Don't expect an older 29(the "Dirty Harry" revolver) to hold up to true magnums like a Ruger or the newer Smiths do. Learned the hard way when my 29-3 frame stretched(so much for "they don't make them like they used to").
Just curious, but what do you consider "true magnums" and how much of what did you shoot through your 29-3 before the problem happened???
We hear all the time how the older 29s "won't hold up" but almost never hear what it actually took to "break" one.
A friend had a 629 (made in the "banger puta") years, one made after they stopped pinning the barrel. The barrel unscrewed. Very noticeable tilt, that wasn't there when the gun was bought, showed up a few hundred rounds later... He sent the gun back, and it came back with the barrel straight, and S&W saying "nothing wrong". He then sold it.
This was obviously a QC issue, not something caused by too heavy loads, or extreme use wearing it out.
The old 29s aren't tanks, by today's standards, but they aren't eggshells, either.
So, what did you DO to your 29-3 to stretch the frame??? Inquiring minds want to know..