working rig-wood's gun
- Thread starter CWH44300
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If you actually intend to use the gun as opposed to carry it get the 629. If you're going to be doing lots of shooting with your load the nerves in your hands will thank you when you're in your 60's and the gun will last forever(well, ok, almost forever!) with that load.
aterry33
Member
Some people love them, but I think the 329 is one of the worst guns S&W makes. You simply do not want to shoot a 24ounce 44 magnum revolver. If you get a good belt and holster you will not mind carrying a 4" 629 at all. Many of us on the forum have done it for years with no complaints.
I carry a 3" Mod 24 in a Simply Rugged pancake holster and it is very comfortable and you can forget you have it on. I value my wrist too much to shoot a ultralite gun with magnum loads.
bamabiker
Member
I've never shot one but a guy I was talking to at a local shop said the first time he shot a M329 with magnums it felt like it gave him instant carpel tunnel syndrome. He said from then on he put 44 Spl. in it.
Like said above, a good belt and holster will really help with a heavier gun.
Like said above, a good belt and holster will really help with a heavier gun.
Light 44 magnum revolvers are for the people who like to absorb punishment. I bought a charter arms bull dog snub nose once in 44 special and with full loads the wood grips would draw blood in the palm of my hand. I switched to rubber grips and it was shootable but no fun. I sold it and bought a 686 357 magnum instead. I now have both the Model 629 no dash and Model 29-2 4 inch an they are shootable but at 66 years old only in small doses.
What about this...................?
Considering the load you mention, why not get a Mountain Gun(Model 625 45 Long Colt) and shoot 255 Keiths' at 1000fps? Buffalo Bore loads these if you don't roll your own and they are some serious stomp in the woods or on the street. You can shoot loafer-loads (250's at 750 fps) or get into some 335 gr. Hardcast at 1200fps. I like my 44 Mag and the venerable 44 special, but the Longest Coltest is the lions roar in my book. Just a thought...........Good luck and enjoy the hunt for your perfection. Sprefix
Considering the load you mention, why not get a Mountain Gun(Model 625 45 Long Colt) and shoot 255 Keiths' at 1000fps? Buffalo Bore loads these if you don't roll your own and they are some serious stomp in the woods or on the street. You can shoot loafer-loads (250's at 750 fps) or get into some 335 gr. Hardcast at 1200fps. I like my 44 Mag and the venerable 44 special, but the Longest Coltest is the lions roar in my book. Just a thought...........Good luck and enjoy the hunt for your perfection. Sprefix
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I'm a fan of the 629 in so many applications.
The OP described a fairly tame load, though....perhaps the 329 would be okay....perhaps. Carried a lot and shot a little being the overiding principle.
I'd rather have the weight and full assurance of the 629, though. Of course this is easy to say while I sit here with a nice cold beverage in a comfortable chair....not trekking up and down hills in the hot mosquito infested early season deer woods. Such occasions would have me wanting to shave off every bit of nonessential gear as I'm already heavy enough!!!
The OP described a fairly tame load, though....perhaps the 329 would be okay....perhaps. Carried a lot and shot a little being the overiding principle.
I'd rather have the weight and full assurance of the 629, though. Of course this is easy to say while I sit here with a nice cold beverage in a comfortable chair....not trekking up and down hills in the hot mosquito infested early season deer woods. Such occasions would have me wanting to shave off every bit of nonessential gear as I'm already heavy enough!!!
SPREFIX thanks for the reply that mg is about the only 44 I don't have. About your 45's, that's a great chambering but I'm to far down the 44 road to change now. Your mg is a fine looking piece,enjoy it and thanks again
SmithMarine
Member
If you want steel but a little lighter, try a 629 4" Mountain Gun. I love mine and it's shootable And "carryable", and the the finish won't get booggered up like those alloy frames eventually do.
Generally I go with Sprefix. My .45 Colt MG is a dynamite weapon. I also have the .44 mag version, and I like it also, but for all but really big Bear the .45 or .44 Specials will do. My favorite big bore revolver packing guns (for concealed carry) are my 696, 396, and 296. Even with the bullet restrictions on the lightweights, you can put out a really hefty SWC (with or without a HP) at 1,000 FPS which is my threshold for an effective slug of just about any caliber( except the .45 ACP, which works quite well at around 900 FPS).
The need for a fire breathing hard bucking round is usually over blown. I have been packing weapons professionally for over half a century, I would advise folks who want bigger and blastier, to invest the money in training with a solid caliber with a SWC (W/WO HP) moving at 1000 FPS, and train, train, train. Flash & bang will never replace solid hits with a more modest slug.
The need for a fire breathing hard bucking round is usually over blown. I have been packing weapons professionally for over half a century, I would advise folks who want bigger and blastier, to invest the money in training with a solid caliber with a SWC (W/WO HP) moving at 1000 FPS, and train, train, train. Flash & bang will never replace solid hits with a more modest slug.
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I have been using 44 Mag revolvers since 1970.
I most always carry a 44 Mag when in the woods. [I have carried a 1911 sometimes].
I have shot a couple of buddies 329's. They are brutal with full power loads.
For the past several years I have been carrying a Mountain Gun.
It is lighter than the standard 4"er, and still controlable with full power loads.
I most always carry a 44 Mag when in the woods. [I have carried a 1911 sometimes].
I have shot a couple of buddies 329's. They are brutal with full power loads.
For the past several years I have been carrying a Mountain Gun.
It is lighter than the standard 4"er, and still controlable with full power loads.
TexasSTEP
Member
You might want to try a 629-4 in a 3" bbl. I have that and a 4" MG and they are about the same weight. The plus side is that they can pretty much handle any standard loading and with the right stocks can still be fun to shoot.
As to the big bore, alloy framed, 329, I also carry a 357PD, .41 mag, from time to time as it is easy to haul along on longer or climbing treks, but I changed out the stocks to the rubber X-frame impact absorbing type.
Hope this helps!
-TS
"10-96, 10-32, 10-0"
Looks like it's unanimous for the 629 so far. I agree. My brother-in-law had one of the first 329s several years back. I seem to recall that it came with both wood and rubber stocks, but that might be a mistake, perhaps he acquired one of those sets after-market. Anyway, we took that thing to the range and fired some factory 240 grain rounds, full charge stuff. Nasty, unpleasant recoil, especially with the wood, but not much better when we switched to the Goodyears. I didn't like shooting it much. And I'm no wimp when it comes to handgun recoil, have a couple of 500s that I shoot with full-charge loads quite regularly, and a 44 Magnum snub that gets a lot of use too. Thing is, my 629 2 5/8" gun weighs 39 oz., and it rears back a bit with full loads, can sting the hand too if the grip isn't quite right, so subtract nearly a pound of weight from that and you can rest assured that it's not going to be pleasant. I'd carry the 629, and as others have said, if you have a good holster/belt rig, it'll carry just fine.
Stainz
Member
I love my .45 Colt 625MG's. They were the only way to go for .45 Colt. My first-ever .44 was a 629MG - later replaced by the 2 oz heavier - mostly in that muzzle - production 4" 629 (SKU #163603). I am much happier. Not just the minimal hefty round muzzle rise difference - but it also has both a larger hammer and trigger - nice touch! Still nicer, it has an orange ramp front and white outline rear sight - beats the stuffing out of the MG's black/black sights.
So - my idea of the 'perfect packing pistol' - my 625MGs in .45 Colt. Mean thick-skinned varmints may make me sub my 4" 629. Mostly two-legged snakes, and my 296 in a Mika pocket holster will be in my front pocket - with a 240gr LSWC followed by four 200gr Gold Dots - .44 Specials - all I seem to tote these days in the woods.
Stainz
So - my idea of the 'perfect packing pistol' - my 625MGs in .45 Colt. Mean thick-skinned varmints may make me sub my 4" 629. Mostly two-legged snakes, and my 296 in a Mika pocket holster will be in my front pocket - with a 240gr LSWC followed by four 200gr Gold Dots - .44 Specials - all I seem to tote these days in the woods.
Stainz
Mule88
Member
Id go with the 629.
I thank all of you for taking the time to reply,I'm going with what I'm most familiar with a standard 4" 629.The belt, holster and cartridge slide have arrived. It carries well with one exception they bleed-stain real bad .I've even tried water to speed the process, may have to call Rob if it doesn't stop soon. Thank's again
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