29-10 (To be or not to be)

[Burnston]

Good afternoon all,

Several months ago I got a hold of a 29-3 I was eager to get modified. After sending it to a good smith, it was discovered that the frame was cracked across the threads where the barrel sits. (I do not believe this was known by the seller and bear him no I'll will.)
The smith, who has a good relationship with S&W sent the pistol in to be assessed. A few days ago, a brand new, unfired 29-10 arrives as a replacement. Whether generous, or simply not wanting to deal with such an issue right now, S&W really delivered in their customer service this time around.
He says he will not make any modifications to it as he has no interest in working on Smiths this new.
Right now, I am deciding whether to keep and shoot this brand new pistol, or sell it as a NIB pistol and find a classic Smith of the same model. Like most others, I prefer the time proven classics. Also like a few others, I have a 90s produced, lock installed m21 that has done everything I've asked it to do and more. I realize that ultimately it is a matter of preference, but my basic query is this; is there any reason a brand new m29 will not last me the rest of my life as a significantly used ranch carry pistol? Are there problems with this generation I am not aware of? Do you recommend selling it and finding a classic, or keep hold of what I have?
Please feel free to educate me, and influence my decision.

Edit- It should be noted that my smith recommended I sell this and use the funds to find an old one. He gave reason for his recommendation, but it mostly seemed a matter of preference. He also noted that there are plastic parts in the new guns.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

You got a brand new 29-10 in replacement to a used 29-3? Incredible.
Wow. First off. Great customer service work for Smith and Wesson. This is a great response from them.
And congratulations are in order as you are the owner of a new warranty gun.

Now, I'll include a story on a 29-3 I purchased at the beginning of the year.(used)
I bought a 4" 29-3 that turned out to be bad. I had to send it in to SAW for a non warranty repair. I got charged $150 to fix. And got it back only recently.
My 29-3 suffers from big throats. About .434". So, they're 'uge'!
Your 29-10 has the proper throats for ammo sold this day and age. Should be .429". Along with all the endurance enhancements.
You got the better gun.
Not only do you have a warranty, it should be a sharp shooter.
I am jealous. Blast away. But know that you got a good deal.
29-3's aren't collectors guns as much as the 29-2's and previous guns. And you have a 0 miles gun.
I'd be blasting away right now if I could.

 

[cowboy4evr]

My first Smith model 29 was a-3 . It spent more time @ the gunsmiths shop than in my house . I finally sold it to a friend , at a loss that wanted to add some bling , goldish looking trigger/ hammer etc . He couldn't sell it to anyone so he took off the parts and sold it for a loss . I have 2 model 29-10's . One with the 6" barrel and the other 4" . I would not trade them for anything else . My 4" is my old " work horse " . I load and shoot everything from " mild to wild " including the Keith load , 22 grs of 2400 using the actual Keith bullet H&G 503 . It is still as tight as the day I bought it and it has seen a lot of use . The 29-10's I have a keepers for sure . Regards Paul

 

[75Vette]

You didn't mention a barrel length but like The Welder said you got a brand new gun with a lifetime warranty. You better plan on doing A LOT of shooting to wear that one out. The tight cylinder throats will make your gun way more accurate that the dash 3 model. The 29-6s was when the factory squeezed em back down to .429. The only down side with the newer 29s is the finish. The good ol EPA made S&W change their bluing process so keep ammonia based cleaners (Hoppe's 9) away.
PS, we like pictures.

 

[Burnston]

PS, we like pictures.

You got it. The new pistol is inbound. I'll post some pictures as soon as it arrives. The barrel length is 4in.

 

[BigMuddy]

Although a lot of gun people disagree, older isn't always better. I'd say you did good. Now go use it enough to rub the bluing off like your M21.

Dan

 

[Arm]

The "new" 29-10 is a real quality revolver, finish is great, accuracy is great,
only complaint is the grips....too thin and loose. Other than that it is great.

 

[stansdds]

The 29-10 will be far more durable with magnum ammo than the 29-3, plus you get a lifetime warranty. If the 29-10 was machined and assembled properly, I think you will really enjoy it. If the machining is poor or things don't fit properly, you have the lifetime warranty for service or replacement.

 

[Jimmys&w]

March of this year, 2020, I ordered the S&W M29. Something I've wanted for a long time. I found it not only to be beautiful but dead on accurate. My impression soured quickly after the first cleaning with Hoppes No.9. Apparently the new bluing cannot hold up to ammonia. The older M29's are rock solid as far as finish goes. The new ones are not so I sent it back to get it reblued, on S&W's dime thank you, and sold it on GunBroker for a loss. Not much but a loss just the same. In May I ordered the 629-6 and have since bead blasted it, deleted the lock, and added the altamont coke bottles. Nothing but joy shooting 180-300 gr reloads. In my opinion the new m29's are awesome guns aside from the finish.

 

[M29since14]

I've heard conflicting reports about the durability of the finish. Hard to sort out that one. I'd follow S&W's instructions. Last I read, they we're recommending CLP, but that may have changed.

The grips, yes, WAY too thin for my liking, but they are easily replaced. Otherwise, I've heard mostly good stuff about the 29-10.

None of us really like the lock and MIM parts, but some consider that a minor- to non-issue. The new "white outline" rear sight blade is pitiful. Nothing much you can do about that except find an old, properly-made white outline blade. Barrel... ? There have been some horror stories about recent production barrels. If your new gun has a nice looking barrel and it shoots, great!

All in all, I probably wouldn't order a 29-10 sight unseen, but if I saw a good looking one in a shop, I might buy it. The objections mentioned are mostly minor. However, I've seen guns a few years ago with barrels that I wouldn't even consider. I think (hope) that matter may have been resolved.

S&W more than "did their part" in sending you the new revolver. Bravo to them. I once owned a 29-3 that cracked itself. I gather they rebuilt the gun with a new frame - no charge. That was a long time ago. Over the years I've had to scratch my head a few times when dealing with them, but overall, they've been good to me.

 

[Burnston]

There have been some horror stories about recent production barrels. If your new gun has a nice looking barrel and it shoots, great!

Thank you for your input. Can you elaborate on the barrel problems? Is there any way to identify a problem barrel without shooting it?

 

[OttoLoader]

Regarding Hopped.
I stopped using it at least 10 years ago. They fiddled with the mix and manufactures changed their surface treatment. Also stay away from anything with acetone in it.

I pretty much use breakfree clp.

 

[m657]

By merest accident involving a lunch sack with plums in it and a formerly blued 'other maker' revolver, I discovered an unlisted way to remove blueing. Mostly I still with the stainless versions these days.

 

[M29since14]

Thank you for your input. Can you elaborate on the barrel problems? Is there any way to identify a problem barrel without shooting it?

I can't say for sure I have seen 29-10s with the early production ECM rifled barrels, but I have seen them in 329s. Some of them never should have been installed in a gun. I would carefully examine the rifling and forcing cone. If that checks out, that's about all you can do in a gunshop.

 

[stansdds]

Potential barrel issues to look for:
Rough rifling
Rough forcing cone
Too large of a barrel-cylinder gap
Canted barrel


In all fairness, all revolvers should be inspected for these as well as finish and function issues before buying.

 

[Old_Cop]

It's a sign, keep it, shoot it.

 

[kraynky]

You're not going to lose much, if anything to try a few rounds through it. I'd probably keep it myself, even though I'm not fond of the lock issue myself. The 29-10 will have a warranty for life. You'll probably like it. Can't wait to see what you got.

 

[BigBill]

I picked up a new in the box unshot m29-10/6.5" barrel in blue. I figured it's a 29/44 mag with all 10 upgrades I was told it's the best 29 ever made. I really wanted it in nickel but for $699 I'm ok with that. The loc and mim doesn't bother me. Shoot and enjoy it.

 

[Burnston]

I appreciate all of your input, as well as your patience with a new guy resurrecting what I now realize is an old subject on this forum. The overwhelming response by shooters (as opposed to collectors, not that they cannot be one in the same) seems to be "shoot it." Unless there is a glaring, obvious flaw in the pistol, that is the plan. Thanks again.

 

[stansdds]

I appreciate all of your input, as well as your patience with a new guy resurrecting what I now realize is an old subject on this forum. The overwhelming response by shooters (as opposed to collectors, not that they cannot be one in the same) seems to be "shoot it." Unless there is a glaring, obvious flaw in the pistol, that is the plan. Thanks again.

Don't forget pictures and a range report.