This 329PD was sitting on consignment for over a year, slowly working its way down in price. I'd play with it, but never really considered it until a couple of trade-bait guns I had on consignment at the same place sold. Not so coincidentally the price on the 329 dropped two hundred bucks when I walked in the door to pick up my dough. Ah well, I would have just wasted it on bills or something foolish....



Its not a bad looking gun. I like the two-tone appearance, and the slab barrel is growing on me.



Its my first lock gun, and I find it doesn't really bother me. If I keep it I may do the plug, but most likely I'll just forget its there. I've read this particular model is prone to locking itself due to the sharp recoil. If that happens I'll most definitely do the plug. The frame mounted firing pin is fine with me.



I like the sights.





I've decided the barrel marking is merely an optimistic suggestion. My wrists have taken enough of a beating over the years. I'll stick to Specials.



They look scary enough.



I've never really like Hogues. I've read the X-frame grips are the way to go, but since I'll be sticking to girly-rounds I ordered some Pachmayr round butt compacts. I'll keep my eyes out for some decent wood grips, too.

I've seen a few threads on these, and figured one more wouldn't hurt. They seem to be popular with folks who live amongst fearsome beasts, but that's not the case with me. I'd love to hear the experiences of others who have one of these interesting six-shooters.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I really like mine. It has the Ahrends wood grips and recoil is not that bad even with magnum rounds.or so my son says. I only shoot some warm reloads through it.

Nice score.
It's on my to buy list. I like the idea of a large caliber in a lightweight gun. The guys in Alaska seem to love them.

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Watch & Pray

I have the 329 night guard with the stainless cylinder & 2 3/4 barrel. The thing I don't like is the price of the ammo. The specials are $10 more than the magnums.

It makes for a great trail gun, but since it is lighter weight than a similarly-sized steel revolver, it could also work well as a CCW with the right holster.

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I'm with the banned ...

Its the ultimate mountain revolver. Nothing else comes close to the power these lite weight guns offer, in a belt gun. I use mine for both town and country in a rig from simply rugged. For what its worth, these are the guns that cured my "lock phobia". I have one 329 that has over 2K through it. Not all full bore magnums but way more then enough to know it reliable with them. It gets the same everyday loads all my 44's get, an rcbs 250 at 950. I have total confidence in these guns, one of my all time favorites. I bet you'll enjoy yours.

Very nice catch! But, if you ever decide to shoot full Magnums in it make sure your dentures are glued in really tight.

Bob

I just took a ride out into the BLM to give it a quick test shoot.

The nice thing about New Mexico is its almost all BLM or Indian reservations. Five minutes from my house I saw the buzzards circling and found the leftovers of a bovine of some sort.



Ammo was Blazer 200 grain .44 Specials. The skull wasn't much fun - it was still a little stinky but had dried enough to not give those .44 slugs much to do.



The gun handled well, though. The Specials were very pleasant to shoot, and the action was as nice as many of my older Smiths. That red fiber optic front sight glowed like it was on fire.

I found a nice fat leg bone and propped it up. It was still pretty wet and smelly.



One shot from 10 yards or so shattered it nicely. There was a surprisingly large and aromatic amount of marrow inside which managed to find me without difficulty. Good thing the wife wasn't along or I would have been walking home.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Congrats!

I'm a big fan of the 329 -- have had 3, still have 2. One of my well used guns:
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At one time (for about two years) these were my most used handguns 6" FA83 .475 Linebaugh, FA97 4 1/4" .45 Colt and the 329 PD.
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Enjoy that 329!

Paul

Nice gun! I think the Blazer 200 gr .44 Specials would suffice for most situations. How was the recoil with those?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

It wasn't bad at all - no worse than a .45ACP revolver and noticeably more pleasant than a .357 in a light or medium weight gun.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

They do seem to be well made guns, at least based on what I have seen and others I've talked with whose opinions I trust. My own gun has a rather questionable looking barrel. Maybe I should send it back and ask S&W to have a look at it, but as busy as they seem to be, I haven't gotten around to it. It is so rough looking I am a little leery of using lead bullets in it.

I have the Hogue "X" model stocks on my gun. They are not compact, but I don't anticipate using the gun anywhere except in the backcountry so that doesn't worry me, and they are fairly good at taming the worst effects of the gun's recoil.

As CWH44300 mentioned, a 250K at about 950 FPS is plenty in this gun, for me. I have a new mold from Accurate for a 230 gr Keith-type, which I intend to give a try in the 329 sometime before too long, at about the same velocity. Should be even a little easier on the shooter. I can shoot the gun with magnum loads, but it is NO fun - at all.

Enjoy your new sixgun and let us know what you think of it when you get a chance to shoot other ammunition through it. Though not quite in the same class with bears and snakes, 329s always seem to make a popular topic for conversation.

JAFO: from "Blue Thunder": Just Another 'Flipping' Observer.

Sorry, hadda do that. BTW, prefer the steel frame .44M's.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I had a questionable barrel in my 340pd. I found a no lock one & checked everything except the barrel and when I cleaned it it had scored lands & some kind of lump in a groove. S&W installed a new barrel no charge.

I carry those Blazer 200g HP Specials in my 696 and 624 (as well as my Ruger Alaskan) on hikes, etc. They are some of the nastiest SD rounds I have seen ... looking at a full cylinder reminds me of a fistful of tiny piranhas. Minimal recoil ... maximum mean.

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I'm with the banned ...

I've got a bunch of those .44Spl 200gr Blazers you mention. Any idea what they chrono at? 44Spls have always been loaded light.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Here's some info I found that may be useful:

Blazer - Blazer

44 Special Ballistics Chart | Ballistics 101

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I'm with the banned ...

Many thanks. Cool website. Didn't realize there were so many .44Spl loads out there. They still seem a bit "thin," not that I'm ready to stand in front of one...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Thanks for the web site info. I love ballistics and many years ago ( 40 + )
I had most all the calibers memorised, but back them we only had a few
manufacture's of ammo.

Congrats on the new 329PD. I've had one for several years. Got it as a back-up/defense gun while bowhunting in the high mountain back country. It's perfect for that. Great power-to-weight ratio. Much less muzzle blast than other rounds, and that's important in a field gun that you might have to quickly employ during an emergency (without hearing protection.) I've also concealed carry it around my place in the country, or in town at times.

I know you are only shooting girly loads, but you should check those Blazers for bullet pull. I had a box of 44mag Blazer girly-loads where the bullets pulled out and tied up the 329 - they were 240gr @975fps.

One nice thing about girly loads is that you can use those pretty wood grips.

Been handling one of these at the gunshot lately I kinda figure there isn't much a 240gr slug ag 950 to 1000 FPS cant handle here in Indiana

Here is some information you might find helpful - S&W329pd Information

I've noticed that they are shipping the new ones with some nice rubber grips that cover the backstrap and look very much like Hogues - good. Mine came with some pretty wood grips and some rubber grips both of which were very painful when shooting regular 44mag fodder.

I haven't been shooting mine all that much this year, (bags of 44mag ammo lying around), but the 329pd pretty much always accompanies me whenever a belt holstered weapon is acceptable. I just like the power upgrade from my autoloaders.

I have shot a couple of those revolvers owned by friends.

Here is one thing I have discovered about them that also applies to the all light weight 44 Mag revolvers, including the steel S&W Mountain Revolvers.

For Bear Protection;
They are actually more comfortable to shoot with the Speer 270gr Gold Dot SP and the Federal 300gr Cast Core, than they are with the normal full power Federal, Winchester, Remington 240 gr 44 Mag ammo...

If you want more thump than 44 Special loads for Urban self defense, try the Speer 200gr Short Barreled load.

If you are like me, you enjoy your 329PD so much you find yourself buying a 329NG also! My favorite 44 specials ever to carry and they will also chamber and fire 44 Magnums! I LOVE to shoot my Thunder Ranch 21-4, but I have a much easier time carrying my 329s!

Groo here
If S&W will do it, have the gun fitted with a steel cylinder,
Ti for carry, SS for targets.

I love those and I don't believe they are much "more horrible" to shoot than a full bore 357 out of my 360 scandium. And while mine isn't a PD, the titanium cylinder really lightens the gun. I could tell the difference holding each in a hand. And my gun is really light.

I think somebody measured/calculated recoil and found that those uber-light 357mags were way worse than the 329pd. But then again none of this category are range guns.

They will I had mine done to match my 329pd

What is the reason for using a stainless cylinder?

dla - I haven't found any bullet pull yet, but I'll keep checking.

I swapped out the Hogues for Pachmayr Compacts. These are the only Packies I really like, and I think they are a good fit for my uses.

I graduated from girly-loads to young-woman-in-comfortable-shoes-loads. I was in Santa Fe for a trial this week and found a box of HSM .44 Magnum Cowboy loads. They are advertised as a 240 grain lead semi-wadcutter at 1150 fps.



Back out to the picturesque BLM. The HSM loads were definitely a step up from the Blazers, but still very controllable with the Packies, which cover the backstrap. I found I was shooting high - just putting the red basketball front sight in the V notch results in the top of the sight being well above the level of the rear sight. Once I concentrated on keeping a good sight picture I was right on target.

I waited a good while to be attacked by a bear, but no bruins materialized. A fresh cooking pot did wander by, and I let fly with my new loads.



I'm working my way up to some hairy-chested bear-killing carpal tunnel-inducing rounds. I'll keep y'all advised.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Hi Sir I did it for a cosmetic reason, I just liked having a 4" version of the 329AK/BP it only added a couple onces and I just like the stainless steel look preferably the unfluted cylinder.... but I didnt think that would look right here....I have a S&W 69 coming soon I wonder if it will give the 329pd a run for the money...I love carrying the 329pd when out and about

I'm a fan of flap holsters for field carry, and in keeping with the theme of keeping things lightweight I got this Skyball Mountain holster. It is well made and seems to be a bargain at $25:



The flap is a little large, but the velcro grips like grim death:



It has both a belt loop and a clip, and best of all its made in the USA:



Looks like a good fit for my 329.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I have the 4" 325 PD which I have shot quite a bit in IDPA matches. I put Pachmayr Decelerators on mine and it ran well. However, with a semiauto round like 45 ACP bullet jump is very real. On one stage, I had 3 rounds left as I unloaded. I found unburned powder in my hand and a jacketed 230 gr. stuck in my cylinder. On the next stage I had a squib as the bullet had moved out of the case before I fired. The bullet almost made it out the barrel but was stuck fast.

I won't use this gun for PD for sure. I'll clean it up and sell it.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

I have yet to own a 44. The 329 always catches my eyes at gun shops. Like the F.O. front sight, and would look & feel nice w/ some fancy wood on it. If nothing else, I have my 625JM. Bob

Thanks for this post, scary though it is. Almost seems like the company is allowing us to do the field testing of the titanium/scandium guns, only after we buy them. I've had .38Spl bullet jump in a scandium 360 when it usually occurs only with certain .357 loads. Also had to "test out" my 337 and 342 for this.

Surprised to hear it happened in .45ACP. Wonder why my even lighter .45 derringers don't have this problem: less torque, maybe?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I have a 442 I pocket carry all the time. I also shoot it in IDPA BUG stages to make sure bullets aren't jumping the crimp....so far so good. It's a good idea to test carry ammo too.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Also take a look at the Buffalo Bore 44 special loads. They make some great self defense loads and some great field and hunting loads that would be perfect in any of the light weight 44 Magnums.

I've been looking at the 329 off and on for while. Had a chance to buy a used one years ago for $500 but the seller said it hurt so bad to shoot he was selling. I own a 460 and don't have trouble shooting it.
I just found a used one for $800 and hesitantly put it on layaway.
Want does the recoil compare to in the 329?

I don't think you will have any problems. My 329 is stout but not painful. My 340pd is much worse!

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balin
NRA Life Member

I'm an avid backpacker and bought my first 329PD to lighten my trail load. I carried heavy Garrett rounds in my 629 Mountain Gun and planned to use them in the PD.
In a word: OUCH! I was rethinking my plan.
Then I read an article about shooting heavy loads and adapted my technique. I had painful wrists a few times, and my right hand just ached.
First change was to Crimson Trace Hog Hunter grips. Then, MagNaPort quad trapezoid ports. These made the gun satisfactorily controllable. I would never think of using the wooden grips. I have a second one. I bought it from a guy at a gunshow who displayed it with a box of ammo that had 11 or 12 rounds fired. The guy said he hated it and just wanted to dump it. I bought it. I'm always happy to let people shoot them side-by-side and THEN tell me it is "pleasant" to shoot.

I have since stepped down to less mangling loads that will still do for black bears and cougars.

Holsters: I used flap-over and strap-over holsters for years. Then I saw a cougar rocketing down a slope not 100 feet in front of me and realized that anything that delayed getting the muzzle up and pointed was a very bad idea. I now use a thumb-break holster, or a custom holster I have, with the strap tucked back.

I have not fired nearly as many rounds through mine as other say. With any thing I'd consider a trail load it is just too painful and potentially dangerous to shoot much. I do plink with it occasionally, using my handloads that use magnum shells but loaded to Cowboy or .44 Special velocities.
STill, it's waaay down the list of guns I routinely take to the range.

I've had my first one since 2004, carrying it every year for at least part of the trails, and on the occasional day hike. I have had no problem with the lock.

Just picked up my 329pd from the LGS where it was getting a much needed trigger job. I was shooting the gun very well in single action but was not as proficient in DA compared to my other big SW's. I felt that the gun being so light and a pretty heavy pull was causing me to shake just a bit. Anyways when i walked in to pick it up the counter guys ask if I had ever shot it. Of course I told them last time out i ran 40 rounds or so through it. About that time the burly gunsmith brought it out and the guys started to give him the business. Apparently the owner requires that after a trigger job the work must be tested. The test is 6 rounds SA and 6 DA rapid fire. Well it had the wood grips on it and I guess it punshised him pretty good. He wanted to meet the bad a** that could shoot 40 rounds out of it in one range trip. I'm not little 6 foot 230lbs but he is bigger and has catcher mitts for hands. He looked at me and said its hard to believe you "shot 40" out of it. To which i quickly responded I shot home made 44 specials, I'm not stupid enough to try and shoot off magnums with those grips. Everyone present had a good hearted laugh at his expense.

I haven't shot a 460, but the 329PD is very manageable with the right grips.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”