First Model 29

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Kansasjayglocker

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Hi Guys,

Been lurking here for about a decade, just haven't posted. Thought I would share my first Model 29-2 I just picked up yesterday. Bought it from a real gentlemen on gunbroker who has taken really great care of it. I can't tell that it has even been shot. I will remedy that this afternoon . I believe it was made in 1980. It also came with the presentation box, manual & tool kit. Doesn't have the original grips, but came with a really nice looking pair of Altamont grips.

Here's a quick picture...
 
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Congrats on a nice find. I like those grips. I have a 29-3 in 8 3/8. I have to admit I shoot mainly .44 special out of it. The gun can handle magnum loads but my hand can't.
 
That is a great find so please take loving care of it . Let me offer up some thoughts for you . It would be wise not to feed it a steady diet of full magnum reloads or store bought stuff . The earlier 29's don't have the endurance package so you could possibly in time find it coming " loose " .
Everyone talks about Elmer Keiths load . It was a load designed for his bullet only . His design has a short shank ( part in the case) and a long nose . It increased the case capacity . Store bought 240grainers are the reverse so you need to drop back on the powder charge well , well below the 22 grs of 2400 powder that Elmer Keith used . Use modern data, please .
After having read several of his books he didn't fire a whole lot of his full magnum loads either . If going on a hunting trip or getting ready for an exhibition he would start out with a couple of cylinders full of his " gallery load " 5.0 grs of Bullseye powder . Then go to his " carried everyday load " of 8.5grs of Unique for a few cylinders full . Last he would shoot maybe only 6 rounds of his regular magnum load , and sometimes it was only 2-3 rounds if he was on target . All shooting was at about 20-25 yds with the " Keith Bullet ". These particular loads had the same point of aim and impact . He had worked up these loads to match POA=POI.
I have had numerous 29's , some earlier and all now are the later models . They all served me well but I understood their limitations when reloading for that individual model and dash # . Especially limit the amount of Buffalo Bore stuff . They make fine stuff but it is definitely on the " very warm side " , hard on 29's for extended use , IMO .
The model 29's are very beautiful pieces of art but must be respected for their limitations if they are to last a lifetime .
A very well known youtuber has over 75,000 rounds through his 29-2 , 8 3/8th " barrel . I saw a video of him talking about his " magnum " hand loads . They were chronographing at less than 1000 fps using a std 240 gr cast bullet . That is a good , serviceable , carry everyday load to use , for 99% of what one needs . I am a S&W guy through and through ( so is my sister ) and I love my big N frames but I also respect them and take care of them . Best of luck and have fun
 
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Thanks for the kind words everyone. Just got home from the range. Shot 50 rounds of Black Hill's .44 special 210 gr flat point. Shot great, recoil is very manageable. Don't have a lot of desire to shoot full Magnum loads, although I will confess I did watch Dirty Harry last night! :)
 
Wow! Simply beautiful! Cowboy4evr is right on with his advice. I got my pre-29 in 1971 and have carried it in the woods all these years, so the bluing is pretty bad, but the gun is so smooth. I have read that the early 29's shouldn't be used with jacketed bullets either. I don't know if that extends to the -2 or not. I have been using a 240 gr.cast with 6.0 gr. of Bullseye, but have lately started using Titegroup because of it's non position sensitive qualities. AA-2 is also a non position sensitive powder and a good choice for light loads.
GavinLee
 
" The earlier 29's don't have the endurance package so you could possibly in time find it coming " loose ""

The endurance package really doesn't prevent anything from coming loose, except the cylinder stop. It was introduced late in the 29-3 period (ca. 1988) to keep the cylinder from unlocking under severe recoil from firing very heavy loads, a problem experienced with many of the earlier 29s. The frame isn't any stronger. It involved deepening the cylinder stop recesses and some changes to the design of the cylinder stop itself, but I think it also included some improvements in the hammer and trigger pivot pins.

I have an early 29-3 (ca. 1981) which obviously does not have the endurance package. It was very prone to the cylinder stop dis-engaging from the cylinder and unlocking it after the recoil of firing several rounds of heavy reloads, usually a dozen or less. What actually happened with mine is that the small coil spring within the cylinder stop would jump out of place. I would have to pop off the sideplate and wiggle it back into place. But it would pop out again whenever heavy loads were fired. I tried several stop springs, including one which was supposed to be stronger and heavier, and it didn't work much better. I did not have that spring problem at all with lighter loads. Anyway, I finally did come up with a home-made solution involving the invention of a "spring keeper" to force the stop spring to stay in place. I made it from a tin can lid. The 29-3 seems to work OK on heavy loads now, however, about 99% of my firing is with fairly mild lead-bullet handloads not much hotter than .44 Special. And that's fine with me, as I am not much of a fan of heavy recoil and muzzle blast.
 
Dude... what is wrong with you?? I've been on here for about 2 hours and this is my 3rd post!

I got mine at the height of the "Dirty Harry Craze". I had a good buddy that was a cop and he could order these for a police duty weapon if it was a 4"! I desperately wanted an 8 3/8"! He says, "Just buy the 4" and we'll send it back to the factory and get an 8" fit for it"! This was when there was like a year to 2 year wait on them and they were going for $1000! I remember my cost was like $260! When I sent it in, I had them replace the 4" with the 8 3/8's and also fit a 6 1/2" to it. As far as I know, it is the only Model 29 with all 3 fitted barrels from the factory! I shot the **** out of it and with a lot of Magnum loads (I didn't know any better). I was heavily into Metallic Silhouette shooting at the time and the only thing that would bring down turkey's and pigs out to 150 and 200meters were 24 grains of 2400! As you know it has the trajectory of a rock! We were reloading and casting straight wheel weights back in those days and I have to tell you one summer we shot a whole 55 gallon drum of wheel weights out of our 27's and 29's (me and about 2 buddies). I know I have over 100000 rounds through that thing through all of the competition shooting I did (a lot of .44 Special velocity loads). I passed it down to my son, who treasures it! It still shoots dead on today and looks almost new.

Much experience with the cylinder un-locking under heavy loads!

Keith 429421... Baby!!
 
Nice 29 you have there! Everyone is different. I have a 25-15. It came new with Altamont stocks. While they look nice, I replaced them with older Smith Target models. The gun feels, and looks better. I have short fingers, but it works for me. Bob
 

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DWalt , I have to disagree with you about the endurance package only fixing the cylinder stop . If you refer to Brian Pearces article in HandLoader magazine issue 241 he explains , in detail a lot of the changes made . One of those changes was a special heat treated yoke . He lists various other modifications made between 1988 and 1990 .
Discussion is always good , thx for your input .
 
cowboy4evr said:
DWalt , I have to disagree with you about the endurance package only fixing the cylinder stop . If you refer to Brian Pearces article in HandLoader magazine issue 241 he explains , in detail a lot of the changes made . One of those changes was a special heat treated yoke . He lists various other modifications made between 1988 and 1990 .
Discussion is always good , thx for your input .
Click to expand...

I know it does, and also mentioned in my posting that other improvements were involved. But the pertinent issue brought up seemed to be the result of the cylinder stop jumping out of the cylinder slot under recoil, and that was all I was discussing. Heat treated yokes and radiused pivot pins have nothing to do with the problem.
 
Nice looking gun. Congrats. I just picked a 29-2 this AM coming home from the Vet. Went by a garage sale that had fishing stuff and a canoe in the yard. 29 was in the garage so it could be watched. He asked $650 and I gave a $100 deposit and went to the bank. Will post pictures later as it is wearing goodyears.
 
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