Richochet
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
When in doubt, buy both!
Model 29 or 629 -- which would you buy?
- Thread starter Redlegvzv
- Start date
sixshooter_45
Member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2013
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I own the S&W 629 5" and it's one balanced revolver. The DUAL POSITION PHOENIX HOLSTER is one sweet holster for it.
OP
Redlegvzv
Member
Guys, I can't remember a thread that I enjoyed more. Well, going back to the LGS on Saturday (out of town right now) so we'll see what they have. Obviously either the 29 or 629 would be a great score.
VinnieL59
Member
Choice
If I had my choice it would be the model 29, especially if I was going to shoot it much. A good trigger job will cause the trigger on a blued steel revolver to be smoother than one on a stainless gun, due to the qualities of the material. If you shoot a stainless revolver a lot, the burning powder will more rapidly "gas cut" the top strap inside the cylinder opening than a carbon steel one, simply because the steel is harder and tougher than the alloy the stainless ones are made of.
Now if I was going to hunt with it, or carry it daily, I would pick the stainless for wet weather purposes. The stainless will still rust, but not nearly as quick or as badly as the blued-steel.
(As for the gas cutting, my old Stainless model 66 is gas cut quite deeply directly above the breech end of the barrel due to the extremely hot loads we were forced to shoot for qualification for many years. )
If I had my choice it would be the model 29, especially if I was going to shoot it much. A good trigger job will cause the trigger on a blued steel revolver to be smoother than one on a stainless gun, due to the qualities of the material. If you shoot a stainless revolver a lot, the burning powder will more rapidly "gas cut" the top strap inside the cylinder opening than a carbon steel one, simply because the steel is harder and tougher than the alloy the stainless ones are made of.
Now if I was going to hunt with it, or carry it daily, I would pick the stainless for wet weather purposes. The stainless will still rust, but not nearly as quick or as badly as the blued-steel.
(As for the gas cutting, my old Stainless model 66 is gas cut quite deeply directly above the breech end of the barrel due to the extremely hot loads we were forced to shoot for qualification for many years. )
Hey - get both. May take a while to find the right ones, but it will be worth it.
John
John
OK, here is my Model 29 also...
Attachments
stainless or not?
I have a 6.5" 29 and a 6" 629. I have always had much better accuracy with the 29, but not sure why. The 629 was bought new, but had to go back to S&W for some work to make the cylinder turn smoothly. I had a scope mounted on the 629 for hunting, but never got an opportunity to use it after sighting it in at the range. Both guns are fun to shoot, and I would feel safe in bear country with either. Of course, stainless steel is very hard and holds up to bad weather superbly.
I have a 6.5" 29 and a 6" 629. I have always had much better accuracy with the 29, but not sure why. The 629 was bought new, but had to go back to S&W for some work to make the cylinder turn smoothly. I had a scope mounted on the 629 for hunting, but never got an opportunity to use it after sighting it in at the range. Both guns are fun to shoot, and I would feel safe in bear country with either. Of course, stainless steel is very hard and holds up to bad weather superbly.
Tom Kent
US Veteran
I have a 3" 629 with a round butt and it is a sweet shooting revolver. If you can only get one, get the 629 but if you can, get both.
S&W SS Revolvers
Member
Given no preference otherwise, I'd go with the one that best passes the visual and mechanical inspection. Usual suspects, endshake, barrel overturn (or underturn), carry up, trigger pull(s) (a biggie for long distance use), hammer rub, yoke endshake on older revolvers, forcing cone and topstrap condition on used revolvers, muzzle crown, sight straightness, etc., etc.
As I don't have a 5" 629, that would likely be my choice, but it depends on the 29-?'s features, too!
As I don't have a 5" 629, that would likely be my choice, but it depends on the 29-?'s features, too!
Un-marred bluing is wa-a-a-a-a-y over-rated! Get out and shoot those blue guns!
Do you think anyone has ever lain on their death bed and said, "You know, I wish I hadn't shot my blue Model 29 as much as I did"?
Do you think anyone has ever lain on their death bed and said, "You know, I wish I hadn't shot my blue Model 29 as much as I did"?
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I have a 629 with the 6 in bbl and it's a little long for comfortable holster carry if you are in and out of the car. Mine is a an earlier version without the internal lock and I had thought about getting S&W to install a 5 in bbl as that is about as short as I would want to go.
Redhawk500
Member
I did a mental N frame finish inventory and found I bought what I liked, 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch 6.5 inch, one 8 inch that went on down the road. I have one nickel 41 Mag, the rest are pretty equally blue and stainless. I'd like to have a 5 inch blued model in a more practical caliber than the 544 44-40 Texas Wagon Train Commemorative.
LJBrennan007
Member
Your third option is nickel
Years ago when S&W and then other came out with stainless steel guns (I still have my first M60 Chief's) there was a lot written about how stainless steel parts would "gall" when rubbed against each other and hence would wear faster and super smooth actions could not be achieved, etc. I believe that metallurgy has come a long ways since then and these arguments in favor of blue versus carbon steel are no longer valid. This said, I've carried my first M29, a -2 in nickel with 6.5" barrel, for decades in a Galco shoulder rig, have killed dozens of deer and other critters with it, fished for a month in Alaska with it, and it still shoots and looks great! I have other N-frames in nickel and love them all. And, by the way, in favor of blue, let's remember that Detective (Dirty Harry) Callahan started it all, and his M29 was BLUE
Years ago when S&W and then other came out with stainless steel guns (I still have my first M60 Chief's) there was a lot written about how stainless steel parts would "gall" when rubbed against each other and hence would wear faster and super smooth actions could not be achieved, etc. I believe that metallurgy has come a long ways since then and these arguments in favor of blue versus carbon steel are no longer valid. This said, I've carried my first M29, a -2 in nickel with 6.5" barrel, for decades in a Galco shoulder rig, have killed dozens of deer and other critters with it, fished for a month in Alaska with it, and it still shoots and looks great! I have other N-frames in nickel and love them all. And, by the way, in favor of blue, let's remember that Detective (Dirty Harry) Callahan started it all, and his M29 was BLUE
mickeyblueyes
Member
I would say first and foremost pick your barrel length thats more important than anything else. From there make your next decision.
You didn't ask but I think the 627PC is once of the pretties girls on the beach.
You didn't ask but I think the 627PC is once of the pretties girls on the beach.
I opted for a 4" 629. Love blued revolvers but since I carry and hunt with it on our parcel (cedar wetlands, swamp and dense hardwoods), I felt the SS 629 would be less prone to rust etc. I couldn't be happier with it. That said, you really can't go wrong with either a 29 or 629.
OP
Redlegvzv
Member
You didn't ask but I think the 627PC is once of the pretties girls on the beach.
Yes, I have a 627PC. Very nice looking and good shooting handgun.
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