Just bought a 44 Magnum

[armallard]

Just bought the gun with a 9.5" barrel. I've got two questions 1st one is its needing a rear sight I found some on s&w website can't figure out which one I need seeing that the gun came with out one. 2nd. is I'm going to use it to deer hunt I was told I needed a 180 grain bullet? to hunt with All I can find is 255 buffalo bore any help would be appreciated..... Armallard

 

[kwselke]

I'd go with a full power 240 grain JHP load for hunting. I do not know enough to help with the rear sight issue. A 9.5" barrel is quite long.

 

[DR505]

If you hand load ammo, you have a lot of versatility. I hunt with a .41 magnum and a .44 magnum. Depending on what I am after, the .41 gets 210 grain JHP up to a 265 grain hard cast, and the .44 gets a variety, a 270 grain Speer JSP, or a like weight hard cast. I've had good luck with those. That 9½" barrel will get you some respectable velocity.

If you buy store bought ammo, you can't go wrong with full house 240 grain. I've not used the Buffalo Bore in .44 magnum, so can't comment. What was the reason behind the limit of 180 grains?

You might check Brownells for the rear sight, but make sure you buy the right version...they changed some over the years. What dash number is your .44 Magnum? I have a 29-3 and a 629-4 that have radically different rear sights.

 

[armallard]

I just been told about the 180 grain idk enough about it to know the difference I'll have to check the dash

 

[ostlund]

Given your input I'd go with the hard cast Buffalo Bore before a likely jacketed 180 gr. I don't understand the given restriction of 180 gr. Not that the 180 wouldn't do the job but might be a little messy for expansion. For one reference point for you I had a Blacktail stop a 240 gr HP/XTP under the far side skin with a double lung shot. He managed to put on about 100 yards before going down. It worked and actually took some lung with it through the rib cage. I've come to shoot only 250 grain hardcast now (think the Buffalo Bore only my hand loads are much slower I imagine) and they've done a better job to me. They work great on grouse too, and and given a chance I wouldn't hesitate to shoot an elk with it. There is something to be said for having one load you're comfortable doing all with.

Oh, another data point. A friend wanted to use his Super Blackhawk to kill a pig on a controlled ranch "hunt" and asked what he should use. The ranch owner had recommended that he NOT use a 44 mag because he'd seen so many 44 magnum bullets blow up on the surface over the years and he'd rather not chase, or run from, another pig. I guessed at the time the bullets he saw were jacketed soft nose stuff and recommended the Buffalo Bore load you mentioned. Travis had a frontal shot and the rancher could barely believe what happened when the pig stood there and quivered and then went down with an additional shot. The pig did stop the first bullet but after it had entered in the front and made it into a ham.

If you want it to stop in the critter or exit is a whole other discussion of Ford vs Chevy, but the fun part is you get to decide. have fun and let us know!

 

[DR505]

If you have an earlier Model 29 (before a 29-4 or 29-3E) or an earlier Model 629 (before a 629-3 or 629-2E) they do not have the endurance package, so a steady diet of full load heavy for caliber bullets might not be a good idea. The Buffalo Bore falls into that category.

As I mentioned above, and ostlund pointed out as well, hard cast lead bullets work well in the .44 magnum. If you want to get the most out of this cartridge, you may wish to start hand rolling your own ammo.

 

[SW&Larry]

If you have an earlier Model 29 (before a 29-4 or 29-3E) or an earlier Model 629 (before a 629-3 or 629-2E) they do not have the endurance package, so a steady diet of full load heavy for caliber bullets might not be a good idea. The Buffalo Bore falls into that category.

As I mentioned above, and ostlund pointed out as well, hard cast lead bullets work well in the .44 magnum. If you want to get the most out of this cartridge, you may wish to start hand rolling your own ammo.

I've been using the Oregon Trail Laser-Cast .44's lately, and I like them a lot.

Pay Attention to what DR505 said. If you have a pre-Endurance S&W .44, do NOT use Buffalo Bore Ammo in it. Their 340gr stuff can lock up even an Endurance rated S&W. Forever.

 

[jaymoore]

I've killed, ummm, I've lost count! Anyway, a bunch of deer using the .44 Mag cartridge in various 629s. All with 240 gr bullets. Speer Golddots, Hornady XTPs and Remington JHPs. Mostly my own loads, none hugely "hot", but the Golddots were factory ammo. Whatever the particular revolver shot best. The deer don't seem to know the difference. Might try some 250gr Keith type cast bullets this year, as they've been doing well at the range and have a good track record going back decades.

The 180s go fast, but just don't shoot as well for me. Muzzle blast is far worse, too, which may be a factor in the woods. Unprotected ears and all...

 

[MichiganScott]

I tried 180gr bullets years ago in a 8 3/8" Model 29. There was not enough adjustment in the rear sight to zero the pistol. I raised the sight all the way and it was still 6+ inches low at 25 yards. Might be why the rear sight is missing on yours.

 

[Mal Paso]

I had the factory .160" white outline blade on my 6" but it depends on your front sight and load. Except for snub nosed the sight bases are the same. I switched to a .400" (They measure differently) Bowen Rough Country rear and a Cylinder and Slide Improved Ramp in front for better contrast.

Try Brownells

 

[silentflyer]

My experience with the 180 grain bullets was not very good, never could get them to group very well, much better with 225's and 240's. Not even my 10" Dan Wesson likes them, a tack driver with the heavy bullets. May be the short slugs just don't stablize as well in the bore? Keith type SWC's always do well.

 

[Augen]

Winchester makes a 240gr JSP they label as for black bear and deer. I can find this ammo locally at a reasonable price. Don't really need hollow points for bear.

 

[DR505]

Except for snub nosed the sight bases are the same.

Not precisely. The older 29/629 has the square front on the rear sight base that extends the length of the top strap. The newer ones have a rounded front on the rear sight base that does not extend as far forward. They are not interchangeable.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'm guessing the reason your gun is missing the rear sight is because the previous owner had a scope mounted on it. You remove the rear sight to access the scope mounting holes. Scopes are common on long piped revolvers. Contact S&W thru their webpage, tell them your model and serial number and they should be able to help you.

 

[armallard]

where would I find the serial # or dash ?

 

[kwselke]

where would I find the serial # or dash ?

The model should be stamped on the frame when you open the yoke. Mine is marked Mod 629-3. Look under the stocks on the butt for the S/N.

 

[armallard]

ty new to pistols but especially revolvers

 

[WPWarhawk]

I would contact Smith & Wesson with the model number and serial number, they should be able to get you the correct rear sight.

 

[sw282]

After going to a silhouette match in the late 70s l was hooked and bought a 29-2 8 3/8'', started loading 9 gr Unique. 240gr swc cast bullets and having a great time. 0ne day after work l stopped by Widener Arms in Augusta and spied this funny yellow box of 44 ammo on the mark down shelf. Label said ''SUPER VEL'' 44/180gr jhp. 0nly 20 ctgs but the price was right. So l took it home.
Deer season opens and l decide to take my 29 hunting along with my box of SuperVels. l had fired a couple at paper and noticed they shot a little low and made a BIG ball of fire.
Sitting on a dove stool in a creek bottom l hear a slight rustling of leaves to my right about 40yds. A doe is feeding an unaware of me. A perfect broadside shot for me as l raise my Smith and in one fluid motion. Just like a bank of chickens on the 50 meter line. Refocusing after the shot l see the doe kinda hopping , trying to run. Then she falls over on her side before l shoot again. When l get to her she is no longer breathing. The 180gr Super Vel has performed superbly. The bullet took her thru the shoulders. Completely severing the large bone going in and destroying the offside one on exit. Cleaning the deer my Father in law commented the bullets were much too destructive and l should be shooting the 240 swc ones for silhouettes. l killed a couple more before using up 17 of that 20 rd box. 0ther 2 were lung shots and never a recovered bullet. Those SuperVels were really fast. l had a chance to clock those last 3 over a borrowed chrono from our match director.1803 fps for an avg.
Sadly l was not able to get any more of those 180s as SuperVel went out of business

 

[armallard]

found the dash its says 29-3 couldn't see the serial # without taking off the grips. It has a 9.5" barrel.