Most popular barrel length for Model 29-2?

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Teddydog

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What barrel lengths are most popular for the classy Model 29-2 .44 Magnum? I think 4" and 6 1/2" (later 6") are most common. Where does the 8 3/8" fall in popularity?

In a thread the other day, I asked about the modern 29-10s, but decided to go the old school route and bought an 8 3/8" Nickel 29-2 from about 1980 instead.

Anyway...just for casual shooting, how does the crowd feel about a long tube? I will say that I did briefly own a later 8 3/8" Classic and I did NOT like the full-length underlug on it.

Rob
 
I have a 6 1/2” 4 screw I’d trade for a 4” in a flash. An 8 3/8” would be a hoot for shooting long distance targets at the range

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Last edited:
Trout said:
At my house, the four inch is by far the most popular. I've got this 6.5" no dash that I hang on to because it's a birth year gun, but I wish it were a four.

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I like this one. :D
 
The M29 with 8 & 3/8th inch barrel is wonderful for offhand target shooting when loaded with "old school" Lyman 44 special gallery wadcutter loads, especially if you have a Sanderson style thumbrest target grip!
The long barrel is nice for IHMSA silhouette as well.

I agree with the OP: the full lug on a long barrel is just too much.

But, ALL the barrel lengths are nice and serve their useful purposes.
If this were a "Multiple Choice Test", I'd go with answer D:
All of the above!
 
As stated above by 6string; I like all the barrel lengths. If you're not planning on carrying it in a belt holster, the long barrels are really fun at the shooting range! :)
 
I consider the 6” (or I guess 6.5”) to be about ideal for the N frame .44 Magnum

I’m only going to own one of them (probably ... we all know how that tends to end up. LOL) and I decided a few years back on a 6” M629-3.


YMMV
 

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I honestly cant remember for sure if I had a 29 in that length , but I do like it in the long tube version.
 
Teddydog said:
What barrel lengths are most popular for the classy Model 29-2 .44 Magnum? I think 4" and 6 1/2" (later 6") are most common. Where does the 8 3/8" fall in popularity?

In a thread the other day, I asked about the modern 29-10s, but decided to go the old school route and bought an 8 3/8" Nickel 29-2 from about 1980 instead.

Anyway...just for casual shooting, how does the crowd feel about a long tube? I will say that I did briefly own a later 8 3/8" Classic and I did NOT like the full-length underlug on it.

Rob
Click to expand...

Gotta be 6.5 as that is the Dirty Harry length, followed by 4" as that is the Elmer Keith length.
 
To actually shoot, rather than look at, the 8-3/8” gun is by far the most pleasant, IMO, and the 6-1/2” gun is a nice compromise between the long barrel and the 4”, which is just plain vicious, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve always been able to shoot the two longer barrels with about equal accuracy, but I can shoot more rounds from the 8-3/8” gun before recoil-fatigue starts to set in. The 4” gun is basically a heavy-duty 44 Special, as I use it. (900-1000 FPS loads.)

My order of preference, based on shooting more than carrying, is 6-1/2”, 8-3/8”, and 4” - but they are all nice to have.
 
The M29 with a 4” barrel is one of the finest looking revolvers ever made. Additionally, it’s something you can carry in the woods all day. It’s not even close, in my view.
 
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