My short ownership of a 329PD....Thoughts and Observations.....

[TheMystro]

Found a nice clean used 329PD at my local dealership. I have had total titanium 357mag before so I was very interested in the 44mag. After all the 44mag is my pet caliber. Struck up a good deal and home I came. The trigger was clean but not as crisp as my SS 44mag. Build quality looked good and the Hogue grips gave good balance and the sights were outstanding. I used the same Hornady 240XTP load I use for hunting. These are not hot loads and are a tack driving load in my 629. I have loaded and shot a 454Casull for a few years without any issue at all with recoil. The 329PD with a med velocity load absolutely sucked. I mean brutal hard and abusive. After shooting 3 rounds, the other three bullets in the cylinder had their bullets jumping past the crimp. I love hard kicking handguns but this gun's recoil was a sharp fast smack instead of a push. It honestly kicked harder than any 454Casull I have ever shot and makes my 629 with 300grain hot solids feel more like a 38spl. I am a experienced handguner and could shoot the 329PD pretty acurate at 25 yards but didn't enjoy it at all. There was a extractor/cylinder defect (long story)with this gun so it went back to the my shop a hour later for a refund. I probably could have learned to tolerate the gun for what it was but I would never love it like my much more practical 629. It may have even created bad habits with my 629 and then it would get kicked to the curb. I graciously took the "out clause".
So here is the problem with the 329PD...... It's a great gun to carry but miserable to shoot (Unreasonably so).
The catch 22 is,... you should never carry a gun you don't practice a lot with. I will gladly carry my SS 629 6" anywhere and put up with the aditional weight than carry a 329PD that I will never shoot half as good or enjoy practicing with it. I know some might use this as a "bear defence" gun but still, I would rather carry a 629 6" that I can shoot precisely at a long distance than carry a gun that is so difficult to shoot under the best circumstance.
My advise on the 329PD:
The 329PD stands for 329 Palm Destruction. I would pass on this gun and stick with a Stainless Steel model.

 

[J-FRAME]

Many will agree with you. I love my 329 for what it is - a carry gun not a shooter.After shooting 29 and 629 guns all my life it just shoots very natural for me for about 6 to 10 shots then I to feel it in my hand and wrist. But I sure like how light it is compared to my 29/629 guns.

 

[Infidel_319]

Had a similar experience recently with an m&p340. Wicked little bugger. No fun at all. It's going to be fed 38+p only.

 

[Sebago Son]

Shooting is supposed to be fun. As I grow older, my focus has matured to the point where I'd rather shoot all day with a smile on my face than shoot for 20 minutes with a grimace.

 

[TheMystro]

I would bet many wouldn't last a cylinder before they had enough. Hold your hand up and let me take a full swing at it with a Louisville slugger....We are having fun now.
The 329 is a micro niche gun. The problem/defect mine had has me concerned about its ability to hold up. It just may be too light of a frame. It's ALOT of money to have in a gun like this.

Shooting is supposed to be fun. As I grow older, my focus has matured to the point where I'd rather shoot all day with a smile on my face than shoot for 20 minutes with a grimace.

 

[Sebago Son]

I understand the concept...

In my youth I shot .30-30 and .35 Remington Contenders. I once held a loaded .444 in my hands and layed it over the sandbags, but just couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger.

These days I have nothing else to prove to myself, or anyone else for that matter.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I fired a cylinder full of .44 magnums out of a neighbor's 329PD. Once. I figured "PD" stood for "painfully disgusting". I will not bother to do this again.

 

[C Islander]

I had one. It was the most uncomfortable handgun I ever fired.

 

[jack the toad]

I had one. It was the most uncomfortable handgun I ever fired.

2nd most for me, with the 340 being #1.

 

[Engine49guy]

I really wanted a 329PD until reading all the bad recoil reports,
Ended up buying a 629-2 Mountain Gun instead.

 

[blueknight7]

Yup, I got one. Yup, it goes out with me everyday. Yup, it kicks....HARD. I have done 50 rounds through it at one time. I have done 30 rounds through it with the factory Ahrend grips on it. These are not light loads. 1200 fps+ with a good dose of 2400 and a 240 gr. Laser Cast bullet. Yes, I am more than on the north side of 60 years old.

Every time I shoot my cannon, I think back a number of years ago. When I was given the opportunity (sarcasm interjected) to fire a sawed off shotgun, that was evidence in court. It was professionally modified. Being the dept. armorer, I didn't have much choice. But, we got it in a very nasty drug raid, and we had to prove it did work.

12 ga. 10" barrel, double barrel. Fore end tastefully shortened, pistol grip for a stock. Single trigger, box lock. Both barrels were modified to simultaneously fire. When we found it, it was loaded with 2, 00 buckshot rounds. So, that is what I got to shoot in it

I was fortunate to have sense enough to wear gloves. The result, two rounds fired at the same time. It did stay intact. It also resulted in breaking the ring finger on my right hand, when I hit the trigger guard, in recoil. Yes, I had my off hand on the top middle of the barrels to hold it down, or I would have eaten it.

It made a great video. That is when the video recorders. were about the size of a small suitcase, and used VHS cassettes. My testimony in court was very simple. Yes, it fired, ONCE. Would I fire it again? No!

So, every time my 329PD goes off, it doesn't break anything other than what it is aimed at. The recoil is stout, but still manageable. I have fired something that truly wasn't.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

Yes the recoil is pretty stiff.

I like mine for what I bought it for, a hiking gun in bear country(not to mention the occasional meth head or two) I am happy with it. Do I shoot it all of the time, no. but I shoot it enough to be proficient with it and I like it.

 

[grip frame]

Here is my point-take it for what is it worth.

There is no such thing as a "carry gun" .

Any gun you carry is a shooter. (or should be)

Give me a standard 4" 629 any day over the 329 PD, I feel the 629 MG is the bare minimum for weight in a .44 mag.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

The 329PD stands for 329 Palm Destruction. I would pass on this gun and stick with a Stainless Steel model.

Wise choice, IMO. I nearly sold a 325PD, until I found how well Hogue Goodyears worked. However, I don't think that they would have handled a 329.

 

[BobR1]

I have a 442 Pro Moon Clip, a 315 Night Guard, as well as a 310 Night Guard. I have changed the grips to very nice wood Boot Grips on all three. The wood grips do look good, however they do kick harder.

On 1 December we had our bi-monthly Outlaw IDPA Match. I shot 4 guns in the match. My LCR-22 in BUG Division, and my 315 Night Guard, my 4" 64-3 SSR Gun and my new 4" 686-5 SSR Gun. The 64 and 686 have both been worked on by the old Master Ron Power. The 64 still has Hogue Finger Groove Goodyears on it. I have some old S&W Combats on the 686. S&W Altamont Finger Groove Boot Grips on the 315 Night Guard. My 38 Match Load is currently a 158 Round Nose over 4.7 grains of Unique. That is pretty much considered a Maximum Non-+P load now days in 38 Special.

I turned in my best time of the day with the 64 which was good enough for Overall Second in the match. Over all Third was my 686 coming in 0.95 behind the 64. Both revolvers shot great, and were a pleasure to shoot. Now with the 315 Night Guard, which is an Air Weight K Frame with 2.5" barrel, you could tell a significant difference in recoil. I am not talking Brutal, but quite a bit more serious. The time with the 315NG fell off by almost 15 points also. Some of the 15 points was probably the shorter sight radious, however most of it was added shot recovery time from recoil. I have shot this load in my 442 Pro in BUG Division also. I was expecting stiff recoil from the Air Weight J Frame. This was the first match with my 315NG. I was a little surprised that recoil was as brisk as it was with it. The factory Goodyears I am sure would have tamed the recoil down quite a bit more.

My 310 Night Guard I would guess recoils about like a 325NG. You are expecting more recoil from the 10mm/40 S&W and 45acp. I have S&W Altamont Finger Groove Walnut Boot Grips on 310NG now. They again look good, but recoil is again a little stiffer with wood grips.

No Free Lunch is correct. With light weight comes stiffer recoil. The 3 airweights I have are all tolerable to shoot with Full House Loads.
The 329PD probably would need about an 800 fps load to get into the Tolerable Range for much shooting by most of us.

Just My Two Cents.

Bob

 

[Frank V]

I have never shot one, but have a friend who rides horseback in bear country. He has one & only shoots it now & then. He loves his! I will get to shoot it some day & am looking forward to that.

I think it'd be a GREAT everyday carry gun in the winter when you can wear a vest or coat. I'd load it with warm .44 Specials (something like Buffalow Bore's offerings) & I think you'd be good.

The only thing that concerns me is the lock in such a light gun with considerable recoil, & the gas plate above the forcing cone on the frame? Don't know how those two will hold up?
Frank

 

[J-FRAME]

I removed the lock -no big deal. My Bowen 329 is a good shooter and has held up well so far except the blast shield which was happily changed out by S&W- i just limit my exposure. I have heavier guns to shoot.Wish I had this gun 35-40 years ago to drag around instead of a heavy 29-2. But it is a expensive gun -each to to his own.Nice to have choices.

 

[colt_saa]

The problem/defect mine had has me concerned about its ability to hold up. It just may be too light of a frame.

I hear folks often ask how long it will hold up. Once I tell them how long they have been around they are usually surprised.

Scandium framed Magnums have been out for 12 years now. How many years does it take for them to prove how well they hold up?

Currently I must own over a dozen Scandium revolvers. I think Scandium is the greatest thing to happen to an N-frame since stainless steel

I have had my 340PD for 11 years. It has over 5000 Federal 158 JSP 357 Magnums through it and about 1000 of the Hornady 140XTP 357 Magnums so far. You would never guess that to look at it. BTW, Zero 38 Specials so far. Yes the ultra lightweights are brutal, but controllable.

A 5" model 327 TRR8 or M&P R8 weighs almost the same as a 4" Model
19 or 66. Everyone used to carry the Model 66.

I opened up my 310NG to take 10MM Magnum as well as 10MM Auto. I also shoot a 357NG and a 327NG.

I LOVE my 2", Scandium framed, 45 Colt snubbies.

You do not have to own the 3" 329, there were several other barrel lengths. If S&W would introduce a 329 5" with the stainless cylinder, I think it would overtake the Mountain Guns in sales.

Obviously Scandium is not for everyone, but it does have it's uses.

 

[rburg]

I'm pretty sure I don't agree with a lot that has been said in this thread. The 329 is probably the best 44 Special ever produced. No exceptions to that I'm aware of. It also gives you the option of firing the very hottest Specials made anywhere, and even loading 44 Magnums if you want. Yes, its not a gun designed or built to fire a box or two of magnums for fun. Big deal. I generally fire specials in my steel magnums (I don't distinguish between stainless and carbon steel.) If you're stupid, you can even fire 300 grain bear loads in the 329. They just built the revolver and they don't tell you what to fire in it. Guess they think you might have common sense. Their error.

I have a 329 and a 357. The 41 is probably easier to shoot with magnum loads. But not by enough to make you want to do it. I have no idea why posters here or anyplace else feel the need to bad mouth the guns. Shooters should just have a lick of sense and realize the gun is a special purpose tool. Why they buy it and then want to complain is beyond me.

 

[WHO CARES]

As Dick Burg puts it "The 329 is probably the best 44 Special ever produced. No exceptions to that I'm aware of." That is exactly how I view my 329 PD! What a great gun to carry and shoot with 250 grain bullets at 800 - 1,000 fps and still have the power option in reserve if desired. Yes, I know this is similar to a 45 acp but I am still a revolver fan first. It's just a neat gun to use and I like it a lot!

ward