Model 29 and 629 Why the popularity?

[DukeDevil]

Wait until all the 50th Anniversary hype for Dirty Harry hits later this year! The movie premiered on December 23, 1971, so there will be a lot of media promotion because Clint is getting up in years, it’s one of the great icons of Americana of the last half-century and deserves the celebration. Then there will be another run on Model 29s.

 

[Laketime]

Since people like to quote Dirty Harry saying he shot .44 specials in the range scene in Magnum Force . I’ll quote Jon Milius when he stated Eastwood blew his lines.. it had been written for him to say these are a special light load for less recoil like using 38 wad cutters in 357 magnum . Referring to his match loads.

 

[Joed49]

When you load your own ammo for the .44 Mag you start to see the versatility. Like 75Vette I load to a velocity of 1100 fps max. I have never fired a magnum load in any of my 629's/29's.

 

[oldcorps76]

My pre-29...





In my 3-year tour in Germany, I picked up a Sig P228 and a whole lotta importable 13-round pre-ban mags (the Klinton AWB was still in effect). At a Colorado Springs gun show, I saw a very pretty pre-29 4-screw .44 Mag with a 4" barrel. So I traded. Found out later that the barrel was not original and poorly installed....so i sent it back to Smith to have it re-installed and cleaned up. Later, on this very forum, I found a 6.5" barrel which according to my Jinks letter was the original length shipped to Pueblo, CO in 1957. Another trip to the mothership, and you see what I have here today. Shoots like a dream, and being it has been messed with so much, it is a shooter. Hope someday to take an elk with it and some Keith loads I brew myself.

 

[dasnake]

For me........

Your thinking, did he fire six shots or only five? Now to tell you, I’ve forgotten myself in all this excitement. But being this is a 44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and it will blow your head clean off, you’ve gotta ask yourself a question, do I feel lucky, well do ya punk?

That was my gotta get one line, finally found a 98% one in ‘01, 29-2, 6.5, case, tools, papers, letter, cokes,

And a full collection of Dirty Harry movies, why? Cuz they are great movies.

 

[zzclancy]

My snub nose

My 629-2 with a cross draw Kramer holster.

 

[GWW]

Why??? Because it's a .44 Magnum baby!! And with the right loads they can be very accurate! Just ask Elmer ;-)

And ammo prices, I cast, coat boolits and reload ALL my own ammo, have for decades. Ammo prices, ammo shortages, meh ;-) I go on casting & reloading binges during the winter months and fill surplus ammo cans for something to do. I've got enough ammo stocked to last me a couple years without having to reload any more but I probably will just cause I enjoy reloading as much as I do shooting. And 85% of my brass has been free, no one at our range (including the Sheriff dept that shoots there) picks up their brass. I get plenty of 9mm, 40, .223 and a little .45ACP & .38SPL just from the Sheriff dept. I really don't need any more brass either but it's hard to just leave it laying there, I see free nickles and dimes when I look at brass on the ground LoL. Probably worth more then that these days?

 

[BigBill]

Personally, and I have said this many times, I think that the recoil falls under the context of the juice ain't worth the squeeze. I never could quite figure out the attraction after I finally owned and shot a 629. Before I owned it, yup, gotta have - after, happy to have sold it.

To be fair, I never met a .357 Magnum I didn't like/enjoy shooting and the same goes for a .45 Colt. The .44 Magnum is just not worth the squeeze for any role that I would care to use a revolver for.

I do think a long barreled .44 Magnum is appropriate for handgun hunting if that's your thing. I understand that type of usage. Otherwise, well, you know...........

I think reloading is key to truly appreciating the 29/629. All 44 magnum loads don't have to send shockwaves down your arm. I load at appx. 1000 fps and is plenty strong enough to topple a 55 lb steel ram at 200 meters in IHMSA competition. And as mentioned by others above the 44 magnum is just a very fine looking six shooter. The bug bit the fool outta me!

Hmm playing pool with a 44 mag whouda thunk it. Could get messy.

 

[BigBill]

I’ve carried 44 mags over 45 years. I like the 41 mag and 357 mag too.
The recoil doesn’t bother me yet.

 

[wraco]

I only have two M29's. A 6 1/2" wearing Rosewood Cokes and 4" with Walnut Targets.

Reloading is the key and quite economical with SWC.

.

 

[scout63]

I have only one 29 & yes growing up in the 70's&80's, Mr. Eastwood was a main stay in our house hold. I have owned many .44 mags (mostly Ruger) but the 6.5 M29 was always a bucket lister for me, finally in late 2015 the Mrs. bought me one for an early Christmas, it does have the ugly lock, but it does have everything, both cases,paperwork, tools,etc. The pure joy of opening the safe and showing it to friends & family, seeing their reaction is worth every dime, but going out and running it through her paces, well that is something every shooter should try at least once in their lives. As many have said, it is an experience, I have even got the Mrs. to have a round or two with it (.44 spl of course) and the SIL goes crazy when I bring her to the party. Did I buy it mostly because of the DH movies? Possibly. Is that the only reason I wanted it? No. Do I feel guilty because of that reason? No. What ever your reasoning for getting one, remember it is a .44 magnum and there will always be a certain " I gotta have one" mystique to it. Also they are a beautiful pistol. just one man's opinion...

 

[sparkyvega]

Don't forget Chuck Norris in Lone Wolf McQuaid (nickel M29).

As far as the .44 Magnum's movie mystique with the Dirty Harry series and Taxi Driver, don't forget one of my favorites- "48 Hours" with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy.

 

[wbraswell]

Reloading is one of the attractions of the .44 for me. In the past a medium loading was available, around 1000 fps. in .44 and .41. Since you have noticed that the guns seem scarce and expensive, that alone are reasons enough to make them popular.
There is a mild psychological disorder that is quite prevalent among forum members. It is called "N-frame lust". Model and caliber is of no consequence. There is no cure, I know.

 

[Silver GT]

Hand Cannons

500 & 629 CANNONS

 

[BigBill]

I perfer the Redhawk in 44 mag for shooting but the m29 gets all the hype from Dirty Harry.

1. The older colt python helped fuel the higher prices.
2. The slick willy Klingon hole that most don’t want drove the prices up on the orginal classics.
3. Everyone wants the older N frames.
4. Owning the most powerful gun on the planet fed egos.

 

[lppd4]

Don't forget Chuck Norris in Lone Wolf McQuaid (nickel M29).

I thought Lone Wolf had a 6" 629 but don't know for sure its been to long since I've seen the movie.

I stand corrected, just looked it up and Lone Wolf had an engraved nickel plated 29

 

[smithra_66]

M25 in a classic, more useful, and more friendly caliber:

.45 Colt classic? Yes
More useful? not in my book
Friendlier? Yes unless .44 specials are used[/QUOTE]

The 45 Colt is a more powerful caliber than the 44 Magnum though.

Really it depends on how they're loaded.

In factory ammo, yes, the 44 mag will be hotter....otherwise, the two are virtually identical with the edge going to the 45 colt because of the bigger case and bullets.

 

[Freelancer99]

Either you get it or you don't. S&W and the 44 Magnum were literally made for each other. My not so common 5" 29-4

 

[dogdoc]

Glad I purchased all of mine when they were 300 to 500 dollars��

 

[WCCPHD]

Why so popular?

They are like potato chips, you can't have just one.

29 No Dash


29-2 NC State Highway Patrol 50th Anniversary


29-3 Classic Hunter


629-3 Carry Comp


629-5 Camfour


629-6 Camfour


I also have a very early 6.5 inch Pre 29, but can't find a photo.