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

plinker 777 said:
I'm reminded just today at the level of sadism that resides in Barry. I fired 75 of my home rolled .44 Rem Mag (max. hot.) through my 629 today and my right hand (trigger) thumb is still numb. After the 75 .44 and another 25 .357 Rem Mag (GP 100), I became aware that the bones in my shooting hand were being displaced quite a bit and nerves were getting bashed. I switched to .38 sp, 9mm, .45acp for the rest of the day.

I'm certain that if I were to shoot 6,000 rds of hot .44 Mag like Barry has, I'd have to take a paid attendant into the washroom with me every time I had to urinate as I wouldn't be able to hold or feel anything in my RH. :p
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So this might not be a good time to mention that I'm stepping up my "light" load game? :rockOn:
Loaded up the 196 usable Federal cases (4 culled, rip they had a good run) from last time with 23.6gr of IMR4227 but they're kind of a PITA because they end up as a compressed load and .025" longer. Hopefully most of it will handle another 8 reloads. :)
 
6668rds Having problems editing the original post with the table but no matter. After a hectic few weeks, I said the heck with it and scheduled a range trip. 250rds of .44mag today nary a blip, 100 of 12,14&15 times fired Federal brass loaded with 22.0gr IMR4227, WLP and Campro 240gr TMJ's. 50 more of 3 times Starline with 23.6gr H-110, CCI300's and Campro 240's and 100 of 3 times Starline 26.6gr H-100, CCI300's and Nosler 210gr JHC's. As well as 170rds of various .40S&W and 140rds of 5.556mm. I had fun.
 
7017rds Today was 152rds of 15 times Federal brass with 22.0gr of IMR4227 and 3 different primers, 96rds of 15 times Federal brass with 24.0gr (compressed load) IMR4227 and CCI300's, 51rds # times Starline, 23.6gr H-110 and CCI300, 1rd used a WLP, and 50rds of 3 times Starline, 23.8gr H-110 and WLP. Every load today used the same Campro 240gr TMJ bullet. And 142 rds of 9mm using 4.8gr HP-38 and Campro 115's. For a treat there was also 100rds of 9mm using Federal brass, 5.7gr of HP-38 with Hornady 90gr XTP's. All the 9mm used Federal #100 primers.
 
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Balance said:
How do you like hp-38 for 9mm? I'm thinking of trying some.
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I like it a lot. Makes for a "snappy" higher velocity round with 115gr Campro's. The 90gr XTP's today were a hoot. Big "ker---raccck!" and such a nice flat trajectory that I got all cocky and tried some 25m stuff.
Then after my ego deflated, shot the rest at 15m.
 
7267rds 250 rounds today. 100 - 15 times Federal 24.0gr IMR4227, 100 - 3 times Starline 23.6gr H-110 both with Campro 240gr TMJ's, and 50 - 3 times Starline, 26.6gr H-110, Nosler 210gr JHC's all using CCI300 primers. And 200rds of 9mm, 123rds of .40 S&W and 200rds of decently hot 5.56.
 
dirtybarry said:
7267rds 250 rounds today. 100 - 15 times Federal 24.0gr IMR4227, 100 - 3 times Starline 23.6gr H-110 both with Campro 240gr TMJ's, and 50 - 3 times Starline, 26.6gr H-110, Nosler 210gr JHC's all using CCI300 primers. And 200rds of 9mm, 123rds of .40 S&W and 200rds of decently hot 5.56.
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Ya know all you are doing here is making me want one lol
 
Hey Dirtybarry,

while I admire your perseverance, I don't remember what was/is the point you are trying to prove.
Your 629 looks like a very sturdy handgun, to hold up to all those "abusing loads", must cost you quite some dough.
Whatever your point is, good job.
 
polaris said:
Hey Dirtybarry,

while I admire your perseverance, I don't remember what was/is the point you are trying to prove.
Your 629 looks like a very sturdy handgun, to hold up to all those "abusing loads", must cost you quite some dough.
Whatever your point is, good job.
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It's all because of the failure of my previous .44, a 29-10, that blew apart at around 5500 rounds. There's an old thread on here about my experiences with "warranty". The Coles Notes version being that S&W said, "no warranty consideration due to the use of reloaded ammo" so as an "up yours" to them, every single round fired through this gun has been a reload in some kind of Quixotic quest to show that it was their gun that was defective and not the ammo that I reloaded.
One of the best things about reloading .44 is the cost savings. Factory new is $1/rd and up while reloads with Campro bullets are running me 32-35 cents per for a savings of over $4000 so far.
 
dirtybarry said:
It's all because of the failure of my previous .44, a 29-10, that blew apart at around 5500 rounds. There's an old thread on here about my experiences with "warranty". The Coles Notes version being that S&W said, "no warranty consideration due to the use of reloaded ammo" so as an "up yours" to them, every single round fired through this gun has been a reload in some kind of Quixotic quest to show that it was their gun that was defective and not the ammo that I reloaded.
One of the best things about reloading .44 is the cost savings. Factory new is $1/rd and up while reloads with Campro bullets are running me 32-35 cents per for a savings of over $4000 so far.
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:rockOn:
 
superz said:
been following this a while... keep on truckin :)
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x2 It has been fun to follow. I am actually starting to be impressed by what that gun is putting up with and I started out an S & W skeptic. If I was S & W I would fall over myself to give you a replacement for the old gun and then turn it into good P R. Maybe this is why S & W is struggling. No common sense.
 
7564rds Epic day at the range today and worth the wait. Stupid reality, getting in the way of fun! Although last week at Ainsworth Hot Springs was pretty fine.

Anyhow, 297rds today consisting of 147rds of 16 times Federal brass, 21.5gr IMR4227, CCI300 primers and the usual Campro 240gr TMJ. 7rds (no idea what I was thinking here) 3 times Starline, 21.5gr IMR4227 and S&B primers, 43rds 3 times Starline, 23.6gr H-110 and WLP's, then 50 more of the same but with CCI300 primers. All with the usual Campro bullet. And then 50 of some very hot 3 times Starline, 30.5gr of H-110 and the evil Hornady 180gr XTP's. This is about the hottest load that I'm comfortable with. Very loud and spectacular but hard on the body.

And for filler, 150rds of Wasp reloaded .40S&W, 63rds of 9mm and 239rds of warmish .223.

Cleaned everything and the 629 still looks just fine.
 
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