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

13181 rds

Things are looking up, made it to the range twice in the same month. Way more fun than midterms...Anyway, another 300 rounds today to get well past 13K to date. Mixed bag of specs including 70 well used Federal brass, CCI350 primers, 22.2 gr of 4227, 30 Starline with the same components, 50 Starline with 22.5 gr of 4227 and Remington 2-1/2 primers, another 50 with 21.5 gr and S&B primers. And finally 50 Starline with S&B primers and 50 with Rem 2-1.2's. Both with 23.5 gr of H-110 with everything using the same 240 gr Campro TMJ bullet. Noticeable difference between 21.5 and 22.2/ 22.5 gr but not so much between the latter.

Great accuracy with everything, the odd flyer but that's me not the gun or ammo otherwise pretty tickled with how things are working. Learned some interesting things about the 9mm ammo I've been reloading too but will start a new thread about that under Reloading after a bit more testing.
 
Still alive said:
#dirtybarry,
Too bad you didn’t get Guiness Book of World Records to officially document your round count through the 629.
13000+ rds of .44 mag is a heck of an achievement!! For you and the gun!!
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For sure! This has definitely helped me decide on which .44mag revolver to purchase. Dirtybarry should get some commission from S&W lol
 
Sargon said:
I have a Model 29, former safe queen, bought through an estate and unfired, made in 1988 (29-4) with the firing pin on the hammer. Its 8 3/8" barrel and has wood hunter grips. I have no paperwork or its original box/manual. Would this be a performance version?
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I have the same gun. I believe the longer barrel was meant for silhouette shooting/hunting. Extremely fun gun to shoot.
 
Sakoman .308 said:
Wow! That s some pile of 44 shooting. Can shooters get Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.
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Good question but I don't know. Speaking only for me, what has changed is my coping with it. By that I mean I used feel just beat on after on 200-250 rounds and skin would be missing off my right hand, then I started taping up my fingers and that helped a bunch. Didn't use tape the last two times and almost no trauma except for a boo-boo on my trigger finger 2 weeks ago, today nothing at all. Still stiff and sore but I think that has more to do with 12 hours of intensive yard work over the last 2 days.
 
13478 rds

The weirdness continues with another 297 rounds today. 100 very long in the tooth Federal brass 22.2 gr of IMR 4227, 97 of the same but with 22.7 gr and 100 Starline brass with 23.6 gr of H-110.
All used the same CCI 350 primers and 240 gr Campro TMJ's.
Lots of bullet walk today so time to dial in some more crimp and 22.7 gr of IMR will be my new standard load. Great accuracy and repeatability with less unburned powder residue.
And 213 rds of 9mm for filler while things cooled down.
 
13778 rds

Another 300 rounds today, 100 Federal with 22.7 gr of IMR4227, 100 Starline with 22.2 gr and 100 Starline with 23.6 gr of H-110. All with CCI350 primers and Campro 240 gr TMJ's.
Fired all 300 without breaks except for a little cool down time. Seeing a lot more bullet walk so every currently loaded round left in the cupboard is getting re-crimped before the next outing.
Nothing to report about the gun at all, nothing is falling off, everything seems to be working just fine.
 
Thing about Smith is when they build there revolvers right, they’re masterpieces. Sadly they been letting their customers doing to quality control checks :(. I had to look through five 686s to find one with a proper crown and non canted barrel. At least they fixed the cylinder penning issues :)
 
Pencilneck said:
Soooo you're going to have to change your signature loll looks like your hot GF is wearing you out
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Ha but this gun is her replacement because the signature gun turned out to be a heartbreaking disappointment.
And much like life sometimes it takes a few tries to find that right connection
 
14062 rds

284 rounds today mostly in Starline brass except for 46 pieces of cracked Federal that probably had their last trip today. Various charges of IMR 4227 from 22.2 to 23.1 grains. More is definitely better resulting in far less unburned powder.
52 rds of the usual H-110 load and for a treat 50 rounds of some spectacular 30.8 gr loads of H-110 under 180 grain Hornady XTP's. Round number 14 000 was a Remington case with 24.0 grains of H-110, Campro 240 TMJ and a CCI 350 primer.

The gun still seems fine with no obvious issues save having to poke out one of the cracked Federal cases rather than beat on the ejector but that's not the gun's fault.
 
14262 rds

200 rounds more, all Starline brass with CCI 350 primers and Campro 240 gr TMJs. 150 using 22.5gr of IMR 4227 and 50 with 23.6 gr H-110. No issues at all. The fewer rounds this time were because of more 9mm load testing,
 
Groundhog day... obsessive compulsive CGN story.

It looks like you are going to injure yourself before you manage to destroy the gun.

How much longer until you are happy, bud?
 
lanis said:
Groundhog day... obsessive compulsive CGN story.

It looks like you are going to injure yourself before you manage to destroy the gun.

How much longer until you are happy, bud?
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Lol, I'm pretty happy in general these days and will keep pounding on this thing as long as I can afford ranges time and ammo. But it will start getting less use after I get my graduation present in another year and a bit. And maybe even less if my plan to fix the 29-10 works out. As far as wrecking me or anything, what used to be a punishing session just ain't no big thang no more. Might just have to take another crack at breaking my 500+ rounds in one day record.
 
14562 Rds

Another 300 today. 179 very used (minimum 23 times) Federal and 21 Starline, 23.1 gr IMR4227 and Rem 2-1/2's and 100 Starline 24.0 gr H-110, CCI 350's all with Campro 240 gr TMJ's.
Blew the dust off the SR45 but only ran 69 rounds of 7.0 Autocomp under 200 gr Campros. Snappy but not objectionable.
The 629 worked flawlessly and the latest grip repair held up great. A few feeding issues with the SR45 at first but they seemed to work themselves out and it's probably not even close to broken in anyway.

Met a new CGN member and his brother (Hi Brian and Chris!) and got to try his Sig 226 while he ran a cylinder through the 629. Things like that really make range trips more fun.

edit- forgot about the new crimping. Using a full 1/2 turn down from contact resulted in zero bullet walk with either load. Amazing the difference less than a 1/4 turn can make.
 
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How is the guns current condition? Do you have any pictures? Specifically, how is the lock up, the timing, forcing cone, top strap, barrel?
Have you had any work done to it? I.e, trigger tune, re timed.

Hickok45 on youtube has a claimed 70,000+ reloads of 44 mag-ish rounds through a 29-2. No reason not to believe the guy, he seems credible. He's had the gun since it came out... and when I say mag-ish I mean he mostly claims to load heavier than a special, but not quite full house 44 mag loads.
 
fiftycalforsquirrels said:
How is the guns current condition? Do you have any pictures? Specifically, how is the lock up, the timing, forcing cone, top strap, barrel?
Have you had any work done to it? I.e, trigger tune, re timed.

Hickok45 on youtube has a claimed 70,000+ reloads of 44 mag-ish rounds through a 29-2. No reason not to believe the guy, he seems credible. He's had the gun since it came out... and when I say mag-ish I mean he mostly claims to load heavier than a special, but not quite full house 44 mag loads.
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Works as well or better than new. I've been think about posting some new pictures too. I'm a little busy with midterms right now but will put new pics on list. Going by various gunsmithing books and internet resources, as far as I can tell the lock up and timing are fine and the barrel rifling still looks like new. There is some erosion of the forcing cone and a visible line in the top strap but neither is a concern yet. And no professional work done. Every screw that can come loose has and has been dealt with, same with the front sight. The internal structure of the grips shattered and the little brass insert that the screw goes into kept pulling out but the epoxy fix and the new nut made out of a bit of 5/16" bolt threaded into the grip stood up perfectly today even with maximum magnum loads.
 
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