I just bought a 629 Classic off of Gunbroker. It will be my first large caliber handgun, so I'm pretty excited. I keep looking at the pictures wishing I had it in my hands, but it will be here soon enough. Any suggestions for care? I plan on buying a reloader, but will have to shoot some factory rounds until I can get some casings to reload. Cabelas has a Lee Breech Lock Challenger starter kit on sale, so I thought I would try it out. Here are some pics:

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are you going to hunt with it?

Yes...I have primarily hunted with a bow for deer, but a handgun would be fun to hunt with out of a treestand. My hunting spots are pretty heavily wooded, so 20-25 yards is about max shot distance.

That's a fine tool. Why not just buy fresh cases instead of purchasing factory ammunition? Do you plan on using the scope?

I'm new to the handgun game...I guess I didn't know you could buy casings. I plan onmtrying it with and without the scope...I'm hoping that the scope works for me.

Congratulations on your new 629.

I highly recommend this cleaning cloth for the carbon staining on Stainless Steel, (do not use it on Blued guns).

video example:

Birchwood Casey Lead Remover & Polishing Cloth - YouTube

Good shooting.

FLITZ or Mothers Mag Wheel Polish will shine up the stainless like new. You will get more use out of the polish than a carbon removing cloth (those do work well though)

Empty "casings" are brass If you are not a reloader yet, certainly save your factory brass.

If you are only loading one caliber the Breech lock press is fine and a good way to learn reloading (single stage) without spending a lot of money. If you think you will reload more or other calibers, look at the Lee Classic Turret press.

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Still Running Against the Wind

looks like a nice one - 629's are well liked around here - congrats

radtuck,

I am in the same boat. I just ordered a new 629 PC model. It should be at my dealer's place early next week...I hope. I keep looking at the pictures and wishing it were here. I don't plan to use mine for hunting...much. It only has a 2.625" barrel.

I reload 44MAG so it should be pretty cost effective to shoot. I have loaded some 44MAG to 44SPL power which should be some good plinking loads. I've tried them in my levergun but not in a revolver yet.

My load is 5.5gr of TITEGROUP pushing a 180gr Nosler JHP bullet. Very low recoil in my levergun. Only problem is the empty casings have big powder burns on them since the casing does not expand much.

CONGRATS on your 629 !
Your gonna LOVE it ------------
My 629's are among some of my favorites to shoot.





Ernie

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S&W .500 Magnums RULE !

I'm going backwards from you - I have owned several 629 Classics for years, including a 5" DX, but will be picking up a 6" 629-1 tomorrow. I used to like the full-underlug barrels best and have a half-dozen 686s but still prefer the K-frame Model 66, so I'm basically buying a 44-caliber Model 66.

Ed

Awesome...thanks to you all for the responses. I will be coming back with questions, I'm sure. Great place for information! Since this will be my only handgun, I think the press I'm looking at will fit the bill...I may upgrade someday, though.
When I get the gun, is there anything in particular I should look for as far as QA issues? I haven't read about many problems with the 629's, but I haven't done extensive research, either.

As to QA issues, it either works or it don't. (not trying to be a wise arse) Here is a checklist (kind hard to do when buying online)

Revolver Checkout Procedure

The Lee Breech Lock kit is fine, I still have mine and loaded a lot of ammo with it, My Only suggestion is buy another powder scale. The Lee scale is actually accurate but a real pain to use and to read it correctly. The powder scale and correct charge is the most important factor in reloading. Forget the cheap electronic scales also, they fluctuate to much. A Dillon, RCBS, beam balance scale is worth it.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Thanks for the advice!!!
John

Ed,

Any chance you can post a couple of pictures of your 5" DX? I did not know there were 5" DX's. What dash number is it?

Thanks,
Chuck

Great looking rig indeed. We expect a pic of your first deer kill.

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Lt. Dan, what R U doing here?

https://www.starlinebrass.com/produc.../44-Mag-Brass/

or if you prefer Nickel

https://www.starlinebrass.com/order-...kel-plated.cfm