The differences are the factory wood grips (which I didn't like at all) and most importantly it's the only 3" 44 mag S&W makes.

^^^ Thank you. Mine came with the "fish scale" plywood grips. I didn't like them at all. Are these the grips you reference?

Attached Images

100_1390.JPG (145.5 KB, 67 views)

Thank you. Notice how there is plenty of protection for the rear sight and how the retaining strap can be fastened so it is completely out of the way.

I made a "belt slide" (OWB concealment) type of holster for it also, but I did not like how the gun carried with it, so I sold it.

Yes, I don't have them in front of me, but those look like my grips. My problem with them is they fill in the area behind the trigger guard a bit too much and push my hand down the grip a bit too far.

Do it. Not a 629 3", but close enough...

[/IMG]

Gman82001, here are more (better) pictures of the grips on my gun...

Attached Images

	100_2761.jpg (126.2 KB, 83 views)
	100_2764.jpg (122.8 KB, 64 views)

Got a .44 Mag Mountain Gun and don't wan't any
lighter .44 Mag with full load cartridges.

Buddy bought a 3" 629 and I haha'ed it until I shot mid-range
(+- 1000 fps) load in it and I was convinced. I could control
it accurately and the recoil and blast didn't take me out of my
concentration.

I'd still take the MG with 240 gr "warm" .44 Spl's though!

Those look great I’ve got huge hands and would like a big set of grips myself but those would probably work well

^^^ I also have extra large hands. As I stated earlier, I wish they were just a little thicker, but these grips git 'er done for me!

I agree completely. This is not a gun you would want to shoot all day with full-powered .44 Magnum level ammo. On the other hand, if you did need to shoot a cylinder full of them, doing so would not be a problem either.

I have a 3” 629 that I carry in an El Paso Saddlery pancake style rig. It makes for a great set up to pack in the woods:

I have no problem carrying a 3.5 inch gun in a 4 inch holster. I also shoot 250 gr cast swc on top of 20 gr 2400. Stout but fun.
This Milt Sparks works with all My 29's and 57's.

Attached Images

	2011-12-31 003 004 (640x480).jpg (136.2 KB, 37 views)
	2011-12-31 003 005 (640x480).jpg (135.9 KB, 40 views)
	2011-12-31 003 006 (640x480).jpg (135.1 KB, 35 views)

I have a 3" 629 and 2-5/8" 629PC. While anything but mild, both are heavy enough to handle full-load .44 Mag recoil without undue discomfort. Around town, I occasionally carry it loaded with .44 Special "gummy" tips. In the woods, it's always factory SD ammo or hand loaded hard cast (Lasercast) bullets for penetration. I put Ahrend's boot grips on them. These grips are fairly wide across the back for recoil mitigation, but your little finger fits under the butt. Full length grips have the same felt recoil, but handle torque better for one-hand shooting.

I usually carry one IWB, in a 3" VM2 holster. OWB, the length really doesn't matter, so I use a 4" Alessi pancake holster.

I shoot a 460XVR on a regular basis, I don’t have a problem with the recoil from a short barreled 44 Mag. Everyone handles recoil differently. I have shot a buddies 3” 629 and now am looking to get my own. Great topic and comments.
I currently own a 7.5” 629PC Hunter, that’s one sweet looking and Shooting gun.

just ordered a 3" Model 629 Deluxe yesterday, should be in next week. Probably going to feed it a steady diet of Specials. Just wanted a bigger bore than my .357's.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

An update to my original post. I managed to buy my brothers 629-6 3"

Had I not shot this before hand I would probably look right over it in a gun shop. Maybe now that I have a 3" another one will be on the horizon.

Good deal! Did you pick her up yet? I no longer let the lock bother me as there are deletes that do a great job of fixing that ugly Hillary Hole. If you can change your spark plugs... you can install an Original Precision lock delete for sure! Also, I noticed after the last 3 or 4 outings shooting full house .44 Mag that the cylinder release screw was lose, along with the yoke screw as well. There's an easy fix for that too in the form of Purple Loc-tite. I took out every screw (one at a time), cleaned the threads on both the screw and its matching hole, then put a heavy dab of Purple Loc-tite and reinstalled each screw two hairs past snug. I've since had no backing out screw problems since. Same thing happened on my S&W "625" as well shooting .45Supers. This was before I installed either Lock Delete as well.

That's a good looking revo! I like the darker colored grips. I like to run 4-5 cylinders of full house 240 and 300 grain mags off each range session. I keep a pair of svelte leather gloves in my range bag. They do a great job of mitigating recoil... which isn't terrible nor uncontrollable by any means without the gloves. But warm .44Specials are very comfortable and what I prefer to feed my 3" 629 the most.

I did pick it up. Very nice, and I will plug the hole. I have not had time to shoot it yet, but it does feel good in my hand. Be Safe,

__________________
I BACK OUR BLUE

Congrats!

After my next range trip to ops check my M29 that just got back from S&W, I'm going to send my 629 to Pinnacle to be cut for moon clips. I wanted a 3" 625, but since they don't make them I figured a moonclipped 3" 629 would be pretty close. I'm toying with the idea of having other work done, like chamfering the cylinder, but can't really decide if there's anything else I "need".

Bob Mernickle made a holster for my 3" 686+ that I like a lot.
A 3" 44 mag is a bit much for an old man with arthritis or I'd have one too. 3" is a great barrel length.

__________________
Foster Positivity.

Finally had a chance to put some rounds through my 629-5 3" yesterday. Much to my surprise, the 180 gr 44 mag reloads were quite manageable and accurate. They're not full bore loads but moderate and group 1.5" @ 50 yards out of my 5" 629. Modest load of N110 (NOT H110). Did skin my thumb on the cylinder latch, which was easily remedied. The VZ grips are not quite as long as the standard set of Hogue. Great grips for a 3", but I'll stay with Hogue on my full size 629s. You can get an honest two grip hold with a Hogue, not so much with the VZs. The 44 specials shot well with the expected recoil reduction. I'll probably work up a 44 special load just for this firearm, but am fine shooting the full house 180s. May try my 200 HPs reloads the next time out to see how they'll perform. If I had to backpack in bear country, probably would suck it up and carry the 5" with a heavier bullet.

I put Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips on my 3 ". Load 9.5 grains of Unique, Mag primer , 210 Gold Dot....in a Mag case. I use the same load in my 2 3/4 inch model 69. Hope this helps some. {I use a 240 XTP and 23.0 Grains H110 in my 6"} The Diamond Pro grips make a lot of difference.

Oh yes, it certainly feels good and balanced in the hand. I won't buy another revolver with a barrel over 3 inches personally. To each his own on that front and, YMMV. My 629 is my favorite revolver hands down and I have 3 other really great ones. Feel free to PM me when you do your lock delete. The first one I did was a tiny bit challenging but absolutely nothing that deterred me from doing subsequent lock delete installs. But it would have been nice to have someone to talk me thru a single minor detail... Every friend that I've let shoot my 629 and 625 absolutely love them... they buy one for themselves and then shortly thereafter bring them to me for the lock removal and delete install of which is a 20 minute job from start to clean up. I'm a fan of the "Original Precision" manufacture lock deletes personally. I've never had one single problem with "OP's" parts!

HamHands: I appreciate the offer of instruction on the plug, and will take advantage of it. I need to order the lock delete and then will notify you. I will call them and see which parts I need. I have avoided internal lock pistols, even though many people have fired thousands of rounds with out problem, I seem have unusual events- I was driving down the road many years ago when my 40F Sigma started expelling bullets on the the Tahoe floor. Floor plate was cracked, these were only mags that were dropped empty onto soft ground during function testing, I just missed the crack I guess. Be Safe,

__________________
I BACK OUR BLUE

J.D. is a good guy and owns Original Precision. He'll get you what you need. And his YouTube video is pretty good. The hard part was getting the lock out of the frame and a set of dental tools was the ticket of disrupting that lil ******* lock out. The other part was to make damned sure you don't dislodge the cylinder release's bolt return spring "at least that is what I call it". It's the little spring that keeps pressure on the cylinder release bolt. Lose that and it's a show stopper until you get a new one. But yeah, feel free to PM me or call me, whatever is easiest.

Thanks to all the input/advice. I pulled the trigger so to speak and now I’m e proud owner of a 629 deluxe 3 inch. Having problems posting a pic

I vote yes! Mine is a 29-4 and it is great to carry in the woods or for any special occasion. I have a Don Hume belt holster that is like a "slide carry" with an open bottom that will accommodate any of my N frames.

This one wears a set of "Pacs" and is fine for .44 special and full house .44 magnum loads. Yes, you can feel the difference with the magnum loads.

Shot at dawn, dusk or night, it makes a great fireworks display!

Attached Images

IMG_0207.jpeg (92.4 KB, 22 views)

I have a Lew Horton 629 3". I had Kramer make me a holster which I'm very pleased with. Custom Gun Leather & Gun Holsters from Kramer Handgun Leather. My Lew Horton is highly polished with a trigger job and is my BBQ gun.

The 3" is brutal flame through even with light magnums loads. I usually use heavy 44 specials.

The 4" is more reasonable in magnums or special.

I think the 629 Classic 5" with the full length barrel lug is my most comfortable 44 magnums. Love to shoot heavy loads with it.

My EDC is a model 21-4. I carry it in a Kramer IWB. Most all of my holsters are from Kramer.

Attached Images

	DSC01473.jpg (121.5 KB, 24 views)
	DSC01475.jpg (118.4 KB, 19 views)

I have a Lew Horton 629 3". I had Kramer make me a holster which I'm very pleased with. Custom Gun Leather & Gun Holsters from Kramer Handgun Leather. My Lew Horton is highly polished with a trigger job and is my BBQ gun.

The 3" is brutal flame through even with light magnums loads. I usually use heavy 44 specials.

The 4" is more reasonable in magnums or special.

I think the 629 Classic 5" with the full length barrel lug is my most comfortable 44 magnums. Love to shoot heavy loads with it.

My EDC is a model 21-4. I carry it in a Kramer IWB. Most all of my holsters are from Kramer.

My Lew Horton 629 3" with Kramer Holster. Right hand but I also wear it cross draw as I ordered it without a cant.

Attached Images

	IMG_20180621_185623030.jpg (82.9 KB, 29 views)
	IMG_20180621_185643647.jpg (85.8 KB, 22 views)
	IMG_20180621_185658010.jpg (81.4 KB, 17 views)

I saw 3-4 on GB last week... Either M25 or M625's with 3" barrels for sure and priced in the right range to be snatched up pretty quick!

With a combat revolver... (my favorite style), Moon-Clips really shine and are essential IMO. I got so quick at ejecting spent 6 cases, and inserting a fresh reload with on my 4" M625... that it was a draw between a mag change/swao on my 1911 and with the Moons on the 625; especially/more so when using Hard Cast Lead bullets with semi-wad cutter profile. These rounds seemed to align themselves with the least effort with the TK Customs "Moons!" I just picked up my M25 yesterday from my FFL after winning the bid on GB. I'm super impressed with the quality of this vintage, 85' date of manufactured, Lew Horton "Overrun" revolver. Although I haven't shot it yet I'm going to bet she becomes my favorite revolver of the bunch in short order.

I am a huge fan of three inch 44 mags. 629-4 'Backpacker' and 629-3 factory engraved Carry Comp 1 of 25.

Attached Images

	unnamed-16.jpg (28.9 KB, 28 views)
	unnamed-18.jpg (92.2 KB, 30 views)

Nice pair of irons! For the 629-3... what's the sight picture like on her? Are you able to put the front sight only on a close target... (say 7 yards), and score a quick center mass hit?

29-4 in Don Hume holster

Attached Images

	ED52664A-1230-4478-BA85-631D48567803.jpg (66.4 KB, 13 views)
	0C7D6678-A5F9-402E-B222-D5FE3F9E7E6F.jpg (103.5 KB, 13 views)

I have a couple of the 629-4 3"ers and a 629-6 3" (taken on trade). The 629-4 3" is just a thing of beauty, and I (obviously) love them. I only shoot factory 44 specials, thru mine, though I would carry the hot mag stuff if I were in the wilderness.

If you see a 629-4 3" Backpacker for sale, better grab it or it'll be gone pretty fast. It's also a Hickok45 favorite!

Attached Images

	20180623_145135[1].jpg (75.2 KB, 20 views)
	20180623_142310[1].jpg (100.8 KB, 21 views)
	20180623_144855.jpg (110.3 KB, 14 views)