I have several 4" and 5" 629's and one of the 4"ers is a Mtn Gun. The gun I pack on my hip is my 329PD. There is a world of difference in packing 26 ounces on the hip vs 39 ounces!

I carry a 329pd daily. The loads I use are 240 grn bullets at 1000 fps. On the range while practicing I notice the recoil. I've shot pigs, snakes and shot at coyotes and other pest in the fields and woods and did not notice the recoil. All the times I carry the 329pd I do not notice the weight of the gun. I have carried steel guns and was constantly aware of the weight. the 329pd is a great 44sp and can be a brutal 44mag. If you reload you can taylor the ammo to the job and your comfort level. Or get a 329pd to carry and a beater 29 to practice with. here is my 329.

Everytime I read these threads, the 329 usally gets the nod from guys that carry in Bear country.

I think weight is a big factor. For carry and minimal shooting, I'd go 329 or 386 (depending on what your up against).

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Watch & Pray

More carry- 329
More shooting- 629
The 329 is quite managable with appropriate ammo and grips. Without... they can be a hurtful handful.

I always develop a pain on the side of my hip if I carry a big revolver. Outdoors I started with my M29 6.5" bbl in a old Safariland half flap holster, then a 5" Classic in an El Passo holster, and then a 4" M29 in a El Paso holster which is bearable. I definitely thought about getting a 329 but couldn't afford it.

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JIM
NRA Pistol Instr

I cant imagine (or buy) a better N frame 44 for carry - town or country.

I hunt with a 6" Model 29-3, and I will be adding a 629-5 4" model tomorrow. The 629-5 will be my new woods/camping gun.

I carry a variety of handguns in the north Georgia mountains. The main predators here include black bears, mountain lions, and snaggle tooth banjo pickers. My #629 gets more toting time than the #58, #657 MG, and #1006...but the #1006 is a close second. Plenty of power and lots faster to reload than any of the revolvers. You did not mention a semi-auto, but a Glock 29 10mm would be a very good compromise on size, weight, and power.

Contrary to what many seem to believe the shorter barreled guns (less than 4") are much more difficult to shoot well than longer barreled guns. I challenge the assertion 99% of us can shoot a 2 1/2 or 3" gun as accurately as a 5, 6, or 8 3/8".

The short barreled guns require more practice to master and their lighter weight with its accompanying recoil and muzzle blast makes practice a much less enjoyable thing.

It's interesting to me that the discussion seems to involve issues of shooter comfort rather than optimum effectiveness in a life threatening situation.

Ranges in the outdoors can require a longer sight radius to achieve adequate accuracy. A charging sow black bear with cubs, even fifty or sixty yards away, can be on top of a hiker in a second or two. The sooner a person can cap off effective and accurate rounds the better their chance of survival.

The fact is when you reduce the effectiveness of your firearm you also diminish its usefulness in the field...

I hunt black bear and I'm often in bear country for other reasons. I always carry in the remote and rugged Pacific NW woods -- but optimum comfort is among the lower considerations on my priority list.

If you believe a serious threat could be a possibility keep a 4" plus on your hip. I often carry a 5" 629 when fishing or hiking or a 500 when I'm hunting. Don't even notice them with the right holster gear...

JMHO

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Terry

Most of us go our entire lives without ever getting molested by a charging grizzly. But we hike all over God's creation. The practical solution is a lighter weight carry gun. The impractical solution is to carry a heavy weight gun that weighs a bunch. And while you're at it, haul a full box of ammo along becasue you might get charged and treed by a whole herd of griz. Every thing in life is a compromise. If you don't want to compromise, the big clunky stainless steel revolvers are poor compromises. I'd select at the least a .375 H&H, but preferably a nice M70 Safari in .458. It'll put that 629 to shame.

But as we know, its a bunch to lug around. And you'll have a tendency to put the M70 down a the first chance. And when you get to your camp site, you'll also be much more likely to take the 629 off your belt because it hurts. The 329 will fit the same holster, but you'll have it on because its light enough to forget. I'm not sure how the 386/396 got into this debate, but I've got them both and they seem as much lighter that the 329 as the 329 does to the 629.

The fact is, every year somebody seems to get chewed up by a bear. Some times not, but just as often 2 folks get the business. But we only very rarely read about an armed person getting bit. And sometimes those have rifles! The point being that no firearm is a guarantee you won't become lunch.

There's usually no reason to live our lives like we're afraid. But if carrying a revolver for self defense makes sense to you, pick wisely. The difference between a 629 and a 329 is almost nothing downrange. Almost every day you go hiking, you'll thank the day you spent the extra change for the featherweight gun. You'll smile because it saved you so much pain, and you'll still have a 44 on your hip.

I have friends who can't believe I only carry a tiny J frame in the summer. They're even more astounded I don't carry a couple of reloads. These are the same guys who "need" hi cap mags and at the least, 2 extra. And they've never had a reason to fire even a single shot in anger. Yet they persistently imagine the need for evermore firepower. A fully loaded 329 will more than fulfill the actual needs of 99.9% of all back country users in the continental US. Particularly in Utah, where a few mean bears show up every once in a while. And I agree, a moose might actually be a bigger threat (and in Colorado, too.)

We've left out the 357 from this discussion. The 41 mag is just as effective. You can feel the difference between the 357 and 329, but it depends on ammo, too.

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Dick Burg

It depends on your definition of backwoods carry...I find it hard to imagine that anyone doing the kind of hiking I do when I'm backpack hunting would recommend anything more than a 629 Mtn Gun. Even then, I've had ONE buddy carry a steel gun for a couple days and once we got back to the truck there it stayed for the rest of the week.

Sure there are shoulder rigs that can carry the weight...if that works for you great. But if it's fall hunting and you are constantly taking a pack on and off, adding and subtracting layers as you alternate between moving and glassing...screwing with the sidearm gets old and wastes time.

I much prefer light guns (I now have a 41Mag Taurus Tracker TI and a 329) carried in kydex paddle holsters that are easy to move between pack belt and pants belt.

I have not carried my 329 yet but the weight is indistinguishable from my Taurus which I have carried easily for several years.

The recoil on the 329 IMHO is likely overblown. I say likely, as I just installed the 500 X-Frame grips on mine yesterday and have not shot it yet....the factory grips (both sets) are junk, leaving the backstrap steel to bite into your hand, Taurus was ahead of SW on that one! With ~1000fps loads...even with factory grips...mine was snappy but fine. I fired THREE near-max 44Mag loads and I stopped until I had the new grips, I expect those loads to be "ok" now and they are not something I would shoot much except to sight the gun in and shoot at a bear if I were ever charged.

I'd probably carry bullets in the 265gr range, IMHO they will do all a handgun bullet is going to do for you in a bear attack. The evidence I have seen is that more abusive loads gain you little in penetration and you lose the ability for follow-up shots. With a bear you need to hit the brain or spine...it's not a penetration issue so much.

A 265gr bullet at 1200-1300fps from the gun on your hip will do much better than a 300+gr bullet sitting in a steel gun in the truck.

A second having another 629 as a plinker, I'll get one of those next.

I went through this myself about a year ago. Ended up going with a 629PC 2 5/8", after handling it, 629 Backpacker (unfluted, laser-etched bear tracks), 629 Alaskan Backpacker (blued w/ stainless fluted), 329NG, 329PD, Ruger Alaskan, and Taurus 44 2.5" Titanium. The 329PD was super light and tempting and I may yet pick one up as I have no 4" 44 Mag in the stable.

you'll be fine now. they make all the diff.

+1
I think a 4" revolver in any caliber is the optimum barrel length for overall holster carry, shootability and effectiveness.

I have a .44 Magnum "Mountain Gun." At 34 oz, it is as light as I'd care to go with a revolver in this caliber. I can shoot 50 rounds or more, and leave the session with feeling in my hand. It does sting a bit in the process, but my accuracy does not suffer as a result. I can carry it all day in a good OWB holster, an Alessi CQC. A 26 oz 329 would have 50% more recoil - over the edge for me.

When carrying a weapon, ounces turns into pounds, pounds turn into hundreds of pounds, when its attached to you. I carried a firearm everyday for 30 years. Prior to that, I carried everything I or part of what the fire team would need, on long range recon patrols, in sunny S.E. Asia.

I still carry a firearm, every day. Only thing is now, I don't have to conceal it. And, I don't have to carry one, if I don't want to. The firearm I carry cause it is convenient is a 329 PD. I do have to say, my chances are probably quite a bit better being second place on the food chain, with a feral hog, than yours are, getting into an argument with a grizzly bear. Yes, Colorado had one killed by a guide by Alamosa in 1979.

Moose, as far as I know, have a worse temper than just about any bear. I would give them, all the room I could, without falling off the planet. Anyway, that is what we were told, when they re-introduced the moose back to Colorado, many years ago, by the Co. Div. of Wildlife.

I have mine loaded with a stiff load of 2400 powder behind and 240 gr. LazerCast semi-wadcutter. Its making about 1240 fps., across the clock. I also have 6 Norma steel jacketed Power Cavity factory rounds from the late 60's or early 70's. Yes, the jackets are magnetic, for those that don't believe it. Those are second backup load. If those go in the gun, things just got real fatal in a hurry.

As for carrying, it takes alot of good solid harness leather, and very well designed holsters. But, the belt makes just about anything possible. My belt is a Bianchi B-21 contour, 1 3/4", double thickness. On it is a Bianchi Mod. 111 Cyclone, strong side, or cross draw leather holster. I can put it on, and live all day in it. That is after 12 knee surgeries, two knee replacements, and one back surgery.

Read dla's article on the 329PD. Very infomative. Very subjective. And very RIGHT.

I remember a youtube video I saw this last year. A robber had a 329 and was robbing a convience store. He shot the clerk and the recoil was so intense his hand was thrown back and he shot himself in the head trying to control it. He dropped like a rock.
Self serving justice there.

I'm not saying you all can't control a 329 but that seems like a bit too much recoil to me.

John

How about a 329 story?

OK, a while back I liked the one I'd bought brand new that when I saw one at the gun show, being offered up by a friend, I bought it. Also in my travels I picked up a second 396. Foolish boy. So a while back the 2nds of each became surplus. I took them to the gun show 2/4 and had them on my table. Oldest son got a day off from kid watching and came along.

About noon he realized the gun had spent more time being handled (the 329) than it had spent in its box. Kind of interesting because the last show it had been at before my table partner commented the handlers were going to wear the finish off it. Lots of lookers, no one buying. But then they didn't seem to be purchasing anything else, either. It certainly is a gun people like to handle.

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Dick Burg

I carried a 4 inch 629 all over Alaska. I can testify that an angry moose is no joke!! We got between mom and her calf and could not get out of the way quick enough. Lots of shots in the air and we set a speed record getting away. I kept 3 loaded in the chamber in case we had to take it to the next level. Lucky for us, momma figured we were far enough away and we learned valuable lessons, pay attention to the surroundings and momma moose always wins!!.

Guess I should have added to my original about the weight difference being mentioned here. The weight of carring the 629 5" isn't a factor for me at all. I carriy a 20lb. daypack and my 629 in a Bianchi 5BHL holster on a 1 1/2 belt. My allday spring backcountry shed antler walks can be 6 miles in rough country with elevation gains of 2000 ft at 7000ft + in grizzly country.

I also believe the 629 has less muzzle jump for faster follow-up shots than a lighter framed gun has.

Let us know what gun you finally decide on.

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44 Garrett Defender Ammo 4 me.

The stocks look great - did you change you sights (I'm on my phone) ?

That grip makes my hand hurt just looking at it.

The front sight has been replaced with a xs standard dot front sight.

I'm not a fan of rubber grips. The boot grips are good till you get to 1100 fps were the pistol starts to hit the knuckle on my middle finger and can knock the hide off the base of my thumb. It did not take me long to modify my grip.

I like it - I've thought about changing the sights - but I bought an understudy instead - the 329 and the kitgun

I would go with a 629 carry comp. the fixed sights and nice with no snag points. The power port also helps with follow up shots.

Just my 2 cents. The 329 is light but the recoil is going to be tough. The 629 is heavier and absorbs the recoil. The buffalo bore ammo is a real stopper. The steel gun will be your best choice.

Now that is a sweet 629!

So does anyone shoot a steady diet of 325gr bullets through their 329? Inquiring minds want to know.

The Buffalo Bore loads will definitely bring on a cracked frame in a 329. Recall that it is not steel, therefore, it is of inferior durability than a 629. End of story.

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ken
SWCA #1959

"End of story" ? What a joke!

I need an icon for a troll when responding to this kind of post.

Why would they?

If you want a 454, buy one. But don't pretend with a 44mag.

I would not...then again I don't get attacked by packs of velociraptors each time I go to get the mail, so I'm not sure I would ever have a need to put myself through that kind of abuse by putting a "steady diet" of those through ANY 44mag.

I carry a 629 in the woods becasue of lions, wolves, bears, (black and griz). I don't carry 325 gr Buffalo Bore loads. I handload well constructed bullets with a max load. If I want more I will as advised, carry a 454. Or my 870 with slugs will work for me.

John

Hey BITE ME! You're a joke Mr. Newbie! Go ahead and place your trust in an alloy gun shooting 40,000 PSI + loads!

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ken
SWCA #1959

Isn't SAAMI spec for 44mag 36,000psi?

And since you're obviously a nuclear rocket scientist, is the portion of the 329 that handles the MAP made of aluminum?

dla take your attitude and go elsewhere.

John