Opinions on current production 629 "Deluxe" model.

HamHands

HamHands

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As the title says... I'm interested in opinions on the current production 629 Deluxe model with a 3" barrel. I like the idea of the concealment and carry of a 3" .44Special around town and .44Mags in the woods. I keep being outbid on Gun Broker for 629-1 models by several hundred dollars at a time. So unless I want to dish out 2K... I'm going to have to settle on current production 629's. Anyone here have a Deluxe model and have anything good or bad to say about them? I can remove the dreaded lock and install an Original Precision plug competently now so the fact the new Smiths have a lock is a bit moot.

Thanks,
Ham
 
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My opinion is that an N Frame is not a CCW for around town (fine for the Woods) - but to each his own.

Personally for many reasons I don't buy any Smiths made after the mid 1990's so a new production Smith is out of the question to me. I'm sure many here would disagree with my practices and opinions, but you did ask and there it is.

I am just an old school guy (when it comes to guns and tools) and I believe I know what real quality is and what it is not. It's still a free Country and you are free to buy anything you want - but I'd truly recommend rethinking a 629 for concealed carry. :o

PS: There are still plenty of vintage Smiths around that are available if you are considering an older version.
 
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chief38 said:
My opinion is that an N Frame is not a CCW for around town (fine for the Woods) - but to each his own.

Personally for many reasons I don't buy any Smiths made after the mid 1990's so a new production Smith is out of the question to me. I'm sure many here would disagree with my practices and opinions, but you did ask and there it is.

I am just an old school guy (when it comes to guns and tools) and I believe I know what real quality is and what it is not. It's still a free Country and you are free to buy anything you want - but I'd truly recommend rethinking a 629 for concealed carry. :o

PS: There are still plenty of vintage Smiths around that are available if you are considering an older version.
Click to expand...

Hahaha! I'm a large guy and am currently carrying a 4" barreled 625 in .45acp for around town now!:D With an Azula holster and a Beltman bullhide belt it wears nice and being winter my North Face covers the OWB holster really well. I've always wanted a .44Special and the fact the 629 is a Magnum and I can shoot Specials out of it is a huge plus for me. I have a pair of vintage M-36's that are part of the carry rotation in Spring and Summer I pocket carry for warm/hot weather.

I appreciate your honest opinion about the newer Smiths. I'm old school too when it comes to a lot of things. Hence the vintage Colt Agent and 70's Smith Chief's Specials. But after searching for a year for a Model 25 with no luck I got a 625 and it's actually been good.
 
629

I'm a medium-to-large frame guy who easily carries my 629-6 on my right hip in an OWB holster in all kinds of weather. After a few minutes I forget I'm even carrying.

I really this this S&W. It is dead on accurate after a slight adjustment from factory settings and .44 magnum cartridges are only slightly stout with my Pacmayr Diamond Pro grips.

My only complaint is that it tends to produce a lot of smoke upon cartridge discharge. Other than that, I'm a fan.
 
Have a 629 3" Deluxe. Quality is excellent. Rides just fine in a Simply Rugged pancake holster with a good belt. I buy pants large enough to accomodate an N frame or full sized 1911. It is my concealed carry when my "around town" has some woods walking mixed in. I carry what I shoot best. When I think my carry is too heavy, I head to the weight room for a workout.

.... and yep those are Speer 44 Mag Gold Dots at about 500 ft/lbs. The have a hollow point you can see from across the room. Cavity is so big, you feel it needs safety tape around it to keep folks from falling in.
 

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I love the way that mine feels and how accurately it shoots. For comfort, I changed the wood grips for a set of Model 500 Hogues. Made shooting much more comfortable for me.
 
For years, I was in the same camp as Chief 38. I wouldn't give current production S&Ws a second look and only purchased the "good" older ones.
A bit over a year ago, I found a 629-6 at a price too good to walk away from. I figured I could use it to trade with. However, after shooting it a while, I was smitten by it. It is everything my older guns are plus it has the smoothest action of any N-frame that I own. I replaced the lock with the "plug" and have made it my go to .44. My only complaint is the barrel/cylinder gap measures .010 which makes for a lot of smut on the cylinder and frame. It is within current S&W specs and it shoots straight so, I can accept it the way it is. I am a convert and no longer shun new S&Ws with their MIM parts, ILs, and increased tolerances. They are good guns and you can trust S&W to stand behind them.
 
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Jdavis said:
For years, I was in the same camp as Chief 38. I wouldn't give current production S&Ws a second look and only purchased the "good" older ones.
A bit over a year ago, I found a 629-6 at a price too good to walk away from. I figured I could use it to trade with. However, after shooting it a while, I was smitten by it. It is everything my older guns are plus it has the smoothest action of any N-frame that I own. I replaced the lock with the "plug" and have made it my go to .44. My only complaint is the barrel/cylinder gap measures .010 which makes for a lot of smut on the cylinder and frame. It is within current S&W specs and it shoots straight so, I can accept it the way it is. I am a convert and no longer shun new S&Ws with their MIM parts, ILs, and increased tolerances. They are good guns and you can trust S&W to stand behind them.
Click to expand...

I agree with most of what you say except for increased tolerances. Many of my 70s and 80s smiths have looser tolerances than new ones. Barrel cylinder gaps tend to be larger, endshake and lockup looser, side plates fit less precise,small machining imperfections ( all on guns shot very little) than some of my recent purchases. This idea of closer tolerances on 70s and 80s guns is wishful thinking and nostalgia in my opinion. My new 57 classic is better fitted and tighter than most of my older smiths. I do hate the lock but I am past it after almost 20 years
 
While I have no experience with the new larger frame Smiths, I did eventually try a new IL S&W, with a preconceived notion that I wouldn't like it, but could trade it off at the price I in it for. It's a 617-6, a 10 shot 22 LR with a 4" barrel, and I like it! I decided to keep it, added Wolfe springs and a Hi-Viz front sight and bought it a a nice holster.

It has a very nice finish on the outside, and very clean on the inside. Tight, accurate and smooth operating. The little black hole doesn't even bother me now. I'm sure I'll now be more open to trades that might include a new model Smith. I'm one of the converted die hard "never own one" fellows now. I'm pretty sure you'll think the same thing after shooting the new current production 629.
 
Hamhands, I do not have a "new" S&W with lock and MIM parts but I do have a 3"bbl, round butt model 629-1 that is my woods carry revolver. I have found it to be the best, sweetest shooting revolver I own. A number of people complain that it is hard recoiling. I have not found that to be the case. Because of the short bbl it is not ideal for 100yd yard shooting but I limit it to 25yds as a defensive and woods gun. It is extremely accurate. I have found that at 25yds it shoots to the same POI with my 1000fps hand loads and with factory 44mag loads. Keep looking and find a 3" 44mag. and you will love it, lock or not.
 
I just got a 629 Deluxe 3" last week. I have several smiths without the lock and several with the lock.

I decided a while ago I wouldn't deprive myself of new S&W revolvers just because of the lock. I haven't shot the new 629 yet. But the over all fit and finish is as good as any older S&W I have and those include a 629-3, 686-3, 686-5 and a 19-7 PC K Comp.
 
629

gaspipes said:
I just got a 629 Deluxe 3" last week. I have several smiths without the lock and several with the lock.

I decided a while ago I wouldn't deprive myself of new S&W revolvers just because of the lock. I haven't shot the new 629 yet. But the over all fit and finish is as good as any older S&W I have and those include a 629-3, 686-3, 686-5 and a 19-7 PC K Comp.
Click to expand...

You are obviously a man of great taste and judgment!
 
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