629-5 PC Snub or Mountain Gun?

[David Sinko]

I'm eyeballing a used 629-5 PC Snub. It has the flat 2 5/8" barrel, skeletonized ejector rod housing and dark red Combat type grips. There is no lock, and the hammer and trigger are forged and flash chromed. Am I correct in my assumption that this revolver is devoid of MIM parts? Trigger pull is excellent and what I'd expect on a PC item, unlike what they produce today. Only problem is when I removed the grips I found some significant rust on the grip frame, creeping up from the backstrap. I removed the rust and of course there is some pitting of the stainless steel. Otherwise the revolver appears to be in outstanding condition. The seller wants $650 for it.

I already have a Mountain Gun and don't NEED another .44 Magnum, but given my obsession with big bore snubs I can't get the -5 snub out of my mind. If I can have only one, which is the better choice? The -5 is clearly a much better made revolver compared to my -2 Mountain Gun. I know full throttle .44 Magnum loads are no picnic in revolvers like these. Does anybody have any real world chronograph numbers from these short barrels?

Dave Sinko

 

[Threadkiller]

As a -5 I would guess yes,it is probably chock full of mim parts ,no way to know without disassembly,shouldn't matter much,at that price I would jump on it.

 

[David Sinko]

It has a frame mounted firing pin, which is no big deal to me. I can live with MIM parts but I'm sure the hammer and trigger are forged and flash chromed. I'm just wondering about the internals. I have very little experience with PC revolvers but I always had the belief that the PC products (at least from the era that this -5 was made) were in fact special, and part this special treatment is all forged parts. If necessary I might be able to pop the sideplate to be sure. But I'd like to know what to expect.

I did notice that these grips are "different" in that they have two interlocking pins on their respective halves. Any special reason for that?

Dave Sinko

 

[catcus-jack]

I prefer the Mountain Gun.

 

[nawilson]

I don't know which one is "better," but I do know that guns that have stuck in my mind have a way of staying there until I get them. If it is in your mind, go ahead and buy it. The price is right, and if you don't like the PC gun, you can always sell it. If you pass it by, you may regret it later. Post pics if you do get it!