329PD Titanium Cylinder Question

[686 SSR]

I am considering adding a 329PD to the fold. Due to its light weight, I plan to shoot primarily 44 Specials and very occasionally use 44 Magnums. I do not know anything about titanium revolver cylinders' long term durability. Do you know if the 329PD's titanium cylinders will experience erosion just ahead of the 44 Special's cases?

Thank you in advance.

 

[dla]

I am considering adding a 329PD to the fold. Due to its light weight, I plan to shoot primarily 44 Specials and very occasionally use 44 Magnums. I do not know anything about titanium revolver cylinders' long term durability. Do you know if the 329PD's titanium cylinders will experience erosion just ahead of the 44 Special's cases?

Thank you in advance.

I doubt it. I don't see erosion at the throats, so I wouldn't expect erosion 1/10 inch back.

But I would expect carbon build up. The easiest way to avoid that is to only 44 mag brass. I really don't see the need for 44spl brass except in a 44spl revolver.

 

[Shuz]

I doubt it. I don't see erosion at the throats, so I wouldn't expect erosion 1/10 inch back.

But I would expect carbon build up. The easiest way to avoid that is to only 44 mag brass. I really don't see the need for 44spl brass except in a 44spl revolver.

I agree with dla. As long as you reload, stick with .44 mag brass. It avoids a lotta problems. However, if you don't reload, you should consider it, because the only way to develop any proficiency with any gun, let alone a 329PD, is to shoot it a bunch!

 

[M29since14]

I don't shoot my 329PD with 44 Special length cases, so I can't say about erosion, but given the fact that the coating on these cylinders apparently can be damaged by aggressive cleaning, I've always avoided the shorter cases. If you use the materials for cleaning that S&W recommends, I don't think you have anything to worry about, but my experience in cleaning steel cylinders is that the shorter cases can make more of a mess than I want to handle with the suggested equipment.

329PDs have a bad rap that is not necessarily fair. With the right modern 44 Magnum ammunition, they are not nearly as hard on the hand as a 340PD, IMO. I shoot Blazer 200-gr and 240-gr JHPs and can manage it OK. I would not want to shoot anything heavier than those loads, but they are no big problem.

I have the S&W 500 stocks on the gun. Most people who shoot it are pleasantly surprised that recoil is not much worse than it is. It is no K38, but it can be managed.