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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 11-19-2012, 04:52 PM
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Default 629: Should I trade up?

Hey guys. I have a 5" 629-6 that has been a great pistol, fun to shoot, and accurate as I could ever imagine. I had planned on hunting with it this season for shots under 50 yds.

Here's my plight. I ran across a mint, barely shot 629-1 8 3/8" in the box today at the LGS. They want $899, but I could get them down some I'm sure. This thing is drop-dead gorgeous and would be a great pistol for white tail and hogs.

My sis-in-law is wanting to buy her hubby a 629 for Christmas, but he is wanting a 5-6.5" barrel, not something overly long or too short. He does not hunt. She told me to keep a look out for one. He shot mine at the range and said, "That's the one."

Should I:

1. Hunt with mine and keep an eye out for him one used?

2. Sell her mine and get the longer barrel for hunting?

I will most likely never shoot anything more than 240gr, so I don't think the non "E" would be a big factor.

Kind of scratching my head on this. Opinions?
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Old 11-19-2012, 05:02 PM
Shooting4life Shooting4life is offline
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899 is too much by far. I would sell your 629 and get on gunbroker or post a wtb here and you'll get a much better deal.
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Old 11-19-2012, 05:35 PM
Green Frog Green Frog is offline
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As someone who owns a Model 29-2 with 8 3/8" barrel who very seldom shoots it, I would suggest that if you only have one of the two barrel lengths, stand pat with the hand you have already been dealt. The 5" will be fine for any kind of hunting except the very long range shots that most of us don't take anyway, and you will have a more useful gun the rest of the year. The extra long 8 3/8" barrel was mighty seductive when I was shooting silhouettes with it 30 years ago, but I wish now I had kept the 4" I traded for it! The foregoing is JMHO, and of course YMMV!

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Old 11-19-2012, 06:01 PM
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If you have been looking for a long-tube .44, you are in one situation. If you have been happy with the gun you have but just stumbled across the one that's available and thought, "Hey, I wonder if...," that's another situation.

In the former case, you could swap into the gun you want and do your brother a favor too. But if you haven't hunted with a long-tube gun before and just think that the one you saw looks like it would do the trick, maybe you should hang on to your current gun for the time being and just keep an eye out for a different one that would suit your brother's needs.

I don't actually think there's a wrong answer here, just a couple of alternatives that may or may not be equally satisfactory to you.

I don't follow the prices of 629s, but I would agree $900 for a 629-1 sounds a little elevated. I could be wrong, though. If the long-barrel 629s are both uncommon and in demand, you may have to pay close to the asking price to get one.
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Old 11-19-2012, 06:13 PM
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Shooting4life, I thought $899 was steep. I do know they will come down if I push them.

Froggie, thanks for the advice. I never carry my 629. It was purchased mainly for range use, possible hunting, and just to have . I guess I was figuring since I could do so well with the 5", the 8 3/8" would be better for hunting. I know a lot of people use 6.5" or larger. I do feel confident I can get the kill zone on a deer easily with the 5". But, you know, the grass is always greener.....

DCW, yeah, the thought just popped into my brain when I saw the -1. I hunt. He doesn't. Boom. Problem solved. Plus, I do like the forged parts and no lock. Now if I could just get them down to about $700.
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Old 11-19-2012, 09:19 PM
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There's no guarantee tha the longer barreled revolver will be any more accurate. Or have higher muzzle velocity. You'd have to shoot it to find out.

But if you are of a certain age, the additional length might bring the front sight into better focus. It does for me, but I'd rather (and do) adjust the eyeglass perscription than have to use only long barreled handguns!
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Old 11-19-2012, 09:25 PM
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About the only way to carry an 8 3/8 barrel 629 is with a shoulder or chest carry holster. About the only advantage is for the better sight picture a long barrel will provide. As you said, though, you get forged parts and no lock. Choices????
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Old 11-19-2012, 09:42 PM
Norsk_jaeger Norsk_jaeger is offline
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I have an 8 3/8" 29-2 and I love it, and for me it is easier to hit longer range targets. I have a over the shoulder holster for it, and it is actually quite comfortable to carry while tromping through the woods. Get a good buy on it, and you can always turn around and sell it if you don't like it. My .02. -Matt
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:20 PM
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Thanks so much for the advice.

My eyesight is good, but hitting the 40 mark, I am sure my close up vision is on the verge of going.

I am not going to push the issue with my sis-in-law. If she really wants to buy it, I will probably see if I can get them down to $750 OTD on the -1. Then, we'll be talking.
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Old 11-20-2012, 01:56 AM
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Sell the 5" and take your time and really think about what configuration would work the best for your application. There is no rush-plenty of good pre lock guns on the market and I see as many or more 8" 629's for sale than other lengths because the 8" is only really useful for hunting.

Why not get a gun with the endurance package, its not going to cost more and it will be stronger (629-3,629-4,29-5,29-6)

And what about these other choices.

629 classic in 6.5 or 8inch
629 in 6 inch

29 classic in 6.5 or 8 inch.
29 in 6 inch.

I would not pass on a good 629-5 you like either (no lock).

Last edited by grip frame; 11-20-2012 at 02:03 AM.
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Old 11-20-2012, 02:05 AM
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keep the current one ,sell your lawnmower or something else you dont want to use and get the 8 3/8 as well ...thats just what i would do ,you might be more responsible...lol
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Old 11-20-2012, 09:24 AM
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Keep the 629 you have, save your pennies and get a Classic version also.
I have a 4" model 29 that I really like, but my 629-4 Classic DX is a real tackdriver. I find the 6 1/2" barrel to be a little long for easy holster carry on my hip, but it carries very nicely in a shoulder rig.

Personally, I find that the longer barrels don't make the gun easier to shoot, just more awkward to carry.
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Old 11-20-2012, 09:35 AM
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Forget the long tom and the shine--keep the one you have.
All shine shortly looses its gleem.
OR---get both. Let's get real here.
Blessings
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Old 11-20-2012, 11:00 AM
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Keep the 5in. 629 or you will regret it down the line. The 5in. is all you need for hunting, easier to carry during the hunt or anytime and IMHO has a much better balance than long " Hog Leg/Dirty Harry " barrels. Find something else for your sister-inlaw. You might as well carry a rifle as a 8 3/8in. revolver. Bad mistake getting rid of the 629 5in.
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Last edited by team sidewinder; 11-20-2012 at 11:07 AM.
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Old 11-20-2012, 01:08 PM
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I failed to mention my 5" is a Classic, so it has the full underlug barrel.

I have decided to hold onto it as it has really never given me a reason to rid of it. I do not like the lock, but there again, it is not a SD wepaon, so I can get past it for a hunting weapon. I need to plug it anyway. The MIM, although ugly, will outlast me I am sure. I can also hit very accurately out to 50 yds with the 5". Anything beyond that, and my scoped Savage 30-06 will master it.

But I know you guys have had that impulse feeling where "you just gotta have that." It passes. Sometimes.
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Old 11-20-2012, 09:22 PM
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You did good because you already have the right gun. I had a M29 long barrel and it was cumbersome and it didn't add as much velocity to my reloads than a 6"barrel. I ended up selling it and getting a new 629-6 6" and am back to a gun I can carry all day.
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Old 11-21-2012, 08:23 PM
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I took it hunting today along with my Savage 110 30-06. I have no question that I could take a deer at 50 yds or less with the 629. Too bad I didn't see a thing! I was hunting in a young hardwood forest with little understory. It would have been perfect.

Now, to find a good holster. 5" N-frame holsters are not the most common things.
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Old 11-22-2012, 06:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by team sidewinder View Post
Keep the 5in. 629 or you will regret it down the line. The 5in. is all you need for hunting, easier to carry during the hunt or anytime and IMHO has a much better balance than long " Hog Leg/Dirty Harry " barrels. Find something else for your sister-inlaw. You might as well carry a rifle as a 8 3/8in. revolver. Bad mistake getting rid of the 629 5in.
I agree about keeping the 5". The 8-3/8" will always be available, the the 5" versions tend to be rare, and in the N-frame size the 5" barrel is about perfectly balanced - not just in how it feels in the hand, but also in velocity return for inches of barrel.
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Old 11-22-2012, 12:54 PM
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Have you ever had an extended range session with an 8-3/8? I did, and felt it seemed a bit clumsy after a while. Shorter barrels are really handy to carry around, and you really don't lose that much velocity with a shorter barrel. What you already have seems ideal to me.
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Old 11-22-2012, 02:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 358156hp View Post
Have you ever had an extended range session with an 8-3/8? I did, and felt it seemed a bit clumsy after a while. Shorter barrels are really handy to carry around, and you really don't lose that much velocity with a shorter barrel. What you already have seems ideal to me.
I have to agree with 358156hp. Before I picked up my 6" Model 29, I put about 500 rounds (in one session) through a friend's 8 3/8" version. That convinced me to get the slightly shorter barrel.
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Old 11-22-2012, 06:59 PM
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Never sell a gun you like.
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