28 or 29

[mbliss57]

Well is both had the same barrel length and same condition I would choose a 29 1st. Much higher upside on resale value, a round that is fun to shoot and is a workhorse when hunting. The 28 with it's working mans finish IMO has really been upstaged as a pure firearm by the L frame. A much better fit for the .357 mag than the large N frame. So the resale value of a 28 is not there especially for the long haul. (BTW not so for the 27)

 

[daddy bear]

I got over the 29 thing in the seventies. 4" .44 magnums are LOUD, six or longer are difficult to carry. When I could keep all five in the black at 25 yard timed fire (five in 20 sec, one hand), I considered the beast mastered.

I have a pre war 27 3 1/2" that I look at and an S frame 28 4 inch that I shoot.

I disagree that one needs each of the large frame guns. I have no room in my life for .41s. Now then, a 4" Model 24 in .44 special would be a different issue altogether. They are lighter than the 29 and are sweet. College tuition for Daughter got mine, and it was money well spent. H

My 2c and it cost you nothing.

 

[Inusuit]

I have both, a 28-2 and a 29-3. I never liked heavy recoil (yeah, my man card is in jeopardy). I like the 28 because its weight soaks up recoil. It is a boat anchor to carry, even with the 4" barrel. So it comes down to your personal preference. I'm 71 with some joint/tendon issues so that's my excuse.

 

[Art Doc]

Depends...do you want a 357 or a 44? If you want a 357 then the 28 would be a better choice than would the 29. If you want a 44, then the 28 probably isn't what you want.

If you have no preference as to caliber, then I would say go with the 29 as it's 1 better than the 28. Unless you see a CTG model for sale, in which case you may want to buy that one.

 

[BigBill]

If it's a m28 or m29 choice I'd buy both. I always get both in the end anyway.

History repeats itself.

M58 or M57 I bought both.
M28 or M28-2 I bought both.
M27-2 blue or M27-2 nickel I bought both.

Go by your first gutt feeling. When torn between two guns buy both.

 

[bananaman]

Myself, I feel that a 28 is a better choice. (never owned a 29) I have a 6" no dash from 1960. I load 5 calibers. I can load stout magnums for it, or puppy 148 gr. wadcutters. My 28 was a 27 wanna be. I don't regret it at all. Bob

 

[Tom_R]

Well the Model 29 is THE Quintessential, Iconic Smith and Wesson Revolver.

There are several Iconic Smith & Wesson Revolvers, but the 29 is at the Top of the heap due to John Miluis and Clint Eastwood.
The Model 10, the 19, the 27 and the 66 are right there as well, in terms of being Icons.

Then you have 'Cult' guns that the Collectors go nuts for like the 28, the 57 and the 58.

If your intent is to figure out which one to get first, with the intention of shooting and enjoying, I would steer you towards a used 28-2 first.

Why?
Well even though the 29 is more desirable, the 28 is chambered in 357 Magnum. Ammo in .357 and .38spcl is a little cheaper and a little easier to come by.

Also, the .357 is, in my opinion, the most versatile chambering of any gun out there. Unless you are in Alaska or Africa and need protection from Big Nasty Predators, the .357 will get you where you need to be.

Start out with a 28, shoot 38 specials, and then try out .357 Magnums.

If you like .357s, then you can step up to 44 Magnums.

IF you do go the route of a 29, you can shoot 44 Special through it, and you can shoot those all day long.

Here is my 29 with my 28. The 28 is the 4", the 29 is the 6":

 

[BigBill]

My first revolver was a 357 Python. But I ccw the ruger SBH and RH in 44mag ,most of my life. I like the 44's but in partial to the 357mag too. I do trust my life with the 357, 41, & 44mag. I'm fairly new to s&w revolvers for four years now.

 

[BC38]

...Ammo in .357 and .38spcl is a little cheaper and a little easier to come by.

This is a very valid argument and made me realize I failed to mention one part of my bias towards the M29.

I reload my own ammo. If you reload your own, the cost difference between 38 special, 357 magnum, 44 special, and 44 magnum is so small as to be irrelevant. Like less than a nickel a round difference between the lowest (38 special) and highest (44 magnum) cost rounds.

...shoot 38 specials, and then try out .357 Magnums.

If you like .357s, then you can step up to 44 Magnums.

IF you do go the route of a 29, you can shoot 44 Special through it, and you can shoot those all day long.

This is also very good advice and brings out one more of my personal biases. I am not very recoil sensitive so shooting magnums isn't an issue for me. But it certainly is for some people - there have been numerous threads about it. You need to figure out which side of this question you come down on. If recoil bothers you, then the 44 magnum isn't going to be much fun for you. If you don't mind it then that isn't a factor in making your decision.

 

[BigBill]

I reload my 38 special brass with lead cast. My 357 magnum brass gets jhp bullets magnum charges. I do the same with 44 special with leadcast bullets and 44 magnum with jhp bullets.

We get a higher velocity using the shorter special brass with the leadcast bullets.

 

[shottist]

To h--- with it. Get em all!

 

[Tom_R]

This is a very valid argument and made me realize I failed to mention one part of my bias towards the M29.

I reload my own ammo. If you reload your own, the cost difference between 38 special, 357 magnum, 44 special, and 44 magnum is so small as to be irrelevant. Like less than a nickel a round difference between the lowest (38 special) and highest (44 magnum) cost rounds.



This is also very good advice and brings out one more of my personal biases. I am not very recoil sensitive so shooting magnums isn't an issue for me. But it certainly is for some people - there have been numerous threads about it. You need to figure out which side of this question you come down on. If recoil bothers you, then the 44 magnum isn't going to be much fun for you. If you don't mind it then that isn't a factor in making your decision.

There are many who will put forth that if you handload that a 41 Magnum is a good way to go for a first revolver, or a main revolver.

If I hand loaded I would definitely have a 58 and maybe even a 57.

You can't really go wrong with any of these, you really can't.

I still think a good 357 is a must in the tool kit. It is so versatile. I have 4 of them, and three 44 magnums.

 

[BigBill]

The s&w 41 magnum round is a flatter shooting round and has more penetration and is a tad more accurate than the 44 magnum. I like them both.

 

[BC38]

The s&w 41 magnum round is a flatter shooting round and has more penetration and is a tad more accurate than the 44 magnum. I like them both.

DANG IT, now don't go convincing me I need & want a 41 magnum.
I already have too many calibers on my loading bench!

 

[BigBill]

DANG IT, now don't go convincing me I need & want a 41 magnum.
I already have too many calibers on my loading bench!

You need a s&w m58/4" and a m57/6" in 41Magnum.

I really like the m58 I understand about the cult like following they have.

 

[BC38]

You need a s&w m58/4" and a m57/6" in 41Magnum.

I really like the m58 I understand about the cult like following they have.

LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
(He says as he stuffs his fingers in his ears)

I swear you guys are as bad as a bunch of crack dealers!
"Here kid, try this one, it won't hurt you, you'll like it, I swear!"

 

[stevtett]

For me it's the 28. The only revolver I owned when I was young. Loved the gun. Becuase I was young it got away. Just recently began looking for it again. I now own 2 pre 28's 5 screw 6", 2-28's 6" 4 screws, & will buy 1 pre 28 4". I have considered buying a 28-2 for my shooter. I'm as interested in the man who carried it on is hip, as I am the gun.