Hey all,

I'm curious to see if there is anyone out there that has a M29 or M629 that has had some work done to the grip to make it more comfortable. If you do, I'd like to see some pics if you have any.

I'm looking for a sidearm to use while bow hunting hogs down here in east Texas. Having grip work done to the S&W's seems like it would make them easier to handle, carry and shoot. Is that true?

Lets hear what you think and see your pics.

Thanks for your time.

Nalajr

wouldn't it just be easyer just to buy a round-butted one rather than convert one?
in 29's I'm thinking 29-3/4 and 629-4 up you can get them round butted

Find a Lew Horton 629.

I had one once and foolishly let it go...

I got a 629-1 that was worked over by Magnaport. It has the Mini Magnum Combat Package. One of the features is rounding the the square but. I absolutely love the gun, one of my favorites.

All new 29's and 629's are made with a round butt. This is done more for convenience than comfort. It is very easy to convert round to square by installing square grips. The converse requires machining and welding, at the risk of illegal modifications to the frame's serial number.

A round grip is not more comfortable, just easier to conceal. The upper part of the grip, which bears the recoil, is the same. Rounding the lower part reduces the control you have holding up a barrel-heavy revolver. Round butts work best if the barrel is less than 4". Some think it looks better, including me, but you give up some functionality.

Actually, Model 29s have a square butt. And I've thought about having my 29 rounded, because it also removes metal from the front of the frame, allowing someone with smaller hands to maintain a tighter grip.

I dont see how square butts lend themselves to better recoil control. I figure the better grip you have, the more in control you feel and the better you tame the recoil. THose old wooden square grips dont seem very good for recoil unless your pinky is as long as your index finger.

Also, I second what other posters have said...if you look you can find older 44mag S&W's with rounded butts. And the new ones too, but those have locks. Man I'm not really sure which would be more cost effective, the older pre-lock or a new model. It really depends on if you care about the lock. Not sure which you prefer...(and also the ruger super redhawk alaskan is pretty cool however I'm into smiths myself...I feel like im going to get a dislike on this..

My 29-6 is a 6" factory round butt.

Mine too------------------!

Thanks all for the good discussion. I wasn't aware that any 4 or 6 inch versions were made with round butts. I thought the Mountain Guns had round butts but am not positive.

Any pics out there of 4 inch models?


That's a beauty RdrBill. Thanks for posting it.

Nalajr

Mountain guns are all 4" tapered barrels with round butts,
Most are SS but they made a blued version in 44 mag.


Here are the RB 3.5" 29-3 and 24-3 Lew Horton specials.

Absolutely not true. This kind of statement for N-frame revolvers is true only for people with hands your size, if even then. I know from experience that a round-butt N frame is MUCH more comfortable, and there is BETTER control of the weapon, especially when the barrel is longer, but certainly in all cases.

If your 29/629 is a run-of-the-mill shooter, you can always round butt it yourself. All you need is the proper template and a bench grinder, plus a few files and some wet-and-dry 600 grit paper. I did a K-frame a couple weeks ago, it took about an hour to shape it, another hour to smooth and polish it.

I can't handle heavy recoil well with a square-framed gun, but the round-butts don't give me any problems. So I'll also have to disagree with Mr. Neumann's statement above.

Blanket statements are Always wrong.

I have a combination of round and square butt S&W revolvers, including three 629's from 3" to 6" in length, all fitted with Ahrends grips. To a large extent, it's a matter of personal taste, rather than an objective decision.

I have tried round grips on the 6" (half-lug at that), and find it harder to hold it level without the added support at the base of the grip. I end up holding the grip too low.

I recently replaced the square grips on a 4" Mountain Gun with full-length round grips. This too is a half-lug model, and not barrel heavy. I get good control with either set of grips.

I have boot grips (round, obviously) on the 3", for concealeability. My pinky fits under the grip, so there is no support at that end. I like them, my son finds them painful to use. Having one more finger around full-length grips helps keep the revolver from torquing to the left.

Old style grips were narrow at the top and much wider at the base than modern grips, such as Hogue's, Ahrends' or Herrett's. The old grips were intended to move in your hand, like SA grips, and move they do. I recall shooting a Smith .44 magnum in the 60's, and getting hammer bite - from a revolver no less. I still have a set on an old Colt .357. They look good and feel good - until you shoot a hot magnum round. The barrel ends up 30 degrees in the air, compared to about 5 degrees with the new grips (and 40 more years of experience).

Things ain't like they used to be - and never were

I have a model 25-5 that has been worked over by Austin Behlert. One of the things he did was round butt it. I don't like it, in fact, I am not fond of round butts on any of my pistols, so I always put conversion grips on them.

I realize it is a personal preference, but I seem to have better control with the square butt conversion grips on my 25-5 and my 610-2 than with round butt grips.

YMMV

bob

Hi,

not a 629, but a 624. Had it roundbutted for carry comfort and better grip strength (and to fit those damned fine Ahrends Retro Bananas). Compared to SQ I find the recoil not to be very different, but I'm faster back again on target with follow up shots. I admit, a 6" surely would not benefit from a RB as it is much longer and the weight distribution is different, more front heavy.

regards from Germany
Ulrich

__________________
Life is too short to own a bad gun

IMO large frame, long bbl handguns NEED the square butt. Medium/small ( L,K, J) frame either is fine. I converted to Hoque sq butt grips on my 629 Classic, I like it much better.

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JIM
NRA Pistol Instr

I'm not even so sure that it is personal preference. Given a particular hand size, we might all decide the same way. But we do have different hand sizes. I understand what Neumann is saying, and I'm sure he's correct for his own hand size. I get almost the same effect with the K frame, but not quite.

But in actual practice, it might as well be personal preference, because you have to try it out for yourself.

I like RB N frames. My hand is pretty thick at the bottom and the rb fits just right. This is a 29-2 that's been converted. It carries, handles and shoots nicely.

John

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