629 Backpacker, 2.5"

[off road]

http://gastatic.com/UserImages/3310/976864327/wm_316418.jpg

I have been looking to get one of the 2.5" 329 (Alaska Backpacker or NG), but have a chance to get a 629 Backpacker at an excellent price. This would be a trail gun for black bear country.

I can't find any technical data on the 629 (it isn't on the SW web site), but I assume it would be at least 10 oz heavier than the 329. The upside would be better recoil absorption, and the downside is that it is a little less packable. The 629 is also ported, which the 329 is not.

Any experience with this gun, or know of any technical data? Holster availability?

 

[J.P.60]

I do not have experience with those guns, but, wanted to add some fodder for you to think about.

I canoe and camp on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and also in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota. Bears are big and always a concern in those areas... and the wolves in the Boundary Waters area are not particularly skittish around humans and are also very large.

While the .44mag is a good caliber for bear country, no doubt, I am concerned over the need to lighten your load by a few ounces and sacrifice the full ability of the caliber. After all, there's considerable power loss on the snubbie because so much of the powder load burns outside the barrel. If it were me, I would consider a 4" gun or longer.

I carry hyped up .45acp rounds in a S&W 22-4 Thunder Ranch or standard loads in a S&W 1917 that has been hard chromed. The bullets are solid, copper plated, flat tips. While I have not had to shoot at a bear... I have done so with big pigs and can attest to the fact that the rounds will, indeed, penetrate the shoulder of that animal.

So, in a nutshell, my unsolicited and never-so-humble opinion is to carry the extra few ounces with a longer barrel and get the majority of power out of the caliber.

 

[off road]

While the .44mag is a good caliber for bear country, no doubt, I am concerned over the need to lighten your load by a few ounces and sacrifice the full ability of the caliber. After all, there's considerable power loss on the snubbie because so much of the powder load burns outside the barrel. If it were me, I would consider a 4" gun or longer.

I have a safe full of long barreled, big bore handguns! Unless I am going hunting or to the range, that is likely where they will remain Speaking from experience here...I have lugged around big heavy handguns for years. Now, I am seeking a more creative solution!

I'm into Rugers the last few years, so that means I have 7.5" SRH's in .44, .480, and .454. When I lived in SE Alaska and had to deal with griz (in the back yard!), I carried M29's, both a 4" and 6.5". (Note, this was some years back, before the .454, .460, or .500 were available. I would not ever recommend a .44 in griz/brown country today seeing there are better choices, but it IS a near perfect black bear cartridge!)

There is of course a ballistic price to pay for short barrels. I know this, but one has to ballance that against all the other factors, like portability and quick handling. Hell, I also have two Ruger Alaskans in .454. Do your realize that a .454 from a 2.5" barrel, has more umph than a .44 from a long barrel??? If I was worried about the velocity issue, I would just carry that.

Ask this guy about his punny little underpowered snubby: Bear Killed in Self Defense with Ruger .454 Casull Revolver - Takdriver's Forum

I am looking for a 2.5" Smith not because I don't have other options or because I am ignorant, but because they are relatively light, a huge advantage in a close quarters combat scenario where agility and quick target acquisition, beats heavy, long, and slow every time.

 

[off road]

Some bear wisdom to be gleanded here (JJHack posts):

Model 29 Mountain - Topic Powered by Social Strata

 

[off road]

My thoughts right now are that while the 629 is lighter and handier than the Ruger Alaskan, it is not going to be that significant a difference. The 329 on the other hand is a pound lighter than the Ruger, so might as well hold out for a 329 (although at a much higher price).

Ounces equal pounds/pounds equal pain!

 

[J.P.60]

Well, Off Road... I gave an opinion I thought might help. You come back with a complete answer to your own question. Looks to me like you don't want opinions, you just want some posters to verify that the opinion you've already formed is the right one. Just sayin...

 

[AK backpacker]

629 is a fine handgun

It is the right one. I have a backpacker- first series run 629/2.5. 1 of 500. Their not vented(first year). They handle heavy loads fine and are excellent for walking/ hunting in heavy brush. I've always carried mine for 5 years in Alaska. Recoil is not as bad as people say, I used barnes solid copper 325 gr. bear loads. If you have a grizz jump on ya, you want as short and powerful gun as possible. This does the trick. Stick with your intuition. It's a flame thrower when used, loud as hell, will scare a bear to death if you miss. I think a md.329 w/a lighter load would would be more than enough for black bear. I had to have a holster made, but that was 11 yrs ago, but hell, it's a sweet custom for $45, worth it. It's not a target pistol-but more than accurate w/then 50 ft. Stick with supplied factory grips-their the best for control. Any other ?- just ask...and yes- I have dropped a grizz with it up close-being stalked- 1 rd, @20ft, he turned/ran/dropped at less than 100ft.

 

[alrany187]

http://gastatic.com/UserImages/3310/976864327/wm_316418.jpg

I have been looking to get one of the 2.5" 329 (Alaska Backpacker or NG), but have a chance to get a 629 Backpacker at an excellent price. This would be a trail gun for black bear country.

Any experience with this gun, or know of any technical data? Holster availability?

I have a regular (blued) 29-4 with a 3" barrel. I had mine Magna-Ported and it fires like a heavy .357 now. For a trail holster, I went with Lobo Gun Leather. The owner is a member of this forum and will make the holster to suit your needs. I am having a flapped field holster made for mine.

Their URL is: http://www.lobogunleather.com/1_home

 

[Snowbandit]

The 629 is an excellent gun however the ports would be a deal breaker for me. Been down that road and hated them a lot. Suggest you try it out if at all possible before dumping money into a gun that someone vandalized.

BTW....... I just noticed a nice 329 hit the forum's sale thread about 25 minutes ago.