I just purchased a four inch 629-2 and am looking for "good, bad and ugly" about this model. It is just before the hardening frame stage, so how strong are the frames and cylinders vs later construction.

Also has strange serial number of BBV8271. I can't find this number on any search. It possibly is RRV8271.

Any information is appreciated.

BBV8271 should date sometime between October 1988 and Feb. 1989.

629-2 was made from 1988 to 1989.

It appears somewhere during the dash-2 model run there was an upgrade designated the 629-2E, an endurance package, transitional changes, and hardened yoke and frame.

I cannot comment on the degree of improvement in strength or significance of the improvements in the 629-2E versus the 629-2.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

The s/n is normal. Nothing strange about it whatsoever. g8br8 nailed the date range precisely.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Thanks for the info. I could not find the "BB" serial prefix in any of the books I referred to. does anyone know how much less strong is the 629-2 than later models? Would a 240 grain bullet with 22 grains of H110 be too much?

Time to get both versions of the book citing this info:

Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2006-12-20). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (p. 387). F+W Media, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Dead tree or Kindle (free PC/Mac software). Lotsa photos, definitive text. Jim Supica is a forum member here.

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Bob

It should last you several thousand rounds before you need a tune up. You might get some endshake and maybe need a new hand then. The problems that initiated the upgrades were shooters using 300 grain bullets at maximum charges. And shooting a lot of rounds. Under those conditions they needed a rebuild sooner than normal.
I found that 18.5 grains of 2400 and 240 grain bullet is all the .44 Magnum I need to punch through those heavy paper targets! :-).

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I may switch to 2400. I have lots of H110 though. I do not generally load maximum charges and I use 200 or 240 grain bullets for the most part. Does anyone out there have a favorite safe load for these older model 629's?

A lot of us do. I happen to like a 250 Keith (RCBS) on top of 9 grains of unique for around 950fps, it is usually very accurate. It is my every day load.
629-1


For a magnum load, I like the same bullet or one of the various jacketed 240 gr on top of 19.5 gr of 2400.

629-6 , 2X Leopold