Safe .44 Magnum Ammunition for a 29-3 Snubbie??

[Col Defender]

Hi

I am happily acquiring a S&W 29-3 Snubbie. I shoot all my guns and this one will be no exception. It was fired early in its life but not in the last 15 years and never by its current owner. And actually I will probably not shoot more than a couple dozen rounds a year, if that.

I reload and have used a soft load (7.1 grains Unique, with a 240 grain lead bullet. Book MV=950 fps and 481 ft/lbs of energy.) That is not much over half of the energy of a max load. It is a total ***** cat in my 6" 29-3. And it's not much more powerful than a .44 Special round.

Do any of you guys think this will be a problem in this, an older short barreled gun? (I guess I should add that in the unlikely event I were to decide to carry it, I would load it with some heavy duty stuff and hope I never have to use it.)

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

 

[VAdoublegunner]

That load is in the 44 Special ballistics range so shouldn't be much of a problem. I can't remember without looking it up when endurance package upgrades began with the 29s like I do the 629s, but it should easily handle any factory 44 Mag loads and yours isn't close to that level.

 

[Shooting4life]

Most standard 44 mag loads would be fine. Stay away from anything that says ruger only and generally anything with a 300gr bullet as well as those are generally loaded hotter than standard 240gr loads.

 

[kennyb]

i have had a 3"M29 for awhile now...i shoot a variety of loads in it from mild to hot..you aren't going to hurt the gun unless you grossly overload for it...

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

That load is in the 44 Special ballistics range so shouldn't be much of a problem. I can't remember without looking it up when endurance package upgrades began with the 29s like I do the 629s, but it should easily handle any factory 44 Mag loads and yours isn't close to that level.

VA
The endurance package started in early '88 for all N frames. The Blued version was the 29-3E at the very start, which quickly went into the 29-4, and finally in very late '89, became the 29-5.

 

[Snapping Twig]

FWIW, I'm shooting a hotter load than that in a 3" 624 - 7.5g Unique and a 250 or 265g cast bullet.

My typical load in my personal 629-2 3" is a 265g Lyman 429244 over 22g W296/H110 with a WLP. Not exactly a barn burner, but plenty mojo downrange and an excellent hunting round.

Your revolver can easily handle any SAAMI approved 44 load in any bullet weight you choose.

 

[CWH44300]

should last a long time that load is just idling