Who shoots a 44 mag with a 3" barrel or less...feedback on a good model please...

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I have a PC 3" double Magnaported 629, and a 4" 29. The 629, a RB, has checkered Fishpaws which are almost a copy in French Walnut of Pachmayr Compac Pros, only slightly thicker. The 29, a SB, has Pachmayr Presentations, SN-S. For my hand, each gun has the best grips money can buy for that gun.

The 629 recoils noticeably less, surely because of the porting. The smaller better-fitting grip may also help.

Outdoors, I see no disadvantage to the porting. At least with ears on, the recoil is the event, not the noise.

I had no trouble carrying the 4", except that IWB and climbing Mt Washington, the gun got wet. I sweat a lot. That's why I bought the 629.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a 629-10 Performance Center 2 5/8" barrel. I use DeSantis thumb break holsters in Tan and Black for carry. A 14-hour day has been fine the first 10 hours a day! In Ohio, I use Grizzley 305 grain 44 Specials or an 10 grain Unique 240 grain in Mag brass.

Bought in September of 2017 (NIB), I have never fired in defense or anger. It has the sweetest DA trigger of any revolver I've shot, including Original Pythons!

What would I do to Improve this gun? Radis the cylinder's front edge like a Mountain Gun! (I don't think fluting the cylinder would reduce the weight too much either.) That's it!

The 200 fps/150 ft. lb. reduction is worth the handiness!

Ivan

I knew one of the Strum cousins, and he hung around Bill Ruger. He told me he had the prototype 44 Mag Alaskan made with a 3 inch barrel and had it reworked to 2 1/2 a couple years later. Factory production began 3 months later. ITB

 

[ShadyDrifter]

Huge fan of the model 69 in 2.75. in fact, I was the most anti lock gun person you will ever meet but I made an exception for the 69.
I shoot exclusively double action (obviously) with WWB 240gr soft points which I think are fairly spicy for factory stuff.
Here it is with my son's newest firearm acquisition

Sent from my motorola one 5G UW ace using Tapatalk

 

[diyj98]

I had a 2.75" 69, but didn't really find the need for a 44 magnum with that short of a barrel. It did make a fantastic 44 special gun though.

 

[KurtC]

30 or so years ago I had a 3" 629 round butt with wood combat grips.

With full house 240gr magnum ammunition, it was the equivalent of laying your hand on the table palm up and smacking it with a baseball bat.

 

[4barrel]

First test with a 29-2 with some new .432 bullets I made.

 

[PHS327]

Another vote for the M69. Best revolver ever IMO.

 

[tjpopkin]

I've had two and liked both. For years I carried my 3"629 Lew Horton in a shoulder holster, but I was young....I later, foolishly from a collector stance,
ported it and one of the forum members jumped all over it. The trigger was unreal and it shot to point of aim at 15yds.
Later, and I still have this one, I bought a Performance Center Ported-fixed sight 3" 629 and it really shoots well....to same 15yd.POA.

 

[Pauldg]

N-Frame Snubbies

I too happen to like N-Frame snubs. I inherited the no dash 657;from a relative, and wanted a matching 629. Picked up the 629 a few years ago. It's become my "critter fitter" while hunting. Definitely punishing with full power loads, but manageable with 44 special.

For purely entertainment purposes I bring it to the local indoor range an a busy afternoon. Touch off a couple of full power loads, watch the dust fall from the ceiling, and listen to the comments. My preferred full power load is 23.5 gr of H110. The muzzle blast and fireball are attention getters.

 

[RoyM52]

I chronograph 23.0 grains of H 110 and a 240 XTP last summer average velocity was 1218 fps {3 inch 629-6}

I tend to prefer 10 grains of Unique and a 200 gr Gold Dot

or 19 gr of 2400 with a 200 gr Gold dot.

 

[Kingspoke]

S&W 629-3 Carry Comp - 3" .44 Magnum - Fixed Sight

I'm a big fan of the 3" N frames, especially shooting the large calibers. I occasionally carry my 629-3, & shoot both 44 mag (mainly) & 44 Special with it. It's pretty darn accurate with the fixed sights for shorter range. The engraved version I traded for, from a forum member & it's probably #2 of any of my favorites.

 

[Rad29]

I have two Mag-na-port Customs with 2 1/2 inch ported barrels (one a 629-1 and a 29-2) and a Jevino Model 29 snub. The porting makes a difference! I just ordered a carved holster and belt at the NRA Great Outdoor show to carry either of these in style!

Bob

 

[Abbynormal]

First .44 Mag was a 29-2 6" with a Verne Trester action job. Loved that gun. My Dad retired to the high AZ desert. Hiking at 5k' with gun, 2 qts water and survival pack wore my flat lander smoker lungs out.

I decided to:
A. Quit smoking
B. Loose body weight and excersize.
C. Lessen gear weight.

So I dieted, quit smoking, exercised, traded my 29-2 6" for a much lighter 629-4 4" and lightened my gear.

Everything worked out well, except I missed the accuracy and power of a 6" .44 Mag.

I found a SS Ruger Red Hawk in 7-1/2" it was Magnaported and in .44 mag, It handled wonderfully and I got it for a steal.

Later a S&W 29-3 6" came home with me after stumbling across another deal.

My best buddy has a 29-10 8-3/8 and 3" 629-?. I really like the 8-3/8" but I never had any love for the shorty when shooting .44 Mags.

The 6" and longer feel more balanced, comfortable and accurate . The 7-1/2 Red Hawk was quite accurate, balanced well, had a good action and trigger pull, but the back blast from heavy loads with the Magnaporting overwhelmed the pleasure I got from the Red Hawk.

The 4" Mountain Gun, has a more than decent action, it could be improved, the accuracy is fine and standard .44 spl, hot .44 special and normal .44 Mags are fine to shoot. The hot .44 Mags are too much recoil and blast.

If my 29-3 was the 29-2 I traded off and the 629-4 Mountain Gun was all I had, I'd be overwhelmed.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Wrist Twisters

I want it for all around fun/maybe woods carry every great once and a while. Mainly I like the way they look.

The lighter the better for woods carry.

The snubby M69 comes in at 34oz.

The 329 Night Guard come in at 27.5oz

And the 44 Special 396 Night Guard comes in at a minuscule 24oz.

.



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[1BadSmith]

Well, found a NIB 629 3 inch...seems about perfect. Thanks for all the help gents.

 

[1BadSmith]

...and once again, pic won't post...

 

[Jeep 1]

...and once again, pic won't post...

Hey that's me!