Which 44 mag would you choose?

[rmc]

A local dealer has two S&W mags for sale.

One is a slightly used (50 rounds and light cylinder ring) blued 29-2 6 1/2" barrel. GROOVED TRIGGER

The other is a NIB 629 (no dash). Stainless steel 6" barrel. Recessed cylinder but barrel is not pinned.
SMOOTH TRIGGER

Both have wooden display case, papers, and tools.

I want a 44 mag to shoot and have been told the blued guns have smoother trigger pulls than stainless ones but the 629 already has the smooth trigger for when I want to shoot double action.

Given this which would you choose. Price on either is too close to matter.

BTW: Did S&W make a 629 with both pinned barrels and recessed cylinders?

rmc

 

[Mule88]

Personal preference actually, I like stainless guns but the 29-2 will probably hold a higher value than the stainless. As far as smoothness there is no significant difference I've ever been able to tell between the two. Pick the one that floats your boat the most. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[arjay]

If you can live with black rings on the cylinder face,buy the 29.Blue is much better looking IMHO.

 

[Tom_R]

I don't know your intended use, but I would lean towards the 629, but you will not go wrong either way.

And to answer your question I have a 4" 629 (no dash) that is pinned and recessed. I traded a Mint Sig P229 and $300+ cash to get it, and did so without hesitation.

I saw that baby sitting there, I asked to see it, had them put it on hold, and it was mine four days later.

 

[johnbeaver]

Just buy both. Sometimes you feel like stainless, sometimes you don't.

 

[blackdeuce]

I would buy the 29-2. I think it's worth more $ and probably shoots equally well.

 

[Tom_R]

Does anyone happen to have the Production numbers of a 29-2 vs a 629 (No Dash)?

Wouldn't there have been fewer of the 629's?

Is the 29-2 Worth more b/c the Dirty Harry affect/effect?

I don't think you can go wrong either way here though.

 

[Bill Bates]

I prefer blued steel so I would buy the 29-2 before the 629.

To answer your other question, yes they did manufacture pinned and recessed 629s.

Here is mine from the first day of regular production.

 

[crandlewi]

BTW: Did S&W make a 629 with both pinned barrels and recessed cylinders?

rmc

My 629 no-dash 6" is pinned and recessed. As for the blue vs. stainless it's certainly personal preference. I'm biased but I'd go for the 629.

 

[Cpo1944]

Blue looks the best, but is fragile,and requires more care. Stainless is far more durable and easy to keep nice. I never could tell any difference in triggers between the two steels. They will shoot exactly the same.

 

[MN2944]

Is the 29-2 Worth more b/c the Dirty Harry affect/effect?

It may be, but I suspect the DH effect may fade over the coming years as those of us that remember the movies become sellers rather than buyers.

 

[kihnspiracy]

Buy the 29.

 

[viceunit]

I had a 629 with recessed cylinder, but not pinned, with an "N" serial number. Considered a transitional gun, when the barrel pin was discontinued but the supply of recessed cylinders had not been exhausted. I had a 629-1 also at one time. I traded that one for a blued 29-2. I sold the 629 no dash to fund a purchase of a .... blued 29-2.

I've had/have several 29's and their actions were/are smoother than the action on the two 629's I owned. Just my experience, YMMV.

 

[g8rb8]

Given this which would you choose. Price on either is too close to matter.
rmc

It's totally your personal preference. One is not superior to the other. The difference in the value they will retain and how they will shoot will be "too close to matter." If the prices are very good I would consider buying both.

 

[PA Reb]

"rmc" ~ You stated that you want "a 44 mag to shoot" AND I assume you only want one .44 magnum. From personal experience, here's my two cents - I was recently looking for a nice 6 1/2" blued 29-2 to use for hunting when I came across a very well cared for "S" prefixed (mid 60s) gun for sale (no box, just the gun). Now that I have what I was looking for and being that it looks like it was kept in a safe for many years, I don't want to shoot it and I'm now looking around for a shooter 629. The SS 629 would be much easier to care for and given what you want, that's the way I would go.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Dirty Harry's B'day- buy the 29

In honor of Clint's 84th birthday...buy the blued Model 29! Go ahead, make his day!

 

[Voyager28]

If it's going to spend time in the woods as a trail/hunting gun, 629 hands down.

If it's to be a nightstand queen and occasional shooter, it's a toss up for me.

Nothing prettier than a really well kept blued gun. But, there's nothing hardier in the outdoors than a stainless gun.

Bob

 

[mojave30cal]

As mentioned above, the 629 no dash is a transitional gun, and
according from what I have read on this forum, S&W didn't
make a lot of them. There are fewer of the transitionals than
the P&R ones.

I'd get the 629 hands down.

 

[Bill Bates]

Can I add a little to my answer. If the 29-2 and 629 are priced reasonable buy both if you can swing it. A high condition 29-2 is better than money in the bank these days. Keep it a year or two and flip it. You may cover the original cost of both.

 

[cmort666]

I'm not a fan of stainless. I've got ONE stainless gun, a 3" 65, and if I'd seen a single 3" 13 at a show in the last fifteen years, I wouldn't have it.

I've got two blued 29-2s, a 4" and 6". They're great guns. I especially like the 4" with Speer 200gr. Gold Dots. It's like shooting .38 Specials out of a 27-2.

My choice would be the 29-2 every time.