]I posted my 29-6 5 inch for trade locally with the hope of finding something a little more carry friendly, my first choice would be to stay 44mag but I received a straight trade offer for an unfired 66-2 4 inch with the box, paperwork and unopened tool bag.

I'm thinking value wise this is a fair deal or am I way off Base?
My other concern is I would definitely want to shoot it and occasionally carry it.
Would you shoot it?







Here's my 29-6

Here's the 686 no dash 4 inch, this one is going to take at least $200 plus the pistol for my 29-6.

I believe your 29 is worth about $1000, the 686 is worth about $750, and the 66 is worth about $700. But that's just my opinion.

Storm I agree with Sharks pric scexcept for one point. The 66 would be $700 in my area as a used shooter alone. In that condition plus box factory grips paperwork etc its $900 or more.

I would have a hard time not going home with that NIB 66. The more you bargain over a $100 or so, someone else is going to get the 66. Of course, I'm partial to 4" 66s, especially in NIB condition... You're always going to be able to get another 29/629: not so with a NIB 66 of that era.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I agree with kaaskop49, about the trade, but as the OP said, I'd have to shoot it. Then it's just another 66. I love a 4" K frame!

No question, the Model 66. Having been looking for one of these online and in used gun cases for about a month, I can tell you a nice 66-4 or earlier is easily commanding a $200-400 premium over any 686.

If you're going to shoot it, I say the 686 +$250/$300 for your pistol. The 686 is a very stout revolver.

Guns are made to shoot, not sit in a dark safe growing old

Use opinions here to help YOU come to a determination. Because it's your personal enjoyment and interests.

If you want the 66, trade for it. Who cares about $100, maybe $200 difference, if that is even true. We aren't going to be using any of these guns, you are. Plus, price is completely subjective person to person.

If you do take the 66, I would most certainly shoot and use it. It's a modern gun. If I want a duty gun to make my own, then sometimes I seek out LNIB/NIB guns because you are almost guaranteed a factory new gun and you get to break it in and put all the wear on it yourself. You know the full history of the gun and everything that was shot out of it.

Do these types of guns cost a little extra? Sure, but the fact I use them, with the added benefits above, allows one to get his money's worth.

I consider buying LNIB/NIB for duty/carry guns as marrying a virgin, and the beginning of a loving relationship with no secrets.

I'm not a collector though.

I'm glad I posted this thread, it gave me good input to think about, it also delayed my decision which allowed for a couple other trade offers to come in and I'm really leaning towards a 629-4 4 inch that was just offered up, it would be a nice compliment to the 28-2 I just picked up here on this forum

Thanks
Rick

While you did not post anything about the 629-4's condition or what stocks it has my first impulse is to write that's the one I'd trade for. Since in your original post you wrote you'd prefer another .44 Magnum it's the logical choice. You also wrote that you wanted something more carry friendly. That implies your new acquisition is going to get used and means a new in box collectable gun would take a $100 or more devaluation the first week. Used 4" 66s are VERY common so the NIB one might drop $200? I'd rather spend that money on a gun that is more expensive in used condition like the 4" 629-4.

Question:
1. How do you CCW a S&W "N" Frame w/6.5" barrel ?
2. If you are going to CCW and shoot a S&W "K" Frame 4" why is the box and paper work important?

*** My choice for CCW would be the S&W Model 66 4"

Intended for a life of "carried a lot and shot a little".... the 66 is the gun.

A lot of shooting with full bore .357s the 686........

That said not sure how much weight savings you'll get with 686....new ones per S&W w/4" barrel weight in at 39.7oz.

I agree on the 66's, a nice used one here in Seattle goes for around $600.

Here's a couple pictures of the 629-4
Sorry about the thumbnails

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A 629 is not carry friendly. A lot like carrying around a concrete block. Great for hunting when the option is a rifle. Now, if you can find on of those without that terrible under lug, that could be a different story. I would love to come upon a 4 inch with no lug. . .likely wouldn't carry it unless I lived in Alaska. Oh wow. . .just saw your pictures. That's it!!! Get the 629.

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Dr. B

DocB, may I respectfully disagree. I carry a 629-6 all day long in a Galco OWB holster and forget it's there after 10 minutes. Now, I'm no string bean, but if you carry long enough you tend to forget about what's on your belt.

Losing the inch and the full lug will make it more friendly in an open belt holster but you'll also feel and hear the difference firing standard .44 Magnum cartridges. I like .44 Magnums. They can produce all the horse power that I have any need for but can also be loaded down to kick like a .38 special. While you could research what ever difference there is in value between the two .44s I would not worry about it. You best jump on that 629-4 before I figure out where it is!

Im really new to revolvers so all these different trade offers are very enticing and I will eventually get myself a 66 but this 629 checks a lot of boxes for me and even though a revolver may never be my EDC I still want it to be somewhat carry friendly and so far my 4 inch 28 feels best in my hand so the 629 seems to be a great fit.

BTW
I'm picking the 629 up in about an hour

Am I the only one here that would have a super hard time letting go of a 5" 29 Classic?? I understand the OP's reasoning for it, but dang, that is one beautiful 29! I've seen quite a few 29 Classics with a 6.5" but haven't seen a 5" before. The trades offered certainly fit with the OP's desires, but dang I'd be looking to trade away something else other than that 5" 29 Classic...

That 629-4 is wicked nice too

Just wrapped up the deal and I couldn't be happier, this thing "feels"much lighter than the full lug 5", I know the difference can't be that much but it definitely feels really good.
Now the search for a holster begins.

Congrats! You did the most important thing- made a deal that made YOU happy. Your new gun looks great.

I have a couple of 4 inch L frames (686 & 620), and while my EDC Are either S&W 442, Ruger LCRx, or Springfield Armory XDs 9, I love both of my L frame 357 Mags. They are both fantastic shooters, but for me, too heavy to CCW.

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Great choice Stromburg. You're going to love the 629-4. Simply Rugged makes a nice holster for the money.

4" 44 is just a whole lot of butt-kickin in a relatively small package, very nice. I'm sure the fellow you traded with is equally as happy with your old 29 Classic. I was over here thinking about if I could live without my 4" 19-3 and offer it up to ya! But I just can't! LOL!

I can't wait to shoot this little beast

Here's a couple better pics I took today

Congrats, you got a great gun you are happy with.

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Guns + Dogs= Bliss

Congratulations! I can't imagine a 4-inch N-frame being a whole lot more carry-friendly than a 5-incher, but it sure is a looker! Either the K or L-frame would be considerably more carry-friendly, with the nod going to the 66-2 as long as you don't have a preference for long sessions with light-for-caliber magnum ammo. Otherwise, your preference for a 44 notwithstanding, a heavy-for-caliber semi-wadcutter or flat nose bullet (158 to 200 grains) with a stout magnum charge should dispatch pretty much anything in the lower 48. I reload for both 44 as well as 38/357 and predict there is a .357 in your future, because it is an awesome caliber!

I carry a 4" 66-2 out in the woods and also own a 5" 629-3 that I haven't carried at all because 1) I am average height and weight and 2) I live in SW Florida. If I were larger and/or lived in the Pacific Northwest, my N-frame would probably see a good deal of holster time. As it is, I've recently discovered the joy of the J-frame... Have fun shooting and carrying your 629-4!

No you're not the only one. I would have had a hard time letting that one go too! A nice 5" 29 would round out my collection nicely and I bet it shoots like no tomorrow.

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I reckon so

[QUOTE=SeamasterSig;139773922]Congratulations! I can't imagine a 4-inch N-frame being a whole lot more carry-friendly than a 5-incher, but it sure is a looker! Either the K or L-frame would be considerably more carry-friendly.

I agree that a K frame is much more carry-friendly and I do have a 4" 19-4 that I absolutely love.
I was surprised that the 686 and 629 both in 4" are almost identical in weight but the 686 with the full underlug feels heavier in the hand and with a round butt option on this 629 it might be a little more comfortable on my hip even though I prefer a square butt.

I struggled with letting this one go also, I absolutely love a blued gun and this one was near perfect but........for me it was purely a range type gun and even though I knew it when I traded into it I couldn't say no to the deal
Maybe someday I'll buy another one along the lines of the 29 but for right now I don't own anything I wouldn't carry.

4-inch revolvers without an underlug balance pretty well in hand. Even though all of the weight is still forward of the grip, the bulk of it is in the frame and closer to your hand. An underlug adds weight well forward of the grip, which makes a big difference even in an overall lighter gun.