Opinions on Snub-Nosed .44 Magnums

[RedBerens]

I'm looking to buy a snub-nosed model 629, and was wondering if anyone has an opinion on the best of the current models? I'm thinking about the PC 629 that looks like the Bloodwork gun, and the 629 Backpacker with the full lug 2 1/2" Magnaported barrel and Hi-Viz sights.

I was also wondering if a Performance Center gun is that much better/different than a standard production revolver?

 

[m657]

I recently acquired a 3" 629 RB with combat grips. I'm amazed by what a different creature this is from the 4" 629.

With something less than 7-800 rounds through them each, I've determined I far more prefer 44 specials in the 3" for a variety of reasons. And full mags in the 4" are not all that unpleasant, although I prefer the moderate recipes.

The configurations available are rather overwhelming, independent of the cosmetic aspects. In the PC models action work I've had, my own tastes for style, is that I'd rather pick the configuration I prefer and then have it slicked up properly if needed than buy most of the PC stylings just to get the slick lock work. Most of the barrel stylings of the PC models simply are not to my taste. To each their own.

Although the 627 V8 I was introduced to 3 years ago certainly bumped up my appreciation a notch.

 

[A10]

As I have posted on other threads, my current carry gun is a Trail Boss. I really like it, it balances fairly well for a short barrel gun, and is easily concealed in my Simply Rugged pancake. Magnum rounds are fairly stout in it, my favorite being the 270 JSP's from Speer (when I can find them). Around the house I keep a few shotshells in the first chambers for critters, and keep 180 grain specials for self defense. Shoots great with the lighter loads. Buy one, you'll like it!

 

[northslope]

I'm an unabashed fan; my 629 "Trail Boss" is go-to backpacking gun. Definitely 'stings' after 100 rounds at the range, but it is accurate and plenty hard-hitting.

Seen below variously with Ahrends and Eagle grips....

--Neill

 

[kennyb]

i have a 3" M29...love it and carry it often...i also like the 3"657 in 41 mag.

 

[nboyan82]

I once put 50 rounds through a V-Comp 44 Mag snub at the S & W shop in Springfield. Those were the most punishing strings of fire I ever dealt with, and I've frequently used other 44 Mags, 454 Casull, and 500 Mags. My advice would be to use 44 Specials in such a small gun. Recoil and muzzle blast are significantly reduced, but they still have good knockdown power especially at the close ranges a snubby would be used at.

 

[rollin_hot]

Magnums

I love my 629 Mountain Backpacker and 629 with non fluted cylinder both in 3". Not really into current production guns....

 

[6pack]

I've got a soft spot in my heart for any and everything .44RemMag.

That being said, I want no part of anything ported. The buck and roll of recoil at the range is expected with such rounds. The additional bark of those ports is something I hate...even with double protection, too.

I couldn't imagine the hearing damage if used without hearing protection.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

629-5

My 629-5 2.5" .44 mag is one of my favorite S&W's to shoot...doesn't carry bad either.

If I'm shooting stout loads, I put a set of S&W Night Guard grips on it instead of the Spegel boot grips...tames the beast. My favorite just for fun load in it is a 240 grain LSWC over 9.0 of Unique. For more "excitement" I step up to a Hornady XTP and 19.5 of 2400.

I have one Performance Center revolver, a 627-PC. The action is much smoother on this 629-5 than on the 627-PC. They were both made within a two year period and do not have the IL.

 

[MTKTM]

I'm looking to buy a snub-nosed model 629, and was wondering if anyone has an opinion on the best of the current models? I'm thinking about the PC 629 that looks like the Bloodwork gun, and the 629 Backpacker with the full lug 2 1/2" Magnaported barrel and Hi-Viz sights.

I was also wondering if a Performance Center gun is that much better/different than a standard production revolver?

You referred to "current models" and I take that to mean new guns, ones in production at the present time. Regardless, I have a fairly recently-acquired 629 PC 2 5/8" and am happy with it. It has a good trigger and seems reliable and accurate. The standard boot-grips are not the most comfortable things I've shot with, but I've decided to keep them on the gun for now and have found a grip methodology that works well. If I could make one change to the gun it would be to flute the cylinder. I'm not personally all that fond of unfluted ones. Plus it would reduce the weight of the gun by a small amount, and this is a snub. I think that the gun is too big for CCW use, at least for me, but I'm using it for woods carry in a Simply Rugged holster and it's perfect for that purpose.

 

[Mule88]

I have a 3 inch and 2 1/2 inch 629-5, they are actually very accurate for what they are. When I use factory loads its usually the 200 Gn Gold Dot Short bbl loads. My relaods Ive been usuing in them is 10 gn Universal clays and either a 200 or 210 gn Gold dot or Hornady's XTP.

 

[RedBerens]

Thanks for posting this picture. This is one of the guns I'm seriously thinking about. Does anyone know if PC guns are built any differently than regular guns - does each get built by the PC shop, or do they just have a tuned action?

 

[SuperMan]

Try the Speer 200 grain Gold Dot Hollowpoint .44 Magnum Short Barrel Load. 200 grain .44 Special deep HP bullet at 1080 from a 4" gun...and they expand every time...

I shoot them in a 629 Mountain Gun and my friends 329PD...

There is also loading data for that bullet in the new Speer #14 Reloading Manual.

Bob

 

[ditrina]

629-3 Lew Horton PC Quad-Port.. one of 300...Shoots Smooooth

 

[cp1969]

I've got a soft spot in my heart for any and everything .44RemMag.

That being said, I want no part of anything ported. The buck and roll of recoil at the range is expected with such rounds. The additional bark of those ports is something I hate...even with double protection, too.

I couldn't imagine the hearing damage if used without hearing protection.

Same here. I'll take the recoil any day.

 

[Hammerdown77]

Sweet gun, but man, that thing does not look like it would be pleasant to shoot, unless a bear was on top of you...

 

[6pack]

Sweet gun, but man, that thing does not look like it would be pleasant to shoot, unless a bear was on top of you...

Heck, he could run some Buffalo Bore rounds through it and still not kick as harsh as the Hellboy gun (see recent thread). I'm whimping out with either one and I'm a big old ugly fella who can handle some recoil.

 

[roundgunner]

I really like my 3". Carry it alot with 200gr Speer 44mag SB @ 980 FPS.

 

[MTKTM]

Thanks for posting this picture. This is one of the guns I'm seriously thinking about. Does anyone know if PC guns are built any differently than regular guns - does each get built by the PC shop, or do they just have a tuned action?

I think that the primary difference with this and many other PC guns is that yes, they are built in the Performance Center, and in addition to the tuned action often have a different finish, in this case the more matte/bead-blasted looking one which I happen to like, although I find more standard stainless guns attractive too. This gun has a ball-detent in the crane rather than securing the ejector rod at the end of the housing, and also has the skeletonized housing. Dovetail front sight, for whatever it might be worth. And they chamfer the rear of the cylinder chambers a little bit. Oh, and the nice wood boot-grips rather than the rubber ones. Of course, I suspect that most who buy the gun will replace those. I've elected to keep them......for now. I'll discuss that a bit more in a reply to another post.

 

[MTKTM]

Sweet gun, but man, that thing does not look like it would be pleasant to shoot, unless a bear was on top of you...

I think I would find it significantly less pleasant to shoot if a bear was on top of me!!! That would purely suck. Seriously, it does kick with those grips. I'll try to remember to take a pic of the rear profile of the grip and post it. The stock boot grips are quite narrow in profile, giving the rear of the grip a hard and angular aspect. I did find, however, that with my loads which are less than full charge, but more than a hot 44 Special, that if I modified my grip a little and kept my thumbs low and away from the cylinder and cylinder-release button, both of which tend to gouge if you're not careful, it wasn't too bad. But I do find that my 500s are more pleasant to shoot than this gun. That's okay, though, I like handguns that kick! Rifles, well, that's a different story......