Howdy:

Question:
What ammunition power/weight/quantity limits would you follow when shooting a 629 no-dash .44 Magnum?

Bought my 629 no-dash 4" bbl used with the cash I inherited from my late grandma as a memorial to her and my grandpa. Not my first N-frame (that would be a sweet, sweet 1917), but my first N-frame magnum. I shoot N-frames well. Came with the wood box, factory grips.

It is currently at S&W getting the lockwork looked at, as it skipped a chamber with some sporty factory fodder. Also getting a trigger job and a factory high polish.

I plan on keeping it until I pass or pass it on to family and I recall reading that the no-dash 629s are not as robust as some of the newer 629s (or Ruger RH/SRH).

FTR, my the most common load I shot through it was a handload with a 240gr LSWC on top of a near-"max" of Trail Boss for a MV in the neighborhood of 1000fps.

Try 231 or Unique for that velocity, more efficient and a bit slower burn rate.

Keep your loads SAAMI and it will outlast your children. 1000fps is nowhere close to maximums.

Might even want to try 2400 for that matter, but I think it likes a bit more pressure to burn completely.

I wouldn’t use anything heftier than a cast 250 at around 1200 FPS. With any of the slow burning pistol powders, specifically #2400, that shouldn’t be too hard on the gun. If you prefer jacketed, a 240 gr JHP or JSP should be about the same. If it was my own gun, I’d probably use loads in the 900-1000 FPS range, which are plenty for me in a 4-inch gun. Keeping the gun clean and limiting fast double-action shooting will help to minimize wear and tear, too. JMHO.

While I do not own one the 629 no dash has a reputation for soft yoke arm metal.
IIRC the 629-3 introduced the "Endurance package" with larger bolt and new yoke retention system .

If your 629 is clean and original it will be worth more in the future with the stock finish, if your keeping it forever and like the polished finish doesnt matter.
Post pics when you are done

I have an M29-3 that "doesn't" have the performance package. I was told by some reputable .44Smith guys that is did have the Performance Package... So I put about 300 Full-House-Mags including 300 and 305grain, real steel plate/silhouette poppers with never a hiccup/cylinder skip. Then I saw a post stating the easiest way to tell if your Smith has that package is the elongated cylinder cuts. Mine did not have those cuts and was verified it didn't have the Performance Package. So, I've relegated the M29-3 to standard 240 grain loads at around 1150fps thru this beloved 3" barreled Lew Horton Special. It's just as tight as the day I brought her home. I have an M629-5 and an M629-8 that I run the 300+ stuff thru... of which both absolutely have the Performance Package. YMMV...

I own a 629-1 and a 29-2. The advice given to me from the gunsmith at the shop where I bought them was shoot nothing heavier then 240 gr as that was the bullet these guns were designed to shoot.

I've tried to follow that advice as I shoot a 250 gr LSWC Keith bullet at 1100 fps. It's easy on the gun and me. Both guns have not seen a magnum load since I bought them.

OK, I looked at the photo I shot of the crane and it indeed has no dash, but I suspect it is some sort of error, as the model marking is "6291" which I suspect is the equivalent of "629-1". All my other S&W revolvers have an explicit dash.

In any case, from what y'all have written, it was not until 629-3 that the 629 got the Endurance Package and all before that ought to be limited to 240gr pills at the usual factory velocities.

As far as photos, I have this one from BEFORE I sent it off. Not unfired. Signs of use (cyl ring) but not abuse. It has the chromed hammer.



This is showing the bitty minimalist grips along with a Tyler T-grip and a bit of skateboard tape along the back of the grip frame. The factory grips I found uncomfortable, while the skinny grips+T-grip were much easier on my hand. Still keep the factory grips in the wooden box along with the bore rod that came with it.

I have tried squishy grips like the Hogues, but they don't seem to help me. Getting the SHAPE of the grip right seems to work better for me than getting a squishy material for the grip.

When I get it back, probably will get some custom grips of the same overall configuration. Either the skinnies + a shiny chrome T-grip or a grip that fills in where the T-grip exists.

The Bianchi Speed Strip has 6 of my 240gr LSWC reloads. They were my plinking and carry load. Very accurate & consistent. Likely will seek out a better carry load or develop one after I get it back. I'd like a 240gr-ish hollow point moving out around 1000fps. Preferably lead, not jacketed. Sort of like the .38spl+P FBI load's big brother.

I can tell you shoot alot Roo-Ster... Nice looking Rig. Who knows when my (2) Tyler T's will ever get here for my N frames.

Getting the right profile, width, and length of the grip is Paramount to comfort and shoot-ability. I like 2 sorts/kinds of grips on my 3" snubs, .44Special/Mag "N" frames. Magna's coupled with Tyler-T's or Goncalo Alves "Combats"... Both are totally different profiles but they just work for my hands. The LHS I got to shoot with a pair of Magna's and Tyler-T's was just fantastic! The Magna's and Tyler-T is probably a hair, 1-2% more comfortable when shooting thumper loads but the GA's fill\ & fit like they were made specifically, for me.

I think it was the 629-2E were the first stainless series that got the Endurance Package. But it would be prominently displayed on the crane if it was in fact a -2E. The easiest way to tell if a M29/M629 has the "EP" is to look at the cylinder cuts. If they are elongated, it has the "EP", if not, it's a "Non-EP" gun. I was told that I would wear out before I'd shoot my M29-3 LHS loose... But it was quite hard to come by so I like to shoot hot Specials thru it and standard 240 grain Mag loads, nothing hotter. A 255gr .44Special from Underwood around 1,000fps is almost perfect IMO. A 240 grain Mag Keith @ 1150-1175 is the perfect .44Mag load. YMMV...

It's all about the pressure, bullet weight is ancillary.

I shoot 265g home cast and always have. They run @ 1200fps and so far - NO - wear in 30+ years of doing it.

Shoot any weight bullet you desire. Deal is, you have to shoot the big stuff at lower FPS.

300g @ 900fps isn't any more detrimental than a 240 @1300fps, in fact it's probably more gentle on the revolver.

The skipped chamber problem was what prompted the Endurance Pkg. changes. The enhancements that mainly corrected that started with cylinder yoke hardening on the 629-2E.

The next changes (629-3), mainly for this problem, included the longer cylinder notches & a bolt block to keep the cylinder locked in place.

The hardened yoke body helped strengthen the yoke's barrel & reduce the cause of excessive cylinder endshake, which allows the cylinder to move forward under recoil, increasing the likelyhood of the the cylinder stop not engaging the cylinder's notch & the cylinder backing up a chamber.

The longer notches allows a little forward play & flex but still remain engaged with the stop's ball.

My 29-2 developed excessive endshake from too many 70's-80's era hot handloads & started skipping occasionally even on moderate loads. Once I corrected the excessive endshake that issue was resolved.

Now it's reserved for moderate loads (240gr bullets at ~1050mv) & a lot of R&R time in the safe. My 629-6 & M69 get the hot stuff nowadays.

.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

HamHands:

That is one pretty N-frame. Most my carry guns are stainless, but there is something about cold, blued steel. (I nearly bought/rescued a poorly re-finished S&W 38-44 N-frame in order to re-re-finish it properly, but seller was overly proud of his wares.)

You mention Goncalo Alves "Combats". That N-frame looks like a round butt, right? If square-butt variants exist I might have a try. My handle is not "HamHands" but my hands have been so described.


That sounds reasonable.

Roger that.

Your revolver does appear to be a 629-1 by the shorter (at the rear) "non recessed" cylinder,
the 629 "No dash" also had a pinned barrel, this feature was deleted at the change to the dash 1 although on rare occasions a transitional anomaly pops up.

My guess is S&W had already produced the frames and stamped them 629 placing them in storage and by the time they were pulled to build the supply of recessed cylinders had run out.
The new non recessed cylinder is what differentiates a 629-1 from a 629 no dash since that is the "New Part".

My 629 no dash is indeed P&R. I mostly shoot .44 specials in it unless I feel like aggravating my bursitis.

A 245 gr swc (Keith ) HG 503 with 17.0 grs of 2400 in a 44 special case does approx 1200 fps and only generates approx 25K psi as verified by Brian Pearce using HP White laboratories from a 4" barrel . Your early model 629 will handle that load and more comfortably . In a magnum case , 20 grs of 2400 powder would be my limit using the Keith bullet . If you use a std 240 gr (anybody's ) swc then I would limit my loads to 19 grs .
For target loads , I like 6.5- 7.0 grs of 700X , Red Dot , Bullseye or Titegroup using a 240 gr cast bullet for about 900-950 fps . Mid range loads using Unique calls for 8.5 grs with the same bullet for about 1000-1050 fps . I personally use WSF , 9.0 grs is my mid range load . 8.0 grs of HP38 / W231 is also a very nice " everyday " carry load using 240 cast bullet . Your 44 is not a " weak sister " handgun . It just isn't made for shooting EK's " hot " load nor heavy bullets loaded hot continuously . Have fun and enjoy loading for your 44 . Regards, Paul

I have one of the first M629s produced for the public. I have two loads: 240gr. Sierra JHC or Speer JHP with 24 grains of WW296 and 250gr. hard cast with 10.5gr. Unique for plinking.

The problem of reversing the cylinder was common in the old days.

Solid synopsis. I enjoyed reading that!