Considering the S & W .44 mag (686?)

Well, if its a stainless 44mag its a model 629. If its blue then its a Model 29. If its a 357 s/s then its a 686. New pricing shows them around or above $1K.
dB
 
daBear said:
Well, if its a stainless 44mag its a model 629. If its blue then its a Model 29. If its a 357 s/s then its a 686. New pricing shows them around or above $1K.
dB
Click to expand...

I want the .44. I want it in blue.

I'm thinking about getting rid of my Ruger Blackhawk .357 and an older Ruger SA 6, plus some other minor pieces and pay the rest in cash.

He has a red dot on his. You can just sit there all day and spin the target.
 
I hope you reload, because .44 is a quite a bit more expensive to shoot than .357. Something to consider.
 
WRH said:
I hope you reload, because .44 is a quite a bit more expensive to shoot than .357. Something to consider.
Click to expand...

I do and the buddy that has the .44 is my reloading mentor.

So that's probably not an issue.

What else should I be considering?
 
Keep your eyes open for good used examples. People may say that all you'll find are decent condition older ones at inflated prices.....wrong. I just last week scored (from a dealer!) a near mint, definitely EX+ 1980 model 29-2 6" pinned and recessed with original wood target grips. Mirror bore and I still haven't found a mark or flaw on it!
 
Last edited:
handofzeus said:
Keep your eyes open for good used examples. People may say that all you'll find are decent condition older ones at inflated prices.....wrong. I just last week scored (from a dealer!) a near mint, definitely EX+ 1980 model 29-2 6" pinned and recessed with original wood target grips. Mirror bore and I still haven't found a mark or flaw on it! $695 before tax.
Click to expand...

I'll give you $700!

Huge profit!

That's the lesson I learned about my S & W 41. I got one in mint condition for the same price. I will be shooting that today.
 
I had a 629 and a 29 years back. A word of caution. Don't feed them a heavy diet of hot loads, they will shoot loose. If you want the best bang for your buck, get a 460.
 
johnl said:
I had a 629 and a 29 years back. A word of caution. Don't feed them a heavy diet of hot loads, they will shoot loose. If you want the best bang for your buck, get a 460.
Click to expand...

Didn't have good luck with hot loads in my 1911. The book called for 4.9 gr and I ended up using 4.2.

I will keep that in mind and may even mark it in my log.

I do like the 8" barrel though.
 
johnl said:
I had a 629 and a 29 years back. A word of caution. Don't feed them a heavy diet of hot loads, they will shoot loose. If you want the best bang for your buck, get a 460.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip Johnl, much appreciated. I will be shooting factory 180gr. just for the brass and then likely download a touch. I mainly shoot .357 and it's always in the .357+P range in the Dan Wessons and J.P. Sauer, and a touch over factory in the Ruger. My ears are open to any other advice on the 29.
 
johnl said:
I had a 629 and a 29 years back. A word of caution. Don't feed them a heavy diet of hot loads, they will shoot loose. If you want the best bang for your buck, get a 460.
Click to expand...

curious. do you recall what types of loads you were using and what would you say is a hot load?

i just picked up 629 canadian and have been and plan on shooting mainly 240gr federal american eagle. these are advertised at around 1250 ft/sec. compared to some of the hotter factor loads i saw in the 80s (240gr at 1500-1600 ft/sec) and other boutique ammo makers (corbon, buffalobore, garret, some blackhills) i assumed that the american eagle would be considered a moderate 44 load. in another thread about the desert eagle, someone was saying that american eagle is considered full power 44 mag.

basically wondering if folks think a steady diet (<1000 rounds/year) of american eagle is too much for the 29/629?

btw love the 629 canadian.
 
I know you boys all consider yourselves rough, tough, and hard to bluff, but, I suspect that if you shoot a full diet of factory loads through any Smith 44, you'll probably loosen up far before the gun does. :) jeez
 
jsmurd said:
I know you boys all consider yourselves rough, tough, and hard to bluff, but, I suspect that if you shoot a full diet of factory loads through any Smith 44, you'll probably loosen up far before the gun does. :) jeez
Click to expand...

Well that is not a word of a lie. It's one hard shootin' s.o.b.. Almost guaranteed to cause a rookie to flinch after 3 shots. But also good to use to overcome a flinch from a big boom.
 
handofzeus said:
Keep your eyes open for good used examples. People may say that all you'll find are decent condition older ones at inflated prices.....wrong. I just last week scored (from a dealer!) a near mint, definitely EX+ 1980 model 29-2 6" pinned and recessed with original wood target grips. Mirror bore and I still haven't found a mark or flaw on it! $695 before tax.
Click to expand...

ill give you 900!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom