Long-range shooting w/ 629PP - .44 Mag

G

g_gunter

New member
Since I purchased my 629PP about 6 weeks ago I've been putting in the time learning how to shoot long ranges with open sights (I'm an Elmer Keith fan). I've gotten to where I've been able to shoot consistent 3 in. groups at 60 yds. and then yesterday I sort of upped the anti, if you will. I went out with my brother-in-law to shoot our revolvers. He has a 629 Stealth Hunter with a Burris scope (nice) and could, of course routinely nail the 100 yd. gong. I thought I'd try my open-sighted 629PP (6" barrel) and was able to hit the 8 in. gong 6 out of nine times with MagTech ammo and three home-rolled rounds with 240 gr. XTP over 10.5 grains of Unique. I have no doubt now that I could routinely hit the kill zone with this thing at 100 yds. with a bit of practice. The inherent accuracy is there in the gun.

Anybody out there who practice long-range shooting with open-sighted revolvers? Any stories or suggestions you'd like to share?

g_gunter
 
I like 1200 fps loads for long range shooting. A standard paper plate at 100 yrds. works well. I have a 200 yard rock I can fire at from the basement door. This is a challenging target. My favorite though is shooting across open water. It makes your hits easy to chart.

I
 
I was able to get a handloaded 350 grn Hornady over 38.0 grns of Lil' Gun to group an honest 1.650" at 50 yards yesterday from my new S&W 500 mag with the factory open sights. We call that "whitetail accurate" in Ohio. I will let you know what I am getting at longer distances later. Slug season starts Thursday for me, so no more testing or screwing around for ten days. See ya then.
 
*I posted this in another thread, but i tailored it for this post*

My Smith & Wesson 629 6 1/2" Classic 44 Mag:
44Mag2.jpg



The load:

310 Grain Water Quenced Hardcast Lee Round Nosed Flat Point Gas Checked Bullet (self cast) .430 sized and lubed with my special homemade lube
16.5 grains of Alliant 2400
W-W Brass
CCI Large Pistol Magnum Primers
1.690" OAL
Chronoed right at 1300 FPS

Target at 75 yards off a rest:
2400.jpg



The results pretty much speak for themselves. This bullet is simply amazing...the large metplat is incredably destructive on whatever it hits and with them being hard cast, they will pass through car rims easily at 100 yards. Ive been experimenting with Lymans 429421 mold (250 grain keith bullets) and havent found the magic load yet, but its getting close...just last week i shot a 4" group with it and a medium charge of unique. The pictured gun is getting a red dot scope so i can use it for deer next fall...ive always shot better with scopes than open sights on both handguns and rifles so i think thats the way to go for me.
 
To Jeffro250 - Heavy Loads in Your 629?

Jeffro250

I posted this in another thread but figured it must have gotten past you.

How does your 629 handle the heavy loads? I'm a little scared to shoot them in my gun because I'm afraid I will shake it loose?

g_gunter
 
Ive havent had this gun for more than maybe 3 months, but in that time ive fired probably 5000+ HOT magnum loads through it and its taken em all without a hitch. Lock-up is still tight and cylinder gap is the same as the day i bought it. I too had the same concern with it when i first picked it up, and i emailed S&W. They told me that the model 629s were tested with 20,000+ magnum loads and still kept kickin right along fine...they also said that if i did somehow manage to shoot it loose to send it to them and they would fix it for practially nothing. My other main concern was flame cutting on the top strap right where the barrel and cylinder meet...with probably the first couple hundred loads i fired through it, it did cut a little bit and i expected that. It did stop though and i havent noticed any more cutting since then. Its not enough to notice it from viewing the gun from the side, but if you swing the cylinder open and look at the underside of the topstrap, you can see it. The model 29 i havethats been in my family for years has seen in excess of 25-30000 rounds in its lifetime of full house loads and its tighter than alot of new in the box revolvers out there....shoot it with no worries!
 
I called and asked alliant about that...they wouldnt give me a definete number but said i should still be within safe limits for any modern 44 mag. The OAL is quite a bit longer too as i seat these in the second crimp groove and should help a little with pressure issues...dont think i would try this load on the top crimp groove. They list 300 grain jacketed bullets being safe at a hair over 17 grains...but still, work it up as its a HOT load! Cases eject out of the cylinder fine, no flattened primers and no budlging...some of the cases i used on this load have seen 15 or so reloads with no problems.
 
Hunting yes...self defence...well maybe to shoot yourself if something was trying to eat you. Recoil is too excessive to have good follow-up shots!
 
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