New to me 29-6...very excited

oysterer · #1 03-13-2018, 07:15 PM

Ok fellow enablers...I got to slow down and stop and you have to hold me to it.

Driving through the middle of of the great outdoors Wisconsin on business I had to stop at this gun range, walk in and ask, any pre-lock Smiths? I have a problem with those... I made a rather low offer hoping it would not fly...well - accepted. Gun is still incarcerated at my home LGS, 20 more days or so. 30 days between each purchase in NJ.

Looks absolutely unfired to me, very tight but very smooth too. Comes in the correct older blue box with all papers. Drilled for scope, strengthening package, no mim and no lock. I forgot to check throats but I am 100% convinced them to clock in at 0.429 ready to shoot some nice and easy modern jacketed handholds over 5.1 Bullseye. That load works wonders in my 29-2 and 29-5 with hard cast though.

I am planning to put a Leopold 2.5-8x on. You think that is too much at 100 yards?

Thanks for reading, no thanks for enabling.

75Vette · #2 03-13-2018, 07:42 PM

Congrats! You are going to enjoy shooting that one. It was the last of the 29s until S&W started making the "classics" years later. You are correct about the cylinder throats being tight too. I own the same gun and mine measures at .429. I'm glad I don't live in NJ. THIRTY days?!? Zoinks.

Have fun when you do get it out of jail!!
Here's mine dressed up for a night on the town.

Triathloncoach · #3 03-13-2018, 07:48 PM

Last month I traded my beautiful 29-5 “towards” a 610 no dash. I don’t miss shooting 44 magnums.

Ps. I also do not miss living in NJ.

sjs · #4 03-13-2018, 08:43 PM

Good on you. I have two 2-6X scopes on revolvers and do not find it too much at 100. I use the 6X for getting zeroed off the bench, then I use anywhere from 2 to 5 from field positions, depending on the light and how well I am holding that day.

Bill In Texas · #5 03-13-2018, 08:57 PM

Congratulations on the new addition!

oysterer · #6 03-13-2018, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triathloncoach

I don’t miss shooting 44 magnums.

Ps. I also do not miss living in NJ.

I love living in NJ, the western part is really very nice, let alone some of the coastal crazies.

I shoot all my guns often but other than the IDPA guns I treat them as collectables, meaning I load 44 and 41 specials which with a bit of effort can be made to shoot extremely accurate. In particular the models 29, 57 and 58 I have tend to be capable of incredible accuracy and no need to stretch the frame or peen notches.

oysterer · #7 03-13-2018, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjs

Good on you. I have two 2-6X scopes on revolvers and do not find it too much at 100. I use the 6X for getting zeroed off the bench, then I use anywhere from 2 to 5 from field positions, depending on the light and how well I am holding that day.

Thanks, that is what I was thinking. The variable will give more options than 2 or 4x fixed. They are a bit more expensive but if I am able to hold steady enough at 5x would be worth it.

one eye joe · #8 03-13-2018, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oysterer

Ok fellow enablers...I got to slow down and stop and you have to hold me to it.

Driving through the middle of of the great outdoors Wisconsin on business I had to stop at this gun range, walk in and ask, any pre-lock Smiths? I have a problem with those... I made a rather low offer hoping it would not fly...well - accepted. Gun is still incarcerated at my home LGS, 20 more days or so. 30 days between each purchase in NJ.

Looks absolutely unfired to me, very tight but very smooth too. Comes in the correct older blue box with all papers. Drilled for scope, strengthening package, no mim and no lock. I forgot to check throats but I am 100% convinced them to clock in at 0.429 ready to shoot some nice and easy modern jacketed handholds over 5.1 Bullseye. That load works wonders in my 29-2 and 29-5 with hard cast though.

I am planning to put a Leopold 2.5-8x on. You think that is too much at 100 yards?

Thanks for reading, no thanks for enabling.

CONGRATULATIONS--THAT'S A BEAUTY ! ! !

I'M A BIG FAN OF VARIABLE POWER SCOPES. THE MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RANGE OF THE .44 MAGNUM ROUND, FOR HUNTING DEER SIZED ANIMALS, IS MORE LIKE 200 YARDS. AN 8X SCOPE IS QUITE USEFUL, FOR IDENTIFYING TARGETS, AND ACCURATE SHOT PLACEMENT AT LONG RANGE. AT 100 YDS OR LESS, YOU CAN DIAL IN A LOWER POWER, THAT WORKS FOR YOU.....

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE---BUY THE HIGHEST QUALITY SCOPE, RINGS, AND BASE, THAT YOU CAN AFFORD. TREAT IT AS AN INVESTMENT, THAT WILL SERVE YOU WELL, FOR MANY YEARS TO COME---AND CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT FIREARM, SHOULD THE NEED ARISE......

oysterer · #9 03-13-2018, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by one eye joe

BUY THE HIGHEST QUALITY SCOPE, RINGS, AND BASE

Agreed, I will buy only Leupold or nothing. I don't like China, Philippines or Thailand scopes. On most my rifles I use 6-18 VX2s or the AR variety and I have transferred them many times. I use only Leopold rings also. My first VX2 I got used at my LGS. It was old and the mechanism dried out. I sent it in for service and they just sent me another one no questions asked. I stick by them no matter what.

ImDrRichard · #10 03-13-2018, 10:33 PM

You, Sir, have a keen eye for excellence! Enjoy that beauty!

Dieseltech56 · #11 03-13-2018, 10:37 PM

Very nice! 29-6 was a transitional period post endurance upgrades. The early guns had a square butt and old style cylinder release. The later ones had a round butt and MIM cylinder release. The last year of the 29-6 they starting using a MIM trigger too.

I have 2 with square butts and old releases and a late one on layaway with a MIM trigger.

I also second the Leupold scope. I really like the old E.E.R. gloss black scopes they used to make. I buy them used on ebay and at gun shows.

oysterer · #12 03-13-2018, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dieseltech56

The last year of the 29-6 they starting using a MIM trigger too.

old E.E.R. gloss black scopes they used to make.

alright, now it makes sense, looks like 75vette has a square butt, then it looks like I have a MIM release? I have a year later than 75vette, round butt but case hardened trigger and hammer, not MIM. I'd say cylinder release in MIM should be ok, not much pressure on the part.

I bought this mostly for the modern throats which I wanted to have and try. I have a 29-2 and 29-5 and both have the same big 0.433 throats.

In contrast to the model 29s, I have a Model 58 early 1970s and a later Model 57-1 from the early 1980s (non pinned). Both have precisely the same throats at 0.410 and shot modern Sierra JSP like a laser.

Dieseltech56 · #13 03-13-2018, 11:46 PM

I have no issues with the MIM cylinder release. For some reason with the old style release on my 44 mags it tears up my right thumb when I'm shooting unless I tape it first.

My 29-3 has large .432 throats and my 29-6's and 629-4 have .429". My 629-4 is the most accurate revolver I own

oysterer · #14 03-13-2018, 11:57 PM

When I received this 29-5 which is a post 1990s gun, I was really surprised that it has the same large throats as my 25 year older 29-2. Nice anyway though.

one eye joe · #15 03-14-2018, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oysterer

Agreed, I will buy only Leupold or nothing. I don't like China, Philippines or Thailand scopes. On most my rifles I use 6-18 VX2s or the AR variety and I have transferred them many times. I use only Leopold rings also. My first VX2 I got used at my LGS. It was old and the mechanism dried out. I sent it in for service and they just sent me another one no questions asked. I stick by them no matter what.

YOU JUST CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A LEUPOLD ! ! !

75Vette · #16 03-14-2018, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oysterer

alright, now it makes sense, looks like 75vette has a square butt, then it looks like I have a MIM release? I have a year later than 75vette, round butt but case hardened trigger and hammer, not MIM. I'd say cylinder release in MIM should be ok, not much pressure on the part.

I bought this mostly for the modern throats which I wanted to have and try. I have a 29-2 and 29-5 and both have the same big 0.433 throats.

In contrast to the model 29s, I have a Model 58 early 1970s and a later Model 57-1 from the early 1980s (non pinned). Both have precisely the same throats at 0.410 and shot modern Sierra JSP like a laser.

Just for the record, my gun is a round butt, dates to Dec 1997. I put the target stocks on the gun for show only when I bought it.
Here's a pic of how it shipped from the factory.

Dieseltech56 · #17 03-23-2018, 04:08 PM

Does anyone's 29-6 with an MIM thumb release and round butt have a smooth forged target trigger? The one I just picked up does, it's the only 29 I have with a smooth non serrated trigger. I don't think it's MIM either, It's solid on the back like a forged one.

75Vette · #18 03-23-2018, 06:21 PM

The previous owner may have done a trigger swap. My 629-4 PowerPort had the stock trigger changed for a .400 serrated.

Dieseltech56 · #19 03-23-2018, 07:56 PM

75Vette it's hard to tell but your 29-6 looks like it has a smooth trigger too

75Vette · #20 03-25-2018, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dieseltech56

75Vette it's hard to tell but your 29-6 looks like it has a smooth trigger too

Well, you made me look. I went to the safe and mine does indeed have a smooth forged trigger. I don't know why I didn't look at it the other night.

Dieseltech56 · #21 03-25-2018, 08:23 PM

It just must have been one of the transitional features. I thought when I originally stuck my last one on layaway that it was MIM but it definitely is not. Maybe they did it in preparation for the MIM transition so no one would notice.

I just saw a 686-4 sold on here that had a MIM trigger and forged hammer so it did happen