Im thinking of pulling the trigger on a new 629. Any opinions on this gun? This would be the first NEW Manufactured S&W Ive bought. You here horror stories on the web about Smiths quality of late. This gun seems very solid. But, with my Luck if there's a lemon, I'll get it. I want it and more over I want to trust S&W again.

I just bought a new 6.5" 629-6 (March 2022 production), and it's an excellently made and assembled revolver.

But it took me a couple of tries to find one that was. During my search, I looked at one that had a canted barrel, and another with a horrible heavy/gritty trigger. Then I looked at a couple that were absolutely flawless with wonderfully smooth triggers and straight barrels.

I certainly wouldn't buy one that I couldn't fondle and inspect first.

Canted barrel? It was not lined up with the frame?

I own two and they are great

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I only take a knee for God

Probably the front sight was 'canted' left or right which would mean the barrel was not 'clocked' correctly.

I owned one in 44 mag, six inch barrel. Recoil was hard on my hand and had to replace grips was my only problem.

I only have one -6. No complaints and it has one of the best DA trigger pulls of any S&W I own. As others said, might want to handle it before buying one but I think they're fine guns.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

The thing about the web is that you can find anything if you’re looking for it.

Are there people who have gotten lemons? Certainly.

They tend to be upset and loud (deservedly so) … the problem is that they’re also vastly outnumbered by the customers who are quite satisfied with theirs. It’s just that happy people don’t feel the extreme urge to vent to the world about their anger.

If the internet existed in the 50’s I’m willing to bet we’d be reading from a bunch of irate people about the problems with their new revolvers too. But it wasn’t, so it’s easy to look back in nostalgia and assume today’s situation is inferior. “They don’t make em like they used to” doesn’t mean problems didn’t exist then.

Like any other important purchase you would make, just check it out before you lay your cash down. You wouldn’t buy a car sight unseen would you? It’s the same with a firearm. Guns aren’t a value pack of Fruit of the Loom briefs.

I bought last week a 629-6 Deluxe 3" bbl.,as pictured above. I spent probably 20 minutes looking it over in the LGS and the salesman thought I was crazy spending so much time looking at a revolver. I feel I overpaid, but I have a very good revolver. I went to the range 2 days later and fired it. Perfect groups, still excellent lock-up, yoke is tight and I am very pleased with my purchase. Take the time and inspect before you buy and you will be happy.

Check for over/under clocked barrel and correct timing, most every thing else is an easy fix. MHO.......

Barrel was clocked to the left (it was actually two I saw that way now that I remember...). One was quite noticable, the other I completely overlooked and forgot to check until the employee at Bass Pro pointed it out (and then it was obvious). He said they'd received a couple (629 and 69) that way.

If you were going to put alot of rounds on a 44 mag, I'd definitely buy a new one.
In my top 3 that I currently shoot, one is a 629-6 6.5".
I recently bought a backup gun for it. An older model and had to send that one in for repair.
Somehow I feel like my 629-6 is very reliable .
Do not let anyone trick you into buying an old one. You do not know what horrors await.

The old guns are good. The new guns are good. Buy what you like and/or want. My only standard with my revolvers is performance ie how do they shoot. To me this is more important than an extra .002” barrel cylinder gap or a bit of endshake. I have had over 100 S&W revolvers pass through my hands and haven’t had to send one back yet.

I love mine.

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The best I can with what I got

I have four 629-6s. Two PCs, two standard production. Two were ordered before I knew better to inspect for barrel cant. Of those two, the PC was a comp hunter, shoots great, good fit and finish, EXCEPT for the barrel cant. Keep in mind the comp hunter has the removable scope mount on the barrel. Set up the scope using levels, which really accentuated the effects of barrel cant. To hold the crosshairs level, had to cant the firearm. If both were aligned, the vertical crosshair should run center of frame. Shorter barrels are really impacted because of the shorter sight radius. Never had this issue with all the -5s I own.

Like any revolver, check timing and lock up. I'm not too worried if they are a bit gritty. Most new from the factory are bone dry and it's pretty easy to smooth out a smith.

I have a newer 4 1/4” and 5” 629 they are both fine revolvers
Definitely inspect before you buy , I’ve never seen a bad N frame from factory but I’ve seen several bad K and L frames , I owned a 686 that had the barrel installed off centre, the grooves on the barrel didn’t line up with the grove on top strap/rear sight ( taught me to wear glasses when buying firearms )

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the rules? there are no rules

I bought a 629-6 back in 2020

My thread

New 629-6 problems - good info inside

I ended up buying Eagle grips for it

Eagle Heritage Grips on my 629

The gun is amazing in every way. Yes, I had problems initially but SW took care of me. I have bought several new SW (reviews coming soon) revolvers. They are all very nice. The next gun in my sights is the 629 3". When I find one without "market adjustment" I'll pick one up.

Only downside is that I just can't handle more than a cylinder's worth of 44 magnums. I shoot 44 special nowadays.

I have the -6 ,in the Mountain Gun. No issues.

I’ve got one. It’s my woods carry gun because I don’t want to beat up my 629-4 mountain gun. It’s fine.

I bought one a couple years ago, used, it was born in July 2016. I had to buy new rubbers for it to keep my middle finger away from getting smashed by the trigger guard with magnums. .44 Specials no problem. Anyhow it is a very accurate gun (mine's 6") for me. I'm almost as good with it as my K22. If you like a .44 magnum, go for it. I'm far from a Jerry M. when it comes to hand guns (or any gun) but 25 yards with the silhouette and the head will be obliterated after about 3 cylinders full. Very good gun. (3 is all I can take shooting magnums!)

i've had my 5 inch 629 now for about 5 months and it's flawless.


end report

Bought a brand new 4" 629-6. Has the tightest action I've ever felt.
Beautiful trigger. Just waiting tell this weekend is over to go shoot it. To many people in the dessert to shot safely on a holiday weekend. Happy 4th of July to everyone!

well shot it the new 629-6. My cast loads shot good but, leaded badly had to clean barrel after every 18 rounds. Jacketed shot real well but left lots of copper fouling. Came home and measured the cylinder throats and there all .425 shouldn't they be .429-.430

Congrads on your new 44! I usually shoot a 629-5 Classic Powerport 6.5 with a Wiegand mount and a Burris Fastfire 3. Couple of good 44 loads are:

Missouri Bullet Co's 240 grain Elmer K lead bullet, 7.4 grains of Titegroup, WLPM primer, at 1.635OAL. Accurate with very little leading in all my 44's.

Hunting load is a Nosler 240 JSP, WLPM primer, 23.8 grains of H110, 1.585OAL. Powerful(!) and accurate to 50 yards in my gun.
As always, your results may vary. Good luck and have fun!

Found a 629-6 today my first gun that has a built in lock errr. Anyways price was right and seems like it would be a good pack gun. Any holster suggestions?

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See my H.C.Leather holster in post 7 above. Works great for me. Use to find them on eBay, original maker selling direct, I have several and all are excellent and reasonable in price. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I have a Galco Switchback, new for 2022 and I am pleased with it. Revolver is a perfect fit.

If you used calipers, then there's likely some error created by the jaw width. It you used a small hole gage with micrometers or plug gages then you're more apt to get good readings. But, yah, anything under 0.427" is less than ideal with jacketed projectiles and cast/swaged should be slightly over groove diameter. With bullets sized accordingly. Quite a few early 629 DXs had 0.427"-0.428" throats. Not great for cast but it worked well with factory jacketed rounds.

If the throats are slightly under, don't send it back. Find someone to either hone or ream them to your preferred size if you shoot mostly jacketless bullets. Honing, done well, can be fantastic! (Either done poorly can leave you less well off than you are now.)

I had a 6 inch 629-6 and it was a great shooter. I sold it because it was just to muzzle heavy for my liking. I had an early 629 before the endurance package and it was a chamber skipper. It to passed along quickly.
Don't let the horror stories scare you off or the lock. the lock I do not even notice them any longer and if the barrel happens to be canted send it back as S&W will make it right just takes time for them to do so. PIA sure but I have sent other makes back to. Modern times what can we say. I have S&W from the good old days with canted barrels so that is not a new phenomena.

All my revolvers are Smith & Wesson. My oldest is my 686-2 6" withe four position front sight. My second is a Model 29-5 6"1/2 caliber 44 magnum. My most recent are my 460 XVR and my .500 magnum. All are always precise. I couldn't change for another manufacturer.

Well after spending some time shooting this gun, I've come to the conclusion that this is a fine shooting gun. After a few rounds a .4295 Sierra fits nice and snug. Bullets push through with a touch of resistance. Sized all my cast down to .429 and leading all but disappeared. Accuracy is astounding. Loads that shoot ok are great and loads that shot great are amazing, with a 4" barrel. This is a well-built gun. The only gun I've bought that doesn't need anything done to it but shoot it. Just shoot 240's in it and don't try anything else.