Accuracy of Performance Center 629 44 Magnums?

[jaymoore]

I don't doubt your findings, and thank you for posting them.

However, it doesn't make any sense, that S&W would deliberately make inaccurate revolvers, when they have the ability to make them right? If they use a less costly process to produce them, it would cost them more in the long run, by damaging their reputation, and loss of loyal customers.

Why do you think they would do something like this?

How old are the ones that are oversized? Are they possibly just worn out from shooting over the years?

His measurements aren't too much different than mine. And, again, there doesn't seem much logic for the oversized throats, except possibly tradition and SAAMI. The firearms manufacturers went towards the top end of the allowable specification and the ammo makers trended towards the lower end.

It surely didn't help S&W's reputation amongst the long range shooters! It's now a field dominated by Freedom Arms and to a lesser extent, Dan Wesson. I've only managed some small degree of success by running soft oversized bullets, with additional wax coating on the bullets for the rounds used in the 29-3's. That and some other tweaks!

 

[sasu]

Inspired by these discussions I finally placed an order for a pin gage set so I can properly check the throats on my revolvers.

 

[jaymoore]

I got the initial quote for the PC 629 Hunter. Almost $2500! Yikes! That is almost Freedom Arms category as they cost from about $3500 here.

If you are going to shoot primarily Freestyle (Creedmoor, Dead Frog, Flop, etc.) then the Freedom Arms might be the way to go.

But I can't do squat with a single action Standing/Field Pistol. And I don't know anybody else using a Freedom Arms in the Standing categories. Some using Rugers, but none in the higher classes.

 

[jaymoore]

Inspired by these discussions I finally placed an order for a pin gage set so I can properly check the throats on my revolvers.

Pin gages are OK, but use them from the chamber side. Often there's a small constriction at the cylinder face. And/or taper from the chamber end forward, usually getting tighter as you go forward.

These do a rather better job, but cost way more than pin gages. I use such things regularly, so no particular extra expense was incurred. (This particular bore gage is a little small for .44s, but the photo was handy.) Mahr, Boice, Federal, Mitutoyo, etc.

Would suggest finding equivalent on the used market rather than buying new if you want to go that route. I don't know that it would help you all that much, unless you're just a curious sort.

 

[jaymoore]

BTW, not making a blanket condemnation of S&W revolvers for silhouette use, for instance, there's a local shooter who used a 617 to score what I think was the first .22 Revolver 80x80 at an IHMSA Internationals some years back! And 617s still do well enough against all comers. Sadly, no 8 3/8" revolvers in production for some time.

Market's just too small for any real interest by the big mfg's in full tilt long range accuracy revolvers. Or any other long range handguns much any more.

ETA: For the wish list: A new 10 5/8" barreled Adjustable Front Sight .44, .41, and/or .357 revolver. PC shop would be fine. Or not. Just as long as it's basically built as well as the current run of 29/629s! Would have to get several, so's to have sights set for Field Pistol, BB Revolver, and BB Standing. I'm in for three at least, wonder how many more we would need?

 

[series guy]

Here's a reality check. Having enough interest in shooting that we are on this forum devoted to a single manufacturer makes us the one percent of the one percent. Even back in the day of the -2 pinned and recessed models we all love to collect a huge percentage of these guns never fired more than a box or two of ammo. Even the beloved Model 29 wasn't setting the world on fire until Inspector Callahan added some fuel to the fire. These guns are built for the masses, not the very few of us who expect perfection.

 

[jaymoore]

Here's a reality check. Having enough interest in shooting that we are on this forum devoted to a single manufacturer makes us the one percent of the one percent. Even back in the day of the -2 pinned and recessed models we all love to collect a huge percentage of these guns never fired more than a box or two of ammo. Even the beloved Model 29 wasn't setting the world on fire until Inspector Callahan added some fuel to the fire. These guns are built for the masses, not the very few of us who expect perfection.

I realize that we're on the fringes, but it's a fun fringe! And perfection isn't needed, but it sure would be nice to reduce the workload loading.

The old 29-3s and -5s can be made to do well at distance, but way lots more work. However, those four position front sights are the bee's knees for IHMSA, etc. If it was allowable to install a set on an 8 3/8" barreled modern S&W (for instance, a slight mod. to the example in Post #1), it would probably be sufficient. As it is now, doing that modification would put you in Unlimited, running against XP-100s and such But if we're wishing for a new "Production legal" revolver, why not go all out and get the 10 5/8" maximum allowed barrel? Gets a little more sight radius and leg position isn't as critical when in the Creedmoor position.

 

[jaymoore]

BTW, I wonder how a GoPro would hold up if mounted to the under barrel rail of the 629 above?

 

[Protocall_Design]

For what it's worth, I used to shoot Big Bore Sil. quite a bit. My gun was/is a 629 Classic DX with 8-3/8 barrel. It has a 2-7 Burris on top.

After much load development, I ended up with 18 gr. of H4227 under a 300 gr. Hornady XTP and CCI Large Pistol Mag. primers. That load would shoot 6" groups at 200 M. The recoil is mild, I have shot 2 rounds in one day (80 shots) many times with no ill effects. I had 1050 FPS at the muzzle and (according to my ballistic chart) 900 FPS at 200 Yards.

I shoot only double action for everything. As quickly as possible. I was trying to get a 40/40 in less than 1 minute total shooting time. Anyone can get them all doing it slow, where's the challenge in that? Anyway, over the course of several years, I was only able to shoot 40/40 twice, with the fastest one being 1 min. 24 sec. of actual shooting time. Never quite made it. Oh well.