is 29-2 a good idea

U

Ultra12

New member
I am seriously considering buying a model 29 S&W. Everything I been reading indicates that earlier models like 29-2 have better craftsmanship and has a collectable value. its P and R gun and it has Dirty Harry heritage. its just plain cool. No it wont be a safe queen and i tend to shoot it but i am worried about cylinder unlocking with hot loads. Unfortunately i don't have anyone to ask but you guys and girls so I hope you can shed some light on this for me. How hot are we talking. would commercial grade ammo be a problem or was it a problem with guys reloading and pushing the limits? Thanks in advance.
PS it will most likely be 6.5 inch or 8 3/8 model 29-2 in black.
 
I have a 29-2 and a -3.

I have shot some pretty hot loads through the guns and they are not particularly fun when you do that ( IMO ).

Loaded down to a lower end end magnum range with 180/240 gr. lead SWC, they are a hoot.

If I was looking to shoot full house magnum loads a lot, I would probably get a Redhawk.

Geetarman:D
 
I have a 629 that has had approximately 5,000 rounds put thru it. The
cylinder has never unlocked once. The 29 with full house loads is not
a pleasant experience. The wooden grips will shred your hand. As .44
magnums go the 29 is average. IMO the Dan Wesson (if u can find one)
is better. The Redhawk is also more pleasant to shoot. With lighter
loads and .44 specials the 29 is a great revolver.
 
S&W made modifications to its N-Frame guns in later years because the earlier models would "shoot loose" with full-bore loads. But, that takes a lot of shooting.

And, shooting a gun a lot and maintaining its value don't go hand in hand.

Collectors who pay high prices demand pristine condition guns that have not been fired much, if at all.

I agree with the previous post - you can shoot "Skeeter Skelton" mid-range loads, which are 240 grain bullets at around 950 feet per second, that will do pretty much all you need to do with a 44 mag.

If you want to do more in a handgun, get a bigger caliber.
 
No it wont be a safe queen and i tend to shoot it but i am worried about cylinder unlocking with hot loads. How hot are we talking. would commercial grade ammo be a problem or was it a problem with guys reloading and pushing the limits?
Click to expand...

My 29-2 has shot standard magnum loads since day one. Heavy hand loads or some of the hotter designer ammo well loosen the screws after awhile. If you want to shoot elephant loads then get a Redhawk or SRH.

After forty plus years of shooting this still locks up tight, starting to show some wear on the high points.

PICT0036.jpg
 
Madcrate,

Is that your peewee backup gun?:rolleyes: Must feel like a .22 compared to some of the things you shoot.:D

Geetarman:D
 
I agree with the previous post - you can shoot "Skeeter Skelton" mid-range loads, which are 240 grain bullets at around 950 feet per second, that will do pretty much all you need to do with a 44 mag.
Click to expand...
Oh they're not that delicate. they'll take a regular diet of Uncle Elmer's practice load of 10gr of unique behind a 240-250 cast SWC for 1150-1200fps.
IMHO this is one of the best do all loads ever developed.
 
tell ya what. if you're just not sure, i'll take it and let you know how she turns out!! ya know, if it'll help YOU out!!;):D
 
ULTRA12:

I don't know the the dash number of my model 29 Smith; however, I purchased it in 1965. Because I'm disabled I gave all of my guns to my son who lives in another city. My model 29 is still within factory specs eventhough I have fired countless thousands of rounds through it. I shot on several Marine corps pistol teams and I used my 29 to strengthen my shooting arm. I would take two to four boxes to each shooting scession three or four time a week for years. You will never wear out your 29 unless you are ready to shoot more than average.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
So long as you stop at normal factory .44 Magnum ammo or equivalent handloads, the M29 will be fine. I, personally, would consider something like Speer's 240gr Gold Dot (advertised at 1400fps from a 6 1/2" barrel) to be about the upper limit of what's wise to shoot in a M29. For a handload, I find 20gr of 2400 under a 240-250gr LSWC to be an excellent practice loading. 17.5gr of 2400 isn't bad either, but it doesn't burn as clean as 20gr does.
 
If you read ol' Elmer, it seems his preferred load was his own swc design, cast hard 250gr, over 22 gr of 2400 powder. And he used standard primers.

Skeeter's choice for a heavy load was a 240/250gr swc on top of 21.5gr 2400. I can't recall if he used maganum primers or not.

Neither of those guys ever wrote much or recommended heavier bullets like the 300gr that some people seem to think are needed nowdays.

In the half century+ since the development of the .44 Mag and the model 29 there have been bigger, beefier, stronger "more durable" guns designed and made, which imply that the 29 is somehow fragile and delicate.

It is not. Now, in the old days, it was understood that a gun shooting heavy loads would not last forever, without a "tune up" when needed, and that eventually, like any machine, it would wear out to the point where it could not be economically repaired. Even the old -2 fragile as it is believed to be (comparitavely speaking) will last many time the cost of the gun in ammo before it is finally worn out. Odds are, your wallet, and your nerves will pack it in before then.
 
Go for it. The older 29's are not only classics, but iconic in the world of handguns. I sold a pre-29 and a -3 a few years back.....And I'm still kickin myself:mad: I'm partial to 4" and 6". Got a nickel 29-2 on layaway. That'll make me feel better:)
 
Here's a pic of my 6.5 in barreled 29-2 that I've had since the late 70's. I don't shoot it often but it's one of my favorites. Also, I've noticed on other cased Smiths that it's common to see a crack in the blue felt liner of the box, usually at the end of the barrel cuttout. This gun came from J&G Sales in Prescott, Az.
 

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