Model 29 44 mag 4" Classic line - is it for me?

[Mr. Tettnanger]

I want to thank all of you who responded to this thread. I did a lot of soul (and wallet) searching and decided to pass.

I just could not get past the expense vs ugly lock. I must admit that I am also leery of getting a bad example with canted barrel or something.

So I took part of my funny money and bought a well used model 10 instead!

Stay safe folks!

 

[dr. mordo]

I want to thank all of you who responded to this thread. I did a lot of soul (and wallet) searching and decided to pass.

I just could not get past the expense vs ugly lock. I must admit that I am also weary of getting a bad example with canted barrel or something.

So I took part of my funny money and bought a well used model 10 instead!

Stay safe folks!

It's dang hard to go wrong with a M10. I have a heavy barrel round butt police-trade-in 4" M10 that may be the gun I shoot the best out of my entire collection. Just the other day I was thinking I need to load up some .38 and hit the range. It's been years since I shot my 38s.

 

[SLT223]

I had older 29's before I bought my Classic 29 . My experience was that I had to restrict full magnum loads , be it factory or my handloads as they don't have the " endurance pkg " . That was the big reason I sold my older one and bought the newer one , the 29-10 in 4" barrel first then the 6.5" classic later as they have the endurance pkg . As far as the bluing , my 4" is my workhorse . It gets carried a lot and it gets shot a lot so I expect wear and tear on the finish . Regards Paul

^^^Exactly why I bought my 4" used 29-10...and boy does it shoot well!

 

[Univibe]

Mine's 6.5 inch. I'd seriously consider skipping the four inch. Extra sight radius and weight out there is better.

 

[NavyVet24]

Recommend a longer barrel if you can find one. Took me a long time to find what I wanted, but stumbled across a 1978 29-2 last year for $1,000 cash. NIB w/8.375 barrel. Really unfired! Gunsmith cleaned and did action job. Shoots amazing.

 

[stmry]

The essential question is not, "if you should buy one," but, how many?
Believe me, as time passes, it will make sense.

 

[Oracle]

I was a model 1911 guy, I bought a model 629 6 1/2" on a whim, that was three years ago. I now have multiple 29's and 629's and more to come.

Everyday is a good day to buy S&W 44 magnums.

 

[sturtyboy]

I have over 25 lbs. of 29's and really enjoy them all. 4" and smaller barrel models are a little more spendy than the rest. I have several custom barrels, and some ported short barells... I really like the benefit. You'll find mixed opinions about ported barrels but for me, I like them on the shorter tubes. I use a mixed bag of factory and beautiful custom grips from John Culina to fill my large mitts. Rubber always feels best to me for those longer days spent on the range. I swap out grips to fit the occasion. Have fun on the hunt...

 

[kelzie]

I know a guy who has a 4" 29-2 (blue box, mint), a 6-1/2" and an 8-3/8" both new in the wooden presentation boxes of the 1970s, an 8-3/8 classic with the full underlug (the later cardboard box, mint), an 8-3/8" 629 (not sure of the dash, also mint), a 3" Lew Horton 629 NIB, and the 44 mag 50 year commemorative 29, also unfired. (He also has a Jovino 25-2 (45 ACP) 2-1/2" unfired.) I wonder what that pile is worth. Super jealous! But he lets me play around in his safe so I live vicariously. (He does shoot guns, just not these.)

 

[Howardeye]

Asking this here is like asking a wino if he needs another case of Maddog 20-20!

I can virtually guarantee you that when you step up the the Model 29 from the Taurus and Ruger, your only concern will be "what took me so long?"

I agree with this guy. I would never own a Ruger or Taurus. Buy the real deal! 50 years of experience

 

[Tytan01]

In my honest opinion.... you need them all.
S&W as well as Rugers.
They are like Pokemon for adults.
You Gotta Get'em ALL!