How long does a S&W 629 last? Let's find out! 13K+ now

dirtybarry said:
Still alive and well. It was snowing hard last Sunday so I pussed out and sat around in my housecoat and slippers drinking coffee instead of going shooting. Then there's been a few other distractions but I ordered some more bullets and scored a sweet deal on some more powder (Thanks Jeff!). And considering what an incredible stress-fest this week has been, cranking off a few hundred rounds this weekend is going to be sweet.
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Hey Barry, where do you source your projectiles? I just picked up a loadall for the .44 Rem Mag (the load all will serve me, I don't shoot tonnes of .44) and I was wrestling between buying bullets or getting a mold and casting my own boolits, I'd prefer jacketed if i can get em cheap.
 
Still alive said:
I think you need to list the 629 on the EE as nearly new and start looking for a 460 or 500. The .44 should feel like a .22 by now! LOL! Aren't you bored shooting it yet?
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LOL, methinks nobody would believe me. And heck no, that's why the hot rounds.
When the lighter ones get mundane then it's KA- frickin'-BOOM time.
 
plinker 777 said:
Hey Barry, where do you source your projectiles? I just picked up a loadall for the .44 Rem Mag (the load all will serve me, I don't shoot tonnes of .44) and I was wrestling between buying bullets or getting a mold and casting my own boolits, I'd prefer jacketed if i can get em cheap.
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Where ever I can find them. The first bullets I ever tried were Wolf cast lead and although they work fine, lead bullets require a lot more prep work as far as lubing them goes. And liquid Alox is just nasty. So for the whole 1 cent difference in price I started using Campro plated bullets. they've gone up a bit but still run about 17 cents each depending on where they come from. I've gotten them from X-Reload, AmmoSupply and Budget Shooter. Henry's the only one that has any in stock right now. For more expensive stuff, the selection seems to be limited. Hornady XTP's are usually easy but I find the seating depths inconsistent. Sierra Sporting Handgun JHC's are nice but I think I bought all that WSS had and Cabela's is annoying. I did manage to find a few Speer GDHP's but using them on paper seems like a waste. I've got some Nosler JHP's coming from X-Reload and we'll see how they do. I've also used some Winchester STHP's but they are pricey. I thought they were 75 cents per but they're actually only (!) 65 cents each.
 
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dirtybarry said:
Where ever I can find them. The first bullets I ever tried were Wolf cast lead and although they work fine, lead bullets require a lot more prep work as far as lubing them goes. And liquid Alox is just nasty. So for the whole 1 cent difference in price I started using Campro plated bullets. they've gone up a bit but still run about 17 cents each depending on where they come from. I've gotten them from X-Reload, AmmoSupply and Budget Shooter. Henry's the only one that has any in stock right now. For more expensive stuff, the selection seems to be limited. Hornady XTP's are usually easy but I find the seating depths inconsistent. Sierra Sporting Handgun JHC's are nice but I think I bought all that WSS had and Cabela's is annoying. I did manage to find a few Speer GDHP's but using them on paper seems like a waste. I've got some Nosler JHP's coming from X-Reload and we'll see how they do. I've also used some Winchester STHP's but they are pricey. I thought they were 75 cents per but they're actually only (!) 65 cents each.
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I appreciate you sharing your experiences Barry, thanks kindly. :cheers:
 
plinker 777 said:
I appreciate you sharing your experiences Barry, thanks kindly. :cheers:
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X2. I just made an order to Henry to feed my 44. Tried out the 31.5gr H110 under 180XTP today in the Blackhawk. Fun, accurate, and drew someone from the rifle range next door who didn't believe a handgun could make that much noise. Then he shot it for himself.
 
emerson said:
X2. I just made an order to Henry to feed my 44. Tried out the 31.5gr H110 under 180XTP today in the Blackhawk. Fun, accurate, and drew someone from the rifle range next door who didn't believe a handgun could make that much noise. Then he shot it for himself.
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Oh yeah, this is an attention getter. Huge fireball and concussion. I forgot about Western Metal having Campro now (sorry) and their pricing is right in line so one more option to consider.
 
Owewww! I over did it again. Even with tape, I'm missing a few pieces of skin. But it hurts so so good.....
But I digress, 4 different loads today for a total of another 350 rounds. 200 of the usual IMR4227, 50 of the 23.5gr H-110 both with Campro 240's, 50 of the mean mofo 30.5gr H-110's with Sierra 180's and 50 using 26.5gr of H-110 in Winchester brass of unknown vintage (came from re-man ammo), WLP and some painfully expensive Winchester STHP's. And another 200 rounds of 9mm that does feel like .22LR in comparison.
 
dirtybarry said:
Ho-ho! Thanks, I will do that.

edit- and now have. Yup, it looks like his failed in exactly the same manner as mine. At 632 rounds of factory loaded ammo. Problem?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/456370-model-29-blow-up.html#post138855068
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Here is an updated to this fellow situation just in case you haven't seen it. S&W determined that there was in fact a flawed in the frame that caused the failure. Post #131
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/456370-model-29-blow-up-3.html
 
Balance said:
I saw your chart, looks like with the campro 240gr and h110 you settled for a 23.5gr charge. Any reason why? Thanks
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Still a nice satisfying Ka-Boom with good case fill and doesn't seem to be doing anything bad. The slightly heavier loads also seemed to wander a bit more but that was probably psychological.
 
dirtybarry said:
But I digress, 4 different loads today for a total of another 350 rounds. 200 of the usual IMR4227, 50 of the 23.5gr H-110 both with Campro 240's, 50 of the mean mofo 30.5gr H-110's with Sierra 180's and 50 using 26.5gr of H-110 in Winchester...
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Colour me impressed.
Keep it up Barry, first time posting but i've been thoroughly enjoying this thread since the very first day.
 
Goose762 said:
Colour me impressed.
Keep it up Barry, first time posting but i've been thoroughly enjoying this thread since the very first day.
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:cheers:

And to grinder08, 3846 so far. Less than a hundred were fired by others. For some reason it's not the favourite of new shooters.

PS- How does the "multi-quote" thing work? I hate looking like a dork by having multiple responses in a row.
 
dirtybarry said:
:cheers:

And to grinder08, 3846 so far. Less than a hundred were fired by others. For some reason it's not the favourite of new shooters.

PS- How does the "multi-quote" thing work? I hate looking like a dork by having multiple responses in a row.
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Sorry computer technology is not my thing. Turning into an old F--t.,
 
gdawg said:
Did you contact that guy and find our if yours was close to his in serial #? Was wondering if it could be a batch issue.
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I have and they're not. Mine appears to be 2012 manufacture and his was made in 2015. Looks like inventory turns over a bit faster in the US.
 
There are so many it "just can't be possible that a S&W could be faulty it must be the ammo" Just like what happened with the guy on the S&W forum. He used Fiocchi factory ammo and of course it was the ammo's fault as it just couldn't be a faulty S&W revolver!!! I have shot a ton of Fiocchi and never once was there any issue with it.
You used reloads and of course it just had to be your fault, everything from a overload to one stuck in the barrel. S&W's quality control is just terrible this last few years.
 
plinker 777 said:
Barry, your thoughts on IMR 4227 under a 240 grain bullet would be appreciated. I'm looking for an Elmer type load with this powder.
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My common range load uses 21.5 grains with a Campro 240 gr TMJ. Hodgdon shows 22.0 as the starting load but I've come to like mine a lot. It's very accurate (relative to the operator) out of a 6.5" barrel and has been easy on everything. Brass, gun, hearing. hands etc. Always goes *boom* and burns pretty clean. I've tried more powder up to a mildly compressed load (freaks me out) but didn't notice much difference. But it has been a while so as I have 200 well used Federal cases waiting, I'll load a hundred at around 22.5 and the rest at 23.5 plus or minus depending on how the measure disc works out and see what happens.
 
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