629-1 and new Hogue Grips

[John_Watson]

Just purchased a new set of shoes for my 629. The Pachmeyers were okay but it just called for something more regal. These are made from Rosewood.

It shoots high even with the rear sight lowered all the way down. That was with 240gr cast at around 1000fps as well as 240gr JHP factory magnums.

Should I try to install a shorter rear sight blade?

John

 

[Raven6]

John,

I think I would work toward modifying the rear sight blade before I started working on that front sight. My 629-1 is upstairs in the bedroom right now, but I have my 629-5 sitting here on the computer desk. If your rear sight blade is like the one I have here in front of me, there may be between 1/16th and 1/32 of material there between the bottom of the notch and the top of the adjustable sight frame. You might be able to lower that notch a bit and then likewise take a bit off of the top of the sight blade. This should lower your point of impact. By how much - who knows? My elevation screw on this 629-5 is slightly domed... Something like that might need to be flattened just a bit in order to not stick up in front of the newly lowered notch.

I would certainly try to modify the rear before I went after the front blade... You can buy a new rear sight and/or blade, but the front sight on our 629-1s is an integral part of the barrel. Later variants had the pinned on or quick-change versions that help correct situations like you and others haved faced. But that front sight is a one shot deal when it comes to modifying it. If it gets messed up, it's new barrel time. I do, however, like the Wiegand front sight base for S&Ws that is out there. It allows you to change blades, and several variations are available, including a large blank that allows you to make whatever you want. It takes a good 'smith or a good machinist to install the base. But once it is on the gun, you can set yourself up with a wide variety of front sight blades: 25 yards, 50 yards, a big ramp with gold bars inlaid for various distances, a nice black Patridge type for shooting pins, etc.

Jack Wiegand no longer does 'smithing work, but he does have someone that he recommends for the installation... I can't remember who it is, but he lists the gentleman on his web-site. Weigand is a class act... He answers his e-mails personally, and cares about his clients. He also offers a cool replacement rear sight blade that was originally designed for competition, though I am contemplating putting one on my 629-1 since I use it mainly for distance shooting now - you can get it with various notch widths. With his interchangable front sight base, a set of blades for the purposes at hand, and his rear sight blade replacements, there isn't too much one couldn't accomplish with a good old model 29, provided his marksmanship is up to the task.

BTW, your Hogue grips look great... I am in a bit of a quandry right now trying to find "the" set of grips for this 629-5. I have a whole other thread going on that situation. Hopefully I'll get that solved soon...

Regards,
Mike

 

[MakeMyNight]

FWIW: Midway USA sells S&W rear sight blades, and kits (with new screw & nut); with, or without white outline. As far as I know, they stock three blade heights for K-L-N frames, and one for J frames.

Of course, the S&W Store and Brownell's also stock the blades/kits.

 

[McInnis]

John, you can see I have a newer, shorter barreled version of your rig. I just got it and the Hogue Rosewoods. Are yours Hogues? How do they fit along the backstrap? Mine are pretty much flush until you get to the bottom half inch or so, then there's a small gap (maybe 1/16"?) between the metal and the wood. The wood extends past the metal strap so the metal is recessed. Can't decide if I want to try to do something about it or see if I can just get used to it.

 

[John_Watson]

First of all, thanks for the replies. I had no intention of dealing with the front sight. I know that would be expensive but was wondering about changing the rear sight blade. Do you know which size the 629-1 comes with and what one I need to go to? Raven 6

I have been looking at the sight inserts on Midway but not sure which one to order.

McInnis, my grips did not fit flush at the top of the back strap but were flush at the bottom. I noticed on the instructions that came with the grips that they recommend a strip of tape or two if the grip goes past the frame a bit. I did used two thicknesses of electrical tape on the front of the grip frame and I am now pleased with the results. The edges of the grip are sharp and if left as they were would certainly have cut my palm.

John

 

[piebiter]

John, those grips sure look great. I have a 629-1 as well, but she's only wearing monogrips....maybe someday.

 

[fyimo]

Great looking grips as they really dress up the Model 29.

 

[M29since14]

Should I try to install a shorter rear sight blade?

The gun probably has a .146 rear blade. Buy the shortest one you can get. It is not going to change things a lot.

Looking at your revolver, it appears the rear sight body is not all the way down against the frame. Photos can be deceiving. Anyway, if it is not, you might investigate why. Your sight may have a defect, or there may be an imperfection in the machining of the frame, or both.

Good luck, and remember, those guns are regulated to print a bit high with full-charge .44 Magnums. I always expect them to shoot 2-3 inches high at 25-yards, based on past experience. Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of them that shot higher, for me.

 

[John_Watson]

I ordered a .126 rear sight blade with screw/nut from Midway yesterday. Midway has a good video on how to change out the rear sight blades on Smith revolvers. I didn't know that you had to break the screw to get the blade out, but that is the way they show how to change the blade and then you have to stake in the nut.

Shouldn't be much of a problem to do. I should then have plenty of variation in elevation once this blade is installed.

thanks for all the help,

John

 

[MakeMyNight]

Hope the new blade works for well You.

BTW: You can measure a S&W blade's height (from top to bottom) with a machinist ruler or by using a caliper.

The notch, or opening does not figure into the measurement, only the blade height.

 

[John_Watson]

Received the rear sight blade from Midway. Looked at the video on Midway again to make sure the directions were understood. Not as easy as Larry makes it out to be. First Larry says to turn the screw counter clockwise till it breaks, the instructions said to do the opposite. I went with Larry, not good. The screw did move left and when stopped the screw broke as intended. Next Larry says to use a small punch to depress the plunger and spring, that is where everything started going wrong. Turned the screw to line up the plunger with the slot on top of the sight base and the screwdriver being magnetic pulled the screw head away from the base and guess where the plunger and spring went. If you can guess tell me cause I haven't found them yet. Smith and Wesson is sending me another set at no cost.

Next Larry says just tap on the blade and it will come out of the base. Again, not so. Hit it hard as I dared then chose to drill out the nut to release the screw and sight blade. That done, now just waiting for the spring and plunger in the mail to finish the installation.

If I knew it was that easy for the spring and plunger to go missing I would have taken it apart in a large Ziploc bag.

Live and learn. Next time, if that comes, will be easier.

thanks for all the help here on the forum.

John

 

[powerkicker]

Originally posted by M29since14:

Should I try to install a shorter rear sight blade?

Good luck, and remember, those guns are regulated to print a bit high with full-charge .44 Magnums. I always expect them to shoot 2-3 inches high at 25-yards, based on past experience. Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of them that shot higher, for me.

What do you base the above on?

 

[Sportsterguy]

Originally posted by MakeMyNight:
FWIW: Midway USA sells S&W rear sight blades, and kits (with new screw & nut); with, or without white outline. As far as I know, they stock three blade heights for K-L-N frames, and one for J frames.

Of course, the S&W Store and Brownell's also stock the blades/kits.

+1 on the rear sight. Love those Hogues!!! Have a set for my 3" 657 and they look good and handle the recoil of the rounds nicely.

 

[m657]

I love my 629-1 but chose the rubber Hogues, definitely not as classy as Rosewood.

Had issue with not being able to move rear sight far enough right to get on X ring at 50'.

A few other little issue, ended sending to factory for now pinned HiViz front sight (geezer eyes), reworked rear sight and Vinnie's slick-em job. Really NICE shooter, pleasant accurate loads all day at 1000-1100 fps.

 

[rjheff]

Originally posted by John_Watson:
Received the rear sight blade from Midway. Looked at the video on Midway again to make sure the directions were understood. Not as easy as Larry makes it out to be. First Larry says to turn the screw counter clockwise till it breaks, the instructions said to do the opposite. I went with Larry, not good. The screw did move left and when stopped the screw broke as intended. Next Larry says to use a small punch to depress the plunger and spring, that is where everything started going wrong. Turned the screw to line up the plunger with the slot on top of the sight base and the screwdriver being magnetic pulled the screw head away from the base and guess where the plunger and spring went. If you can guess tell me cause I haven't found them yet. Smith and Wesson is sending me another set at no cost.

Next Larry says just tap on the blade and it will come out of the base. Again, not so. Hit it hard as I dared then chose to drill out the nut to release the screw and sight blade. That done, now just waiting for the spring and plunger in the mail to finish the installation.

If I knew it was that easy for the spring and plunger to go missing I would have taken it apart in a large Ziploc bag.

Live and learn. Next time, if that comes, will be easier.

thanks for all the help here on the forum.

John

John-
I did very nearly the exact same thing yesterday. I did end up finding both the plunger and the spring on a black carpeted floor no less. But the new windage nut is nowhere to be found. I bought the 126 kit also from Midway.

 

[M29since14]

What do you base the above on?

I could say forty years of experience with many different guns, as I alluded to, but we all have experience. I was given the info in various telephone calls to S&W. Over the years, I have had 44s that shot all over the place, but usually too high. Whenever I have asked, I have been told 2-3 inches high at 25 yards with 240-grain magnum loads, which corresponds roughly to a center hit with a six o'clock hold on the NRA slow-fire target. Nice coincidence, eh?

I suppose you could call today and get a different answer. I probably haven't had any reason to talk to them about this for more than 15 years now.

 

[John_Watson]

A few other little issue, ended sending to factory for now pinned HiViz front sight (geezer eyes), reworked rear sight and Vinnie's slick-em job. Really NICE shooter, pleasant accurate loads all day at 1000-1100 fps.

M657, Don't know if they installed a front sight on your 629 like the one that is installed on their 329PDs. If it is, there is a great all plastic green front sight that you can get from Mag-na-port that works great. I didn't like the red HiViz sight on my 329 and got Mag-na-port to send me one of their's so that I could fit and install it. I love it and it shows up really well even in indoor shooting ranges. I believe the sight blades are made for Ruger revolvers but Mag-na-port installs them on Smiths.

John

 

[John_Watson]

This is the front sight I was talking about. Photo taken from Mag-na-port's site. Unfortunately it is not in color but the front sight is a bright green plastic and really picks up light.

JOhn

 

[John_Watson]

I took a few pics of my 329PD today to show the front sight that I bought from Mag-na-port and installed myself. Didn't come out bad but I bet Mag-na-port would have done a better job but I like tinkering and doing projects.

 

[flop-shank]

Perhaps I'm a bit late, but have you considered lighter bullets to drop your point of impact?