I’m really on the hunt to find a 4 inch beauty and these 6 inch and 8 3/8 inch revolvers keep falling into my lap….. Gentleman is asking $1600 and I think it’s fair…. I just don’t “need it” but it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it….

Thoughts…

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I'd much rather regret having that one than to regret not having it......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

The long barrel 44 Magnums are my favorites .

Bill

Nice gun but I would keep looking for what you really want if I were you. I don't see much use for the 8 3/8 length except for hunting.

Because an 8 3/8" barrel are so cool. Sexy.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

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SWCA #3713

Hunting and target shooting (benching and freehand). What else do you do with a 44 Magnum?

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Where we go one, we go all

More photos and a newer 29-1 possibly in the works

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The only benefit I see in the long Tom’s is that they aren’t as punishing on the ears as the shorter barreled mode.

They are over sized for field carry

Here! Here!
I concur!!

Every performance aspect that distinguishes the 44 Magnum cartridge, as compared to more typical handgun cartridges, is enhanced by the longer barrel.

If you know how to truly use iron sights, the extra sight radius is a benefit for accuracy. The further away the target, the more important this becomes.
The longer barrel will also better dampen recoil, reduce muzzle blast, and offer improved muzzle velocity.

As a personal aside, I primarily shoot Bullseye style (one hand, deliberate aimed shooting). I decided to develop a regimen so I could better shoot the long barrel 44s this way. It took some practice and physical training, but has paid off. For me it is rewarding.

Comfortable field carry depends on careful holster selection. At one time, S&W offered some real dandies!!

But, a nice 4” model 29 is pretty cool too!

PS: to 357doubletapp, that sure is a nice looking 29! Great condition!

I agree with Bill. FWIW, if I had to choose between a 4” or an 8-3/8” to shoot .44 Magnums it would be the 8-3/8” every time. The 4” would be my last choice.

I don’t care for the 8 3/8” guns…… unless it’s a Model 29 44 Magnum!
They are just cool. Maybe because the first M29 I ever fired was the long barrel gun. I owned one in 41 Mag but it just wasn’t the same.

Dan

If you bothered to actually read the OP's post you would see that he said he was on the hunt for a 4". I have two 4" 29-2s, one blue and one nickel. Beautiful well balanced revolvers that are terrific for easy shooting light to mid range cast bullet loads. And as far as a revolver being "Sexy" Words escape me

If it's a "backup/dupe" to one you already have you can always keep the best one & use the other towards a trade when you find the 4" that you seek.

Why??? Because the long ones are BEAUTIFULLLLL!!!





















... and they are a great canvas for talented engravers.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Wow. Talk about, "whipping out the big guns", just awesome! I only have one long tube, but it's not a 44 magnum. It's a 45 Colt I bought twelve years ago because of its completeness and reasonable price of $1K, at the time.



Here is a photo of my 29-2 4" just to stoke the fire, for the OP's search.

I had 8 3/8 inch Models 29-3 and a 25-5 just to have them. The 45 Colt was shot ocassionally and the 44 Mag was a Safe Queen because I had a six inch that shot significantly better than it.

Now those are nice! I really do enjoy the longer barrels. I love my 10mm in 6 inch barrels. I am really heavy into revolvers now

I think I would like the 4 inch to be in 357 magnum. I have not fired many 44 magnums I do have 41 magnums but in longer barrels and I don't know how "fun on my body" the short barrel cannons will be..

I'm going to guess that none of the pistols in RKmesa's pics are his woods guns. I love long barrels but the only one I own is a M27 8 3/8". I bought it was because of its looks. No pic since the thread's about M29's.

My first S&W .44 Magnum was the long one---after more than a few years of being unable to have any----besides the Ruger---and it was an instant favorite because it was pretty!

It also proved the efficacy of my favorite load---a rather civilized load (compared to the factory's thunder and lightning version which I fired exactly once)!! (Both the S&W and my Ruger put those rounds into 4" at 100 yards from the bench). Color me impressed!!

Ralph Temaine

Yeah, I'll take an 8 incher over a 4 every day.

My longest 44 is a 6.5" Model 29-2,
Had a 3.5" 29-3 but sold it years ago,

The 4" 629 Mountain guns are really neat but my favorites are the 5" 29-5 and 629-4 Classic full underlug, guess you could call them the Goldilocks, not too long, not too short, not too heavy, not too light.

Nice looking gun, I like the 8 3/8” guns and would buy that.