It's been away for a while and notice a few changes. Change is good I guess.
I've been thing of a 329 to shoot in a .44 Special. Does anyone know about them and how much can you buy one from?
Thanks,
Marsh
PS: I hope I am referring it to the right gun. The one I am thinking of is the 4" scandium model. Is that right?

I think it is the best bitey/scratchy critter carry revolver.

S&W329pd Information

Thanks dla. That is good info. I wonder what the typical price (used) is?
Marsh

8-9 hundred around here, I've got a pair and love them

Man, that sounds high, but I have been out for a while so maybe that right. . Any want to trade for a Sharps?
Marsh

I just bought one (haven't received it yet). As you say, it should be a nice .44 Spl - I'm thinking of 240g XTPs at 900-1000 fps. Most owners highly recommend the X frame hogue stocks - anybody got any of those they'd let go of?

You might like the Packmayer(sp) better. And they're available everywhere.

I think you could shoot them with stock grips loaded with some nice keiths to around 850fps. Would kill anything in the east or mid west.
Marsh

If you intend to shoot it with 44Spl loads, you need not worry about the recoil. It won't be bad...especially with either the Hogue or Pachymer grips that cover the backstrap. It appears they recently started shipping them with a grip that covers the backstrap; they did not used to. Either the wood or rubber grips that came with the older ones were murder with any type of Magnum load, though perhaps OK with Spl loads.

FWIW I found mine used this spring, from someone on this site that lived within driving distance, for $700.

A light hiking gun with a big bite. It fills this niche well. It is reasonable to shoot with Specials or other low power ammo. But with full house magnums, it is a beast.

I think I want one these beasts. Can anyone refer me to a place with credit card ability. My funds are low, but my credit it good.
Marsh

I don’t have a 329 but I do have a 629 Mountain Gun. It is light enough for me. With Hogue grips X-500 grips it weighs just under 40 oz. That is light enough for me. With mild loads it is fun. With full power loads it can get a bit nasty. I have a couple of .500s. I don't think I will be in the market for a 329.

__________________
Tom

I love my 329PD! It's a beast with full power .44 Mag loads, hence I don't use them much. With .44 Special loads, it's a joy to shoot!

Get one!

Good luck!

It still goes back to the question, "what do you intend to do with it"? Mine gets carried every day. I spent 30 years of my life having to carry a firearm everyday, whether I liked it, or not. Now, with my retired ID, I can do whatever I like. But, I still like my hide unperforated.

I carried all forms of different handguns over the years. I really don't care if you are carrying a .500, .460, M-29, M-629, M-629 mtn. revolver. Any, and believe this one boys and girls, ANY of the above are HEAVY. It actually takes just almost as much weight in leather holsters, and belts, to make things tolerable. Notice the word, tolerable. That is the best you can get.

I know alot of people like to get all garbed out, but, when its a have to. The luster sure runs off quickly. Even the 329PD, can get heavy. If you are carrying alot, and shooting very little, or even shooting alot with specials, should work well for you.

Oh, I really think i would load .44 magnum cases down to .44 special balistics. Titanium cylinders don't like aggressive cleaning very well, and .44 specials will put a deposit ring in the cylinder, making .44 magnum chambering difficult to almost impossible.

dla has a great writeup on this. Good source of information. Bottom line, if you need it. YOU NEED IT. If you don't, and this is some sort of macho trip, I am afraid you will find the experience painful, and very, very humbling.

My hat is off to Blueknight7. That is about the best summary of gun-toting AND the 329PD I have ever seen!

The 329 is a caution. It works, but I have never mastered shooting it - and I don't enjoy shooting it. Even with loads that are pretty tame in my steel guns, the thing is a terror! I am probably about half as accurate with it as I am with a 4-inch Model 29. It is just a brutal, unfriendly gun. JMHO.

The big question is what you want it for? A dedicated range or target gun? Bad choice. Carry or hiking gun? Good choice.

I have now shot a full range of loads out of mine. My target/plinking load is a 240gr LSWC over 8.5gr Unique, 970fps. I do not use a shooting glove...I do have the X-frame grip....but if you can't shoot a couple boxes of this load with ease, you need to stay away from ANY magnum handgun.

I also shot a few full power loads which go 1600+ fps out of my Ruger carbine. I had shot half a cylinder of these with the stock rubber grip (exposed backstrap) and given up due to the pain. With the X-frame grip, I can't say I would want to shoot a full box but 2-3 cylinders during a range session would be no issue.

So my opinion is that much of the hulabaloo about the recoil of this gun is overdone. Scrap the exposed backstrap grips and it is a fine firearm with reasonable middle-of-the-road loads (not just 44Spl). Would I shoot boxes of full magnum loads? Unlikely. But then again, I would be equally unlikely with a steel gun just because I see no reason for that kind of pounding just to punch paper.