Model 29 and 629 Why the popularity?

[Mehutch]

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!

This is why there is a 44 Magnum shortage. Love it 75Vette!

 

[delcrossv]

I'm lusting after Vette's Extreme Hunter in the background!

I only have "Pre's": a 6 1/2" 5 screw and a 4" 4 screw.

I think the grips make a big difference. I had a 629 with the 90's "2x4" targets and absolutely hated that gun. The Pre's with Cokes are fun to shoot even with full-bore loads.

I'm very recoil-insensitive but my hand will get "buzzy" after 2 or 3 50 round boxes- although I'm not doing that now with the crazy prices for factory ammo.

Here's the 4"

 

[vipermd]

Poprivit: The BFR's are built like a bank vault. The 45-70 is an easy shooting revolver with 405gr loads, but 629 has faster recoil. I also have a 500 Smith in the 7.5 BFR, which you need to be careful with. Shooting 275 gr, 350 gr even 400gr are OK, going to 500, 600,700 grs will cause a tendinitis with one round. I believe it is because of the grip design, give you a great hold, but then you soak up the torque. I had 3 friends who each developed tendinitis from 500 gr JSP, one round. They had no difficulty with the SW500 from 3 to 8 3/8"with any load. I was amazed that one round could cause that much pain. Be Safe,

 

[jcs266]

I know I love my 629-3 Mtn Gun. I've carried it extensively since I bought it in 1997. It's just a hard-hitting and accurate sidearm that I shoot well. It's up to any task I'd ever call up on it for. I don't shoot full-power loads too often - Elmer's 250gr Keith bullet at 1200 fps is my load for the outdoors and when CCW it's 200gr Gold Dot .44 Spl at 900fps.

 

[merl67]

I have had a Model 29-2 with a 4 inch barrel for several years. I just picked up a 29 no dash with a 6 1/2 inch barrel. One does not go buy loaded 44 mag ammo one hand loads their own. This my friends is where the 44 mag shines the bulk of my loads fall between the upper 44spl load and the lower 44 mag load. A 240 grain bullet at around 1100 fps will not beat you, or the gun up, but you definitely know you just touched something off lol it cost me roughly $12 to load a box of 50. I even have some loads the girls in the family can easily shoot, and tell the men in their lives I shot a 44 mag...

 

[Mike0251]

Oh, some pretty bad film editing at the end of the clip too. Harry cocks his Model 29, then performs a double action pull. Hollyweird.

And he closes his eyes while pulling the trigger. Look at that face lol!

 

[wbraswell]

At 68 years old, my hands will get "buzzy" after 12 rounds of factory .44 mag. ammo. The next day, my hands and Uncle Arthur will let me know they don't appreciate the abuse. 75vette, if all those 44s in a line are on a single dowel, that was one time consuming set up for that pic, but worth it.

 

[crazyphil]

Beware the poor guy who only has one .44 Magnum. He probably knows
how to use it.

 

[gwpercle]

Cable TV is running "Dirty Harry" movies again ...get's them all stirred up and the price of a model 29 goes through the roof again .
Gary

 

[75Vette]

delcrossv, here's a better shot of ol' footlong, the Extreme Hunter. And wbraswell, that was actually two dowels but still a touchy set up making sure not to ding the guns against each other. I had to get a ladder out for this pic.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Why?

Well, just because....

John

 

[Laketime]

If you have 3 minutes to spare, watch this video for an explanation. If you don't have 3 minutes, skip to 1:49.


Dirty Harry Do You ( I ) Feel Lucky Punk? ( high quality ) - YouTube


Oh, some pretty bad film editing at the end of the clip too. Harry cocks his Model 29, then performs a double action pull. Hollyweird.

Go back and count them again . Harry only shoots five. The reason you see him pull the trigger then fire double action at the end of the scene was to bypass his last live round.The was a big fan talking point when the movie first came to cinemas.

 

[lppd4]

I have had a Model 29-2 with a 4 inch barrel for several years. I just picked up a 29 no dash with a 6 1/2 inch barrel. One does not go buy loaded 44 mag ammo one hand loads their own. This my friends is where the 44 mag shines the bulk of my loads fall between the upper 44spl load and the lower 44 mag load. A 240 grain bullet at around 1100 fps will not beat you, or the gun up, but you definitely know you just touched something off lol it cost me roughly $12 to load a box of 50. I even have some loads the girls in the family can easily shoot, and tell the men in their lives I shot a 44 mag...

I buy loaded .44 mag ammo occasionally and load the cases to my liking often. Usually a 240 grain SWC bullet at approx. 1000fps. Pleasant round to shoot

 

[delcrossv]

delcrossv, here's a better shot of ol' footlong, the Extreme Hunter. And wbraswell, that was actually two dowels but still a touchy set up making sure not to ding the guns against each other. I had to get a ladder out for this pic.

Thanks 'Vette. The -5 Extreme and a -2 Hunter (with the scope rings)are on my bucket list.
That's one very impressive set of 44s! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Laketime]

And he closes his eyes while pulling the trigger. Look at that face lol!

Harry had been hit by the shotgun blast just before pulling the trigger, that’s why his eyes had shut momentarily. The film was very well made for the time.

 

[Six6]

Not much left to add, perfect backwoods gun, versatile, accurate, well-balanced. I load mine for hiking with two 44 special shot shells, then two 44s, then two full on magnums. Ready for anything. The only shooting iron I enjoy more is my '58 pre-27 with an 8 3/8" barrel.

 

[joedegs]

It’s a thing of beauty.

I’ve had plenty of 629s and a few 29s come and go over the years. But this one, will stay put for now.

Joe

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

The 44 mag is Smith’s cartridge. It is ubiquitous to the S&W lineup .
I doubt Dirty Harry has much to do with it anymore. It is an old movie and well, (Forum gods forgive me for this) by today’s standards a B grade film at best. Acting sucks and the story line is as predictable as the sunset. The movie would only motivate most anyone under the age of 50 to exert the energy to change the channel and little else.
People are enamored with powerful guns. The 44 mag is on the edge of being too much gun to be comfortable, but a lot of folks enjoy the recoil or do not find it offensive. I used to enjoy it, but now days at a shade over 60 I have no use for it.
The 29’s and 629’s are very versatile with a wide variety of loads available under normal circumstances.
I no longer have one, but admit that it is a very good handgun if you have need or want for something more than a 357 Mag.

I agree. Most of us of the Dirty Harry generation are near our 70s now.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

delcrossv, here's a better shot of ol' footlong, the Extreme Hunter. And wbraswell, that was actually two dowels but still a touchy set up making sure not to ding the guns against each other. I had to get a ladder out for this pic.

Hold my beer. I`ve got to get myself a bigger pool table...

 

[rubiranch]

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!

I only own one .44 Magnum. Shipped January 14th 1964 my 6.5" M29-2.

This one is all I need.