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S & W Model 29 or 629?
- Thread starter 45 Carry
- Start date
While the 29 has withstood the tests of time, IMO the 629 is just a little better all around. Trigger is a little more refined, the full underlug barrel is nice(although you can find 29's with them but not too often)feels smoother altogether and they are more widely available. 29's are not being made anymore, but you can often get some really good deals on a used one. Either choice is a great one!
guntotin_fool
New member
the enhanced 629
this pistol was redesigned in about 90 or so. had stronger parts in timing mech and was given I think, a bit thicker and stronger frame and crane to withstand lots of full power loads. 29's show up in my opinion. in one of two ways either a safe queen, hardly shot and in immaculate condition and priced to match or shot to hell.
A lot of guys bought 29's and shot pins or silohette and shot way too many rounds or too many heavy rounds and beat the hell out the guns, but late ones with the underlug seem to be better at holding up IMHO.
I have an early 29, pinned and recessed, that is a jewel with a 5 inch barrel, I believe less than 200 magnums loads have been fired in this gun. I have shot it about a thousand times with 44 special equivelent loads in mag brass.
I have a 4 inch 629 mountain gun that will take a beating and live
I have a late 3 inch 29 this will bark but it is a well made for the period
Have fun my early 29 is the single most accurate handgun i have fired.
this pistol was redesigned in about 90 or so. had stronger parts in timing mech and was given I think, a bit thicker and stronger frame and crane to withstand lots of full power loads. 29's show up in my opinion. in one of two ways either a safe queen, hardly shot and in immaculate condition and priced to match or shot to hell.
A lot of guys bought 29's and shot pins or silohette and shot way too many rounds or too many heavy rounds and beat the hell out the guns, but late ones with the underlug seem to be better at holding up IMHO.
I have an early 29, pinned and recessed, that is a jewel with a 5 inch barrel, I believe less than 200 magnums loads have been fired in this gun. I have shot it about a thousand times with 44 special equivelent loads in mag brass.
I have a 4 inch 629 mountain gun that will take a beating and live
I have a late 3 inch 29 this will bark but it is a well made for the period
Have fun my early 29 is the single most accurate handgun i have fired.
Sir William
New member
629-3 half lug. I prefer a 6" barrel. If I had my own to buy? I am looking for a M29. I still haven't decided between a -2 or -3. There are good points for each. I think it will come down to what I can find in a 4".
My first S&W was a M29-2 6-1/2". It did have some holster wear, and although I did buy it from a gunshop, I met the previous owner. He shot it regularly with magnum loads, but it still locks up tight. It brought back a lot of memories for my father, as he bought one the same year I was born, so I gave it to him (I still shoot it though).
I then picked up a 629-1 4" in trade. I've only put a few hundred rounds through it, but I absolutely fell in love with it. I do find that, with the 4" barrel, it's more pleasant to shoot with a 240gr cast bullet over 10gr Unique. It's a nice mid load. Heavier than a .44spl, but not the hammering of a mag.
I also had a 29-3 4", but I traded it to a friend. I carry my handguns a lot and the finish would have just been worn off of it, and it was an absolute beauty. The trigger was not as nice on that one, though.
If it were me, I'd stick with the 629, due to the fact that it's easier to maintain, especially in the very humid summers around here, and it does not as easily show holster wear.
But, if I could only have one, it would have to be that 29-2 6-1/2". It's just a beautiful gun with a perfect barrel length.
I then picked up a 629-1 4" in trade. I've only put a few hundred rounds through it, but I absolutely fell in love with it. I do find that, with the 4" barrel, it's more pleasant to shoot with a 240gr cast bullet over 10gr Unique. It's a nice mid load. Heavier than a .44spl, but not the hammering of a mag.
I also had a 29-3 4", but I traded it to a friend. I carry my handguns a lot and the finish would have just been worn off of it, and it was an absolute beauty. The trigger was not as nice on that one, though.
If it were me, I'd stick with the 629, due to the fact that it's easier to maintain, especially in the very humid summers around here, and it does not as easily show holster wear.
But, if I could only have one, it would have to be that 29-2 6-1/2". It's just a beautiful gun with a perfect barrel length.
I have a couple 629-4 in three inch and a 29 Classic in five inch. I'm still looking for an early 29 P&R and regret some nice ones I passed up on.
I like all three although the 629 gets carried more, they only made them a year or two and were called Backpackers by S&W. I shoot mainly downloaded .44's in mine although all can handle the full house loads okay.
I find alot of 29 safe queens here due to the high ammo costs. Unfortunately those usually have a big price tag on them. I'm always leery of the ones with some wear as mentioned earlier, some have been shot too much with heavy loads.
I like all three although the 629 gets carried more, they only made them a year or two and were called Backpackers by S&W. I shoot mainly downloaded .44's in mine although all can handle the full house loads okay.
I find alot of 29 safe queens here due to the high ammo costs. Unfortunately those usually have a big price tag on them. I'm always leery of the ones with some wear as mentioned earlier, some have been shot too much with heavy loads.