Best Model 29 Years/Variants

[stansdds]

One more question. Where these changes also done to the Model 57 (41mag) and Model 27 and Model 28?

I do not think the Model 28 ever received any of the lock work durability upgrades as it was dropped from production in 1986 and I think the 29-3E began in 1987. The upgrades were applied to all N-frames, not just the Model 29/629, even though N-frames in calibers other than 44 Magnum seldom had durability issues.

 

[jcelect]

The endurance package was implemented because the silhouette shooters were "hot rodding" the 44 mags! They were shooting 300gr and 350gr loads very hot! The improvements were started on the -2 guns, I have a 629-2E 3".

This is my hunter and it has put down many deer before I quit deer hunting. I shoot 240gr XTP bullets loaded just a shade under the max book load of H110. My longest kill was 142 paces. This gun has had probably 10,000 rds down the barrel and is as tight as it was in 1983!

 

[tate razor]

For me the 29-5 Classic DX or 629 Classic Dx are both mighty fine shooting guns. I believe the first ones came with a target shot from 50 yds that had to be 1 1/2" or less to be a DX, the later ones were shot at 25 yds. I have a Magna Classic that came with a target shot at 50 yds that measures 3/4" with Federal factory loads.

 

[Freelancer99]

For me it's the one of 500 Hill Country Dist. 29-4 form 1984. All the updates, proper rollmarks, unfluted cylinder with a 5" barrel!
Thanks guys for letting me share.

 

[wcat94]

This thread has some photos but still needs more.
Here is a 29-6 round butt with bear hug stocks.

 

[45Smashemflat]

I vote for the 629-2 Mountain Revolver…

 

[grip frame]

I'm going to assume you are talking full loads. So, you want a 29 or a 629 with the endurance package. 29s with the EP are hard to find and expensive.

Those start with the 29-3E. 29-5 arguably the best design wise. The 629s start with the 629-2E, with the 629-4 arguably the best of the bunch.

These are pre-internal safety lock and pre-MIM parts. Personally, from a design standpoint I don't have a problem with MIM parts but from a collectors view point, some do.

JMHO the best design wise (a shooter) S&W 44 Magnum would be the 629-4 DX. The 5" being a grail gun for me.

My 629-4 5".
View attachment 792973

29 DX and 629 DX revolvers in 5" were only made one year (1992) and all are 629-3 and 29-5 variants FYI.

 

[bph9]

Limiting the bullet weight to 240 grains certainly maximizes the number of variants that could be considered "best". I would guess that the variants that are most likely to produce excellent accuracy with cast lead bullets would be the 29-5 and 29-6. These are pre-lock (29-7) and have cylinder throats standardized at 0.429", although some 29-5's may have been made with cylinders that had the 0.432" throats. Model 29-4 and earlier versions of the 29 had a cylinder throat standard of 0.432", which is fine with jacketed bullets, but accuracy with lead bullets sized to 0.430" may not be great.

For the pre-endurance package Model 29's, a limited amount of full power magnum loads and shooting mostly 44 Special or loading your own reduced power loads will provide you with a life time of use. I think most Model 29/629 owners find that full power magnum ammo is not very pleasant to shoot.

By the way the October Handloader has an article on the new Smith & Wesson 19. In it the Author mentions that Smith did away with their experiment in EDM rifling. My question is this: The Author states they started using EDM rifling in the year 2000 so is it in 2005 that they quit using it and went back to their former style of rifling?

 

[Thaddeus Beauregard]

I too would vote 29-5 as the pinnacle of the M29, as it incorporated all the durability improvements and still had the exceptional blued finish quality in the pre-lock era. I would love to have a 29-5 Classic DX! I wish Smith still used recessed cylinders, so in that single respect, I like the 29-2... not for any strength or really any functional reason, but the recessed cylinders allowed the cylinder to be a little longer, closing more of the gap between the back of the cylinder and the recoil shield. It just looks better. I don't care about the pinned barrels, as later during the "pinned" era, the pins didn't even intersect the barrel anyway and had no functional purpose.

 

[65Whelen]

29 DX and 629 DX revolvers in 5" were only made one year (1992) and all are 629-3 and 29-5 variants FYI.

I stand corrected, thank you.

 

[grip frame]

Myself I would take a 29-5 or 29-6 as the best.
Same for the 629-3 and 629-4.

Only difference in the 29-6 over the 29-5 is the -6 has the new extractor system and rear sight assy.
Same for the 629-4 over the -3. The - 4 also went to the non flash chrome hammers and triggers.

 

[stansdds]

By the way the October Handloader has an article on the new Smith & Wesson 19. In it the Author mentions that Smith did away with their experiment in EDM rifling. My question is this: The Author states they started using EDM rifling in the year 2000 so is it in 2005 that they quit using it and went back to their former style of rifling?

Well, it's actually ECM rifling and I don't think S&W ever went back to broach cut rifling.

 

[Riposte1]

Well, it's actually ECM rifling and I don't think S&W ever went back to broach cut rifling.

I think your are correct, I took a S&W Armorers class back in the 90s and they were tooting their horn about them using chemical machining (or actually etching).

Except in their police guns - the reason being forensics could not idenify bullets fired from specific guns (that is what they told us, I have no idea if it was true?).

Riposte

 

[javbike]

My big baby