Model 629-1 Accuracy 4 inch

utex88 · Dec 3, 2021

Folks, I’ve been shooting for 30 years, but I don’t consider my skills to be anywhere near the top 5-10 percent on this forum. Still…I bought this well-used but not abused 629-1 from 1983 off GB a few months ago. Shockingly, the grips appear original. It was a good enough shooter that I had my gunsmith at 1911 Academy in McKinney, Texas break it down, give it a full cleaning, a custom trigger job and a replacement of the broken orange sight insert. The results of accuracy with a four-inch barrel staggered me; the pic is 18 rounds using full house 240 gr SWC at 10 yards. Blew me away. And…what fun! With all the Glocks at the range who can’t group into a pie plate at 7 yards, this flash, bang and accuracy gets attention.

She is a keeper. For a reloader like me, you can power it up or power it down. The versatility of this gun is unparalleled. What a testament to the S&W quality of the 1980s…

stansdds · Dec 3, 2021

Nice shooting! Barrel length has so little to do with accuracy. As long as the bullet is properly stabilized, it does not matter if it is a 2 inch barrel or a 10 inch barrel. I will say that a longer barrel gives a longer sight radius, which makes it easier to realize the intrinsic accuracy of the firearm when shooting by hand.

SLT223 · Dec 3, 2021

Forty Four has gotten more than couple people into reloading, me included. Your mention of versatility is key. You can make the big frame guns shoot like a K38 with wadcutters if you want. I would highly recommend a set of brownells magna tip drivers for side plate screws. It makes spring swaps and internal cleaning a snap….not that you need to get in there for cleaning with any frequency. The 629 is probably my favorite firearm, and four inch at that.

ronbwolf · Dec 3, 2021

That is a good group in anyones book. I would move my sight 2 clicks to the right, but that's me.

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series guy · Dec 4, 2021

Nice looking 629. I have one that was an 8 3/8” gun until I had Andy Horvath install a 4” barrel sourced from eBay. It’s still just as accurate with what feels like half the weight.

malph · Dec 4, 2021

Good shooting! Classy gun! Sounds like a great day at the range.

bananaman · Dec 4, 2021

Looks good to me! I have a 29-3, 6.5" and not too sure that I can do that! Bob

ericrlarson · Dec 4, 2021

I don’t I could group like that with my 4” 29. Nice shooting!

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ken158 · Dec 4, 2021

So many blame the gun on lack of accuracy when it is actually the shooter… My thought would be that you have accomplished the ability to use your firearm in a proficient manner!

75Vette · Dec 4, 2021

That's a target worth bragging about. Like you, I've seen folks with semi auto pistols that couldn't hit paper at 3 yards.

Great shooting!

malph · Dec 4, 2021

ken158 said:
So many blame the gun on lack of accuracy when it is actually the shooter… My thought would be that you have accomplished the ability to use your firearm in a proficient manner!

I agree with you. It's almost always the shooter.

There are a lot of new shooters out there sporting the latest defensive hardware but not yet possessing the basics of marksmanship.

CLASSIC12 · Dec 4, 2021

Nice gun and nice shooting, congratulations.

I have a 8 3/8 629-2 Classic Hunter with a Leupold scope on it, so it’s more of a long range gun, but they are very well built and accurate.

Shot this group at 50 m rested on a bag.

And this at 100 m before the scope, with open sights

DeafSmith · Dec 4, 2021

Yes they are quite accurate... I've had my 629-1 for maybe 25 years.

llowry61 · Dec 4, 2021

Nice shooting. They are great guns and more durable than their reputation but shooting large numbers of full house loads can result in some end shake. Bought one a few years ago for cheap had some end shake and the ejector rod was a little bent. Dropped in a couple of shims and a new rod and love it. You will enjoy that gun for many years to come. As others have said, most shooters (me included) are unable to capitalize on the accuracy potential of a quality pistol.

rockquarry · Dec 4, 2021

utex88 said:
Folks, I’ve been shooting for 30 years, but I don’t consider my skills to be anywhere near the top 5-10 percent on this forum. Still…I bought this well-used but not abused 629-1 from 1983 off GB a few months ago. Shockingly, the grips appear original. It was a good enough shooter that I had my gunsmith at 1911 Academy in McKinney, Texas break it down, give it a full cleaning, a custom trigger job and a replacement of the broken orange sight insert. The results of accuracy with a four-inch barrel staggered me; the pic is 18 rounds using full house 240 gr SWC at 10 yards. Blew me away. And…what fun! With all the Glocks at the range who can’t group into a pie plate at 7 yards, this flash, bang and accuracy gets attention.

She is a keeper. For a reloader like me, you can power it up or power it down. The versatility of this gun is unparalleled. What a testament to the S&W quality of the 1980s…

This isn't intended as a disparagement of your efforts, but it's very difficult or impossible to evaluate a gun's accuracy potential by shooting up close. Try some benchrested groups at twenty-five yards and use the smallest aiming point that you can clearly see without eyestrain. That will tell you a lot more about your revolver's accuracy. Good luck-

ericrlarson · Dec 4, 2021

ken158 said:
So many blame the gun on lack of accuracy when it is actually the shooter… My thought would be that you have accomplished the ability to use your firearm in a proficient manner!

Agreed!

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GypsmJim · Dec 4, 2021

stansdds said:
Nice shooting! Barrel length has so little to do with accuracy. As long as the bullet is properly stabilized, it does not matter if it is a 2 inch barrel or a 10 inch barrel. I will say that a longer barrel gives a longer sight radius, which makes it easier to realize the intrinsic accuracy of the firearm when shooting by hand.

That makes no sense to me. Please school me since I must be wrong.

The longer the sight radius, the less the deviation if the shooter aims the gun 1 degree off the bull.

Ammo needs "time" to develop full strength (having a full powder burn). A short barrel may not have complete burn, and thus the accuracy may be inconsistent.

My 8 3/8" Smiths certainly punch better holes than my 2 inchers. Do I need to load better boolits?

If I clamp them all in a Ransom Rest, will my accuracy be the same?

series guy · Dec 4, 2021

Just shot this group at 20 yards D/A Wednesday with my 4" 625. The 629 will do the same.

HenryT · Dec 4, 2021

CLASSIC12 said:
Nice gun and nice shooting, congratulations.

I have a 8 3/8 629-2 Classic Hunter with a Leupold scope on it, so it’s more of a long range gun, but they are very well built and accurate.

Shot this group at 50 m rested on a bag.

And this at 100 m before the scope, with open sights

As Scorpio said in Dirty Harry... "My, that's a big one._

Paul7 · Dec 8, 2021

stansdds said:
Nice shooting! Barrel length has so little to do with accuracy. As long as the bullet is properly stabilized, it does not matter if it is a 2 inch barrel or a 10 inch barrel. I will say that a longer barrel gives a longer sight radius, which makes it easier to realize the intrinsic accuracy of the firearm when shooting by hand.

It also reduces muzzle blast, which can improve your shooting.

Model 629-1 Accuracy 4 inch

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