Imagine another 44 magnum thread

[SeamasterSig]

I swung by the local gun shop today and talked to the owner. It didn't take much discussion to arrive at a very congenial price. And so now after much ado I can finally join the 44 magnum club with my own 629-3



I was surprised to notice that it rattles a bit, but since the action is so smooth, I gather that is normal. Strange, though, my 66-2 doesn't do that. The serial # BPR8053. Can anyone tell me when it was manufactured?

[75Vette]

Congrats! Glad ya got it. Nothing like a little push (shove) from the Forum. That rattle may be the hammer block. Let us know how it shoots.

[eyegots2no]

I believe he thought he was on needforum.com.

[Nightowl]

It's not unusual to have the hammer block make some noise as it moves freely in its cutout. That is a good thing as it is free and not binding. That is one fine looking 629.

[SeamasterSig]

Originally Posted by 75Vette

Nothing like a little push (shove) from the Forum.

Yeah, two weeks ago I didn't even know I wanted a 44

Originally Posted by Nightowl

It's not unusual to have the hammer block make some noise as it moves freely in its cutout. That is a good thing as it is free and not binding.

Is this a model-specific feature, or did S&W start adding the hammer block after a certain date?

[Engine49guy]

Congrats on a fine firearm !

S&W started using the hammer block just prior to the end of WWII.
The hammer block is a small bar that rides in a slot cut inside the sideplate which prevents accidental discharge if a loaded revolver was accidently dropped onto its hammer spur.

If your gun is dry inside that piece can rattle slightly but hard to diagnose what your hearing through the forum...

Lots of good tutorials on Youtube on how to disassemble a S&W properly and diagnose issues.

[SeamasterSig]

Originally Posted by Engine49guy

S&W started using the hammer block just prior to the end of WWII.
The hammer block is a small bar that rides in a slot cut inside the sideplate which prevents accidental discharge if a loaded revolver was accidently dropped onto its hammer spur.

Thanks! It probably just needs some TLC. Who knows how long its just been sitting.

[SeamasterSig]

Originally Posted by 75Vette

Let us know how it shoots.

After seeing the price of a box of ammo I've got a set of dies, brass, and some semi-wadcutters on the way.

[Geo. T.]

I love my 6 1/2 inch classic . It's a little raunchy with 300 grain max loads buy shoots everything very well if I do my part. Go for it and sell it to one of us if you decide you don't want it! You will notice that I did not say NEED. A true gun nut seldom uses that as a filter!

[SeamasterSig]

Originally Posted by Geo. T.

Go for it and sell it to one of us if you decide you don't want it!

You bet, I will definitely keep the forum in mind should I ever decide to sell it. However, unless my buddy out in Colorado expresses a desire for it (he actually needs something like this a lot more than I do), which I don't expect, I plan to hold onto it for the time being. Actually, I think it takes a lot of ammo to evaluate a gun like this

[SeamasterSig]

I noticed some light corrosion beneath the hammer and at the edge of the trigger where it disappears into the frame while shining a bright light on the 629 So I stripped it down to clean up the rust. It was more than I wanted to see, but nothing major. It took a few hours to make it all disappear to my satisfaction, mostly because some of it was difficult to reach, like down where the hammer nose disappears into the frame, but it cleaned up nicely. I figure someone just let the gun sit for a very long time without paying any attention to it after it was exposed to rain or high humidity. It was a good reminder that the exterior condition of a revolver is not a reliable indication of what the inside looks like. Just to make myself feel better about this episode, I polished it up and took a picture of it with its "little brother" – a model 66-2



My new dies, brass, and bullets arrived today. Holy ****! A box of five hundred 240 grainers weighs over 17 pounds

[SeamasterSig]

I finally got a chance to get to the range yesterday. I experimented with powders and velocities, shooting 50 rounds of 44 special ranging from around 800-1000 fps and 50 rounds of 44 magnum ranging from around 1000-1250 fps, adjusting the sights as I went. The session also included 50 rounds of 357 also using a couple different powders at about 1150 fps. Now I have a new reference point for "slow follow-up shots"

Beyond the big boomy report of the 44 indoors, I was amazed at how tight the groups generally were and also somewhat surprised that – aside from considerable muzzle rise – the recoil felt less sharp than shooting 158 grainers at similar velocities through my 4" K-frame. That could be due to the Hogues on the 629 compared to wood grips on the 66, but they both expose the backstrap, so I wouldn't expect that much of a difference.

At any rate, I would call my first outing with the 629-3 a success. I had a "blast" and look forward to shooting it again.

[stu1ritter]

SeamasterSig, if you check out post #23, those are the S&W factory X frame grips on my 629-3 Classic. They are fantastic recoil absorbers and fit like a glove.

[SeamasterSig]

Originally Posted by stu1ritter

SeamasterSig, if you check out post #23, those are the S&W factory X frame grips on my 629-3 Classic. They are fantastic recoil absorbers and fit like a glove.

Thanks for the reminder! I may just buy a set of X grips for those times when I want to step up the velocity a bit, though I'll probably buy a set of nice wood grips first. I might have worded my last post poorly, but the recoil really didn't bother me much and was actually less than expected at those mild-to-mid velocities. It might, though, if I shot a whole box at 1200+ fps. What did surprise me was the large step up in recoil and muzzle blast going from 7.5 grains of Unique with 44 special to 18.2 grains of #9 with 44 mag, even though the velocities with 240 grain SWCs should have been close.

[stu1ritter]

Those of us in the "over 70+" department appreciate all the recoil absorption we can manage :~)

[SeamasterSig]

Originally Posted by stu1ritter

Those of us in the "over 70+" department appreciate all the recoil absorption we can manage :~)

You septuagenarians aren't the only ones!