Can't beat a good ole 29! I have a bunch of them and everyone of them have been great guns. I am quite partial to my 29-2 and -3s but my 29-10 is a real shooter. The finish isn't as nice and the crown on the 4 inch guns in my opinion is an eye sore but they do shoot and are easily obtainable. I had a Keith custom long range front sight made up for it and now its the gun I test loads with.
want a S&W 4" 44 Mag which one?
- Thread starter Samsonxd
- Start date
Sebago Son
Member
I would think that you would have much easier luck trying to find a 4" 29-2 in the classic style. They were made in large quantities for nearly 30 years...
My best shooting 4" .44 is a 29-3 which I bought for a song because collectors looked down on the fact that it wasn't pinned & recessed and shooters passed it by because it doesn't have the "enchanced" lockwork.
It's been shot alot and carried many, many miles and never disappoints.
My best shooting 4" .44 is a 29-3 which I bought for a song because collectors looked down on the fact that it wasn't pinned & recessed and shooters passed it by because it doesn't have the "enchanced" lockwork.
It's been shot alot and carried many, many miles and never disappoints.
I have wondered the same thing about a ss cylinder in a 4" 329. There may be a couple folks on here that have them, IIRC.
The v- comp has two different pieces that attach to the end of the barrel. One is a comp, the other is simply a shroud. They are two different lengths. The comp is longer. The current versions are roughly 4.25- 4.45 inches or so. I prefer it without the comp, but that is just me. I do like the ball/detent lockup, the sights, and smooth action, though.
If you can tolerate the recoil, the MG may handle the heavy stuff all day, but the v-comp would hold up longer with slightly less recoil. I only shot a couple, a couple years ago, and it was enough for me.
Sebago Son
Member
I've owned a couple of pre-lock .44 Mountain Guns and frankly, the didn't shoot as well as a basic 4" Heavy Barrelled 29-2 or -3. I've heard the same reports from others.
My hats off to you there is nothing better then to see a gun that is used not abused and has the wear to show. I just like the aesthetics of a full lug I am trying to like the Mt gun its just not doing it for me is the only thing, I know preformance before beauty but I cant get into it try as I might. Thank you though love the pics keep on keeping on 
I would think that you would have much easier luck trying to find a 4" 29-2 in the classic style. They were made in large quantities for nearly 30 years...
My best shooting 4" .44 is a 29-3 which I bought for a song because collectors looked down on the fact that it wasn't pinned & recessed and shooters passed it by because it doesn't have the "enchanced" lockwork.
It's been shot alot and carried many, many miles and never disappoints.
OK, why? I'm curious.
Thanks for the run down I have never seen one in person so please bare with me so you have to have one of the two pieces on there to shoot the V-comp so if something was misplaced or fell off would you be screwed?
I have looked around on here and not seen any 329PD with a steel cylinder I will call S&W and report back here to see what they say that would be the bomb. I shoot the 300 gr out of the 329 AK BP after I put the Hogue 500 grips on it was not too bad. I emailed Buffalo Bore and they said the AK will be fine to use with the 305 gr heavy 44 since it has a steel cylinder. If you can swap a steel cylinder in to a 329pd I would go that route I think. Thaksr.
I have looked around on here and not seen any 329PD with a steel cylinder I will call S&W and report back here to see what they say that would be the bomb. I shoot the 300 gr out of the 329 AK BP after I put the Hogue 500 grips on it was not too bad. I emailed Buffalo Bore and they said the AK will be fine to use with the 305 gr heavy 44 since it has a steel cylinder. If you can swap a steel cylinder in to a 329pd I would go that route I think. Thaksr.
Worried about the crimp jump when I talked to buffalo bore they said the reason they dont recommend the heavy 44 is because of the TI cylinder in their testing caused the bullet to jump the crimp easier the steel cylinder in my 329 they said should work just fine in their experience. I like to use the 300 gr bullets in my 44's and just got my reloading stuff so I am going to be sticking with the 300-305 grainers. Now if someone knows something different or uses 300+ grainsers in a 329pd I would estatic to hear that.
Snapping Twig
Member
I was sizing mine .429 and I thought I'd gotten away with it, but the 1894 said otherwise.
Lyman's largest sizing die is .431, so I got that - worked out great!
Now I size 'em all .431 and everybody's happy.
To the OP.
Get a 629!
Here's mine, a 629-2, but unfortunately it's a 3".
Here's the grips it's currently wearing.
Last edited:
Good info to know about the sizing I will have to remember that, thanks I like that 3" you have they should make a 4" just like that I could live with a lug like that 
I might just hold out for the 629 V-comp. Tough choice here.
I might just hold out for the 629 V-comp. Tough choice here.
I was sizing mine .429 and I thought I'd gotten away with it, but the 1894 said otherwise.
Lyman's largest sizing die is .431, so I got that - worked out great!
Now I size 'em all .431 and everybody's happy.
To the OP.
Get a 629!
Here's mine, a 629-2, but unfortunately it's a 3".
Here's the grips it's currently wearing.
629-10
New and tradd for it late last year. Right out of the box, the DA trigger pull was ... well, I don't know because the gauge only went to 12lbs. SA trigger was 7lbs.
Made for some interesting groupings.
Had a trigger/action job done and DA is smooth and at about 6lbs and SA is just under 3lbs.
What a fantastic gun to shoot ...
New and tradd for it late last year. Right out of the box, the DA trigger pull was ... well, I don't know because the gauge only went to 12lbs. SA trigger was 7lbs.
Made for some interesting groupings.
Had a trigger/action job done and DA is smooth and at about 6lbs and SA is just under 3lbs.
What a fantastic gun to shoot ...
First of all, the only difference the Titanium cylinder makes regarding crimp jump is weight - there's nothing else magic about it. And if BB can't crimp their product enough to hold then I think they are just being lazy for not using the FCD.
Second of all, you are not going to shoot enough of that kind of ammo to become proficient with it in a light weight revolver like the 329pd. Why? (a) because it is too expensive and (b) the recoil.
Thirdly, why are you so hung up on hot 300+grain fodder? Who told you that you needed it? Are critters armor-plated where you wander? I don't see the need for fantasy ammo when a 250gr@1200fps will do the same thing.
So I think you should go back to the drawing board and ask yourself whether or not you want the ultimate packing revolver or just something to post pictures of on a forum.
