I've acquired this 629-2 and know nothing about it other than some basics. I e been tryin to research and thought you guys could shed light on the matter. The gun has been converted to 45 Colt and machined for moonclips for 45 Auto. The barrel doesn't have any markings like typical photos I e found. The serial number is BED5757. The conversion has been nicely done. The trigger is sooo sweet and the fit and finish is too. Any info is appreciated

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NICE revolver! The conversion looks top-notch, especially with the ball-detent crane lock. Minimum value $1500 is my guesstimation! Very similar to the 625-6 .45 Colt with actual FORGED parts before the cast stuff.

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ken
SWCA #1959

Thanks for the feedback! I feel it's a great example and hopefully the conversion doesn't hurt the value too much. Haven't decided what to do with it. I like the thought of the Colt snake shot for the warm months here in GA.

Looks like you got your wish, RBL!

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protocalldesign.com

I sure did if that value toroflow1 mentioned is in the ballpark!

You mentioned shot loads for snakes. If you reload, you can use any rifle case that has a diameter of .470 (30-06, 308 etc). There are die’s available to turn them into shotshells. They need to be cut to cylinder length. But once done, they are very nice.

As to value, that revolver is worth what someone is willing to write a check to buy it. I think the number mentioned is rather high. Or, you would be hard pressed to get that amount from me. Someone else might trip over themselves to own it.

Take internet appraisals with a grain of salt.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Definitely will look into those dies. Do you know if they're RCBS?

I once did that with .308 cases cut fit and sized for my 625-3 cylinder......The results were pitiful......Patterns at short distances were awful.........I abandoned the project.

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S&W Accumulator

Cool conversion.

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213th FBINA

Nice find RTB. I like it, and agree its value is in the eye of the beholder. If set out at a local gun show with a $1000 price tag on it, I doubt it would last the weekend. Just my guess.

For bird shot use, its the rifling that screws things up. It spins the shot pattern resulting in dispersal, and damages a portion of the pellets from contact, further causing pattern dispersal. Those plastic shot capsules made by Speer seem to help. I read a story about a guy who did a similar conversion, but bored the barrel smooth, then had several shallow scratches with almost no twist done so as to qualify with the BATF as a rifled barrel. Supposedly it patterned close to a real .410 shotgun, making it useful for close range bird hunting. If I remember right, accuracy with solid bullets was not very good.

Larry

Speer makes those shotshell holders for us reloaders. I have been using them and #9 shot for 40+ years in 44 Special. Very deadly on snakes at the 5-15 foot target distance. Shooting at carpenter bees on slow summer days can be a very ego boosting experience. Loading cases is just as simple as regular loads with lead bullets.

Gun looks to have a matte finish. Perhaps any mountain gun logo was blasted off. Or maybe it was just a 4” 629. It doesn’t look like tapered barrel. I agree with $1000 estimates

Sweet!

Pardon my ignorance, but I assume the way that cylinder is machined at the rear, a .45 Colt rim would sit on that outer "shelf" around the outside circumference, and .45 ACP in moon clips would just drop down inside. Am I understanding that correctly?

That's correct!

Look more carefully; it’s tapered.

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Richard

I take a 38 case. Add 1.5 grs of Bullseye. Tamp down a cardboard wad. Fill case almost to mouth with shot. Tamp down anther cardboard wad and seal with airplane glue. Those shot capsules are too expensive for the amount of of shooting I do. I made a little reloading kit to load them.

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S&W Accumulator

I use the speer shot shells to load 38/357 and they do ok for what they're intended for. Makes it convenient to load the bird/snake shot

What size shot do you load with those?

#12's work best. but I'm out of those so I'm using #9's right now.

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S&W Accumulator

#8 and #9 is what most recommend. Unless you intend to load a bunch of these, you can salvage the shot from a couple of 12 gauge dove shells.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The smaller the shot the less wear and tear on the under side the tin roof of my tractor shed where I shoot "em".......I tried cake sprinkles once....Didn't work so good. I usually load 2-300 to shoot those destructive hole drillers each spring. #12's give the best pattern at 5-7 feet.

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S&W Accumulator

Have u ever tried salt? Maybe the Himalayan sea salt which is coarse.

Then your favorite revolver could be a bug assalt gun!

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protocalldesign.com

Yes. I’ve seen those for sale

14 years ago I developed a 45 Colt Shot shell. You have the option of using 460 S&W brass or 308/30-06, depending on Rim or Rimless preference.

Cut brass length to 1.50" (same as 45 Colt overall length. Size in 45 dies and ream burs smooth! It won't chamber at this point because of the cylinder throat. I used a 44-40 die and gave the brass a slight bottleneck about 1/3 inch long.

Use a Large Pistol Primer, charge with 6.7 grains of WW231. IMPORTANT: put a 45 caliber cork or waxed cardboard card over the powder. This long case will now hold a full 1/2 ounce of shot. Place a second card over the shot. Some people roll crimp. Some people use Elmer's glue. Some people use paraffine. I use a roofing product Gutter Seam Sealer (in the roofing department at Lowe's or Home Depot). This takes 2 to 3 weeks to fully cure. The velocity will be 750-800 fps. Recoil is mild compared to a 1200 fps 410 in a hand gun!

Results: From a 5.5" barreled Ruger Vaquero, using 7.5 shot, a beautiful 12" even pattern at 12 feet (realistic snake distance). I wouldn't go bigger the 5's and that should tighten the pattern a small amount and each pellet will have more energy. 8's, 9's & 12's will be more scattered and each pellet has less energy. I used these while mowing with very good results. A friend used them while hiking in West Verginia on Copperheads. He had never seen a snake so torn up!

I still have some of my original batch that are 12 years old, and the shot still stays in place!

If you have to buy brass go ahead and do a whole 50 round box while you are set up.

If you don't have a $50 bag of shot laying around the house, either bum some off a trap shooter or sacrifice some old hunting loads. You won't need to worry about Standard, Magnum or Recycled shot anything will work.

You can work up faster loads, but for snakes and rats it isn't necessary. Just remember a larger volume powder charge requires a smaller volume shot charge.

Some lever actions cycle the rounds fine, some don't. You won't know until you try.

Ivan

If I still had 44-40, I'd use a 38-40 to neck the case, and reduce the shot volume accordingly. That should feed in the pickiest lever action too!