Put a scope on my Shiny Harry S&W 629, and this thing can shoot! ^L^ >>>

[ThomasH]

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I intend this revolver to be my deer hunting gun, and practicing at 25 and 50 yards, it seemed like I just couldn't be confident enough using the iron sights.


So I decided to scope the gun, which made for hours of fun, online shopping! ^L^


I finally decided on a Weigand aluminum base, in matte black, with heavy duty Warne Maxima rings and a Burris 2x-7x EER Pistol scope. I was looking at a Weaver 2x-7x scope, but I noticed the exit pupil on the Burris was at least 1mm larger at all magnifications, and now that I have the scope it is very bright, even on cloudy days.

Click for Big Image


I didn't bore sight the setup, so I quite pleased with the very first group I shot, off a front rest at 25 yards. I was shooting single-action, using Hornady 240 grain XTP ammo.

A few twists of the sight adjustments and the groups were well centered. Once I shot this group I figured it was time to more the targets to 50 yards! ^L^

I was shooting about 1 inch high at 50 yards, so clicked down four clicks and shot these two groups. The "flyer" was my fault I am sure. I had mowed the lawn and pulled weeds for about three hours before I shot and was a bit tired and unsteady for ultimate accuracy. -L-

Good enough for today, although I moved the target back to 25 yards and shot this group to see how low it would shoot at the shorter distance. Not bad!

Okay, the Deer Hunter is almost ready! I still have to take it over to the benchrest range and shoot it at 100 yards, but that I'll leave for another day. (Hmmm, today is another day! ^L^ ) Thanks for looking!


- Thomas

 

[Doug M.]

Looks good. I have been tempted when I have the money to get a longer barreled .357 and throw on a scope.

 

[TANKER]

I have a 27 8 3/8 with a scope, I call it my one hand rifle.

 

[holo]

Great shoot-in. I had a 629 with the scope mount cut outs in the barrel and could not hit anything, the only smith I have ever had accuracy trouble with. I put the same scope on a ruger and my groups are like yours. like i said nice shoot-in

 

[Mule88]

Great gun and groupings. Keep an eye out on the aluminum base however, Ive had issues with them on some high recoiling guns and went to steel bases with no issues after that.

 

[InTheWoods]

I am watching a big doe feeding in my prairie patch about 50 yards away from my house as I post this and envey your set up. You should have no problem dropping deer with that handgun/scope combo. So far, I have only used my iron-sighted 629 Mountain Gun to shoot three very close deer with. It has been kind of hard for me to set down my rifle and pick up my handgun when deer appear. But Missouri just changed its rules for the upcoming season to allow handguns during the muzzleloading season, so I may have to explore something like you have for this newly increased handgun opportunity.

BTW, the deer I have shot with the 629 were killed with Winchester's 250 grain partition loads. The results were absolutely devestating. The XTPs should also work great.

 

[357 shooter]

I'd say any deer you take a shot at is done for! Nice combination with the Burris scope. The 240 XTP has always been exceptionally accurate in my reloads.

I have a Burris on my 629 as well , a 4X. I also have a 2X-7X and after seeing yours I might mount that on the 629 sometime and try 100 yards.

 

[ThomasH]

I have a Burris on my 629 as well , a 4X. I also have a 2X-7X and after seeing yours I might mount that on the 629 sometime and try 100 yards.

Thank you, I do want to be humane when I slaughter the sweet little doe!

The eye relief is plentiful at 2x and 4x, full arm extension is just fine for me. At higher magnification the relief shrinks quite a bit, but I won't being trying to use 7x or a 50 to 100 yard shot without a support anyway, so I don't mind. Just so you know.

- Thomas

 

[ThomasH]

Great gun and groupings. Keep an eye out on the aluminum base however, Ive had issues with them on some high recoiling guns and went to steel bases with no issues after that.

Thanks for the heads up sir. What trouble did you encounter, just the base loosening? I know aluminum expands and contracts a lot with temperature change, I wonder if that contributes to a problem like that?

The first time I assembled this set-up, I had used medium Loctite on the base and none on the rings, and the top ring screws kept loosening up, so I cleaned the holes and used medium Loctite on all the ring screws. Then during the next session the base came loose! So I cleaned up everything with solvent and used high strength on the base and medium on the rings and so far everything is holding tight!

I looked at the steel Weigand bases, but they were like $100 compared to $40 for the aluminum, and the darn gun already weighs 100 lbs, so I opted for the aluminum.

- Thomas

 

[mchech]

I'd like to switch over to 100% handgun for deer hunting. My hunting is always out of a box blind. The gun is a 629 Classic 6 1/2" with a Leupold 2x and yes it will shoot. If I keep to my praticing it will shoot them all inside a snuff can size circle at 50 yds off a dead rest. Posts like this helps keep me thinking this may be the year. Practice practice practice

Use this

Nov 29 by mchech, on Flickr
Through here

Nov 29 by mchech, on Flickr

Good Luck!