Christmas gift to me...from me!!! Smith and Wesson Model 29-2

jeffcarr88

jeffcarr88

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Hey CGN,

Just wanted to show off my x-mas gift to myself...paid for it a few weeks ago but just got the approval to take it home today!!! It is a Smith and Wesson Model 29-2 in great condition...also know as the gun of Inspector Harry Callahan!!! :) -2 means it has all the good stuff, pinned barrel, recessed cylinders, ect. Its my first Smith revolver (only have had Ruger revolvers in the past) and it my first .44Magnum so I am pretty excited to take it out for a spin.

Few questions for those who know them well...

- Can I dry fire it?
- Is it safe to use any factory ammo in this? Its was made in the late '70s. ...I have 100 rounds of Remington UMC 180gr. rounds for it, if they are not gonna be "too much"
- Anything else I should know?

Thanks!

- J

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Very nice gift Santa! Congrats!

I'd get a set of A Zoom snap caps for her.

I don't think that a steady diet of full house .44 magnums are good for the 29-2. Especially the lighter bullet weight, higher velocity loadings.

If it were mine, I'd shoot .44 specials most of the time and a some .44 magnums for fun.
 
I have a 29-2 as well,but with the 8 3/8 inch barrel.Mine was made in 72 and I really like it,great gun to shoot

I wouldnt dry fire it,the hammer mounted firing pins can break and are difficult to replace,or else use snap caps

I also wouldnt expose it to too many factory full power loads,I usually may shoot 6 full power loads at the end of a session for fun,but thats it.My usual range load is a 240 gr lead SWC at 750fps,nice and accurate and easy on the gun.These older model 29s had a reputation for going out of time with magnum loads often within a few hundred rounds,so best to be gentle with them

They are terrific guns and they just dont make them like this anymore
 
Shes a beauty Jeff. Ain't the trigger and action just splendid on those? White outline rear, target hammer and trigger shoe on her too? I found the 629 4inch to give a mighty fine torque in the hands with those Goncalo Alves grips with 240gr. Good Luck, they are great conversation pieces at the range as well.
 
jeffcarr88 said:
Its my first Smith revolver (only have had Ruger revolvers in the past) and it my first .44Magnum so I am pretty excited to take it out for a spin.

- Is it safe to use any factory ammo in this? Its was made in the late '70s. ...I have 100 rounds of Remington UMC 180gr. rounds for it, if they are not gonna be "too much"
Thanks!

- J
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Nice revolver!
Save the Rem UMC 180gr for the Ruger (at least we all know they can handle it:stirthepot2:) It's all I use in my Redhawk 4.2" 44mag.
 
I have one as well and it's really fun to shoot. Since it's your first 44mag the only advice I'd give is to really concentrate on trigger control. The double action is so smooth in these I've twice had a "double tap" when shooting single action. By this I mean one boom (single action) and then an immediate second boom in double action as the gun recoiled. My bad no doubt but at least the barrel was still on target when it went off. TC
 
Thanks for all the info!!!

My gun is a 29-2, serial number is N499### which puts it between 1974 and 1977 according to a quick google BUT my gun is a 6" barrel, not 6.5" which was done in 1979 so its a little confusing.

Now regarding "hot" ammo...it seems that my factory 180 UMC is too much for constant use...would factory 240gr. ammo be alright then? My last revolver was a GP100 and I use to be able to stick any .357Mag load in there without a second thought and I own an HK45 which is a modern made design and I only shoot 230gr ammo in that which is almost the most common ammo around in .45ACP so again ammo has never been a concern for me. I am not a reloader nor plan/will be able to be fore a few more years so I am not gonna be able to make custom loads for this nor cast my own and shooting .44Speicals is $$$ to buy and not as much fun!!!

I THINK I understand different loadings for this...a lighter bullet, like a 180gr is going too fast and can cause wear and tear AND a heavy bullet getting pushed out, like a 300+ grain bullet is too much force and again causes wear and tear. So I hope something in the middle so to speak (like a 240gr. load) and something that is not loaded super hot (as I understand most factory ammo to be) will be my best and smartest choice.

Something like these...

http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_108_150&products_id=193
http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_108_150&products_id=1504
http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_108_150&products_id=368

Is what I'd like to shoot...probably would shoot an average of 1-3 boxes a month.

Lastly what would happen IF I was to give it a steady diet of "hot" stuff? Kaboom? Total break down? Out of timing issue? And how would it be repaired if it did get shoot too much with hot loads and how much would a job like that cost?

Sorry for the paranoia!!!

- J
 
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well, according to SCSW the N frame prefix serial numbering ran thusly, dates approximate, N400000 1978-1979. N500000 1978-1980. Towards the end of the second engineering change of the 29, Smith went to the six inch barrel in 1979 as the standard length. in 1982 they became 29-3 designated . Bear in mind this serial range relates to all smith N frames, so yes your serial numbering is not really " out of sync "
cheers
 
If you are not a reloader you can buy commercial reloads for it. Buy the 240 gr cast Semi wadcutter. They make lots of noise and recoil, but won't stress the gun. Contact SFRC and ask about Wolf ammo in 44 mag.
 
RememberTheSomme said:
Shes a beauty Jeff. Ain't the trigger and action just splendid on those? White outline rear, target hammer and trigger shoe on her too? I found the 629 4inch to give a mighty fine torque in the hands with those Goncalo Alves grips with 240gr. Good Luck, they are great conversation pieces at the range as well.
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Yes sir!!! Great sights and the trigger...OMG!!! Coming from a Ruger revolver to this...night and day difference, I now believe it!!!
 
In my opinion, dry firing this wheelgun is fine. I think you will wear out your wrist before you wear out that fine revolver with any factory load.
 
Very nice! I have a 1978 m29-2 with 6 in barrel. They are really beautiful guns.
If you don't reload yet you will no doubt want to as ammo gets pricey, I shoot 240 gn factory loads as well as lighter loads in mine on a regular basis and have not had any problems.
 
tallguy992 said:
Very nice! I have a 1978 m29-2 with 6 in barrel. They are really beautiful guns.
If you don't reload yet you will no doubt want to as ammo gets pricey, I shoot 240 gn factory loads as well as lighter loads in mine on a regular basis and have not had any problems.
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Thanks for the insight...240gr factory is my plan. Now by lighter...you mean in the gr. weight? Or in the powder load?..as I have no idea how to/if you can check factory powder weights. Should I sell/trade my 180gr .44Mag ammo for some 240grs?

Probably being a little over cautious here but I have never owned an "ammo sensitive" gun so to speak.
 
Another question...LOL

I like having holsters for all my guns (no I do not try to cowboy quick draw them) as I am allowed to do so at my range, enjoy using them and do not like leaving $$$ guns 100s of yards away from me when I go down range for a target exchange. My concern is that my Smith has a "wide target trigger" but its not considered a "trigger shoe". Now it looks like it is JUST wider then the trigger guard and I am wondering if it will be safe to both put in it and draw from a holster?
I believe the only time and issue would happen if one was too would be when putting it back into the holster which is not something that needs to be rushed (zero reason too) and IF there is a slight worry of an incident I could always use my thumb to keep the hammer held down?

PS. I know you never holster/draw anything while it is in SA mode.
 
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