Shooting my 44mag S&W model 29 -- Range review

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Salibas007

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So I finally got my regs yesterday for my new-to-me S&W model 29. Needless to say, all I could think about today was How I had to go to the range. Which I did. And this is how it went.

This was my first foray into a 44mag. And I have to say, it was way more fun than I expected. Except that it kicked less than I thought. Now it was fired out of an giant 6.5" N frame. But nonetheless, the recoil wasn't much worst than a 357mag.

Accuracy was spot on. Bulls eyes at 15 yards and 5/6 gongs at 40 yards.

This is a 1976 29-2 recolver that has barely seen action. I'm extatic about my new addition and now I can't wait to receive my new pachmayr grips to remove those wooden ones. I know this may be blasphemous for some, but I just can't stand how the wood grips look and feel.

Here's my new toy along with his younger brother, Mr. Model 19

M7JQyHx.jpg
 
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You will love the difference between the wood grips and your new Pachmayr grips. I hated my 29 until I made the change.
 
Love my 29 and ya, I switched to Pachmayr grips as well.

Don't find full house 44mag all that entertaining. I shoot mostly 44spl and they shoot like a laser beam.

What bbl length is your 19? Looks short? I have a 6" 19, another favorite, as are my 17 and 617.


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Nice model 29. Pretty sure you were two lane left of me today at the RN. Got there at about 2:30 PM, two guys shooting AR's and saw that .44 being fired a few times before you guys left. I was shooting two Lugers at 27 yards.

To answer your question gnmontey, the model 19 shown is a 6" cut down to 4.25" IIRC. Saw that revolver a few time at the range with the OP and asked the question myself when I saw it.
 
Very nice.

Those grips on the 29 don't look right, though. I think they are K/L frame grips. You could check to see if they fit flush on your 19.
 
@HarryCallahan. Yep. That was me with my buddy shooting the ARs. What lane were you at ? Next time you see me at RN, please come and say hi. You really have me intrigued now as to who you are.

@gnmontey: the model 19 has a 4.25" barrel
 
Nice guns, brings back memories. A word of caution, careful on feeding it full house loads all the time. I shot a couple out of timing back in the day:p To echo others, you got the wrong grips in the gun.
 
Salibas007 said:
What model are those grips for then ?
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As gdawg mentioned upthread, a K/L frame revolver. You can see the gap at the "hump" at the top of the backstrap. They are, I think, even on the right size revolver, the worst factory grips S&W ever made. Too narrow at the top, too wide at the bottom, ugly slippery varnish and checkering that was somehow too sharp but offered not enough grip too. Anything is an upgrade.

That's a great revolver, though. I like Pachmayrs OK, although their finger groovers never lined up for me with their "Gripper" grips and the "Presentation" grips made the trigger reach a bit too far for me. They make recoil more comfortable for sure.
 
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I see. Now even if they were the right grips, they are getting off today. I hate the way they look and feel.

I received my pachmayr grips last night. Now I just need to get the wood ones off and install the pachys and off to the range again for tryout #2
 
This thread made me want to shoot mine. I'll be taking it out today. Mine is a 29-10, not a 29-2. I wish. Have fun!
 
For sure, my gun looks great with the wood grips. I was lucky to get a really nice set when I bought my 29. For shooting it, I like the Pachmayr. I shot it a fair bit this afternoon. I put an LPA rear sight on it and that is sweet. The one that came with it was a bit bent and I couldn't be bothered sending it away. Like you guys say, to each his own on the grips.
 
Salibas007 said:
What model are those grips for then ?
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Who knows? But clearly they don't match the frame up around the corner of the back strap.

For myself I've never liked the thin feel of the Pachmayer grips. I've got hands that are happier with Hogue or Arrend scales. Not only do they give me a more even grip pressure all around the scales but they reduce the felt recoil in my hands. But each of us is built differently so different things work for different folks.... although I'm not sure what sort of deformed hands the guy had that designed those "target grips" that S&W used for so many years. The guy must have had ring and pinky fingers that are as long as the middle finger to come up with the shape of that style grip scales! ! ! ! ! !
 
Yes good point. different grips work for different folks.

Too bad they stopped making the old 'coke bottle' grips of the 50s and 60s. Those have a perfect look and feel for me - more contoured than the target grips of the 80s.

Hogue woods would be a second favourite. Hogue rubbers look nice and are fine for light 44s, but are narrow and will deform around the backstrap when shooting full magnum loads, concentrating the force over a smaller area = not comfortable for long sessions. The Pachmayrs are definitely better at controlling recoil than the Hogue rubbers imo, they just don't work for me.
 
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