I have a couple questions about the 329PD.

[Feel Lucky Punk?]

I like the Teflon tape idea, I'll give it a try. I picked up some Remington 180 Gr. rounds tonight and will give them a try.

 

[Goblin]

Since no one mentioned it, my 3" 629 weighs just over 38 oz, and the recoil is not fun at all, only bearable. It's very nice with standard 44 Specials, though. For a couple more points of reference: 2.5" S&W 19, 32 oz without grips. 2.5" Diamondback .38 Special, 25 oz without grips.

 

[629shooter]

They do pack a punch on both ends. If you want something functional and light but not for common target practice it will do the trick. The Ti cylinder makes using lead a bothersome choice because of cleanup and the Ti coating. Good luck with your choice.

Thanks, if and when I do drag one home, it will be carried more than shot.

 

[629shooter]

Since no one mentioned it, my 3" 629 weighs just over 38 oz, and the recoil is not fun at all, only bearable. It's very nice with standard 44 Specials, though. For a couple more points of reference: 2.5" S&W 19, 32 oz without grips. 2.5" Diamondback .38 Special, 25 oz without grips.

I think the 3"s are fun. They don't bother me with full-house loads. But, I haven't set out to shoot one all day either.

I find "felt recoil" to be very subjective. But, a 329 PD still weighs approximately 13 oz less than a 3" 629 so............

 

[629shooter]

Yes, you can use hard cast bullets.

No bullet weight limitations that I'm aware of.

Do to the light weight these guns require more frequent main/repair than steel guns especially if you use .44 Magnum ammo.

The light weight scandium Magnum revolvers seem to have a greater tendency for the "lock" to engage under recoil.

Also, you need to test your ammo to make sure that bullets stay put under recoil (they tend to be bullet pullers which can tie up the gun).

By its very nature (express rear/fiber optic front; short sight radius, and light weight) the 329 difficult to shoot well. Add in the harsh/fast recoil of full .44 magnum loads, and the gun is a pretty short range proposition for most. Obviously, there will be exceptions to this, but for the most part the typical shooter will find the 329 difficult and probably even painful to shoot with .44 magnum level ammo. As Dick Berg said, if you want a dedicated .44 magnum for continuous use, get a heavier gun. If you already have a full size/weight .44 mag, then you should give the 329 a try. Start with .44 special equiv loads and work up to your comfort level. There aren't many handgun chores that can't be handled with 240/250grs at 900 to 1,000 fps.

I still have two 329s and while I carry them more than occasionally (loaded with full house .44 Mags), I don't shoot them much anymore. I've pretty much replaced them with the M69 – I do carry the 329 exclusively when bow hunting elk – this is where the light weight is a noticeable advantage. All my round butt S&W's are equipped with the Hogue 500 grips, so it's an easy to transition between them. Just a note – I shoot enough lower end .44 mags thru the M69 so that, while the recoil of the 329 is noticeably faster, it is still controllable for me.



FWIW,

Paul

Thank you Paul. Out of curiosity, have either of yours ever locked under recoil?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

329NG

I don't have a PD, but I've got a NG. It weights (29oz) about 4oz. more than the PD. I find the 200gr JHPs a bit less tiring, vs 240gr, for extended outings at the range. The downside is the POI is lower than the POA. Aim high!

.

 

[629shooter]

I don't have a PD, but I've got a NG. It weights (29oz) about 4oz. more than the PD. I find the 200gr JHPs a bit less tiring, vs 240gr, for extended outings at the range. The downside is the POI is lower than the POA. Aim high!

.

I wish they built a 4" Night Guard.

I have some hot 180 gr. and, yeah the POI does change.

 

[M29since14]

I don't have a PD, but I've got a NG. It weights (29oz) about 4oz. more than the PD. I find the 200gr JHPs a bit less tiring...

Good point. I don't generally like anything less that 240-250 grs in 44 Magnum but the 329 did give me a shove in that direction. I had several boxes of aluminum-case Blazer 200-gr JHPs that came with another gun purchased from a private party. They sat on the shelf unused until one day it occurred to me to try them in the 329. Not only are they much more pleasant (they are a pretty mild load, in general), but they were exceptionally accurate in the 329. I wouldn't take them to "bear country" )), but for about anything else they might be my first choice in a factory load. In fact, they have been exceptionally accurate in all my S&W 44s.

 

[Paul105]

Thank you Paul. Out of curiosity, have either of yours ever locked under recoil?[/QUOTE

Yes.

Not a recommendation, and you have to decide for yourself, but I removed the locks on my 329. They are either on my person or locked in the safe.


I shot close to 9,000 rounds thru three 329s mostly 240/250 gr Lead SWCs over a charge of 2400 at between 1,100 and 1,200 fps. I never found cleaning to be much of a problem. Had the guns back to S&W 6 or 8 different times. Had frames replaced, hard extraction fixed, carry up (timiing) fixed, firing pin replaced, blast shield replaced and a couple of things I've probably forgotten. Each time the lock was removed as soon as the gun was returned. S&W repaired/replaced as required at no charge to me and paid shipping both ways every time. These guns are a trade off and I knew/accepted it.

With that said, I suspect most 329s don't (will never) get that kind of use with heavy ammo. I have never shot a meaningful number of .44 special level loads to know for certain that the above problems won't occur with lighter loads. My guess is that they will last a long time without any problems shooting .44 special/equiv. ammo.

Paul

 

[NYresQ]

I had a 329PD from the first run of them. Serial was a low two digit. I bought it for a carry while hunting/hiking/camping.

Within the first 3 or 4 cylinders full of standard 240gr magnum rounds the lock engaged. I unlocked it and started shooting again. Another 2 cylinders full and it locked up again. I called S&W and sent it back to them. I had it back in less than a week. Went back to the range and within a 50 round box it locked up twice. Soooo, sent it back again. Another two weeks a d I had it back along with 4 boxes of American Eagle ammo. Back to the range and within the first box it locked again. I unloaded it and shipped it back to S&W with a note saying it was not safe to carry and anymore repairs was just silly. S&W asked me for a copy of my receipt from the LGS and sent me a check for the full purchase price. They also offered 10% off a 629 if I wanted a new one...

I found a 3" 629 without the ILS and now carry that in the woods...

I think the 329PD would be a great gun w/o the ILS, but MY experience led me to never trust the ILS in super lightweight guns. And while I know it could be removed and plugged, I should t have to modify a new gun to make it work...

That said I have a 460xvr and never had a single issue with the ILS in any way, shape or form.

If you want a superlight weight 44mag with ferocious recoil, buy a 329PD and remove the lock.
If you want a short compact 44mag, buy a short barreled (2.5" or 3") 629.

 

[sigp220.45]

I love mine. Never have had a problem with the lock.

I put Pachmayr compacs on it. I like them better than the ginormous X frame grips, and they do a nice job of soaking up the recoil.

 

[629shooter]

I love mine. Never have had a problem with the lock.

I put Pachmayr compacs on it. I like them better than the ginormous X frame grips, and they do a nice job of soaking up the recoil.

I like the Pachmayr compacs, I rotate them around a few. I have had a few fellow shooters make fun of how they look on a N-frame. But, after they try them, they change their tune.

 

[Jeff460]

329PD Problems addressed

I own a Model 329PD and will have it dual-trapezoidal ported by Mag-Na-Port INC. But the biggest complaint I had was the hard to clean and prone to erosion, titanium six-shot cylinder. The solution I came up with was an aftermarket, stainless-steel, six-shot Smith and Wesson 629 cylinder to replace the titanium one. It is a durable and workable solution and could even be PVD coated to match the black anodized scandium alloy/ aluminum frame. But the stainless finish of the replacement cylinder looks fine to me. I also put an X-frame Hogue aftermarket grip on too. The LOCK will be removed and a plug from TK Custom will fill the offensive hole. And TK Custom can equip it for moon-clips too. Fastest way to reload with pre-loaded moon-clips and fastest to eject as all six will come out together in the moon-clip when ejected. Hope this helps with a few ideas. I love it's light carry weight. Even with the aftermarket stainless-steel, six-shot cylinder, the revolver weighs just 30 ounces.

 

[BRush]

As others have said it's not an every day shooter but a good purposed back pack carry gun. I power customized mine for DA only.

 

[steelslaver]

S&W calls it scandium, but in all honesty it is almost 100% aluminum with a touch of other trace metals.

Don't let the trace metals thing fool you.

Pure iron with just .95% and .35% Manganese and you have the same steel as a file. Or add .35% Vanadium and it will form Vanadium carbides which are also very hard.

Take the same pure steel add just .60% carbon, .70% manganese and .70% chrome and it becomes 5160 spring steel.

Those trace elements make huge changes. What makes you think some Scandium won't make a huge change to Aluminum.

I don't own a 329. Not a 44 mag guy. Own and daily carry a 325NG in 45acp and a 396 in 44 special. Both have TI cylinders and work fine. Not 44 mags, but great guns. I just took delivered of another 325 and am going to make it a 45 colt with a steel cylinder.

You got to have good rubber grips that cover the back strap or they are kind of brutal. Having big hands helps. We will see what happens with some warm 255gr 45 colt loads. All my locks are in a little baggy where they belong, Plugs in guns.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

329PD 2-Tone

The Ti cylinder is the thing that I personally don't care about on them.

I've posted this in other related threads but since this one was revived I'll update my prior post.

.

Last year I added a 329PD to my lightweight clan. Of course it comes with a scandium frame & titanium alloy cylinder but I though I'd try something a little different.

S&W made a 329 Alaska Backpacker in 2009, for TALO, that had a scandium frame but with a stainless steel cylinder and a 2-1/2" bbl. They called it a "Two-Tone" finish. (Same idea as the 360J .357 Magnum 2-Tone I also got last year.)

Previously I replaced the fluted Ss cylinder on my 629-6 Classic 5" bbl. with a Ss unfluted cylinder, so I had the "surplus" fluted cylinder available.

I swapped the Ss cylinder for the Ti cylinder but reused all the original Ti cylinder's associated hardware: center pin, center pin spring, extractor, extractor rod, extractor rod spring, & extractor rod collar.

This made the swap pretty effortless. Timing, lock-up, B-C gap & end-shake all stayed tight, nothing needed addressing.

Since it was new out of the box, I dry fired it a bunch to see how it'd change. SA trigger pull was 4.5# & what little creep it had got worked out.

Popped the side plate & found the firing pin was the dreaded short length, .487", which usually leads to light strikes, so I installed a CS extra length firing pin, .510" long.

Polished up the rebound slide & replaced the rebound slide's spring with a Wolff 14# spring which I shortened by one turn. SA trigger pull now was a target shooting friendly 2.5#.

It comes with the orange Hi-Viz front sight but the rear has a V-notch blade, which I don't care for in precise shooting. Replaced the V-notch with a .196" tall black square notch blade that I got from MidwayUSA (S&W# 033020000). It's notch is the deepest (.104") of any of the standard square notched blades I've used & helps give a great sight picture. A ton better than the V-notch.

Lastly, the muzzle was pretty cleanly cut from the factory but had a sharp edge that frayed cotton cleaning patches on insertion so I chamfered the muzzle giving it a gentle break & the rifling a better presentation.

Weight with Ti cylinder: 25.2 oz, with Ss cylinder: 28.8 oz.

.
.

M329PD, "2-Tone" with Ahrends Cocobolo S&W Tactical Grips, Square Butt Finger Groove, model grips.
.

.
.

M329PD with Ss cylinder, square notch rear sight & chamfered muzzle
.

.
.

.
.

.
.

With Pachmayr Diamond Pro's for the range
.

.

 

[NYresQ]

Holy thread resurection Batman!!!

New posts from a 2014 thread. I had forgotten all about this thread.

Jeff460, when you get the magnaports cut, please post up some pics and a range report. I am curious to see how much felt recoil it really helps with?

 

[Breakaway500]

I put a set of Pach X frame grips on mine and it's fun with 44 specials..but magnums still hurt. Has a nice action and is easy to carry so I won't be selling mine. I carry it: first two rounds are specials..last 4 are magnums...just in case.. I've never had an issue with the titanium cylinder.