Just bought a Model 29-5

[maxthedog]

As the title says, I just bought a 29-5 Classic, 5" barrel. A FFL friend of mine took it in trade and put it up on gunbroker. Before I could buy it directly from him, it had bids. Well, I bid on it and won. (He'll be surprised when he checks that it's someone he knows!)

I think it is a later 29-5 as it has the scope taps, but I'll know more once I get it.

I'm excited because I've wanted a model 29 for a while. I probably won't be able to pick it up until Friday - waiting is tough!

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Welcome to the forum!

Congrats!

They are great guns.

BTW- all 29-5 Classics/Classic DX's have the topstrap drilled and tapped for scope mounting. The only difference between early ones, and those towards the end of production of the blued version, is that the early ones had a longer tang on the rear sight than the later ones did. They all had the rounded front end to the rear sight tang though. They were some of the most accurate guns S&W ever produced. The throats in these guns were spec'd to be right at .428" which is a tad too tight for .429"- .430" bullets.

I owned an early 5" 29-5 standard Classic, but sold it due to the cases sticking constantly in the chambers with anything other than light target loads, due to the throats being too tight and pressures being too high as a result. It is an easy fix, and many have had theirs reamed to alleviate this problem. No one was really making readily available throating reamers back then though, and most of us didn't even know this was the problem in the first place. It is a simple fix if you find that you get high pressures with yours. It costs about $50 for the average gunshop/smith to remedy, and it is worth it, since these are such cool guns.

I wish more than anything that I had mine back.

 

[maxthedog]

I did not know that about the throat spec on them and will keep that in mind. Thanks for the great information!

The seller (who is my FFL) laughed when he saw I bought it. He was thinking at one point of buying it for himself because it is in such great shape, but he's happy that he'll now get a chance to fire it now and again.

 

[Dftplan]

29-5

I bought a 29-5 Classic 5" recently with the top strap drilled for a scope. The holes underneath the top strap caused powder blowback to remove the bluing on each cylinder directly below the holes. Sent it to S&W. Since I wasn't the original owner, costs $125 to have the front hole plugged. Other than that, I love the gun.

 

[maxthedog]

I know everyone needs a picture to make it real, so here it is. I picked it up earlier today:

It barely looks used. I can't wait to go test it out - probably on Sunday.

 

[WFR]

I know everyone needs a picture to make it real, so here it is. I picked it up earlier today:

It barely looks used. I can't wait to go test it out - probably on Sunday.

Sold one just like it last year.
I will replace it with a 5" 629 Classic this year for my 44th birthday!
Enjoy it and post a range report.

 

[tom turner]

Beautiful find! Glad you got it. I've got a 6" barreled 29-5 w/full lugged barrel, unfluted cylinder and the 4-way adjustable "silhouette" front sight. It isn't marked "Classic" in any way and I imagine it was a distributor special (but I don't know).

Anyhow, it did not come with a drilled and tapped topstrap so I had my gunsmith do this years ago so I could mount a (then) brand-new Bushnell Holosight.

It is an extremely accurate revolver and it replaced my Remington BDL in .270 as my go to deer getter.

I'm sure you'll enjoy yours and . . . if I find one like you've got I'm sure I'll draw out my wallet faster than Jerry Mickulek can clear leather!!!

Enjoy!!!

 

[pop-gunner]

I just picked up a 29-5 myself.
Measure your chamber throats as there seems to be some discrepancy in what they should be and what they are.
I was expecting mine to measure at .428 and they measure at .432.
I am happy with that as I buy .432 bullets to run in my other 29s.
I know mine was shipped from the factory to a distributor in Germany but I don't know if they were sized different for the over seas markets. The previous owner bought it new and didn't have any work done on it.

 

[1x2]

max,
That's just gorgeous.
The 29-5 has been a holy grail gun for me for so long- it's still out there, or not.
Good for you,

1x2

 

[maxthedog]

I just picked up a 29-5 myself.
Measure your chamber throats as there seems to be some discrepancy in what they should be and what they are.

I plan on getting that done tonight.

max,
That's just gorgeous.
The 29-5 has been a holy grail gun for me for so long- it's still out there, or not.
Good for you,

1x2

Yeah I have been looking for a model 29 for a few years, and I am a big fan of blued revolvers. I'm glad that search is over!

I'm going to try to get a picture tomorrow with the other blued revolver I've owned for over 25 years - my .357 Colt Python, 6" barrel. They should look good together!

 

[maxthedog]

I got out to the range, but couldn't get a target set up due to the 5 foot snow drifts in places!

I was able to put some rounds into the 50 yard backstop berm and could keep them in a 1 foot radius using some cheap 240gr Blazer ammo I got locally. It points nicely and the recoil is manageable. I didn't think the recoil was any worse than my .357 Python. I only shot a few rounds to make sure there were no alignment issues with any of the cylinders. Everything is nice and tight.

I'm sure I can get better groupings with it with a little practice, so I'm very happy with this purchase!

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Congrats, that's a great find.

 

[pop-gunner]

I got out to the range, but couldn't get a target set up due to the 5 foot snow drifts in places!

I was able to put some rounds into the 50 yard backstop berm and could keep them in a 1 foot radius using some cheap 240gr Blazer ammo I got locally. It points nicely and the recoil is manageable. I didn't think the recoil was any worse than my .357 Python. I only shot a few rounds to make sure there were no alignment issues with any of the cylinders. Everything is nice and tight.

I'm sure I can get better groupings with it with a little practice, so I'm very happy with this purchase!

The recoil may actually be less than full .357 loads if you were shooting Blazer aluminum cased ammo. I ran some of that over my chrony a while back and the avg. was just under 800fps out of my 4 inch 29-2. I understand why they would have to load that lighter than a brass case due to crimping issues with aluminum but I was floored that it was as light as it was.

 

[maxthedog]

The recoil may actually be less than full .357 loads if you were shooting Blazer aluminum cased ammo. I ran some of that over my chrony a while back and the avg. was just under 800fps out of my 4 inch 29-2. I understand why they would have to load that lighter than a brass case due to crimping issues with aluminum but I was floored that it was as light as it was.

Yep, it was the 240gr Blazer aluminum stuff.

It's interesting to look at the data on the CCI site. It shows 1200fps and 767ft-lbs at the muzzle for a 6.5" barrel. In comparison, Federal American Eagle 240gr shows 1230fps and 806ft-lbs at the muzzle (no barrel length listed), so at least on paper the Blazer should be similar to the brass cartridge American Eagle.

I'm not too worried about it, as I plan on loading my own; I just need to buy the dies and supplies for it.

 

[pharmer]

I have a 29-5 but it lacks the underlug. Joe

 

[Jason68]

Wow Maxthedog, that 5 inch DX looks good in blue. Five inches looks perfectly proportioned on the big N frame guns. Hmm, nope, wallet empty. Guess I will make a wish *

 

[armkev]

I got the 29 from WFR

Here it is in the middle of a model 25 and a 586.

One of my favorite guns.