Does anybody really LIKE the 329PD?

[Cyclopius]

Recently got a 329PD .44Mag to carry on some western hiking trips. It's only for an emergency situation obviously. Bear attack, etc. Haven't even shot it yet, but having some second thoughts.

Considering something like a Glock G20 10mm now, as the recoil appears to be much more manageable, but I do feel comfortable with the reliability of a revolver.

I went with the 329 for weight issues on the trail, but want to feel confident with recoil and the ability to get on target quickly in the event I can get off a second shot.

Anyone with experience shooting both the 329 vs. a 10mm? Curious to know the experience as it will still be about 3 weeks before I will have a chance to shoot the 329, and at that point I will be out of state and unable to purchase a handgun before heading west.

 

[Hondo44]

The 329 is a good choice. However, the secret to handling the recoil is to get a set of the S&W 500 Hogue tamer grips!! They have the padding over the back strap.
You can even handle 300 grain bullet loads with those grips.


500 X frame Hogue Tamer grips:
At Bud’s:
Just a moment...


500 Mag Hogue retaining screw-lanyard ring:

Call Hogue at 800 GET-GRIP (800 438-4747) or (805) 239-1440 ask for the stirrup that hooks over the grip locating dowel and
part number 00128 Lanyard 1/2" (length) for ring screw satin nickel
part number 00129 Lanyard 1" (length) for ring screw satin nickel
I recommend that you order a couple of each as Hogue only makes a batch or two a year. These are not standard catalog items.

I ordered mine from “Grabagun”: Came in less than a week.
“Grabagun”: Guns for Sale | Lowest Priced Online Gun Dealer | GrabAGun Firearms Dealer

 

[joebuck]

They are good guns. Can load it as soft or as hot as you can take, which is the whole idea of defensive revolvers. 44 mag 210gr Winchester Silvertips are middle of the road recoil wise and will expand. You can go with hot .44 specials also. I have shot crazy hot Israeli ammo though it that activated the safety lock and cocked the hammer after firing. Not good.

Be sure to clean the cylinder face with only a toothbrush and nothing with ammonia in it.

Verse 10mm? I don't see any 10mm round that would recoil as much as full power .44 mag.

 

[Paul105]

I have both. The 329 was my all day everyday carry gun for the better part of a decade. Shot around 9,000 rnds of low level mags thru three guns. Mine were equipped with the Hogue 500 X frame grips. This is a pretty specialized gun – not the best choice for a novice.

Recoil of the Glock 20 is substantially less vs the 329. Several years ago, a grizzly attack victim here in Montana was mauled due to the mag release being actuated under stress rendering the gun useless. Also some reliability issues with heavy “boutique” ammo have been reported. My son carried a 329 for several yrs as a griz backup while bow hunting elk. He switched to G20 after being surrounded by wolves hiking to the truck one night. He currently carries an HK full size USP with 460 Rowland conversion.

Of the two, I like the 329, mostly because I shoot revolvers better, am a big .44 mag fan, and won’t shoot unless at bad breath range.

Lots of choices. Choose a gun you shoot well and are comfortable with.

Read this article before stressing to much on caliber choice.

Handgun or Pistol Against Bear Attacks 104 cases, 97% Effective
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FWIW,

Paul

 

[Nick B]

Those Hogue Tamer grips are in stock at midway for $31.96 .

 

[Tanners Owner]

Paul- thanks for the link- very interesting, though am sure many with the smaller calibers wish they had something larger at the time.

 

[Paul105]

Probably should have clarified a bit -- personally would not carry 22,32,380,38sp as a primary in bear country. Thread was about 10mm and .44 mag.

Paul

 

[junglefighter]

They may be too heavy for you, but my Ruger Alaskan and S&W 629-6 Deluxe 3" bbl. are perfect for me. I am able to double action my 44 Magnums without a problem. A little more weight, but I have much more confidence in my shooting. A good holster and belt are essential.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

I have a 329 PD for a woods gun.

It will ride in an El Paso Saddlery tanker rig all day long with no discomfort at all. Is it fun to shoot with hot loads, not really. But I have confidence in it being a serious show stopper. Definitely my choice over any 10 mm which I also have. Here it is with my wife's model 66 in a similar rig.

 

[jaguargolf]

I owned one for several years. Full power .44 magnum rounds hurt my hand, but I didn't shoot them very often. There is a boutique ammo maker that has rounds, 300 lead hardcast at 1000fps made specifically for use in 329's and Mountain guns for use against grizzly and Brown bears.
There are BB and Underwood .44 Special loads that I used quite often and comfortably. Kind of like .44 Special +p 240 gr hardcast.
I sold my 329 as part of my downsizing of my life as I age.
If limited to a handgun and face to face with a Grizzly or Brown bear I would prefer a 329 to my Glock 20.
If I get out into the Western or Alaskan woods again I would take my Mountain Gun rather than my Glock 20.

 

[Cyclopius]

Such excellent info here. Thank you for all the replies. I'm taking Buffalo Bore lower recoil hard cast 255 gr. I know the chances are almost zero that I encounter a charging bear, but I feel better about the 329. Can't wait to shoot it.

I did install the rubber grips that S&W provided with it. Would the Hogue tamers be even better?

 

[balin]

I carried my 329 for over 10 years in the woods. I didn't mind a cylinder or 2 of mag rounds, but wouldn't want to shoot full power loads all day long. Then I switched to the G20, then went to a Springfield till M&P came out so I could use an optic. For griz I would prefer a .44 mag. But the Sirius patrol in Greenland use the G20 against polar bear as it can give more fire power and faster follow up shots.The 329 is lighter and easier to carry for me. I could go with either caliber and feel comfortable.

 

[chief38]

I carry my M65 stoked with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast magnums which are about the best 357 bear load made. Admittedly, the 357 mag would not be the best choice when purposely bear hunting as it is just a minimum for the purpose. A 44 Mag is a much better choice but many (including myself) don’t want to lug a huge and heavy gun all over the woods just on a walk or hike. The M65 has always been with me in the woods and would be a whole lot better than the 44 Mag left in the safe. If I was actually setting out on a bear hunt, then a 44 mag or 500 S&W wound obviously be a better choice.

 

[jimmyj]

choose Glock Model 20 10mm

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I've never owned one, but a close friend had one I was partial to. It lived with me for a good six months or so. I think they are a great tool suited to a specific task. It was a handful with 300 grain loads, but I never found it to be unacceptable.

As far as loads, I really am not a maximum load kinda person. I pretty much like to find a 300ish grain hardcast load that hits 1000-1100 FPS and leave it alone. Stories of guys who run unholy hot red line loads and having a gun fail at an awful time aren't uncommon. I like the principle of a fair to middlin' load with reasonable follow up shots that can be trusted.

The rubber grips are more comfortable than the wood grips, but you really do want the X frame grips. They fully encase the grip with rubber and pull the sting out nicely.

The 10mm is not without it's advantages, but a .44 Mag is not without it's own unique set of advantages.

I miss the days when it seemed the official Alaskan bear pistol was either a S&W or a Ruger .44 Mag. Nowadays the 10mm has taken over.

I still travel comfortably with .45 and .357 revolvers.

 

[Hawg Rider]

The 329 is a handful to shoot, but with proper stocks and technique the recoil is very manageable. You are limited by the 6 rounds, however. If you decide to change to a 10mm, don't discount the S&W M&P 10mm 2.0. SIG P320 XTEN is a beauty, and so is the Springfield XD-M 10mm. Outstanding pistols, although the SIG is a little pricey! I'm not a Glock fan, so I don't even consider them in my decision making process. I don't like the look or feel, although I can't refute their dependability or accuracy. It's a personal thing.

 

[Dave from Pa]

When we were in Alaska the go to side arm for the people I saw in the bush was a Glock 20 with Cor Bon/Buff Bore ammo.

 

[CH4]

When we were in Alaska the go to side arm for the people I saw in the bush was a Glock 20 with Cor Bon/Buff Bore ammo.

Yep, the G20 is very popular in Alaska.
I had a 329. Great to carry, but I didn’t enjoy shooting it. I think my mountain guns are a better alternative for me. For its size, I prefer and carry a G29 with G20 mags.

 

[Paul105]

Such excellent info here. Thank you for all the replies. I'm taking Buffalo Bore lower recoil hard cast 255 gr. I know the chances are almost zero that I encounter a charging bear, but I feel better about the 329. Can't wait to shoot it.

I did install the rubber grips that S&W provided with it. Would the Hogue tamers be even better?

The Hogue Tamers are a lot more comfortable under heavy recoil.

Buf Bore "lower recoil" - good stuff but they are the same velocity as major mfg 240gr .44 mags - per my chrono and BB stated vel.

Paul

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Does anybody really LIKE the 329PD?

Yes, I do.

(Seems like a weird question to ask since you already bought it?)

I did install the rubber grips that S&W provided with it.
Would the Hogue tamers be even better?

Ditch the factory S&W rubber grips. I hate their pointy backstrap.

The Hogues are great on my X-frames but I go with the Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips on my 329PD (bottom pic).

They're a little shorter & fuller in the grip for me. Plenty cushie, which you need with full 44 loads.

I put an unfluted S/S cylinder on my 629 & used it's fluted cylinder for my 329PD, which added almost 4oz of weight back to it. And you can scrub it clean as much as you like.

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329PD Ti cylinder
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629 S/S cylinder
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Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips on 329PD
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