Classic DX ??

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Wow! This thread has been most informative!! And here I have been toying with the idea of letting my most accurate 629-6 Classic go to try and chase down something else...

OP: dang nice revolver! Even given what I just learned here, I'm jealous!

 

[grip frame]

The 5 inch model 629 classic dx and 5 inch 29 classic dx models were only made in 1992 FYI.

 

[jaymoore]

I hear you...lol
Some of the most " loosey- goosey" 629's I own in unfired- nib condition are the much bragged about dash fours. Closely followed by the threes. For a pure long range toy I'll take a dash 5 or 6, any day over all the rest. Check out the factory test target on this dash six DX.

I've never even seen a -6 DX in person, much less one with an 8 3/8" barrel! End-all Be-all of .44s as far as I'm concerned. Just can't get all excited about the Freedom Arms SA things, no matter how well they're built.

 

[k22fan]

CWH44300,
That's the youngest DX I can recall seeing regardless of barrel length. Its test group appears to be a hair under an inch which is great but when comparing it to older DXs bear in mind that it was fired after the testing range was cut in half. Are those its original wood stocks? I've only seen the older Combats with DXs but they must have been obsolete before your dash 6 was boxed.

I'm not sure but when you two write "loosey goosey" I think you are referring to carry up, end shake and or rotational play at lock up not cylinder throat diameter. Those "loosey goosey" or tune up issues do seem to vary quit a bit in new S&Ws from all time periods. That's especially the case with carry up because ratchet teeth are still filed with a 19th century fixture.

 

[Waddy]

I would really have liked to come across one of the dash 3's in the 5 inch length. I had spent a good deal of time looking for a 4" barrel to carry hiking and horseback, and just couldn't find anything without going to the on-line auctions, and I'm still a little leery of those. My dash 4 showed up right in my local gunsmith's hands and I went for it. It is a little longer at 6 1/2" than is really handy to carry, but the darn thing shoots so well I definitely wouldn't let go of it now. I was shooting at a rock at 312 yards, measured with my Leupold laser rangefinder, and was astounded at the reach of this cartridge. Holdover was basically at the top of the red front sight insert. I have yet to go to the range and shoot it on paper with a decent rest, so looking forward to that. Not only is it a keeper, it is damn sure a shooter!! Many thanks to everyone for all the great information, I have learned a lot.

 

[CWH44300]

Wow! This thread has been most informative!! And here I have been toying with the idea of letting my most accurate 629-6 Classic go to try and chase down something else...

OP: dang nice revolver! Even given what I just learned here, I'm jealous!

I guess my post above was misleading. Some of my -3's and 4's are an important part of my smith 44 family. They are not going anywhere, I don't even let the nib guns get fondled. Mike knows how bad I want his -3 posted earlier. Its just a lot of people knock the MIM and lock guns and while I see their point. From a shooters perspective they are missing out on some of the most accurate and well fitted guns in this series.

 

[CWH44300]

CWH44300,
That's the youngest DX I can recall seeing regardless of barrel length. Its test group appears to be a hair under an inch which is great but when comparing it to older DXs bear in mind that it was fired after the testing range was cut in half. Are those its original wood stocks? I've only seen the older Combats with DXs but they must have been obsolete before your dash 6 was boxed.

I'm not sure but when you two write "loosey goosey" I think you are referring to carry up, end shake and or rotational play at lock up not cylinder throat diameter. Those "loosey goosey" or tune up issues do seem to vary quit a bit in new S&Ws from all time periods. That's especially the case with carry up because ratchet teeth are still filed with a 19th century fixture.

That's exactly what I'm referring to with the loosely goosey term. These are the factory combats, the catalog from 02 has a photo of them. I'm pretty sure 02 was the last year the DX was offered, would love to see production numbers for them. Regardless this is the only one I've ever seen. The target squares are a half inch, the photo doesn't do it Justice (a tic over .5"). From what I've gathered they changed the target distance sometime in the dash four series.

 

[jaymoore]

From what I've gathered they changed the target distance sometime in the dash four series.

That would agree with a test target i have for a -4. It's noted at 25yds. Serial # matches the "NIB" revolver, but they described it on the target as a 8.375" barrel rather than the 6.5" tube it actually wears. Folks not paying attention at the factory, nothing new!

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I guess my post above was misleading. Some of my -3's and 4's are an important part of my smith 44 family. They are not going anywhere, I don't even let the nib guns get fondled. Mike knows how bad I want his -3 posted earlier. Its just a lot of people knock the MIM and lock guns and while I see their point. From a shooters perspective they are missing out on some of the most accurate and well fitted guns in this series.

No I get ya... A DX has been on my want list for awhile. I was not aware of the progression in manufacturing the 629's in that they got better overall.

My 629-6 is wearing what I am pretty sure is an Altamont grip, and recently added a fiberoptic front sight. This has been a very accurate piece since I bought it ever so slightly used by the first owner.... It is my first of two 44's I own and I think I'll hang onto it... I would really like to get a 5" as I have been afflicted by the "short-ish" bbl bug.. Was thinking about trying to trade my 6'5" for a 5" but I think I will keep it now...

 

[CWH44300]

No I get ya... A DX has been on my want list for awhile. I was not aware of the progression in manufacturing the 629's in that they got better overall.

My 629-6 is wearing what I am pretty sure is an Altamont grip, and recently added a fiberoptic front sight. This has been a very accurate piece since I bought it ever so slightly used by the first owner.... It is my first of two 44's I own and I think I'll hang onto it... I would really like to get a 5" as I have been afflicted by the "short-ish" bbl bug.. Was thinking about trying to trade my 6'5" for a 5" but I think I will keep it now...

Nice gun, its looking sweet too. Those grips look to be made by the same manufacturer, of the factory "combats" on mine. If that guns performance match's its looks, its a keeper for sure. I understand the desire for a 5" gun, I have 3 or 4 myself. I can also understand that you may want a "pre" , shall we say "equipped" gun. Just don't sell the new guns short, they take a back seat to nothing when it comes to accuracy and durability.
My experience lies strictly in 629 series. I've been shooting them extensively since the early 80's and only recently slowed down. But I tend to believe that this trait probably runs through Smith's entire line.

Let the flaming begin

 

[AveragEd]

The 5 inch model 629 classic dx and 5 inch 29 classic dx models were only made in 1992 FYI.

You're right. I had doubts about 1994 when I typed it but in the end thought it was correct. I have several variants of guns that were only made for one year in the 1990s and get them confused at times. Thanks for catching that error.

Ed

 

[wlp624]

Here's my group, all essentially NIB with accessories. The 6 1/2" can't be beat for both feel and accuracy...

 

[CWH44300]

Here's my group, all essentially NIB with accessories. The 6 1/2" can't be beat for both feel and accuracy...

Very nice!

 

[Waddy]

That would agree with a test target i have for a -4. It's noted at 25yds. Serial # matches the "NIB" revolver, but they described it on the target as a 8.375" barrel rather than the 6.5" tube it actually wears. Folks not paying attention at the factory, nothing new!

My test target is marked almost exactly the same way - 25 yards and 8 3/8 vs. 8.375". Pretty nice target too!

 

[GCT00427]

I had an early 629 Classic DX. Serial #BFY43XX. A local gun store hunted it down when I first saw the article in the gun magazines that said coming soon. It was the 6.5" and the test target showed 1.25" group. At the time, I read that they were pulling the most accurate of the Classic series and were making them the DX models. It was a very nice, tight revolver. I just never really cared for shooting the .44 magnum. I sold it to a fellow that worked with my wife.

Regards,

Chuck

 

[Rahjerz]

Not a DX, but a very nice 29-5 Classic with a 5" barrel.

 

[Nightowl]

I bought a 6 1/2" DX in 1992. I shot it a few times and put it away, after having the barrel rotate and factory fixed. Not sure if I have shot it since it returned. I keep thinking I will drag it out and give it another go. Oh, well. Even though I don't shoot this one, I would still like to have a 5" DX.

 

[Dennis The B]

I picked up this one at a LGS a few years back. Mine had two sets of stocks, one Hogue and the other combats. It had been Magnaported sometime earlier. I bought it because I liked the profile, and it's turned out to be a great revolver.

My only concern, is that the stocks don't look like Morado. They look more like Goncalo Alves, but I like the contrast on the bluing.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Not a DX, but a very nice 29-5 Classic with a 5" barrel.

Grail gun for me!! (droooooool)

 

[S.B.]

My go to Whitetail hunting gun is 629-4 Classic, not the DX model but, their plain Jane model of this gun and I'll put it's accuracy and reliability with their DX version any day?

Steve