Elmer Keith?

[10Mschwartz]

So I've been thinking. Elmer Keith helped develop both the 357 and 44 mag. I was wondering if the 629 is so fragile to screaming hot loads did Elmer Keith think so? He liked to blow guns up from what I've read. His loads for the 44 mag were plenty stout. Just wondering. Thanks guys

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Your 629-1 would probably handle a few hot rounds from time to time but remember these older beauties won't be made again so I would be easy with it.I shoot all of my older smith's every weekend but do so with my hand loads which are very mild.No need to beat up an older gun.

 

[SuperMan]

...would suggest you do more reading... I've read most of his books and articles and in all of them I can remember him blowing is the loading gate off a .45 Colt SAA with too heavy a bullet/load.

His .44 Special loads, while hot for the time, are safely duplicated today.

His .44 Magnum loads were more accurate and less pressure than factory loads of the time and he complained that the factories were loading their ammo way too hot...

Like I said...you need to do a little more reading...

Bob

 

[one eye joe]

So I've been thinking. Elmer Keith helped develop both the 357 and 44 mag. I was wondering if the 629 is so fragile to screaming hot loads did Elmer Keith think so? He liked to blow guns up from what I've read. His loads for the 44 mag were plenty stout. Just wondering. Thanks guys

WELCOME TO THE FORUM. THAT''S A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION....

I AM A HUGE FAN OF ELMER'S. HIS "FAVORITE LOAD" FOR THE .44 MAGNUM WAS 22GR OF 2400 UNDER HIS 250 GR "KEITH" BULLET......

THAT WAS CONSIDERED A PRETTY STOUT LOAD BACK IN THE DAY, AND I'M SURE IT STILL IS. I DON'T RECALL ANY ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF GUNS BLOWING UP......

I'M SURE THAT ELMER WOULD HAVE WARNED AGAINST SHOOTING HIS LOADS, OR ANY OTHER AMMO FOR THAT MATTER, OUT OF DEFECTIVE REVOLVERS.....

THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS NO REASON WHY YOU NEED, OR SHOULD WANT TO SUBMIT YOUR FINE OLD REVOLVER TO A STEADY DIET OF HOT AMMO. SAVE THE HOT STUFF FOR THE OCCASIONAL HUNT, ETC.....

 

[10Mschwartz]

Thanks for the replies. You just hear how fragile Earlier Smiths are supposed to be and it doesn't make a lot of sense when Smith developed the round. I plan on a steady diet of plinking loads for the new toy and occasional bear repellent.

 

[BigBill]

I shoot the stout, hotter loads out of my RedHawks can't hurt them. I have lighter magnum and leadcast loads for smiths.

Elmer and the gang pushed the development of the 41 mag too.

Let's not forget Elmer's 265yd shot with the m29/4" barrel too hicock45 did the same shot.

 

[crazyphil]

I go easy on my S&W Model 29-3 by using Buffalo Bore Low Recoil
4E 255-Gr. Keith. I shoot the hotter loads in my Ruger New Model
Super Blackhawk.

 

[one eye joe]

Thanks for the replies. You just hear how fragile Earlier Smiths are supposed to be and it doesn't make a lot of sense when Smith developed the round. I plan on a steady diet of plinking loads for the new toy and occasional bear repellent.

YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR REVOLVER FOR MANY YEARS, USING IT IN SUCH A MANNER......

 

[Joed49]

As has been mentioned the .44 Mag is loaded hotter then Elmer ever intended to go. Elmer's complaint was with the .44 Spl load that he calls little more then a squib load.

I own a 629-1 and a 29-2. These guns have never fired a magnum load as long as I have owned them. I prefer to keep velocity around 1050/1100 fps for any shooting I do with them. It's easier on the gun and me.

 

[BigBill]

I think my hotter 44 mag loads were around 1,400fps. My ruger shh loved them.

 

[derek45auto]

his book is cheap and easy to get on amazon.

an excellent book for all things revolver.

highly recommended

[ame="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GDR4MVW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1"]Amazon.com: Sixguns eBook: Elmer Keith: Kindle Store[/ame]

 

[Jimmy4570]

One must remember, as pointed out by esteemed revolver wizard Hamilton Bowen, IIRC, that Elmer Keith and his compatriots of the day weren't doing much high volume shooting. It wasn't until handgun silhouette shooters began putting several hundred, even thousands of full house rounds through these wonderful 100 plus year old machines that any "fragility" began to show. Great testament to the basic soundness of the design, I think.

 

[cowboy4evr]

What people don't realize is that Elmer Keith actually shot very few of his " full magnum " 44 mag load . His most used load was 8.5 grs of Unique with his 245 gr swc . He might shot 3-6 rounds getting ready for a hunt or as a guide and that was it , after shooting his other softer loads to acquire accuracy . Regards, Paul

 

[typetwelve]

I had a 2010 Ruger Super Redhawk in 44 mag, now I have a 2016 629 4". Does it feel as substantial in build as the SR? No way. The SR gave me more than enough confidence that I could probably feed that thing a steady diet of hotter than hot rounds and it would still keep kicking.

My 629? Nope. I run mostly 44 spcl and the occasional magnum when I want a thumper. With the std pressure Fiocchi 44 mag I run in it, I have no issues or thoughts that I will ever break the firearm.

Long story short, you want a brick pooper (with a face only a mother can love) that can eat the hottest stuff you will reasonably put in it? Buy the Ruger SR.

 

[gwpercle]

"Sixguns" reprints are available on Amazon and don't cost an arm , leg and first born male child.
Also order "Sixgun Cartridges & Loads" both make for some very interesting reading and will dispell a lot of myth , rumor and lies you hear about Elmer Keith .
Gary

 

[Snapping Twig]

IIRC, EK thought a 250g cast @ 1200fps was ideal.

 

[RMFnLA]

I remember reading about a blow-up test years ago between an M-29 and a Ruger Super Blackhawk.

The Ruger let go first.

 

[Dave.357]

Smith or Ruger

Witch is stronger I don't know
Witch is easily replaced Ruger
So kids and ----- people should
Stick to Rugers

 

[Texas Star]

I go easy on my S&W Model 29-3 by using Buffalo Bore Low Recoil
4E 255-Gr. Keith. I shoot the hotter loads in my Ruger New Model
Super Blackhawk.

I don't know that particular BB load. Can you cite ballistics?

It sounds like something that might be very useful, like Remington's former lead bullet at about 1,000 FPS.

 

[S&WIowegan]

Remington provided the original 44 Magnum ammo for S&W and early shooters of the new Magnum. The load was reported to be 240gr LSW with powder to send the bullet to 1500FPS. The load was nasty recoil and the bullet was soft resulting in heavy leading of the bore. None of the people involved did a lot of complaining which might have ruined sales. They did do handloading to suit their needs.

If you ever wonder why so many early Model 29s are found in near new condition, the answer may well be recoil was too brutal to encourage lots of shooting. If any of you remember shooting the Colt Delta Elite with Norma factory ammo(I do!!!), you will have an idea how early 44 Magnum shooters felt. John Taffin has written that his first shots of 44 Magnum ammo through a Ruger Blackhawk was a severe experience.