A few years ago, I purchased a model 29-3. Since then, I have enjoyed shooting a modest amount of rounds that were a mixture of .44 special and .44 magnum loads. I have had no issues and it appears to be a beautiful gun. Recently, I have read a lot more about the versions of this model. The previous versions were P&R and the versions afterward have the endurance package. Although I don’t put very many rounds through this gun I wanted to ask a question. Is there anything wrong with this version or are the other versions just more preferred? I have attached a couple of pics for reference. Thanks for the input.

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The old school P&R guns are preferred by collectors.
The endurance package guns are preferred by people who like to shoot a LOT of the really HOT magnums.
For the rest of us, a 29-3 will do just fine.
I have one - the Classic Hunter variant. I load & shoot mostly "light magnums" (hotter than specials but not as hot as most factory-loaded magnums). I doubt that I will ever shoot enough hot stuff to have an issue with wear on the gun. I'm pretty sure I'll be worn out long before it is.
BTW, that is some mighty pretty wood on that one of yours.

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Nothing wrong with 29-3's whatsoever! I own one myself with 8 3/8 inch barrel. Lucky to get it with box and all the goodies. The reason they tend to be less desirable is exactly why you mentioned. Earlier guns were P& R and the later hand endurance upgrades. Also 629's of any dash are more desirable because they are stainless. I enjoy shooting mine too as should and be proud to own it too! Sorry not the best pictures but just had to include more pics into this thread for proud 29-3 owners.

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I have a 4 inch like yours I bought it new long ago and have shot it a lot but not many full house magnums. No issues yet. I expect it will outlast me.

I appreciate the note. John Culina made the grips out of Snakewood. I really like his grips. They feel as good as they look.

Thanks for the info. That’s a beautiful gun you have there. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Should'a guessed as much. He does do some of the nicest wood I've seen anywhere.

I had a nickel 29-2, 4" and a 29-3 6". Be it right or wrong, I got rid of the -2, and kept the -3. I am not sorry about it. Bob

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That's a good looking gun Cellar Hound. From what I understand, when the factory introduced the dash 3 minus the P&R features the purists welcomed it the same way most have the IL & MIM parts of the current revolvers. I'm sure it was a money & labor saving move but not a thing wrong with the gun. The only downside is the top strap isn't drilled & tapped for a scope mount. I own a few myself.

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Don't You Ever Wash That Thing

I got one from Fugate's that is 99%; it was $950 because the original owner had it Mag-na-ported. I took the grips off and put the Hogue Monogrip on it, as it's a shooter and I don't want to screw up the perfect Goncalo Alves grips - I see those at some pretty high prices here.

I never had a ported revolver before; it shoots well, but I can't tell much difference in recoil - blast from the ports would be a problem if using it without muffs, but I'm unlikely to fire it without'em. The ports have residue that goes toward the muzzle after firing, but it wipes right off.

My 29 collection consisted of -2's and -3's.I probaly shot the dash 3's more than tha -2's.No problem with shooting these guns weekly with hot and mild reloads for several years.

OP, send me an email if you want to rid yourself of that -3, please. :-)

Here is a 29-3 that I bought in 1985 and tried real hard to shoot loose with a steady diet of 240gr JHP in front of a full load of H110. It has shot many deer and punched a bunch of holes in paper out to 200yds! It has finish issues(deer blood and holster wear) but "it takes a licking and keeps on ticking"! I really think it will out last me!


jcelect

I have a 4" 29-3. In retrospect, it is the gun that brought me to this forum.....and an interest in S&W. (So it has cost me plenty, ugh). I think of the -3 as the years least attractive playmate. Some of the others may be more desirable......but it"s still a playmate!

Thanks for the comments. That’s some really nice hardware you have there!

Thanks for the reply. All things being equal I think mine will likely out last me as well.

That’s a very nice gun. Thanks for the reply.

He does make good grips, doesn't he. I also have a set on a 4inch 29-3. Like many others here I have no problem with a -3 variant as I also shoot mostly .44 Special with the occasional cylinder of magnums thrown in for good measure.








On another note, I notice that among the pics in this thread all the 4inch versions have target trigger and hammer as well as red inserts. I wonder if that was the standard setup for factory 4inch 29-3's.

That’s a beautiful gun there. What kind of wood is that? It looks like some grips that John made for me using American Holly. Here they are on my 629 Classic.

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Lots of things are great in the real world but not on the internet.

As Abraham Lincoln once noted, "Information found on the internet can be hard to verify."

You called it, American Holly. I like the way it looks like slightly aged ivory, without the aged ivory cost. Waiting on him to finish a set of RB combat grips in Gaboon ebony for my 3inch 65-3.

I have a 29-3 { 6" bbl } i bought new in the box, about 8 years ago, as well as the 29-3 version 10" Silhouette model { with box & paperwork } purchased about 5 years ago. Both are very reliable and fine shooters with never any issues shooting either .44 mag., or .44 specials. I reload for 9 different calibers, and almost never use factory ammo. Both are great guns in my humble opinion.

I think most 29-3's are just fine, they just lack the pinned barrel and recessed chambers of the older Model 29's. You will find some that did not receive good attention to details, but they are still fine shooters. Since they lack the endurance upgrades, I would treat them the same way you should treat the older Model 29's. Don't beat them to death with magnum loads using bullets heavier than 240 grains.

I bought a new 29-2 in 1982 and a new 29-3 in 1983. Both were fired for years with mostly magnum handloads. During that time, I don't recall using .44 Special loads in either gun but am pretty sure that I did fire at least a few. Both revolvers have held up well; can't really tell the difference.

About three or four years ago, I stopped loading .44 magnum ammo altogether and don't miss it. .44 Special is far more pleasant to shoot in 29s or 24s.

Celler Hound, the only the only thing that I can see that is immediately wrong with your 29-3 is that it does not belong to me. Beautiful 4" revolver. I have a 6 1/2" and an 8 3/8" 29-2 and a 3" 629-1. They all shoot well.

My first 29 was a -3. I bought it new in about 1987 and still have it.


I did shoot it out of time slightly and ended up putting an earlier recessed cylinder in it that corrected the timing.


You have to understand though the first few years of this guns life it got shot daily A LOT. I did the hot 300gr loads for a while and I would hazard a guess it has had north of 30,000 warm 44 special loads through it. The top strap is not bad, but you see a defined flame cutting ring around each chamber.


It will go in the oven with me.

How did you deal with the frame lug? Curious.

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If it's a 29-3, but not P&R, does that mean it is the endurance package?

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In Omnia Paratus

29-3 was the change that eliminated the pin and recessed chambers, but did nothing else. S&W's endurance package was phased in. The 29-3E was the first to have some endurance improvements. The 29-3E had a longer bearing surface on the cylinder yoke and the yoke was hardened.

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Which would be a better revolver to shoot hot factory loads through, a 29-3E or a 29-4? I think both had TT &TH and came in the wood case? Thanks for the advice.

The 29-3 was introduced in 1983. Sometime in this time frame S&W stopped the practice of shipping the N frame guns with a Mahogany Presentation case.
However the same type case could be purchased as an after market item until sometime in 1985. After 1985 a totally new look was incorporated into the presentation cases. The case on the left is the type of 1983 and the case on the right is the type after 1985(the interior was made of blue foam rubber).


jcelect

You have the exact model I own and as has been stated, collectors may shun it but a shooter will not. Load, shoot, enjoy, repeat.

The 29-4 introduced radius frame studs and the self-adjusting yoke screw, so it is more durable than the 29-3E. The absolute best Model 29's for durability are the 29-5 and later.

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