Heavy bullets in a 329NG?

[off road]

I have heard from time to time that it is not a good idea to fire heavy bullets, particularly hardcast in these light alloy frame revolvers. Ignoring the recoil, any hard and fast rules on this???

This is my hiking/backpacking gun in black bear country. This is defensive shooting, not 'hunting' where one is shooting some quiet unsuspecting prey. I alternate Hornady 240 gr XTP with Federal 300 gr CastCore (all factory loads). The logic is that the expandable 240 gr does a lot of tissue damage, but will probably not penetrate deeply. The logic behind the solid is that even though it will only punch a small hole, it will likely penetrate the full length of the animal.

 

[Paul105]

In my experience, Fed Cast Core loads are on the mild side. I can't imagine that a limited number of 300gr Cast Core would cause any physical problems with the gun. You should however make sure that the bullets aren't moving under recoil which could tie up the gun if they move enough to extend beyond the face of the cylinder. You might also want to research the internal lock problems attributed to these light weight, fast recoiling revolvers.

Paul

 

[RPD20]

The XTP has a reputation of being a pretty tough bullet. I think the 240gr. XTP's would be plenty of bullet for Blackies. How is the recoil with the 240 XTP's. I have been thinking about a 329 NG. What grips are you using?

 

[off road]

I have the 'old' Pachmayr grips, and they do an excellent job of absorbing recoil. Only downside, is that they make the reach to the trigger a little long for me, when firing double action. Recoil with XTP's is surprisingly manageable....better than shooting .357's in a J-frame. Got to say that bullet creep with lead bullets, is something I failed to consider....

The 'new' grips, don't feel like they will be any help at all, so be prepared to buy aftermarket grips along with your gun.

Never had any problems with the much dreaded 'locks' on any of my guns. All my Smiths are the very lightweight variety, where the 'problem' should theoretically be the worst, so makes me wonder what all the fuss is about. (In fact, I ocassionally actually use the lock when I have to leave the gun in a poorly secured location, and don't want someone to find it and shoot me with my own gun. I will take a lock on all my guns....thanks!)

 

[Pisgah]

The reason for the advice against heavy bullets in these flyweight guns, especially cast, it that the gun acts as an inertial bullet puller, the recoil hammering the bullets forward in the case and eventually tieing up the gun. It has nothing to do with safety, either for the shooter or the gun. Heavier all-steel revolvers don't generate enough of a recoil impulse to create this problem.

 

[rburg]

I have a couple of 329s, not NGs. When I first got one, I had to take it out and shoot it. I immediately discovered it recoiled every bit as badly as others had reported. Leading me to the conclusion the gun is one of the very best 44 Specials ever made, but its not a very good 44 Magnum. Its also not the kind of gun you'd take out for an afternoon of pleasure shooting.

But shortly after buying it, a bunch of my buddies were getting together to burn wood and drink beer. Guns were welcome, as always.

So I brought along the 329, and some ammo. And I decided to mess with the he-man types in the crowd. I carefully took 3 rounds of factory 240 grain fodder, and then 9 of the 300gr Sierra nasty loads. Probably better suited for long steel revolvers, or even rifles. And I was very careful in loading the 240s to come up first, and the 300s after.

So when the shooting started, I stepped up to our makeshift firing line and let rip. The first 240 hurt. The second hurt like hell and caused me to complain. After the 3rd shot I was done, and finished with the mildish, if you can call them that, loads. So I announced I'd had enough.

Immediately the guys who can do anything wanted to fire my little lightweight. The first guy fired one shot and said "its not that bad", to which one of the other ones pointed out he'd only fired one shot. So he fired two more and handed the gun back. So I asked if anyone else wanted some hand pain. One guy said he'd do it, not a problem. He only fired it twice, but didn't say anything.

Later as we stopped shooting and began drinking adult beverages, I kept track of the other guys shooting hands. Neither was even using that hand for lifting beer to their mouths. Just sitting there with the hand at their side. Me, I sought the cold from the adult beverage can to soothe my pain.

My conclusion back then was 300gr bullets wasn't a good loading for a scandium 44. Its not even a good round in a 4" steel revolver. Sure, with a shooting glove on you can do it. But why?

 

[off road]

This poster (JJHack), seem to feel that 240 gr XTP's are all you need for black bears: Model 29 Mountain - Topic

At the reduced velocity of a 2.5" barrel, full expansion is probably unrealistic, so deeper penetration is probably not a problem.

 

[RPD20]

I have a 327 NG which I realy like. Its wears the Secret Service type grips from my 629 PC Snubbie. The 327 NG is down right painful to shoot with these grips and full power 158's. I think the 329 NG wearing Pachmayr Decelerators or Grippers might be just the ticket for a backpacking revolver.

 

[skeete]

If bears are a real consideration I doubt you will notice any recoil when faced with charging bear.
The best rounds for that purpose are made by Garrett cartridges (Garrett Cartridges Inc. 44 mag .45-70 .44 ammo ammunition bullets african hunting cartridges) which are not only very hard cast but made for the SW329. These rounds have taken polar bears at close, charging range. I suggest you read about them, they are the best by far.

 

[off road]

Garret doesn't seem to like short barreled .44's: Garrett Cartridges Inc.

When I lived in SE Alaska, I started out with a 6" M29. This was in the days before calibers like the .454, .460, or .500 came along....and even before the 629 (rust was always an issue with the blued M29 in wet costal Alaska). Quickly realized that a 6" was to long and clumsy, and switched to a 4". Even that got in the way. (My buddies carried 7.5" Ruger Blackhawks in western holsters. I felt quite sorry for them.)

Guns like the Ruger Alaskan or NG, would have been a carry dream!!!