Picking a 4-inch 44Mag

[spaniel]

First post, lots of good info here.

Most years I backpack hunt in grizzly country. We cover a lot of miles on foot so weight is a real issue. I picked up a Taurus Tracker Titanium in 41Mag (21oz) as a belt gun for this purpose and have loved it. I also carry it in the midwest during deer season, though I have not had the opportunity to shoot a deer with it. With the porting it is ridiculously loud so I could not do so without muffs anyways.

I'm now considering adding a 44Mag to my stable, as I already reload for and hunt with a Ruger Deerhunter in that chambering.

The gun will need to be carryable for many miles and be able to be carried in a holster that can be easily moved between my pack belt and pants belt if I drop the pack to move on an animal fast. It will also see range work; a typical session is <1 box of ammo and it would probably see that under a dozen times per year.

I've eliminated Ruger for weight reasons. While I like my Taurus, the 44Mag Tracker is a) too similar to what I already have, b) I'd like to try a non-Taurus to see if they are more accurate, and c) I lose a lot of velocity with the Taurus porting. While I have had no issues with Taurus a lot have, and for this reason I am nervous with the scandium frame on their 444 Ultralite.

This leaves me with the 629, 629 Mountain Gun, and 329PD. I don't see the 2oz advantage of the MG being worth trying to find one used.

The only disadvantage of the 629 is weight (though I have not had one in my hands yet). I am actually not too concerned with 329PD recoil; I have shot full power 250gr handloads in my 21oz 41Mag and did not find it over the top. Whatever 44 I get will see more moderated loads on the range anyways.

What concerns me about the 329PD is basically durability and the potential for burning through the steel protector plate over the cylinder gap.

Any thoughts on my dilemma or 329PD durability are welcome. I'm used to seeing people knock Taurus but the amount of issues I have seen people reporting with Smiths since I started looking into these guns has been a bit of a shock to me and has me thinking longer on this.

 

[squidsix]

My first response to this is universally "29-2". But you seem to want stainless, so "629" and I do like the MG profile, but not enough to pay extra for it.

 

[dla]

Here is some info you might find helpful: S&W329pd Information

Have fun!

 

[spaniel]

Here is some info you might find helpful: S&W329pd Information

Have fun!

Thanks, I'd searched that out but picked up more on the re-read. I was worried about the blast shield erosion, but I missed that the steel forcing cone and titanium cylinder were being eaten to. I'm no expert on this but it seems to me if the gasses were eroding the edge of the forcing cone, they would have done the same to the steel frame of a 629 over the cylinder gap? So maybe it's a hot load or powder selection issue and not really the fault of the revolver?

I've got several hundred rounds through my titanium gun, all H110 loads, and I can't say I've heard of it causing erosion issues before.

 

[rburg]

Let me suggest you inquire about the 329 XL. I have no idea if its just one of those Vaporware guns or if they actually make them. If I see one, it'll be mine. Its just your garden variety 329s with a reasonable length tube (eXtra Long). Its not going to be as easy to carry as the 4", nor will it swing as fast. But it'll get that noise and blast out front where it belongs.

I wouldn't worry too much about burning out the blast shield. Those, as I understand it (and look at mine) appear to be replaceable, unlike my right hand. But I've also got 4" and 6" 629s, and I see, feel and hear a big difference between them. I'm just guessing we'd see the same difference on the 329s. You'd also get a velocity bonus with the slightly longer barrel.

 

[spaniel]

But I've also got 4" and 6" 629s, and I see, feel and hear a big difference between them. I'm just guessing we'd see the same difference on the 329s. You'd also get a velocity bonus with the slightly longer barrel.

Thanks for this as it addresses another question I've had. I'm not as experienced with revolvers as other arms; I have never shot a big bore other than my 4" 41mag and a 2.5" 357 mag. So going to a 6" barrel makes a significant difference in noise? Not that I plan on shooting without hearing protection, but sometimes in a hunting situation it can happen. Right after I got my 41 I did take a shot at a mortally wounded buck on hit death run with it...without really thinking it through in retrospect...and with that 4" ported barrel my ears were ringing for 5 minutes. I now have a pair of quality amplifying/canceling muffs to deal with it but quieter would be nice.

Like any good gun guy, one potential to this problem is to (eventually) buy both a 329PD and a 629. Now you have me thinking get the 329PD, then a longer barreled 629 (6") so one gun excels for carry and the other for general shooting and perhaps still-hunting deer in the woods as a primary weapon.

 

[Stainz]

The 4" 629, even a current 629-6 SKU #163603 like mine, is a fine and utilitarian revolver. Change the grips to some comfortable wood grips and you have a great .44 S&W Special plinker. Put on some rubber Hogue/S&W .500 Magnum monogrip and you have an all-weather .44 magnum protector for woods excursions. It's larger hammer and trigger and OR front & w/o rear sights are worth the 2 oz premium over the 629MG (The MG's blk/blk sights are not rapidly acquired in any light!) - I like my production 4" 629 far better than my previous MG.

My first production 629 was a similarly equipped 6" 629-6, SKU #163606. I bought it to replace 6.5" 24 revolvers - as a .44 Special. Fantastic. But - clean those chambers, mount a Weigand rail on the pre-drilled/tapped top frame, after removing the rear sight, add a 2x28mm Weaver H2 handgun scope, and that .500 Magnum monogrip, and you have a great hunting combo. I equip my 6" 629 like that every fall... still awaits it's first hunting trip!

You can't go wrong with a 629!

Stainz

 

[batmann]

As much as I love my Mountain Gun in .44M, I have to agree with Stainz, a 4" 629 is hard to beat. FWIW----Those couple of ounces are closer to 4 and will make a difference if you do a lot of hiking.

 

[BSA]

Just a thought.

Is your issue the weight of the gun OR the way you are carrying it? Your comment about shifting the gun from your belt to your backpack is puzzling. There are a lot of carry options out there.

 

[Shuz]

FWIW I have a 629-1 and 629-5 both with 4" bbls, and a 329PD and a 629-4 Mtn gun also with 4" bbls. If I had to go with only 1ea 4" bbl'd Smith .44 mag., it would be the Mtn Gun. I just like the feel of the lighter weight bbl, but the Patridge front sight and the 32 ounce trigger also help in the choice. The gun I carry the most is the 329PD because of it's extreme light weight. 18g of 2400 and a 429421 in a 329PD with set of 500X frame Hogues is really tolerable for about 25 rounds or so, and I don't ever expect to fire more than a couple in either self defense or in a hunting situation. Just my .03 cents(inflation)

 

[spaniel]

Just a thought.

Is your issue the weight of the gun OR the way you are carrying it? Your comment about shifting the gun from your belt to your backpack is puzzling. There are a lot of carry options out there.

Weight. I hunt with guys who carry standard weight guns and they all wish they had other options. They've tried a variety of carry techniques. Most of the options I've seen to carry heavier guns comfortably require either taking the gun off when you add/subtract layers of clothing (a frequent occurrence when you are alternating hiking with glassing in cool Oct/Nov weather), or do not go well with wearing a pack.

I really like the system I use now, if we need to drop packs to chase elk I can move the revolver from the pack belt to my hip in just a few seconds.

A bit of weight can really make a difference the way we hunt. It is not unusual for us to cover 70 miles on foot in a week. The last elk I shot with a gun was 10 miles from the truck and we had to hump it over a 2500ft pass.

 

[CWH44300]

There is only one choice - if a 40 oz gun is too much - the 329, I have a pair of them, one has close to 1500 rounds - mostly mid range (250 at 950) but a few hundred magnums as well (250 at 1250) - no problems yet - they are great guns.

 

[Deacon KC]

This is an all weather gun, so stainless or scandium is the way to go. A kydex holster will serve you well, very tough and very light weight. Hogue or Pachmayr stocks are weather resistant, and I would offer one other suggestion, if you can find a pair of the Jordan grips that Pachmayr used to make, they are very comfortable to shoot and are even lighter.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Your .41 mag is an excellent caliber and with today selection of bullets will do everything a .44 mag will do. I'd go with a 6" 57. Excellent accuracy and balistics from the extra 2" barrel. Mines on deer # 45 and I'd shoot any 4 legged animal on North America with it, but would have a back up for bears. You probably already load for it so you don't have another caliber to worry about.

If you are set on a .44 a 6" 629 Classic would be my one and only choice but it's all steel. The way I like em made! JMO

 

[Mule88]

I have a 329, 629 and 629 mountain gun, with the stipulations you've mentioned Id pick the mountain gun if it was me. Even though its only a few ounces lighter than the standard 629 I think after a few miles in the woods you would start noticing the difference in the weight. I do like the 329 for what it is and not saying it wouldnt be a good choice but id still pick the mountain gun personally.

 

[FTG-05]

Since I sold my 629-3 to fund my 329PD, it should be obvious what I'd recommend.

I OC while hunting hogs and deer and either OC or CC it when I can elsewhere, even in Pittsburgh over the holidays.

The first time I took it out for range time, I cracked the frame. About two weeks later, I had it back from S&W. My point being that if you do see gas erosion or flame cutting I believe S&W will make good.

Quite frankly, I doubt you'll be shooting enough full power .44 mag loads in it anyway. I developed a terrible flinch during my first range session and it was only 25-35 rounds! With .44 Specials, it's a ***** cat.

And every time I read dla's site, I learn something new.

Good luck!

 

[spaniel]

Since I sold my 629-3 to fund my 329PD, it should be obvious what I'd recommend.

...
The first time I took it out for range time, I cracked the frame. About two weeks later, I had it back from S&W. My point being that if you do see gas erosion or flame cutting I believe S&W will make good.

Wow....Another cracked frame and on the first range session...that does not instill confidence to me...

Obviously you did not have time for frame damage so it had to be a flaw from the factory. I'm curious how you kept faith in the gun when it was returned after that kind of initial experience? How many rounds do you have through the replacement now?

 

[spaniel]

This is an all weather gun, so stainless or scandium is the way to go. A kydex holster will serve you well, very tough and very light weight. Hogue or Pachmayr stocks are weather resistant, and I would offer one other suggestion, if you can find a pair of the Jordan grips that Pachmayr used to make, they are very comfortable to shoot and are even lighter.

So far I've stuck with all kydex holsters and yup, you guessed why I'm sticking with the stainless offerings. A couple years ago we spent 10 days afield in snow and rain (depending on elevation we were at that day), no oil in sight. I'm sure a blued gun would have seen some damage from that, the blued steel scope mount on my rifle required some TLC when that was over.

 

[22shtur]

I have shot 6 black bears with my 6" 629 from 20 yds to 50 yds. They each ran a minimum of 20 yards before dying, with a slug in or through the heart. That tells me in grizzly country to carry a rifle. Crazy is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I'm not crazy, when in grizzly country I carry a rifle.

 

[CWH44300]

I have shot 6 black bears with my 6" 629 from 20 yds to 50 yds. They each ran a minimum of 20 yards before dying, with a slug in or through the heart. That tells me in grizzly country to carry a rifle. Crazy is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I'm not crazy, when in grizzly country I carry a rifle.

That's very common with a heart shot - the last bear I shot with a 44 handgun dropped at the shot (250 keith at 950,
spine then heart,I was above him) the last rifle kill the bear went 50 or so yards (300WBY , 180 gr hornaday at 3000) when I opened him up his chest cavity was filled with purple mush. Point being the heart shot is poor one to use on game that can bite back.