Dialing in the 629....loads, FO SDM front sight and impressions.

[peppercorn]

I have been shooting 3'' and 4'' 629s the last several months and recently tried the 5'' Classic.
The load I was using in the photos was 15.2grns. of 2400 under a 310gr. Laser Cast bullet. This was an incredibly accurate load with very mild recoil.

Initially I didn't see any difference in my accuracy and would be hard pressed to say it shoots any straighter than its shorter barrel siblings. I do like the longer sight picture and the extra barrel weght adds to stability and decreased muzzle jump.
The addition of the SDM fiber optic front sight has made the end of the barrel really stand out in our excessively overcast Pacific Northwest.
So much so that going back to the 4'' non fiber optic sighted barrel was like walking from a well lit room to one that didn't have any lights on at all. It's that bright.
It will pick up the slightest of available light and have me wondering where the battery is.

 

[870fan]

Nice shooting!

 

[71firebird400]

Nice looking 629! I'm up in Bellingham; where are you at?

 

[CWH44300]

I can't think of a better platform for the 44magnum shooter for an enjoyable day at the range, and it seems that load wants to perform , I'll bet that it didn't lead at all, I don't shoot many 300 gr loads, and don't have a book handy, is that powder charge closer to the top or bottom?
Nice camera work, the pics are amazing

 

[Magnumdood]

You have my 629!!

That is a beautiful revolver. If I were ordering one from the Custom Shop it would be configured like yours. The only thing I would change would be the cylinder; I really like the un-fluted cylinder. If I ran across a 629 like yours though, and the price was fair, I wouldn't hesitate in snapping it up.

 

[Dale53]

Peppercorn;
Lyman's 49th Reloading manual shows a 300 gr gas check bullet (Lyman429650) and 2400 powder (minimum load is 14.0 grs at 857fps with pressure at 27,000 CUP; Maximum is 15.7 at15.7 for 1001 fps with pressure at 37,200 CUP).

Dale53

 

[M29since14]

Good shooting! - and a nice looking handload. Always great to see folks who take pride in the appearance of their ammunition. Very spiffy.

 

[team sidewinder]

Gotta love the 629 5 ". Good shootin thar pardner.

 

[peppercorn]

Thanks fellas,

'firebird', I'm down in Vancouver/Portland area, look me up if you are ever down here and we'll go shoot.

M29',
Thanks , yes I doo like a nice clean 'appearance' in my loads. Sorta matches the gun I guess.

Dales53,
Thanks for the check on data. I loaded these as per the Lyman 4th edition Cast Bullet Hanbook for a 310gr. bullet with the data as follows:
Min. Max.
2400; 15.0 gr. for 949 fps , 16.6 gr. for 1023 fps.


CWH44300,
Thanks Chris,
These are a gas check bullet and, you are correct, they didn't lead at all, zero, nothing. I really couldn't believe it when I checked the bore.
I have been playing with 'lead only' loads the past few months and am used to leading, from a little to alot so as you can imagine I was more than happy with this aspect of the load.

I loaded five different wts. of 2400 as follows: 15.0 ; 15.2; 15.4; 15.6 and 15.8.

At 15.8 the pattern opened up by about 3 inches.

 

[CWH44300]

Yes, that sounds right for 2400, I've burned kegs of that stuff but mostly behind a 250 Keith type and the best accuracy seems to come a click or two down from the top, have you stretched it out yet? If a load shoots good at 25 yds (1 1/2" or so) I then move to 100yds and can expect iron sight groups of around 5", if the light is good and I'm not shaking to bad...lol

 

[CWH44300]

Hey Mike, I forgot to ask about the leather, is it working well, its amazing what you can conceal with the right gear, the 5" gun looks good, I think it would look better with some nice wood, I just may know someone who could help you out , anyways keep shooting and please keep posting your great photos

 

[peppercorn]

Hey Mike, I forgot to ask about the leather, is it working well, its amazing what you can conceal with the right gear, the 5" gun looks good, I think it would look better with some nice wood, I just may know someone who could help you out , anyways keep shooting and please keep posting your great photos

I shot all the lesser loads at 10 yards and moved to 20 yards with the 15.8gr load. Interestingly they were all over the paper. Unfortunately I didn't have any of the lower charge rounds left to try at that distance. Can you guess what I will be shooting at 20 yards next time out?

The leather is just great. Yes, an 'N' frame is very concealable with a little forethought.

Thanks for the hint about the grips, I couldn't agree more that wood does indead look better than rubber.
Well, as luck would have it, our own Kurac just delivered to me a set of Ebony grips for this particular shooter. These things are just amazing in fit and finish. I have XL hands and these are his 'Magnum extra long' grips that happen to fit my hand perfectly.

 

[CWH44300]

Sounds good, we are waiting for pics...

 

[Shuz]

peppercorn--I have the SDM fiber optic front sight on one of my 5" 629-3 Classic DX's. I love it!

 

[team sidewinder]

If you don't mind me asking what height SDM fiber optic sight did you get to replace your factory 629 5" sight ? The .250 or the .300. How far off was it from your original sight when you shot it sith the SDM .
Thanks.

 

[WNC Seabee]

If you don't mind me asking what height SDM fiber optic sight did you get to replace your factory 629 5" sight ? The .250 or the .300. How far off was it from your original sight when you shot it sith the SDM .
Thanks.

My 5" 629 took the .250" SDM front sight. I hardly had to touch my rear sight after install. They are awesome!

 

[team sidewinder]

Thanks WNC Seabee .

I see the S&W site has what almost looks like the same fiber optic site for $52. Is there any real difference from the SDM sight for $35 ?

Me thinks I have got to have one of these

 

[peppercorn]

If you don't mind me asking what height SDM fiber optic sight did you get to replace your factory 629 5" sight ? The .250 or the .300. How far off was it from your original sight when you shot it sith the SDM .
Thanks.

Good question and ,no, I do not mind.
I have two 629-6 5'' Classics. I called S&W and told them what I had and was told I needed the .250 FO sight, no problem, right? So I say great, send me the sight, the one that you see listed on their website for $52.00.
About a week later I get a .250, FO sight in the mail, direct from SDM!
So there you go, S&W has them drop shipped from SDM, for $52.00 plus $5.00 shipping.

On to the sizing.
I noticed, when I bought my Classics, I have two both of which are 629-6s, that the rear sight blade is .126'' on both. All the sight blades on my 29s and non classic 629s that I own have .146'' rear blades, covering barrell lengths of 3'', 4'', 6'' and 8 3/8''.
Anyway, I put the SDM/S&W front sight in and immediately notice the gun shoots low. In order to get it to shoot POA I have to Raise the rear sight, about .020", what a coincidence, right?
The only problem now is the lower portion of the front FO circle, the one you look at to aim, has to be about 10% below the notch of the rear sight blade in order to level the top of the front sight with the top of the rear. This is very confusing in target acquisition and just not right.
I called SDM, their number is in the Packaging, and am told that I need a .146 rear sight blade.
I ordered two just yesterday from S&W. Once this is installed I should be able to lower my rear sight, .020'' and have a 360 degree picture of my FO front site.

Interestingly, I looked at two other 5'' Classic 629-6s recently in the LGS and they both had the shorter rear blades also.

My 5" 629 took the .250" SDM front sight. I hardly had to touch my rear sight after install. They are awesome!

Seabee, I notice in your picture that your rear sight blade appears to be .146'', the standard height blade. I am curious as to what dash model your 629 is?

 

[WNC Seabee]

Seabee, I notice in your picture that your rear sight blade appears to be .146'', the standard height blade. I am curious as to what dash model your 629 is?

Mine is a 5" Classic, -3. As far as I know it has the stock rear sight. And it is .146.