which 629

[Bigeclipse]

5 full lug, 6 half, 6.5 full.

80% range gun 20% hunting. never hunted with pistol so may only do it once. priorities:
1. looks/resale...what do most people tend to buy these days of these 3
2. shootability for range and hunting. balance and such.
3. are they all drilled and tapped...I will most likely only shoot open sights but like the flexibilty.

[jglsprings]

5" Full lug.

Why?

I don't have one of those and looks.

[Bigeclipse]

i must be weird because I think if its stainless it needs to be full lug because the stainless already makes it look modern and so does the full lug but if blued it should be half lug to keep that older rustic look.

[DR505]

For hunting with iron sights I would opt for the longest sight radius.

[b_san]

A 2 5/8" PC... er wait not on the list... how about a 6" competition weighted, no... uhm a 7.5" light hunter?? Sorry those are the only 629s I own. But I'm considering adding the new L frame m69.

[Bigeclipse]

I found out they are all drilled and tapped so that is no longer my concern. now its down to looks vs use. again...this will mainly a range gub that I may hunt with...ill try it once and if I love handgun hunting...would probably end up buying a dedicated hunting pistol. would the 5incher be ok to say 50 yards on whitetail? how much more will an extra inch do for sight picture. Im leaning towards the five full lug or the 6 half lug. I don't think I want the 6.5 full lug

[b_san]

But seriously have you looked at one of these?

uploadfromtaptalk1393445300176.jpg

629 Light Hunter, it's 7.5" but balances very nicely and is a smooth shooting gun. Comes with a removable optic rail that mounts to the barrel, I added the grips. Cheers on whatever you decide.

[AveragEd]

I have all three of the 629s you are considering.



My preference is the 5" full-lug but they are a tad hard to find in pre-lock, pre-MIM form, especially in a Classic DX like mine, for the DX version was only made in that barrel length in 1992. That combination seems to have almost perfect balance and just hangs nicely in the hand while being heavy enough to be comfortable to shoot with heavier loads. It is my hunting revolver.

The 6-1/2" full-lug is muzzle-heavy for some people but my son prefers that one over the other two. The 6" half-lug is my paper-punching favorite and if not for the fact that the gun is no longer made, I would have that darned colored ramp front sight replaced with a black Patridge, which is the preferred target front sight. I already replaced the rear sight with a Millet.

I imagine you will receive numerous votes for each one. You are asking a question that relies heavily upon personal preference for its answer.

Ed

[CWH44300]

I'd go with the 5" also if you get hooked on handgunning deer, you can add a longer barrel deer gun. I've got all the lengths except the sub 4" guns. I'm going to hunt with a 7.5" PC gun this year, last year I carried a scoped super blackhawk. My favorite plinker is a standard 4" gun. Good luck with your new shooter.

[Bigeclipse]

I'm pretty sure ill end up with the 5in as it seems like a good compromise for range time with an occasional hunt. If I do get heavy into pistol hunting I can then get something else and still have this as a beautiful range gun. Any other opinions out there?

[.45mtngun]

I have a 4" 586 and when i posted about it the majority of the guys remarked that they liked it better than the 6" version. For me the 4" balances beauitfully in the hand for off hand shooting. The 6" 586's i have handled before i got mine felt way too muzzle heavy. Again,this is only a personal opinion. As the one poster said, it could be hard to fined in the pre-lock version if that makes a difference to you. Enjoy what ever you chose!
Jim

[Kenneth L. Walters]

Buy them all. I have two six inchers, three with a 7.5 inch, and one each with 8 3/8 and 12. My next will be the new 4.25 L frame.

[varmint243]

I want a 6" full underlug, non-fluted cylinder, factory D&T
I have a earlier one with no underlug and have never really enjoyed it like I should have, even shooting "light specials"

[JimZ1006]

I have a 6" 629-3 full underlug Classic Hunter with the unfluted cylinder. I really like the added weight it has with the full lug and the recoil even with hot reloads is pretty manageable and the longer sight picture makes it very accurate even for an old fart like me with not so good eyes!

[Maximumbob54]

Not my greatest shooting that day but still decent for my wobbling grip:



The X frame grip is oogly to an extreme but I can rocket through a full box of ammo and it doesn't feel like a truck ran over my hands.

[smousefam5]

If it is not a dedicated hunting gun I vote 5". I have both the 5 and 6.5" full lug versions. To me the 5 feels so much better and handles so much better in the field.

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Originally Posted by jglsprings

5" Full lug.

Why?

I don't have one of those and looks.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I voted 5". I already have the 6.5" and now I really want to add the 5" to my family... It looks proportionally like a 4" L-frame. But I do really enjoy my 6.5" and have no regrets about it whatsoever.

[NE450No2]

Originally Posted by Bigeclipse

5 full lug, 6 half, 6.5 full.

80% range gun 20% hunting. never hunted with pistol so may only do it once. priorities:
1. looks/resale...what do most people tend to buy these days of these 3
2. shootability for range and hunting. balance and such.
3. are they all drilled and tapped...I will most likely only shoot open sights but like the flexibilty.

From what you have stated, I would go with the 6.5" full lug.

It will be the softest shooting of the trio.

[J. R. WEEMS]

I only have this early no dash 6" version-- 629 a good hog gun at that-

[A10]

I've had all three barrel lengths in various configurations and the 5" seems to be the best handling