I'm looking to buy my first revolver for hunting and plinking. I'm thinking a 629 with 5" barrel with Raptor base for Burris FF 3. My range will be limited to 100 yards or so.
Any feedback on this combo?

I like the looks of the classic but I was concerned about the barrel length and weight. I want something I will want to carry in a holster, hence the reflex sight vs scope. I was hoping I could modify a holster easily to accept the FF3.

There are no LGS in the area that carry carry them so I'll be buying sight unseen. I'd contemplated buying an older dash nbr without the MIM parts, but lost patience looking for one.

I think a 629 Classic with 5" or 6-1/2" barrel would be perfect for hunting. I'm not familiar with the reflex sight, so can't comment on that aspect. In my view, a hunting gun (rifle or handgun) should be a little on the heavy side, to aid in accuracy.

Good luck with whatever your decide!

Don't sweat the pre-lock hub bub. The 629s S&W are putting out now are some of the most accurate 44s the factory has made. Nowadays the cylinder throats are actually cut to match the barrel bore. Used to be you could throw a cat through the throats.
If you want a good full underlug Classic I'd look at the 5" or 6 1/2" models. Both balance out well without too much barrel weight. They can both be had brand new. Also still in production is the 6 1/2" PowerPort Classic. I have a dash 4 version that has become my favorite shootin' gun. (Coincidentally with a FFIII on a Raptor mount)

__________________
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

What holster do you use to carry the 6.5” with Burris?

5” is a great choice
I love mine!

I have to agree about the newer 629s. The ones I’ve seen look very tight and well-made. Polishing of the frame and barrel usually doesn’t seem to match up too well. For some reason the appearance doesn’t match as well as it does on the older guns. Not sure what’s going on there, but that problem has been consistent on the guns I’ve seen.

If you’re going to shoot at an animal at 100 yards, be sure to practice at 100. I’m sure the gun and sight will be up to it - with the right ammo. I enjoy shooting at 100 yards. Not great at it, but it’s fun. I’m thinking about a 5-inch 629 Classic myself.

5”, I’ve had 3 of them. That said. For plinking, target and hunting, I’d go 6 1/2”. I suggest get lots of practice before you decide your maximum hunting range. Me personally, as far as I could get a like 3” group.

I didn't even know 5" N frames existed, until I bought a 629-4 and a 27-2 both 5". Now I love my snubbies, but for target, steel and hunting, I think 5" is the best.

My first 5” revolver was a 610 I purchased off another forum was listed as a 4”, very pleasant surprise when it arrived

100% reliable tack driver...even with "the lock"! This is the gun I use to test accuracy of .44 handloads.

A modern 629 is drilled/tapped for the mount as noted above, and with an optic sight radius is not an issue. I would guess the ballistic difference between a 5 and 6.5" barrel is not significant for hunting purposes.

So I would go with whichever one seems to handle/balance better. This may mean finding examples to see in person. A full-lug 5" (like the one in post #10) and a half-lug 6.5" will balance about the same but a full-lug 6.5" is really muzzle heavy. The decision may also depend on what type of holster you want; a shorter barrel may be OK for belt carry but a chest or shoulder holster would comfortably hold any length. Good luck in your decision.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I have a similar rig - a 6.5” 629-3 Classic with Leupold reflex sight. You can do some very fine shooting with it once you get settled down and learn to use the sight. A couple of cast bullet designs that I questioned before I mounted the sight I have now come to accept as good, and one I consider exceptional.

But as has been said, the 6.5” full lug gun is a bit muzzle heavy. I would like to try a 5” version. Unfortunately no one I know has one, so I guess I am just going to have to break down and buy one.

I’m a little bit intrigued by the Model 69, but I suspect I would get a lot more use out of the 5” 629. The 69 has got to be a kicker.

The “old standard” of hitting a 9-inch paper plate EVERY TIME from field positions at your maximum range has always been a good test, IMO. (Of course considering a deer-size animal.) It’s not as easy as one might think. I couldn’t trust myself to do that much beyond 50-yards. Things “oft go aglee” when I start shooting from typical field positions other than prone or seated-backrest, neither of which is always possible.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I’m settled on the 5” now.

It’s always nice to be able to inspect the gun before you buy it. I am sympathetic with that, but don’t waste time worrying about the MIM parts. Complaints about the MIM parts rage wildly on the internet, but not so much among people actually using the guns. In the N-frame guns in particular, the parts are actually fairly nice looking. On the J-frames, not so much! The MIM J-frame hammer has got to be the ugliest part S&W has ever made (used).

I haven't formally hunted with my 5", but since moving to the boonies it goes in the car during deer and elk season, just in case I run across a nice one in the driveway.

__________________
Psalm 27:2

I went with the classic 6", with out the full underlug. It felt the best balanced and like the looks better.

I’d like to handle them all first but just not an option. I’m leaning toward the 5” mainly for ease of carry.
I like the looks of the non MIM parts mostly, I’m not concerned with their durability...

Is there anything special I need to know about mounting the FF3? I believe I’m going with the Raptor based on some quick research

You’re dealing with small screws, an aluminum mounting plate, and probably an aluminum body with the Fastfire. Don’t over-tighten the screws! Clean everything before assembly. Other than that, everything should go together easily. At least it did in my case. The Raptor mount is a nice one.

It couldn't be easier. Two screws to mount it to the Raptor and they even give you the wrench.

__________________
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

Did you guys use any blue loctite on the threads? I don’t normally use any on rifles but never installed on a handgun

DO NOT use Loctite. It's not necessary. I have 4 now, all mounted to 629s that get plenty of use & haven't had a problem with the screws loosening.

__________________
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

I agree. I resort to Loctite only if it is proven that it is needed. My 629 is doing fine without it. BTW, Loctite makes other products that are lower strength and more easily removed than the “blue” version. If you do have to resort to Loctite, use the lowest strength, most easily removed version first. You’ll probably never need blue, unless your rifle is riding a yak to the top of a big mountain somewhere in Asia.

I agree with your choice of a 5" barrel. I have a 629-1 with a 6" barrel, a 629-4 with a 4" barrel and a 629-4 Classic with a 6.5" barrel but like shooting my 629-3 Classic DX with a 5" barrel the most. The balance is better yet the sight radius isn't so short as to affect accuracy in any noticeable manner.

Ed

I’ve got a 6 1/2” 629 that was wearing an aimpoint micro h-1. Fantastic red dot optic. I killed a couple deer with that combination and took off the optic and went with open sights. I didn’t get a deer with tr open sights, partly because the time when the deer are most active for me, I couldn’t see my front fiber optic blade well enough. Long story short..... the aimpoint will be going back on.

When shooting off a bench under ideal conditions, I love the open sighted gun. But for me, the red dot adds some much needed time to my hunt and extends my effective range slightly.

Best in your decision. I’d go with the 5” gun too.... just more manageable.

Rick

Thanks for all of the input

If you can find a 6.5” Classic with full lug to handle, before ordering a 5” sight-unseen, i’d Do that first. I love the weight the full-lugged 6.5 inch tube gives me when i’m dropping it in. Others do not. I don’t think a 6.5” is going to be much more of a chore to lug around hunting than a 5”, and it may give you that extra zip and sight radius that starts to make a difference around a 100 yards. 5” does look just right on an N frame though. If you don’t like the feel of a 6.5 upon handling, i’d back up to the 5, but not before.

__________________
Oui Chef!

For all around use, the 5" is hard to beat. I have 629s in 3", 5", 6" RSR, 6.5", and 7.5" PC. The 5" balances very well and convenient to carry.

If your intent is for this to be your primary hunting firearm, the 7.5" is probably better suited for that role. I was weaned on a 8 3/8" M29 and shot quite a few deer with it but the longer barrels can be awkward. If the intent is as a secondary firearm, backpacking, and/or woods gun, the 5" is my choice.

It won’t be my primary hunting weapon. It will be used maybe 2 times a year. I think I’ll go with the 5” first, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll move to the next one...

I've hunting a bunch of big midwestern deer with a 5" 629
240gr Speer JHP's over 24grs H110/win296 powder.

works every time

6.5gr win231/HP-38 / 240swc makes a good light target load.

10gr Unique / 240gr makes a nice warmer load.

practice, practice.

__________________
NRA Life
USPSA/IPSC

A 5in. 629 Classic,using factory open sights: What holster is everyone using? The choice seems to be slim,unless you go to a custom maker and most want too much money for one.

I have 629s w 4,5 and 6 inch barrels. By far the 5 inch handles and balances the best.

I have the full underlug 5", and it's great. I recently built a homemade under-the-shirt cloth vertical shoulder holster for it, and I can carry it comfortably and well-concealed under a short-sleeve summer shirt. I had previously done the same thing for my 4-1/4" Model 69, but the 69 suffers from inertial pull-down of the cylinder-stop because of my use of a very relaxed grip and relaxed, flexed elbows. Only a titanium cylinder-stop would solve that problem (and no one makes them). The 5" 629 doesn't have that problem, though, probably because of the extra 1/2 lb of weight.