How long does a S&W 629 last? Let's find out! 13K+ now
- Thread starter dirtybarry
- Start date
Some new pictures
A few pictures highlighting the wear and tear on this beast. The shots of the bore didn't turn out though because the led light source was way too bright.
Forcing cone and flame cutting of the top strap
Imprints from shells
A few pictures highlighting the wear and tear on this beast. The shots of the bore didn't turn out though because the led light source was way too bright.
Forcing cone and flame cutting of the top strap
Imprints from shells
Yup its getting used. You running jacketed also. that will make the forcing cone wear faster the rest looks normal wear and tare. You've ran more ammo threw one gun than I shot in the last 50 yrs LOL! Awesome to see the gun still holding up. Any timing issues spitting lead or stiil good.
Other than cleaning (and I cleaned it more after the pics) I had to do nothing at all after this trip. No timing issues at all, the ratchet teeth look fine, the lock up is fine and end shake is well within spec. So the show goes on.
Side cover crack is NOT normal wear an tear....well at least not in my eyes.....if I seen that on one of my revolvers it would be going In for warranty replacement asap
S&W and I don't get along real well on the whole warranty thing. The crack follows along a channel on the back side of the side cover and should stop propagating in another 1/8" or so. The metal over that channel is extremely thin, like 1/32" thick worth of thin. I'll weld it at the same time as the flame cutting gets filled in, the forcing cone re-cut and the barrel set back.
The flame cutting should only go so far i understand. Also, setting the barrel back and recutting the forcing cone sounds like a royal pain in the butt. Not sure how you would do that on the smith without it resulting in a canted barrel?
All of this is a long ways away, maybe even never. The barrel work is standard revolver procedure, there are purpose built tools readily available or it can be done on a lathe. The barrel thread is 9/16-36 so 1/36" gets machined off the mounting surface and the corresponding amount from the face of the forcing cone to set the cylinder gap. Touch up the forcing cone as required and screw it back together. Eventually one would run out of material but in theory if no mistakes were made, this could be done several times.
Rocket Surgery
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Carpal Tunnel is no myth, I got it in my late 20's and I can barely twist my right wrist when i make a fist. Trying to shoot a straight grip lever gun makes it flare up. If you're like me and you type 90+ wpm in bursts, get your wrists off the desk and make sure you take breaks. The worst thing I've encountered is swinging a hammer or twisting a 5lb+ axe when you're splitting cedar. I can barely even pull the trigger on a revolver, I have to #### it first. If you're showing any signs of this, you need to seriously change your typing habits before it's too late.
The worst culprit I think was all those years of wrecking noobs at starcraft, clicking 150 times / minute, your arm would go asleep after a long game. I wish I never found that game.
14861 rds
100 using up some old stock of 23, 24 & 25 times fired Federal brass, 23.1 gr of IMR4227 and Rem 2-1/2 primers. 78 using 24, 25 & 26 times Federal with 23.8 gr of IMR4227 and CCI 300 primers. 21 pieces of 7 times Starline with the same components. And 100 of 7 times Starline with 24.0 gr of H-110 and CCI 350 primers. All used Campro 240 gr TMJ bullets. The hotter 4227 loads definitely burn cleaner and give a bigger thump than the 23.1 gr loads but still very easy to manage. The max H-110 loads are noticeably stouter. 109 rds of .40 S&W and 64 very annoying rounds of .45 ACP for filler. Many feeding issues with the .45 stuff. Almost like I forgot to resize the cases before reloading them, also the 200 gr truncated cone bullets didn't want to follow the ramp very well. Further testing will be happening.
100 using up some old stock of 23, 24 & 25 times fired Federal brass, 23.1 gr of IMR4227 and Rem 2-1/2 primers. 78 using 24, 25 & 26 times Federal with 23.8 gr of IMR4227 and CCI 300 primers. 21 pieces of 7 times Starline with the same components. And 100 of 7 times Starline with 24.0 gr of H-110 and CCI 350 primers. All used Campro 240 gr TMJ bullets. The hotter 4227 loads definitely burn cleaner and give a bigger thump than the 23.1 gr loads but still very easy to manage. The max H-110 loads are noticeably stouter. 109 rds of .40 S&W and 64 very annoying rounds of .45 ACP for filler. Many feeding issues with the .45 stuff. Almost like I forgot to resize the cases before reloading them, also the 200 gr truncated cone bullets didn't want to follow the ramp very well. Further testing will be happening.
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Mmmmm, goals......
15061 Rounds
Only 200 rounds today, 150 IMR 4227 and 50 H-110. I might have got the hang of this thing as I was able to put three rounds through the same hole multiple times at 10 m. Gun works fine, nothing comes loose any more and nothing goes wrong.
Rub marks and polishing on some of the MIM parts but functionally, it is literally better than new.
Only 200 rounds today, 150 IMR 4227 and 50 H-110. I might have got the hang of this thing as I was able to put three rounds through the same hole multiple times at 10 m. Gun works fine, nothing comes loose any more and nothing goes wrong.
Rub marks and polishing on some of the MIM parts but functionally, it is literally better than new.
15403 rounds
July 25th 42 - Federal (26, 27, 28 times) 23.8 IMR4227 CCI300, 50 Starline (7) 23.1 gr IMR4227 CCI300, 50 Starline (8) 23.8 H110 CC! 350 all with Campro 240s
Today 100 - Federal (23,24,25 times) 23.8 IMR4227 CCI300 and 100 - Starline (7) 21.3 gr Vectan BA6-1/2 (review in the reloading section) CCI300 all Campro 240s
July 25th 42 - Federal (26, 27, 28 times) 23.8 IMR4227 CCI300, 50 Starline (7) 23.1 gr IMR4227 CCI300, 50 Starline (8) 23.8 H110 CC! 350 all with Campro 240s
Today 100 - Federal (23,24,25 times) 23.8 IMR4227 CCI300 and 100 - Starline (7) 21.3 gr Vectan BA6-1/2 (review in the reloading section) CCI300 all Campro 240s
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I've owned a few S&W revolvers. I owned a 629 for wilderness carry in the 80s, and currently own an older 29-2 with 4" barrel. I've never really considered a revolver of this type a good candidate for high volume shooting. To me it would be like trying to drive a 426 Hemi 200,000 miles. Not gonna happen. My thoughts on S&W in general - Their factory is in a fairly liberal town, in a fairly liberal state. I have to wonder if the employees take much pride in their product. The company is also taking a path that wasn't sustainable for GM. They just have too many distinct models. I've seen their factory in Springfield. Keeping track of the tooling for 100 different products can't be easy. I'm thinking they could probably get by with half as many models.
To use your analogy, pretty much any engine from the 426 Hemi era was completely done by 100K compared to modern engines that are barely broken in by then. As far as S&W quality control, other than the grips shattering and all the screws coming loose, no part has actually failed on my gun. There may be something to their "endurance package" after all. It took 14k plus rounds to work all the bugs out but I have to say that this particular gun works far better than it did when it was new. I was going to visit their museum but spent too much time finding and visiting the Springfield National Armory museum. Really wish I had been able to stay the extra day.
15603 rounds
100 - Federal 24, 25, 26, 27 times fired, 23.8 gr IMR4227, CCI300 and 100 - Starline 7 times fired, 22.0 gr Vectan Ba6-1/2, CCI300 both with Campro 240s.
This Vectan powder is my new favourite. It's cleaner, quieter and smoother than anything else I've ever used.
100 - Federal 24, 25, 26, 27 times fired, 23.8 gr IMR4227, CCI300 and 100 - Starline 7 times fired, 22.0 gr Vectan Ba6-1/2, CCI300 both with Campro 240s.
This Vectan powder is my new favourite. It's cleaner, quieter and smoother than anything else I've ever used.
