Ammo for S&W 629 44 magnum 3 inch

[brian y]

So I just picked up my new S&W a 629 44 magnum and am very happy with it. I was wondering what ammo other owners are using.

 

[Dave Lively]

I purchased a S&W 69 earlier this year which is also light for a 44 magnum and has a 4.25 inch barrel.

While I shoot an occasional cylinder or two of full power 240 grain loads I have never tried heavier bullets. I might try some 300 grain loads sometime but have no intention of ever trying some of the really stout loads designed for bear protection made by companies like Buffalo Bore, Double Tap, etc. We do not have grizzlies here in Georgia and even the ammo designated as safe for S&W revolvers is very expensive and too powerful to used as range ammo. If I felt the need for ammo like that I would buy a Ruger Redhawk, probably in .454. The full power ammo I use is normally Hornady because it is reasonably priced (~$1/round) and available.

For practice I normally shoot low or mid power ammo. For .44 special power levels I like ammo designed for cowboy shooting since it is the same power as specials but comes in a .44 mag case. The biggest downside for cowboy ammo is that it is smoky and sooty. On an outdoor or well ventilated range the smoke is not an issue and the soot cleans up pretty easily.

But what I like the most at the range is a 240 grain FMJ, 1000 fps load available from Georgia Arms. It costs $27/50 and is loaded in new brass. You could call this either a very strong .44 special load or very weak .44 mag, it kind of splits the difference. But it feels like it was made for the M69. Shooting weak .44 special loads all the time kind of defeats the purpose of buying a .44 magnum. This power level is strong enough to be interesting but not so punishing I only want to shoot a couple of cylinders before quitting. It should work pretty well in a 3 inch 629 too.

After reloading for about 30 years I no longer enjoy it and am shooting all factory ammo now. But I am still saving all my .44 brass instead of letting it lie on the range like I do other calibers in case I change my mind. As others will probably tell you the .44 magnum begs to be reloaded both for cost reasons and being able to select the power level you want. If I had not found the mid power Georgia Arms load I probably would have resorted to reloading something with a similar power level. If you think you might like reloading the .44 mag is a good cartridge to start with.

 

[Duster340]

I shoot anything from cream puff 44 special level up to published max loads in my 4" 629. (And 7.5" SBH for that matter). Never felt the need to push past the max spec'd pressure. And even if fed a steady diet of factory level loads. I'm confident both will last longer than me lol!
And congrats on your new 629!

 

[florange]

Thanks for the tip on the Georgia Arms 240 Grain FMJ. I like to shoot .44 Specials but have a number of 3 inch 44 Mag revolvers...and would like to shoot a round with a little more punch but not a heavy load. I will most likely see the Georgia Arms people next week at a gun show.

 

[SuperMan]

A nice personal defense load is the Speer .44 Magnum 200 grain Gold Dot Short Barrel load. I use it in a 629 Mountain Gun and it is very pleasant to shoot. The 200 grain GD bullet is made to expand at .44 Special velocities and at the Magnum velocity of 1080 from a 4" it expands every time.

I use a plated or cast 200 grain bullet with 10.0 grains of 231 to duplicate the load.

Speer has reloading data in their #14 manual.

Bob

 

[kaaskop49]

W-W used to produce a 210 grain Silvertip load for SD that was milder than the 240 gr full loads. Don't know if still produced, there may be some boxes out there if not, perhaps at shows.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[BaldEagle1313]

Thanks for the tip on the Georgia Arms 240 Grain FMJ. I like to shoot .44 Specials but have a number of 3 inch 44 Mag revolvers...and would like to shoot a round with a little more punch but not a heavy load. I will most likely see the Georgia Arms people next week at a gun show.

That goes for me as well, Dave. Like the O.P., I picked up a 629 3" last week. It's my first .44 magnum and the only ammo I have for it is what I got for my 3" 24-3 .44 Special. I knew I didn't want to go full-house wrist-busting magnum with the 3" barrel but I did want a little more "oomph" than a 950 FPS special.

 

[Kid44]

Any of the factory 240 gr. offerings would be OK. After trying those work your way up to some of the heavier loads if you want. Personally I've never thought the .44 magnum recoil to be the wrist breaking, bone shattering teeth jarring gun many seem to think it is, but I do agree it is the limit that some people care to get behind.

 

[chaparrito]

I shoot a powder puff 230gn lead over 9gn of Unique in magnum brass. I can shoot all day and it's accurate enough up to about 50 yards, which is about as far as I can see.
6 inch 629-1

 

[Biggfoot44]

The limiting factor is what is enjoyable/ comfortable for YOU to shoot, the gun will handle more than you * probably wish to* .

Speaking as the owner of a 2.75in .44Mag, yes there is a big difference in vel potential of a 3in-ish .44 , and even 4in .44's . Consider your potential to be similar to a 6in .44Spl with warm loads.

If your .44Spl loads are giving an actual chrono'ed 950fps from your 3in .44Spl, they'll be pretty good in your .44mag.

 

[SuperMan]

Just found these...they are available at Cabela's....

Cowboy Action

 

[BIGDOC]

At $20 a box try the Horanaday FTX 225gr .44's, you will be surprised at the accuracy and recoil.

 

[brian y]

At $20 a box try the Horanaday FTX 225gr .44's, you will be surprised at the accuracy and recoil.

Thanks BIGDOC, I found some and have placed an order, And thanks for all the good info I am getting from everyone.

 

[Tom Kent]

I have a 3" 629-1 that I stumbled across at a GS a couple of years ago. I shoot a combination of hand loads that do 1000fps out of a 6" 29 and some factory 240gn loads in either Winchester white box (when I can find them) and Magtech. The factory loads don't recoil that much and they shoot to the same POI as the hand loads at 25yds. The 3" is pleasant to shoot as far as I am concerned. You will love it.

 

[Geo. T.]

M.V.

I would think that the muzzle velocity would be reduced to the 44 special range but my guess is that the muzzle blast is epic!

My thoughts are that to warrant carrying the N-frame revolver you need a 5 or 6 inch barrel at least to have a magnum. I think I would go with a 19 or 66!

 

[brian y]

I purchased a S&W 69 earlier this year which is also light for a 44 magnum and has a 4.25 inch barrel.

While I shoot an occasional cylinder or two of full power 240 grain loads I have never tried heavier bullets. I might try some 300 grain loads sometime but have no intention of ever trying some of the really stout loads designed for bear protection made by companies like Buffalo Bore, Double Tap, etc. We do not have grizzlies here in Georgia and even the ammo designated as safe for S&W revolvers is very expensive and too powerful to used as range ammo. If I felt the need for ammo like that I would buy a Ruger Redhawk, probably in .454. The full power ammo I use is normally Hornady because it is reasonably priced (~$1/round) and available.

For practice I normally shoot low or mid power ammo. For .44 special power levels I like ammo designed for cowboy shooting since it is the same power as specials but comes in a .44 mag case. The biggest downside for cowboy ammo is that it is smoky and sooty. On an outdoor or well ventilated range the smoke is not an issue and the soot cleans up pretty easily.

But what I like the most at the range is a 240 grain FMJ, 1000 fps load available from Georgia Arms. It costs $27/50 and is loaded in new brass. You could call this either a very strong .44 special load or very weak .44 mag, it kind of splits the difference. But it feels like it was made for the M69. Shooting weak .44 special loads all the time kind of defeats the purpose of buying a .44 magnum. This power level is strong enough to be interesting but not so punishing I only want to shoot a couple of cylinders before quitting. It should work pretty well in a 3 inch 629 too.

After reloading for about 30 years I no longer enjoy it and am shooting all factory ammo now. But I am still saving all my .44 brass instead of letting it lie on the range like I do other calibers in case I change my mind. As others will probably tell you the .44 magnum begs to be reloaded both for cost reasons and being able to select the power level you want. If I had not found the mid power Georgia Arms load I probably would have resorted to reloading something with a similar power level. If you think you might like reloading the .44 mag is a good cartridge to start with.

Dave, Thanks for the info about the Georgia Arms Ammo.

 

[nolesfan]

8-10 grains of Unique with a 240 gr.swc

 

[kyoilman]

My fav load for my 3"-629 .44magnum

I stick with the classic 240gr. JHP. I use 10.2gr. of Unique powder. It is good loading that averages around 1200 fps out of my 3" Model 629.

 

[KnotRight]

I am shooting a 5" 629 & 7.5 RSB. Tried to keep the rounds to around 900 to 1000 f/sec to punch holes in paper. Using a Missouri 240 SWC I had luck with:
Blue Dot (14.0 Gn) 933 f/sec
Unique (10.0) 937
800x (12.0) 1040
IMR 4227 (22.1) 1050
2400 (8.5) 1100

 

[GF]

Here's a short barreled 629-1 that I picked up this spring.

I've done like some other posters and shot mild to wild through it.

I will admit, I like to shoot the Blazer 44 spls 200 gr GDHP ammo in it when I take it along for a ride.

GF