329 airlite pd 44 mag vs dan wesson

[thumper144]

hi...looking into a purchase of a 44mag s&w. Years ago friend was gracious enough to let me shoot his dan wesson 44 mag with a scope and i think 4" bbl. I was shooting 100yrds on a 8 in paper plate and holding groups that made me quite happy(within 2" or so).
So the question is...Can i expect the same or better performance out of this gun with a 4" bbl? Is there another model someone would recommend instead of 329? i will mainly use it to hunt and shoot it once a year to sight in...want to stay light weight and if i go to stainless or blued i would like matte finish.

 

[Mule88]

If your shooting 2" groups at 100 yards with a 4 inch .Dan Wesson (known for acccuracy) Id do what it took to buy that gun from your friend. I can do 2 inch's at 50 yds with iron sights from a 6 1/2 629 DX but thats about it for me. Theres alot of good guns out there the 329 is designed to carry alot and shoot a little. If you have access to a range that rents guns or someone who may loan you different .44's that may be helpful before you decide to buy. Good luck on your quest and welcome to the forum.

 

[murphydog]

If you will be shooting full-power .44 Magnums in any quantity, a 4" 629 Mountain Gun (stainless, tapered barrel) or heavy barrel 629 would probably suit your needs. Later versions of these came drilled/tapped for a scope mount but 2" groups at 100 yd are pretty exceptional.

If you have a chance to fire a 329 with full loads, you may agree with buying a heavier gun . Hope this is helpful.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

If you have a chance to fire a 329 with full loads, you may agree with buying a heavier gun . Hope this is helpful.

It certainly should be helpful.

I have occasionally found that a gentle hint doesn't work, so I will say it straight out. It is almost unimaginable that a 329 will perform anything like the Dan Wesson you shot, particularly in human hands. Furthermore, it will perform even worse after you shoot it a few times. You are not going to like that gun. Certainly some folks will choose to carry one regardless of what it's like to fire one, and I wouldn't presume to second-guess them, but if you buy a 329 before firing one, you are throwing money away.

 

[thumper144]

If your shooting 2" groups at 100 yards with a 4 inch .Dan Wesson (known for acccuracy) Id do what it took to buy that gun from your friend. I can do 2 inch's at 50 yds with iron sights from a 6 1/2 629 DX but thats about it for me. Theres alot of good guns out there the 329 is designed to carry alot and shoot a little. If you have access to a range that rents guns or someone who may loan you different .44's that may be helpful before you decide to buy. Good luck on your quest and welcome to the forum.

I have done just about everything except beg for the dan wesson.....I was wrong though...it was a 6" bbl and the groups were about 3", still fantastic for a handgun, let alone one I had never even shot before. Begging is next. Any idea what a fair price for a 70's dan wesson would be? In 90% condition. 3 bbls4-6-8. Cant recall model. Ive seen some guys asking 1200 and thought that might be a bit high priced.

 

[Shuz]

A Dan Wesson with a scope mounted on it is gonna be much more comfortable to shoot than a S&W 329PD. I have a S&W 629 Classic DX in 5" bbl that has a Leupold scope mounted on it. I also have a 329PD without a scope. I would strongly suggest you consider another model of .44 mag that is heavier than the 329PD. I like my 329PD and I shoot it a good bit, however, I load my own, and I shoot my other .44 mags prolly 10 times more often than the 329PD. That gun was made to carry a lot, and shoot a little.

 

[CWH44300]

I have a pair of 329's and love'em but they have a fairly aggressive recoil,I don't think a scope would survive it but if it did, I'd bet you'd be happy with the groups it would shoot

 

[Titegroups]

If you were shooting 3" groups you were closer than 100yds. The Dan Wesson pistol paks have become very popular and prices are high. Search gunbroker or check the DW forum. They aren't all that special.

 

[jglsprings]

Okay, I guess I'll get tossed for this....

If you can find a good Dan Wesson it is going to be one of the best production 44 mags ever made.

I like mine better than the three S&W 29/629 pistols I own. (ducks and runs for cover) The Smiths are not as heavy, and therefore not as pleasant, to shoot. I also find the Dan Wesson more accurate. My $.02.

So the 329 falls into the lighter, easier to carry class of revolver and therefore MUCH, MUCH harder to shoot. (In my humble opinion). For a hunting gun I'd stay away from the 329.

P.S.

The Smiths are still a more elegant, beautiful design. I LOVE my '29s.

 

[686 SSR]

After trying a Monson stainless Dan Wesson 6-inch barrel and a S&W 629 with a 6-inch barrel, I have to agree with "jglsprings". The Dan Wesson is much easier to shoot accurately. I do not know whether it's Dan Wesson's legendary accuracy of the tensioned barrel, its more comfortable grip or greater weight or a combination of the three. In any event, the Dan Wesson 44 is impressive - in physical size and target results.

Compared with a 629, you definitely need a shoulder holster rig to carry a Dan Wesson around. It's big with alot of metal in critical areas. For example, Buffalo Bore and Garrett (?) recommend that their heavy loads are only safe in Ruger Redhawks and Dan Wessons.

After my limited experience, I cannot imagine regularly shooting a 329PD accurately with 44 magnum loads without tons of practice and dedicated physical therapist for my right wrist. Comparing a 329PD to a Dan Wesson 44 comes down to whether you plan to carry it or seriously shoot it.

 

[thumper144]

Okay, I guess I'll get tossed for this....

If you can find a good Dan Wesson it is going to be one of the best production 44 mags ever made.

I like mine better than the three S&W 29/629 pistols I own. (ducks and runs for cover) The Smiths are not as heavy, and therefore not as pleasant, to shoot. I also find the Dan Wesson more accurate. My $.02.

So the 329 falls into the lighter, easier to carry class of revolver and therefore MUCH, MUCH harder to shoot. (In my humble opinion). For a hunting gun I'd stay away from the 329.

P.S.

The Smiths are still a more elegant, beautiful design. I LOVE my '29s.

You're not the first that I ve talked to that likes the way their Dan's shoot better than their Smith's. I was personally amazed by the accuracy of the gun I shot and am actively looking for one as we speak with a 6" bbl. The smith is out(no offense to anyone here)...I have 2 smith 22's and love em, a 17 and 617scoped. The 44mag will be a dan for sure..now just to find the right one at the right price. Thanks.

 

[silentflyer]

My Dan Wesson 10" .44 with a Nikon 2X will shoot 3" groups all day long at 100yds from a rest, my brother has a DW .41 8" that will do the same. I like my S&W's but at long ranges the DW"s is more consistent. Had a DW .357 with a 15" tube and like a fool sold it some years ago, when I needed cash. Dropped a deer at 200 yards with it once .Indeed the guns have a checkered reputation for quality but all the guns I have ever shot made in Monson Mass are great, not so much for the ones made in Palmer and Norwich. Wish CZA would open up the line again and offer more than the .357 and .445 offerings.

 

[m657]

Not to knock any marque here, to add "bigger-more stable" platform, I once had a 44 mag Virginia Dragoon 8" that was very pleasant to shoot full charge recipes, and did nicer groups with iron sights at 100 yards than I could do with my 8 3/8" 629-1. Can't brag on my target, but at that distance I actually had "groups" from the Dragoon while my 629 gave me more like rat droppings in a dresser drawer. And yes, my fault as I have geezer vision and a bit of a flinch....one of which was smoothed a bit by the heavier model. Still, I don't expect no trophies whatever the range or caliber.