Shaking hands with the devil

[Paul105]

A friend bought one to carry while elk and moose hunting. I shot it with Underwood 250's at 1250 and it was useable. However, with less than 1000 rounds, he noted a scratch on the cylinder and frame. Wasn't a scratch but cracks. Sent it to S&W and they returned it saying not fixable. He called and the service lady said send it again and she'd tell the manager. Came back a second time unfixable. He was disgusted. I wonder if it was because he got rid of the lock? Any how, after that debacle, I would never buy one. My old Mountain Gun is close enough. DVC

My first one spontaneously disassembled:
.

.
Said the barrel was over torqued when the gun was assembled and sent me a new gun.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[CWH44300]

Nope, it’s not anywhere near that bad. The 329PD has some stout recoil, but I was shooting it one handed the other day and felt the recoil as simply “solid”, and yes that was with magnum loads.

I understand some people are much more recoil sensitive than others, and God balances us out by having others who are less so. I didn’t bother shooting mine with the wooden grips, I went right to Hogue rubber grips. The grips make all the difference in the world. Before anyone “poo poos” the weapon as having too much recoil, I would ask them what grips they were using.

In my humble opinion, if you can shoot 12 gauge, or maybe 12 gauge slugs, you won’t be upset by a 329PD.


ETA- I did order a 629 today, and I’ll probably put more rounds through her than her light weight sibling. If I want to shoot monster .44 magnum loads for hunting or load development, I’ll use my tank of a Ruger Redhawk with its heft and 7.5” barrel. I look at the 329PD as a carry gun for out on the farm, mountains, or deep in the woods.

Good on you
That’s what they’re made for

 

[CWH44300]

My first one spontaneously disassembled:
.

.
Said the barrel was over torqued when the gun was assembled and sent me a new gun.

FWIW,

Paul

Wow
That’s horrifying
The only issues I’ve had were some frame flex because the cylinder would bump the frame right in front of the notch’s but only with max loads and the blast shield of course. All of mine were in the “C” prefix, I’m guessing first one might have been around 2011ish
How old was your first one?

 

[Hondo44]

Yes the 329 is great to carry but fierce to shoot with full house 44 mags. With 300 grain projectiles it’s close to suicidal. After each shot I needed a full minute for the numbing of my hand to dissipate so I had enough strength in my hand to grip the gun again. Tried both sets of grips the factory supplied with it; no help. It was at that point I swapped the grips for the Hogue Tamer grips the factory sells on my model 500 magnum. Problem solved! Ordered a couple pair of Tamers, one for my 329 and a pair for my son’s 329.
Actually enjoyable shooting 44 specials and reduced 44 mag loads.

 

[Stickgunner]

One thing I will say about shooting magnum loads out of the 329PD, those rounds like to jump crimp. Not the end of the world, and not really even a big deal unless you like to shoot part of a cylinder and put rounds back in the box.

 

[Stickgunner]

Yes the 329 is great to carry but fierce to shoot with full house 44 mags. With 300 grain projectiles it’s close to suicidal. After each shot I needed a full minute for the numbing of my hand to dissipate so I had enough strength in my hand to grip the gun again. Tried both sets of grips the factory supplied with it; no help. It was at that point I swapped the grips for the Hogue Tamer grips the factory sells on my model 500 magnum. Problem solved! Ordered a couple pair of Tamers, one for my 329 and a pair for my son’s 329.
Actually enjoyable shooting 44 specials and reduced 44 mag loads.

I really think the weapon should come with those grips instead of the rubber ones they come with. The wood grips are fine for people who only want to shoot .44 special.

I’m glad you found the “cure” before you got rid of yours. IMHO the 329PD would be much more popular if it had the Hogue Tamers right from the factory.

 

[Paul105]

Wow
That’s horrifying
The only issues I’ve had were some frame flex because the cylinder would bump the frame right in front of the notch’s but only with max loads and the blast shield of course. All of mine were in the “C” prefix, I’m guessing first one might have been around 2011ish
How old was your first one?

I bought the first one in 2006. It had maybe a 1,000 rnds thru it when it happened.

 

[Tinkertech]

That was just merely a soft fist bump.

Now, if you really want to shake hands with the devil, move up to a short barrel 500.

 

[roundels]

This gun has shades of the .357 Maximum.

 

[RebCop]

I’m a fan of “the 3s” too, but mine are a bit milder.View attachment 763348View attachment 763349

My .45 acp PD model cracked it's frame under the barrel.

 

[WDW44]

They are what they are. Great with mild 44 mag loads or any .44 special. Anything full power magnum not too much. The one I had was real nice and smooth but I couldn't shoot any of the barn burning loads I have in it. Plus, once with some Israeli ammo, the hammer cocked itself and the Hillary "safety" engaged itself during recoil locking up the gun. That says it all.

You didn't hear it from me, but it's easy to remove the Hillary hole bejangled, useless, politically correct unsafe "safety". My little Loud Mouth Model 69 2.75" is really nice with my EDC load ans it is backed with a hammer-less DAO Charter Arms Dog 2.5" in a right front pocket holster for a quick reliable speed load if needed. If I can't resolve the issue with 5 and 5 more quick loud mouthed loads, I doubt I will be standing and needing another "chance" to do better.

 

[Stickgunner]

There's a safequeen 329PD up in my local classifieds I'd be sorely tempted to add if it wasn't for the infernal lock...

Better get rid of your house and car in that case!

 

[creeksidewilly]

I'm enjoying the heck out of this thread. I love the .44 magnum but I can't handle them anymore. The .357 mag is the max caliber for me these days.