Does anyone remember the Mod 29?

Same gun after I took a dive in the deep snow while negotiating some high desert rocks and sagebrush. I brushed it off, but the action was pretty much froze up. As I recall, it was in the negative numbers that day. Hunting was excellent though:

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Man I love those pics of the rabbit hunt! What ammo do you use for small game in a 44 mag?
 
Presently, I own but one 44 mag. An unfired 29-2 with 6" in bbl. I used to hunt with other S&W 44 M's I've owned and may do that again in the near future. I've also owned several Ruger single action 44m's, but that's a different story. S&W model 29's are alive and well with my friends too.
 
The preferred load is 8.5 grains Unique with a 240 grain LSWC. Often I use 10 grains Unique as it is my standard all around load. The picture of the pile o rabbits with the 4" gun were taken with some 305 grain cast loads and heavy doses of H110. I had not intended to be rabbit hunting that day and quickly ran out of my standard load and all I had in the truck were my elk loads.

Normally though, for rabbits I prefer 8.5 grains Unique and a 240 grain cast SWC.
 
Over the years, I have acquired nine 29/629 Smith's in all barrel lengths from 3" to 10 5/8's but I am humbled by the collection of 29-1! I am clearly a light weight by comparsion. Apparently, nine 44 magnum Smith's is just a modest collection at best! Oh well, hopefully I still have a few years to acquire additional samples. IMO, all 'N' frame Smiths's are wonders to behold, but the 29's were the finest, having the most versatile caliber. And yes, hard to beat 9 grains of Unique with a hard cast250/255 grain Keith 429421. The perfect revolver/ammunition combination....again IMO.
 
This is my one and only Smith and Wesson Model 29-2.

It's sporting the 8 3/8" barrel and is my favorite. I liberated it from a guy that was turning it into a deer gun. I don't shoot it as much as I'd like to, though, but I fondle it way more than any of my other guns.

I refer to it as my "waving around gun". :)

deadite
 

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I gave my 29-2 its 40 round workout this morning. A mix of 250 grain Lyman #429421 bullets behind 10.0 grains Unique and some 200 grain Speer JHP's behind 11.0 grains of Unique.

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I waited a long time to get a .44 Magnum. In November 17, got my 1st, (29-3) 6". The following April, I traded into a nickel, 4" 29-2. I did not like that 1, and sold it. The -3, will STAY! Now that I have 44 loading experience, it is a joy to shoot. Load heavy Special data into Magnum cases. Works for me! Bob
 

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Carried a Model 29 in 1980-82 until my agency made us stay with 357 only. I sold it (a new 29-2) and always regretted that, but recently replaced it with a 29-3 that likely had not been fired but HAD been Mag-Na-Ported.

Hard to pick a favorite between the 29, a P&R 57, and a nice 58!
 
Bought a 6.5" 29-2 brand new in 1975. It was stolen in 1985. I immediately bought an identical revolver but made in 1978. At some point I bought and sold a 4" and an 8" 29-2. About 6 years ago I bought a NiB 4" 29-2 made in 1976. Sold it a couple months ago. Still have the 6.5 that I got in 1985 as a replacement.

I have probably fired a total of 50 rounds through all my 29s. I am recoil sensitive and I find the 44 Magnum too brutal. I tried Pachs and a shooting glove. No help. So painful I avoid shooting the 44 Magnums. I don't really know why the hell I own one except I think I should.
 
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