329 PD .44 MAG
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The 329PD is a very light gun. Mine will never see 44 Mags, at least not fired by me. 44 Specials are not a problem. Where I shop $800 for a nice one is a very good price; I paid $850 for mine three years ago and thought that a good price at that time. Good luck.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Charlie Foxtrott
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As long as it is clean and not all beat up.
that is a pretty good price for one. Clean ones will usually bring +/- a grand around here. I have had mine for many years, bought it new. And it is not a high round count gun. But it is a great woods gun which is what I bought it for. Very light weight with excellent firepower. In a Chest rig it is just the ticket for hiking in the woods.
that is a pretty good price for one. Clean ones will usually bring +/- a grand around here. I have had mine for many years, bought it new. And it is not a high round count gun. But it is a great woods gun which is what I bought it for. Very light weight with excellent firepower. In a Chest rig it is just the ticket for hiking in the woods.
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Sounds like a very good price to me.
My all day every day carry gun for the better part of a decade.
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Can be a bit difficult to shoot - light weight, v notch/fiber optic front sights (and snappy recoil with .44 Mags) are not real conductive to "target" accuracy
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Hogue tamer grips make it a lot more comfortable to shoot.
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Recoil not a problem with .44 special level loads.
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Paul
My all day every day carry gun for the better part of a decade.
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Can be a bit difficult to shoot - light weight, v notch/fiber optic front sights (and snappy recoil with .44 Mags) are not real conductive to "target" accuracy
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Hogue tamer grips make it a lot more comfortable to shoot.
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Recoil not a problem with .44 special level loads.
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Paul
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Everyone needs to fire a 329PD with magnum loads once. Then let the healing begin. They're punishing enough in a 39 oz 629 4", but the pain goes away after a dozen rounds, and the bruising doesn't show for an hour or two. I use hot .44SPL gummy tips for occasional carry.
I do like shooting a 327PD (.357M). The lined 5" barrel is the most accurate .357 I own, and recoil is moderate, despite the light weight.
I do like shooting a 327PD (.357M). The lined 5" barrel is the most accurate .357 I own, and recoil is moderate, despite the light weight.
I've never shot my 329 with specials, but it has to be much more pleasant than magnums. $800 is a good price. Will likely come with a box with 49 of 50 rounds remaining.
I had a couple of 329PD, but no longer. Full house 44's sting a little. 44 special is good to go. Actually $800 is a great price.
ACORN
Member
I put a 329NG on law away at my LGS for $750. I know it's a bit different from a PD. I have no intention of firing many magnums from it, just specials. Well, maybe just one to say I did.
AFAIK I'm the third owner and the gun is still like new.
I think that tells you something.
AFAIK I'm the third owner and the gun is still like new.
I think that tells you something.
.455_Hunter
Member
They are a great carry gun for folks who operate in regimes off the traditional urban two-legged threat matrix. I fired my friend's with one cylinder full of 240 gr WBB and one cylinder full of 180 gr UMC. Definitely enough fun with that gun for the day. The 329PD is one of just a few S&W products that tempt me to break my "no lock" rule.
hkcavalier
US Veteran
It's irritating that S&W doesn't make the 327PD anymore...I'd buy one!
I really wanted a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 for many, many years. Never got one. Charter has been thru many different ownerships over the years the quality varied widely. In fact, I've handled a couple in gun shops over the years and the finish/ trigger pull of a couple were really lacking compared to any of my S&Ws.
I've had a 629 for many years and loved it, but always had a yearning for a lightweight .44 for woods carry. One day when I was experiencing yet another yearning for a Bulldog, I started comparing numbers.
Off the top of my head, the Taurus 431 was sort of in the running too, but when I looked at the weight, it was starting to get up there for a gun that is carried a lot more than shot; plus the availability is really low because it's discontinued, and price is high when you do find one. I also knew I could've gone with a S&W 69 and shaved a little weight over the 629- but still.. a noticeable weight savings was kind of the point.
In the end, I knew if I did get a Bulldog, at some point the lack of a great trigger pull and really good quality would end with me eventually becoming dissatisfied and selling it, and finally decided to just bite the bullet and buy a 329! I've been really happy with mine ever since. It's been 3 years, and I had to pay over $1200 for it, but I've had absolutely no thoughts of selling it.
So for $800, jump on it!
I've had a 629 for many years and loved it, but always had a yearning for a lightweight .44 for woods carry. One day when I was experiencing yet another yearning for a Bulldog, I started comparing numbers.
Off the top of my head, the Taurus 431 was sort of in the running too, but when I looked at the weight, it was starting to get up there for a gun that is carried a lot more than shot; plus the availability is really low because it's discontinued, and price is high when you do find one. I also knew I could've gone with a S&W 69 and shaved a little weight over the 629- but still.. a noticeable weight savings was kind of the point.
In the end, I knew if I did get a Bulldog, at some point the lack of a great trigger pull and really good quality would end with me eventually becoming dissatisfied and selling it, and finally decided to just bite the bullet and buy a 329! I've been really happy with mine ever since. It's been 3 years, and I had to pay over $1200 for it, but I've had absolutely no thoughts of selling it.
So for $800, jump on it!
I got it. Since You have one , How do You think 329PD will hold up if shot only with 44spl factory ammo of various power levels compared to say a 624 or a regular 629?
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How long will it last? Aluminum has a low threshold for stress fracturing (Scandium is just a minor alloying element to postpone the inevitable). Flame cutting is another sore point. Nonetheless, you would retire or sell it long before the frame gave way.
I bought a used 3" 629 (38 oz) which had hardly been fired. One trip to the range, and I knew why. It's my EDC in the Rockies and west.
I bought a used 3" 629 (38 oz) which had hardly been fired. One trip to the range, and I knew why. It's my EDC in the Rockies and west.
Gunhohulk
Member
I got mine for 700 with a couple boxes of ammo and a few accessories. The catch was the titanium cylinder face had been scrubbed and as a result had erosion on the face of it around each charge hole. The good news is Midway has new titanium cylinders for a reasonable price so I grabbed one as well as an additional inflated stainless cylinder. So far I put the inflated stainless one in it with the original extractor star and everything works just right. And after a good cleaning I'm very pleased with the package. It's also surprising how nice it carries if you have a decent holster.
Charlie Foxtrott
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Good luck wearing one out.
Shooting .44 specials out of it should take you a good long while.
Anyone know what the dealer price is on a 329PD ? I ask because a LGS has had one for over a year and from what I've gathered they would love to get rid of it . Knowing what they have in it would give me an idea of what to offer .
Glad to hear you got it, I think you'll like. 
I swapped out my 329PD's Ti cylinder with the SS cylinder that I swapped out of my 629 when I installed an unfluted SS cylinder in it.
Gives it a more distinctive two-tone look, adds a hair over 3.5ozs of weight back plus I can scrub the SS cylinder as much as I like.
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S&W 329PD 2-Tone with Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips
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Ti cylinder weight
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SS cylinder weight
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I swapped out my 329PD's Ti cylinder with the SS cylinder that I swapped out of my 629 when I installed an unfluted SS cylinder in it.
Gives it a more distinctive two-tone look, adds a hair over 3.5ozs of weight back plus I can scrub the SS cylinder as much as I like.
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S&W 329PD 2-Tone with Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips
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Ti cylinder weight
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SS cylinder weight
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hkcavalier
US Veteran
That cylinder might look good in my Mountain Revolver...hmm...
I had one. My Gunsmith still does. I sold mine just as a general reducing my inventory as I age kind of thing. Brand new, Great gun.
There is a manufacturer that makes anti-grizzly magnum loads specifically for the 329 and the .44 Mountain Gun.
There is more than one ammo company that makes fairly hot .44 special loads with hardcast bullets that are very tolerable in the 329.
I would not buy one used, no matter how good it looked. You don't know how it has been treated. This is a gun for when you are face to face with an animal that wants to kill you. For me, I would want to know where a 329 has been from cradle ,to my grave.
I still have my .44 Mountain Gun.
There is a manufacturer that makes anti-grizzly magnum loads specifically for the 329 and the .44 Mountain Gun.
There is more than one ammo company that makes fairly hot .44 special loads with hardcast bullets that are very tolerable in the 329.
I would not buy one used, no matter how good it looked. You don't know how it has been treated. This is a gun for when you are face to face with an animal that wants to kill you. For me, I would want to know where a 329 has been from cradle ,to my grave.
I still have my .44 Mountain Gun.
