Recently got a 329PD .44Mag to carry on some western hiking trips. It's only for an emergency situation obviously. Bear attack, etc. Haven't even shot it yet, but having some second thoughts.

Considering something like a Glock G20 10mm now, as the recoil appears to be much more manageable, but I do feel comfortable with the reliability of a revolver.

I went with the 329 for weight issues on the trail, but want to feel confident with recoil and the ability to get on target quickly in the event I can get off a second shot.

Anyone with experience shooting both the 329 vs. a 10mm? Curious to know the experience as it will still be about 3 weeks before I will have a chance to shoot the 329, and at that point I will be out of state and unable to purchase a handgun before heading west.

The 329 is a good choice. However, the secret to handling the recoil is to get a set of the S&W 500 Hogue tamer grips!! They have the padding over the back strap.
You can even handle 300 grain bullet loads with those grips.


500 X frame Hogue Tamer grips:
At Bud’s:
Just a moment...


500 Mag Hogue retaining screw-lanyard ring:

Call Hogue at 800 GET-GRIP (800 438-4747) or (805) 239-1440 ask for the stirrup that hooks over the grip locating dowel and
part number 00128 Lanyard 1/2" (length) for ring screw satin nickel
part number 00129 Lanyard 1" (length) for ring screw satin nickel
I recommend that you order a couple of each as Hogue only makes a batch or two a year. These are not standard catalog items.

I ordered mine from “Grabagun”: Came in less than a week.
“Grabagun”: Guns for Sale | Lowest Priced Online Gun Dealer | GrabAGun Firearms Dealer

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Jim
S&WCA #819

They are good guns. Can load it as soft or as hot as you can take, which is the whole idea of defensive revolvers. 44 mag 210gr Winchester Silvertips are middle of the road recoil wise and will expand. You can go with hot .44 specials also. I have shot crazy hot Israeli ammo though it that activated the safety lock and cocked the hammer after firing. Not good.

Be sure to clean the cylinder face with only a toothbrush and nothing with ammonia in it.

Verse 10mm? I don't see any 10mm round that would recoil as much as full power .44 mag.

I have both. The 329 was my all day everyday carry gun for the better part of a decade. Shot around 9,000 rnds of low level mags thru three guns. Mine were equipped with the Hogue 500 X frame grips. This is a pretty specialized gun – not the best choice for a novice.

Recoil of the Glock 20 is substantially less vs the 329. Several years ago, a grizzly attack victim here in Montana was mauled due to the mag release being actuated under stress rendering the gun useless. Also some reliability issues with heavy “boutique” ammo have been reported. My son carried a 329 for several yrs as a griz backup while bow hunting elk. He switched to G20 after being surrounded by wolves hiking to the truck one night. He currently carries an HK full size USP with 460 Rowland conversion.

Of the two, I like the 329, mostly because I shoot revolvers better, am a big .44 mag fan, and won’t shoot unless at bad breath range.

Lots of choices. Choose a gun you shoot well and are comfortable with.

Read this article before stressing to much on caliber choice.

Handgun or Pistol Against Bear Attacks 104 cases, 97% Effective
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FWIW,

Paul

Those Hogue Tamer grips are in stock at midway for $31.96 .

Paul- thanks for the link- very interesting, though am sure many with the smaller calibers wish they had something larger at the time.

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Guns + Dogs= Bliss

Probably should have clarified a bit -- personally would not carry 22,32,380,38sp as a primary in bear country. Thread was about 10mm and .44 mag.

Paul

They may be too heavy for you, but my Ruger Alaskan and S&W 629-6 Deluxe 3" bbl. are perfect for me. I am able to double action my 44 Magnums without a problem. A little more weight, but I have much more confidence in my shooting. A good holster and belt are essential.

It will ride in an El Paso Saddlery tanker rig all day long with no discomfort at all. Is it fun to shoot with hot loads, not really. But I have confidence in it being a serious show stopper. Definitely my choice over any 10 mm which I also have. Here it is with my wife's model 66 in a similar rig.

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I owned one for several years. Full power .44 magnum rounds hurt my hand, but I didn't shoot them very often. There is a boutique ammo maker that has rounds, 300 lead hardcast at 1000fps made specifically for use in 329's and Mountain guns for use against grizzly and Brown bears.
There are BB and Underwood .44 Special loads that I used quite often and comfortably. Kind of like .44 Special +p 240 gr hardcast.
I sold my 329 as part of my downsizing of my life as I age.
If limited to a handgun and face to face with a Grizzly or Brown bear I would prefer a 329 to my Glock 20.
If I get out into the Western or Alaskan woods again I would take my Mountain Gun rather than my Glock 20.

Such excellent info here. Thank you for all the replies. I'm taking Buffalo Bore lower recoil hard cast 255 gr. I know the chances are almost zero that I encounter a charging bear, but I feel better about the 329. Can't wait to shoot it.

I did install the rubber grips that S&W provided with it. Would the Hogue tamers be even better?

I carried my 329 for over 10 years in the woods. I didn't mind a cylinder or 2 of mag rounds, but wouldn't want to shoot full power loads all day long. Then I switched to the G20, then went to a Springfield till M&P came out so I could use an optic. For griz I would prefer a .44 mag. But the Sirius patrol in Greenland use the G20 against polar bear as it can give more fire power and faster follow up shots.The 329 is lighter and easier to carry for me. I could go with either caliber and feel comfortable.

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balin
NRA Life Member

I carry my M65 stoked with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast magnums which are about the best 357 bear load made. Admittedly, the 357 mag would not be the best choice when purposely bear hunting as it is just a minimum for the purpose. A 44 Mag is a much better choice but many (including myself) don’t want to lug a huge and heavy gun all over the woods just on a walk or hike. The M65 has always been with me in the woods and would be a whole lot better than the 44 Mag left in the safe. If I was actually setting out on a bear hunt, then a 44 mag or 500 S&W wound obviously be a better choice.

choose Glock Model 20 10mm

I've never owned one, but a close friend had one I was partial to. It lived with me for a good six months or so. I think they are a great tool suited to a specific task. It was a handful with 300 grain loads, but I never found it to be unacceptable.

As far as loads, I really am not a maximum load kinda person. I pretty much like to find a 300ish grain hardcast load that hits 1000-1100 FPS and leave it alone. Stories of guys who run unholy hot red line loads and having a gun fail at an awful time aren't uncommon. I like the principle of a fair to middlin' load with reasonable follow up shots that can be trusted.

The rubber grips are more comfortable than the wood grips, but you really do want the X frame grips. They fully encase the grip with rubber and pull the sting out nicely.

The 10mm is not without it's advantages, but a .44 Mag is not without it's own unique set of advantages.

I miss the days when it seemed the official Alaskan bear pistol was either a S&W or a Ruger .44 Mag. Nowadays the 10mm has taken over.

I still travel comfortably with .45 and .357 revolvers.

The 329 is a handful to shoot, but with proper stocks and technique the recoil is very manageable. You are limited by the 6 rounds, however. If you decide to change to a 10mm, don't discount the S&W M&P 10mm 2.0. SIG P320 XTEN is a beauty, and so is the Springfield XD-M 10mm. Outstanding pistols, although the SIG is a little pricey! I'm not a Glock fan, so I don't even consider them in my decision making process. I don't like the look or feel, although I can't refute their dependability or accuracy. It's a personal thing.

When we were in Alaska the go to side arm for the people I saw in the bush was a Glock 20 with Cor Bon/Buff Bore ammo.

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SWCA#2288
SWHF#407

Yep, the G20 is very popular in Alaska.
I had a 329. Great to carry, but I didn’t enjoy shooting it. I think my mountain guns are a better alternative for me. For its size, I prefer and carry a G29 with G20 mags.

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213th FBINA

The Hogue Tamers are a lot more comfortable under heavy recoil.

Buf Bore "lower recoil" - good stuff but they are the same velocity as major mfg 240gr .44 mags - per my chrono and BB stated vel.

Paul

Yes, I do.

(Seems like a weird question to ask since you already bought it?)


Ditch the factory S&W rubber grips. I hate their pointy backstrap.

The Hogues are great on my X-frames but I go with the Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips on my 329PD (bottom pic).

They're a little shorter & fuller in the grip for me. Plenty cushie, which you need with full 44 loads.

I put an unfluted S/S cylinder on my 629 & used it's fluted cylinder for my 329PD, which added almost 4oz of weight back to it. And you can scrub it clean as much as you like.

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329PD Ti cylinder
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629 S/S cylinder
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Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips on 329PD
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Waiting for the break of day

If you ever see a live grizzly in the wild and need a gun the last thing in your mind will be the weight of your gun.

Bear Spray first and gun as a last resort. I carried a Ruger Redhawk 5.5" loaded with Randy Garrett 330gr. Hammerheads for 10 years when I lived, scouted, and hunted in grizzly country in western Wyoming. Garrett Cartridges Inc.

S&Ws take the 310 grain Hammerheads

I’ve got a 2.5” Tracker 5 shooter in 44 magnum. I can’t explain it, but is is easier to shoot than my 4 and 6” model 629s. It just fits my hand great with hogue rubber grips on it. Maybe that does explain it…

My friend has one, it is like shanking hands with the Devil.

I've heard the 329 PD referred to as a hand grenade rather than a handgun.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Having read every one of the bear attacks in the following link I feel the 329 PD is one of the good choices.

Handgun or Pistol Against Bear Attacks 104 cases, 97% Effective

My thoughts:

One problem with long guns no matter how short is that when needed they tend to be somewhere else when you need them most, instead of on one's shoulder, unlike a handgun in a holster on your hip.

Another problem with a long gun illustrated in the bear attacks was if the bear gets to you, trying to get a long gun pointed at the bear and working the action if the bear has gotten a hold of you and tossing you around can be a real downside! Even a long barrel handgun can be a detriment.

And as much as I like and use single actions for most of my shooting, having to cock the hammer for each shot doesn't appeal to me when milliseconds can mean the difference between life and death!

Also if you use a long gun to shoot the bear at too great a distance, you risk being second guessed and be in trouble by someone who "thinks" you weren't in enough danger to shoot or kill a bear too far away!

I guess the best advantage is a long gun and a DA revolver or auto handgun of sufficient caliber, and bear spray.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I couldn’t imagine being without one
The one I have now is my third
A guy can probably pretty much wear one out in a summer of high volume shooting (2k-3k) rounds but they are re-buildable
They are not plinkers
Shoot it enough to hit with it and carry with confidence!!!
Mine does not see much use now a days
I have a 4” rig from simply rugged and it seems heavier than the gun
Also have a beautiful rig from passo for the 4” guns that I really enjoy
I truly believe the 329’s are the real mountain guns
Mine is going no where without me
An old photo of a fresh one

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Nothing that I would want. I do all of my shooting at the range these days. I no longer hunt or spend time in the back country. Age caught up with me. It doesn't look like it would be much fun banging away with for an afternoon at the range.

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NRA Life Member

Had one of these a few years ago. Not the most fun to shoot. I opted to move on to other guns as well, including a Glock 20 Gen 4. I've heard that a full magna port job can help tame the 329 a bit, but its still a handful to shoot. I'd hate to spend that money only to find that the difference was negligible.

No Not Really...............

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S&W Accumulator

I ended up with a 386,, 3" L frame 7 shot scadmium frame but steel cylinder,, about perfect balance between light weight and shootability. I used my bowling pin loads. 180 grs over BE 86, I was in black bear country.. and been involved in one to many Black bear encounters horse riding in various parks where the bears are protected and have lost their fear of man.

no love for the steel frame 5 shot 44 mag ? Model 69 IIRC

Cyclopius
I would like to get one too. Or even a model 357PD (?) in 41mag. From what most have suggested using a better grip and a bit of practice will help w/shooting. I think its an awesome gun that you should get familiar with before you opt for a glock 20...although I like the 10mm as well

Nothing wrong with the M69. I like the 2.75" version at 34 oz.

The shorter barrel & having just (5) rounds might be a detraction for some but the L-frame's size & the way it handles recoil offsets that, IMO.

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Waiting for the break of day

Big fan of the M69, especially the 2.75". Been my go to 44 mag for some time now.

Paul

I love My 329PD. Stings a little with full power 44's, but very manageable. The 10MM isn't in the same zip code as a 44 and when You try to put it there in a semi be careful. When in bear country I still carry My .475 Linebaugh. Only 5 shots, but bigger is better. I do shoot around 50 rounds a month of the .475, so going down to a wimpy 44 is very nice,,, and fun.

The Hogue tamers are a great addition. I have a bone spur at the lower joint of my thumb that when firing my 329PD with either of the stock grips felt like I was smacking that spot with a hammer. No more with the big Hogues. I was literally going to sell the gun before I found those grips.

Doesn’t the holster weigh more than the 329?

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213th FBINA

I love it when I’m carrying it on my elk hunts. 6 rounds out of it are just fine and manageable. It’s not a target gun. Those who dont like it are the ones who try to use it for some thing it’s not made for.

I would hazard a guess that if you do have to shoot at a bear with that thing you will not feel the recoil and most likely wont hear it either... just say"n.

I have had a couple of close encounters with bears over the years... adrenaline is a thing for sure.

Had one for almost 20 years. Love it. Shoot mostly downloaded ammo but full house on occasion. Have a Glock 20 as well. I think the Glock is easier to shoot but not as powerful as 250 grain bullet 44 mag at 1300 fps.

I’ve shot a fare amount of full power .50 in a dessert eagle and lots of full house 700 gr. T. Rex killing loads out of S&W 500 .
Only 6 full house.44 mag out of a329 THAT PISTOL HURT .
My hats off to you if you can train enough to control that beast

The Glock 20 gives you more chances to kill or discourage the bear before you have to use the last round on yourself. I would carry the 10 mm loaded with all fmj. Penetration is essential.

I like 10mm, and spent a few years shooting a lot of it back when it wasn’t popular at all. During that time, I felt like the only guy in the world who owned them, and enjoyed running the hot ammo from companies like Double Tap through them at the range. I cannot however, understand the sudden belief that it is somehow the equivalent of a potent revolver cartridge.

I don’t care which YouTube “expert” declares the 10mm to be the ideal gun for defense against dinosaurs. Their reasoning cannot be based upon shot to shot power because the 10mm is definitely no .44 Magnum. It is also not even in the same ballpark as a .41 Magnum, and while it can stand toe to toe with a lot of .357 Magnum… the .357 can walk away from it with the right loads as well.

The main virtue the 10mm has going for it is its capacity, and relatively low recoil. Both of those things can be of great benefit, but if it is my skin on the line against a predatory animal capable of literally eating me for a snack, I want POWER. I don’t imagine too many scenarios in which a charging animal of that variety will afford me the opportunity for a lot of follow up shots. I’d prefer to make each one count.

My vote: Keep the .44 Magnum for your intended purpose, and buy a 10mm because they are awesome in their own right. I would make sure that you’re shooting enough FULL power loads (like some heavy hard cast loads from Buffalo Bore or Underwood) to ensure that YOU like your particular chosen model.

Obviously 10mm cannot reach .44 Magnum energy levels, but it's a potent cartridge that will penetrate every bone of every bear with the right load in the right gun, and therefore it is a viable option, and you will have more rounds and will be able to shoot faster. Let's not forget that with .44 Magnum, there is no guarantee of stopping the bear before it "stops" you. Many will argue that .480 Ruger/.50AE/.475 Linebaugh/.454 Casull/.460 S&W/.500 S&W (take your pick) is the mininum they will trust to protect them from a large bear attack.

If I had the problem, I'd probably go for fewer shots with a more powerful cartdrige too, but I get that a high-capacity 10mm is an option as well. You can get real fast with some training, some will be able to put a lot more hurt on the target with a couple of 10mm rounds than they could with a hard to handle big bore revolver.

As for the 329PD: It's among the 3 worst handguns for me when shooting full power loads, the 360PD and the Alaskan .454 Casull being the other two. I'll gladly shoot a 3.5" 460 or 500 one-handed, but these 3 are punishment when shooting hot loads. They're nice and I'd give any one of them a home, but I'd only shoot lower powered ammo. You have to accept your limits.

I’ve had one for what I feel like is more than twenty years already. I was a little terrified of it, when I first got it, and getting the S&W 500 rubber grip helped a lot. I started practicing with specials, then green and white box magnums, then the loads manufactured specially for it. I never had the ‘lock’ activate on mine. I eventually got a job where I needed it and was happy to have already become proficient, though in those 3.5 years I never had the call to use it. I was carrying so much junk with me, that if I had something heavier, it might have stayed with my tools instead of on my person. I always liked my 329, the internet had me a bit scared of it, but I never had any issues. The most important thing, I think, is to find what you are comfortable with, practice and build confidence, make sure you have what is best for you and your situation. There is really no one answer for any of these situations, just what might be right for you..

Excellent post, and great points all the way around. I don’t doubt that a 10mm will get the job done with the right ammo, and there is no arguing the lower recoil/far superior capacity it brings to the table. I just happen to be one of those aging shooters who values power per shot over other attributes. I’m also the kind of guy who drives around in my 400hp V8 that is only really good in a straight line, knowing full well that a bit less power in a better handling car just might be the better all around option. To each his own. There is no wrong choice. If the question is “should I get ____ firearm?”, the answer is “YES”.

Given my screen name you have guessed I had a 329 at one time and shot it a fair amount. But I never ended up carrying it and shooting it was just...well no fun. With the wood grips it came with it was horrible and after a couple cylinders full I was done. Yes I loaded it down but it was light and with a short barrel I was more difficult for me to shoot well. In the end I just never felt the need to carry a sidearm in the woods and there were a million better options for concealed carry. The tamer grips did help but it was still pretty brutal and caused bad habits (read flinching) if I shot anything else at the same range session.

I am a fan of the .44 mag, but the 329 is brutal.

Big heavy bullet, light easy to carry gun?
I have a couple of 2 1/2" barrel 325s.

They also make 4" ones. Just like the 329 only in 45ACP. Heavy bullets? Use 45 auto rim brass of purchase some Buffalo bore 255 gr loads.
I have thought of fitting a 45 colt cylinder to one. But run this one for 45colt although it is setup to also fire acp in full moon clips.


The 325s are brutal with wood grips and I am sure the 329s are even worse. But a good set of rubber grips that cover the back strap makes a world of difference. With wood grips my 325 with TI cylinder was seriously painful. with the rubbers I can fire clip full after clip full no problem

Sold mine. Too much of a good thing. I shoot my mountain guns more accurately.

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213th FBINA