Range report on my 629-6

[.460 Magnum]

I have about 200 rounds through my new S&W 629-6, so here is a little update on the type of accuracy I am getting from it. I am reloading for this gun, and 150 of the rounds I have fired where 200 gr lead flat point bullets, over 6 gr of Clays powder. (Very good mild target load, and easy on the wallet). Like I said I am new to 629's and this is my first 629 that I have owned/ shot. The shots pictured where taken at 25-27 yards free hand(off hand, 2 handed grip). As you can see I am having some fliers/ pulling it on some shots (or squeeze the trigger when the sights are not prefect. That is what makes handgun shooting very fun/ madding at times. I still have to do a lot more practice with it/ going to shoot it all summer long before hunting season.

 

[.460 Magnum]

I am sure I am going to get a lot better with it in due time. I hate seeing bad shots on how I pulled it, or pulled the gun, or the sights where not lined up good, when you have a nice group going.

 

[jaymoore]

Just takes lots of rounds downrange and the ability to call your shots. If you have a good idea what's creating the errant shots, then you can address the drama. Throw some empties in with the live rounds for some added "fun". Dry firing is good, too. I probably still dry fire more than live fire, used to be I dry fired LOTS more. Certainly helped over the years. And the only thing I ever broke with all of those hundreds of thousands of dry fires was a (fairly new) Python firing pin about two days before a big match circa 1999. (Whittled out a new one from beryllium copper and it's been fine up to this last weekend.)

 

[.460 Magnum]

I also measured the barrel/ cylinder gap on this 629, and my .460 S&W. They both have a gap of .008 (not sure if I am liking that....). My brothers 2007 NRA edition .460 S&W has a barrel and cylinder gap of .004. What are your thoughts?

 

[75Vette]

It's good to see you're putting that 629 to work. Trying to get a tight group at 25 yards standing is a lot harder than most people think. Something I found that has helped me is by making my own targets. I use copy paper and started by drawing 4" circles. That eliminated the distractions that the store bought targets have. When I started keeping my shots in the 4" circle I began drawing 3" circles. Of course you'll have good days and bad and there'll ALWAYS be that pesky flier but it has helped me out a lot. Good luck!

 

[.460 Magnum]

Yep I have a long ways to go, do not get me wrong, lol. I know the gun is going to shoot better than me. I am very use to my .460 S&W 8.38" barrel. So this lighter 629 in 6.5" is a little more challenging for me. My goal this summer it to work out to 35-40 yards and get all the shots on a 8" round piece of paper every time. I was shooting at around 27 yards on the above targets.

 

[.460 Magnum]

I shot another 25 rounds today at the paper target, this time at 35 yards free hand (off hand, 2 hand grip). I got 5 shots in a 4.5" circle at 35 yards, with 1 shot that was off about 4" from the others.. I did not think that was to bad at 35 yards. It is a good thing I reload for these guns, or I would be in the poor house.

 

[ruggyh]

Suggest you shoot a 5 shoot resting group from 15 Yards to eliminate as best as possible those flyers and validate your throat(s) are not causing them.

I am guessing you are right handed shooter, the placement low and left suggest you are using to much finger and/or jerking the trigger. Suggest you do some dry firing to improve that trigger squeeze.

Nice gun

be safe
Ruggy

 

[.460 Magnum]

Suggest you shoot a 5 shoot resting group from 15 Yards to eliminate as best as possible those flyers and validate your throat(s) are not causing them.

I am guessing you are right handed shooter, the placement low and left suggest you are using to much finger and/or jerking the trigger. Suggest you do some dry firing to improve that trigger squeeze.

Nice gun

be safe
Ruggy

Ruggy, long time no see!! I am a left handed shooter. When I bought this gun it was shooting over to the right. So brought it a few clicks to the left, and went to far left with 3 clicks of the sights. These are just practice rounds, so I am not to concerned on where it is hitting right now, do to the fact I am just trying to see the type of grouping right now. When I shot it at 35 yards off hand, it was hitting 2" high, above the orange dot. Yes I agree on the bench rest/ seeing if it needs the cylinder gap to be tightened up on it. My .460S&W has the same barrel/ cylinder gap on it. My brother's 2007 NRA edition 460 has a .004 cylinder gap. So my 629 and 460 have double the cylinder gap, which is at .008.

 

[ruggyh]

An uneven gap alignment issue would show up as a vertical stringing issue on your target.

The cylinder gap is within specification, and wider gap typically loses a little velocity but should no effect point of impact as a group.

Keep up the practice and you will get it sorted.

be safe
Ruggy

 

[murf205]

Amen to the factory targets having distractions. My targets are printed at home and the big circle with a good thick outer circle helps a lot. It still works at 100 yds for my 2x Leupold on my 44. I shot the 100yd group with a smaller target and the big target is a lot easier.

 

[Redlegvzv]

I am sure I am going to get a lot better with it in due time. I hate seeing bad shots on how I pulled it, or pulled the gun, or the sights where not lined up good, when you have a nice group going.

But I bet we all do it!

 

[308 Scout]

Good for you shooting offhand. Well built revolvers shoot well with good loads, so shooting from a bench is kind of pointless. Just keep at it and you'll be shooting smaller groups in no time.

Here's a suggestion- Once you feel you have the "hang" of it and are shooting decent offhand groups, center the rear sight and work on shooting centered groups. It's quite common for right handed shooters to shoot groups left, and vice versa for left handed shooters. Well built handguns rarely shoot left or right, but shooters do!

Keep posting those targets too.

308S

 

[.460 Magnum]

An uneven gap alignment issue would show up as a vertical stringing issue on your target.

The cylinder gap is within specification, and wider gap typically loses a little velocity but should no effect point of impact as a group.

Keep up the practice and you will get it sorted.

be safe
Ruggy

Makes sense. To be honest I have not done much off hand shooting with revolvers, I just need to shoot more this summer. So what you are saying is the .008 gap should stay even the whole way around the cylinder as your rotate it and check all the cylinder holes?

 

[.460 Magnum]

Amen to the factory targets having distractions. My targets are printed at home and the big circle with a good thick outer circle helps a lot. It still works at 100 yds for my 2x Leupold on my 44. I shot the 100yd group with a smaller target and the big target is a lot easier.

I get that the factory targets have distractions, but in real world hunting in the woods there are a lot of distractions also. Shooting at an 8pt buck standing there broadside is quite a distraction, lol. I will keep that in mind about the targets tho!!

 

[.460 Magnum]

Good for you shooting offhand. Well built revolvers shoot well with good loads, so shooting from a bench is kind of pointless. Just keep at it and you'll be shooting smaller groups in no time.

Here's a suggestion- Once you feel you have the "hang" of it and are shooting decent offhand groups, center the rear sight and work on shooting centered groups. It's quite common for right handed shooters to shoot groups left, and vice versa for left handed shooters. Well built handguns rarely shoot left or right, but shooters do!

Keep posting those targets too.

308S

I shoot lefthanded, along with my rifles. I need a pile more practice shooting off hand with a revolver. That is why I reload and shoot!!

 

[.460 Magnum]

Not a good day shooting at all.... Set up shooting bench at 15 yards from the target, and rested the 629 off of the frame, not the barrel and did some shooting. Here are the results. I am getting pretty much the same accuracy at 25 yards off hand as 15 yards of the shooting bench?!!! All of my shots/ targets the first 2 pictures are hitting high and to the right (I am a left handed shooter). Some of the shots never made it on the paper. My brother (who is right handed shot the gun off the bench also) which is the 3rd picture. Idk what to do at this point. I have tried different brand powders, different grains, shooting the same size group.... 4th picture is of my brother's target he shot 5 shots off the bench at 15 yards with his 8.38" 460 S&W open sights. 4 out of the 5 shots are touching as you can see. Is the group that much worse on a 6.5" barrel than a 8.38"? Maybe it is just me, but I think the 629 groups should be tighter. Thoughts?

 

[.460 Magnum]

I know why it is hitting to the right when I shoot it, it is due to I am left handed. But I just think the group size should be a lot lot smaller/ tighter. 2 different shooters, same size group off the bench

 

[75Vette]

I know why it is hitting to the right when I shoot it, it is due to I am left handed. But I just think the group size should be a lot lot smaller/ tighter. 2 different shooters, same size group off the bench

It sounds like you need to fine tune your load. Try loading a dozen each at half a grain increments. I'm loading 8.5 gr CFE-P with a 240 gr Summers Hi-Tek coated LSWC. The Hodgdon loading chart actually shows the start load at 9.9 gr. but I found that charge works for me accurately in my guns.
Also, what diameter are your bullets?

 

[.460 Magnum]

It sounds like you need to fine tune your load. Try loading a dozen each at half a grain increments. I'm loading 8.5 gr CFE-P with a 240 gr Summers Hi-Tek coated LSWC. The Hodgdon loading chart actually shows the start load at 9.9 gr. but I found that charge works for me accurately in my guns.
Also, what diameter are your bullets?

The diameter of the lead bullets are .430. I might try that. I have tried Clays powder, and Unique, and it shoots the same size groups. I have been playing with the grains some on the loads, and still no change. I guess I will try some .429 Jacketed bullets. I have Bullseye, Tightgroup, H-110, Unique, Clays for powder to use. I am already looking for another 629 with a 8.38" barrel for hunting. Thought the grouping was going to be better with this gun, guess I was wrong. . I will try practicing with it more, who knows it might get better.