44 Magnum Mountain Guns

[andyo5]

Is anybody shooting their 44 magnum Mountain Guns to any extent? I am wondering how these guns are to shoot with commercial 44 magnum ammunition. I expect that the recoil would be kind of brutal.

 

[hkcavalier]

If you're looking for super fast double taps, it's not easy.

I've shot 180, 200, and 240gr stuff. 240gr hunting ammo is pretty stiff but manageable. Haven't tried 300gr bear loads nor will I.

 

[75Vette]

I have a dash 4 and thinking about it, it's been awhile since I've shot it. But, I do have a nice rotation of 44s that I go through. With factory ammo, yes, it's a hand smacker. I only shoot it with specials. And yes, the Culinas come off and the rubber Hogues go on.

 

[smithman]

It’s not bad with the factory rubber hogues. It is nasty with wood grips.

 

[6string]

I've always thought of them as being "big" 44 Specials. After learning the hard way about what happens over the long haul to an N frame with steady dose of magnum loads, I decided they are best treated with Special loads.
So, that being the case (at least just for me and my needs), I don't have as much need for a heavy barrel with a sight rib, certainly not a full underlug!
The first Mountain Guns, back in the 90s, filled a nice niche that S&W had vacated after dropping the old M24.

Jim

 

[geeollie]

I switched to the S&W 500 grips....the rubber ones with the enclosed back, and that really tamed it down.

 

[andyo5]

After learning the hard way about what happens over the long haul to an N frame with steady dose of magnum loads, I decided they are best treated with Special loads.
Jim

So what DOES happen over the long haul to an N frame with a steady dose of magnum loads?

I am considering buying a M629 Classic (full underlug) and shootting it in silhouette matches with a scope.

 

[Hondo44]

So what DOES happen over the long haul to an N frame with a steady dose of magnum loads?

Nothing! Not since the "Endurance Package" was designed into them late in the 29-3 era and stamped 29-3E.

But no gun is free of maintenance forever. If and when it needs it, we do it, and keep on shooting.

 

[6string]

So what DOES happen over the long haul to an N frame with a steady dose of magnum loads?

I am considering buying a M629 Classic (full underlug) and shooting it in silhouette matches with a scope.

HONDO44 says it!

My original is a -3. I'm the original owner, and have replaced two hands and had it back to the factory to have the barrel set back one thread (forcing cone erosion was fixed), and endshake fixed. That also gave the opportunity to tighten up the B/C gap, which had come from the factory @ .009". They also replaced some parts, but they didn't tell me exactly what.
It's favorite "meal" these days is a cast .433" WC or SWC with a "sauce" of Unique or Bullseye.

The endurance package 29/629 seems to be very good for silhouette.

Also, kinda nice to know that the S&W 29 was right there at the beginning of IHMSA. (In my experience, a 250 gr SWC @ 950 FPS or so will take down the 200M rams. Just gotta work out the sight elevation.)

Jim

 

[CH4]

The 629-2 and 629-4, alpha and omega of the 44 mag MG world.
I’ve only shot factory 240 grainers, they’re a handful even with rubber grips. No intention of shooting anything heavier.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I carry mine during deer season(which started yesterday) loaded with my cast 250 gr swc's pushed by 20 grs of 2400. I carry it in a Bianchi Cyclone cross draw.

 

[Pisgah]

Any revolver of any caliber will wear out with enough use, and the 29 is no exception to this basic fact. The often-referenced problem with 29s was accelerated wear brought on by shooting thousands of heavy-bullet max loads through them in silhouette competition, which did, indeed, wear them out at an accelerated rate. Mind you, even before the advent of the endurance package standard 240 grain loads would give you the normal life expectancy, which for the average shooter not engaged in high-volume shooting meant the shooter would likely die before the revolver did. The endurance package merely extended the life of the revolver under both normal and extreme usage -- but, of course, it didn't make them immortal.

 

[andyo5]

Does anybody know whether the Hogue Tamer grip (designed for X frames) will also fit N frame RB guns? I know it will fit L frames, but on the S&W website they show various models it will fit and none of them were N frames.

 

[Hondo44]

The endurance package was also, maybe more so, designed to solve a malfunction issue caused by extreme recoil conditions, in which it succeeded.

More than being associated with wear or round count, it dealt with the physics issue of "a body at rest tends to stay at rest" under rapid acceleration. But the "endurance package" term has a better 'ring' to it.

It sounds better than "malfunction correction package". But in all fairness to S&W, in 1956 they couldn't have anticipated the macho loads and bullet weights of today used in silhouette matches, etc.

 

[75Vette]

Does anybody know whether the Hogue Tamer grip (designed for X frames) will also fit N frame RB guns? I know it will fit L frames, but on the S&W website they show various models it will fit and none of them were N frames.

Andy, yes they will fit a round butt N frame.

 

[Hondo44]

Does anybody know whether the Hogue Tamer grip (designed for X frames) will also fit N frame RB guns? I know it will fit L frames, but on the S&W website they show various models it will fit and none of them were N frames.

Yes, they certainly do, and thank goodness they do!

First time I shot my 329 I had to count to 60 in between shots for the numbness in my palm to subside so I wouldn't drop the gun on the next shot.

I took the Hogue "Tamer Grips" off of my 500 Mag X frame and put them on the 329!! Fit perfect and no more numbness, even with some 300 Gr bullet loads! The jell or padding covering the back strap makes all the difference.

They're only made for the X frames: 500 and 460 Mags so not listed for N frames. But they are interchangeable, and I ordered them for my and my son's 329s.

 

[acco40]

It’s mild compared to my Night Guard, but I enjoy shooting both.


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[Qc Pistolero]

Being gunshy is not a matter of manlyhood.I've seen men weighting 150 shooting over 50 rds of full .44 Mag without flinching and I've seen athletic guys way over 200#s starting to flinch after the first 2 rounds.
While I admit a 4'' 44Mag is a handfull,there is a way to beat the flinchitis maxima.If you reload,the solution is obvious;start low and slowly increase while your scores improve.
If you don't reload,recoil is in direct relationship with bullet weight.The 180gr will feel a lot lighter than the 240gr.Start low and climb up...a good fireman didn't start by climbing the top rung of the ladder!

 

[cowboy4evr]

I shoot a 4" 44 magnum with full power loads routinely . But , I watched the video's from Jerry Miculek . He shows you how to shot revolvers and full magnum loads comfortably . I'll leave it up to Jerry to tell ya all about it . Regards, Paul

 

[andyo5]

I am somewhat recoil sensitive. I need to concentrate to overcome a tendency to flinch alot of the time. I am wondering whether I'd be better off sticking with my Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt. I shoot a 250g XTP bullet at 1250 fps with it. If it will reliably take down the rams at 200 meters, that would suffice for me. I haven't tried it at 200 meters yet. It replaces a Remington XP100 in 7mm BR that I just sold. The XP is a real kicker and at 70 years old, the recoil was getting to be a bit too much for me.