S&W Model 629 for hunting

T

trooper3385

New member
I got a S&W Model 629 44 mag with a 6 1/2 in barrel a couple of months ago. I've never been into handgun hunting, but have been wanting to give it a shot for awhile. It would mainly be for hog hunting and possibly whitetail if the opportunity arose. I've been wanting to put a scope on it, but I'm looking for any suggestions on this. All my rifles have either, Zeiss, Leupold, or Burris on them. I'm not to sure I want to shell out that much money on a scope for it until I know I'm going to like it. I've been looking at a fixed 4 power. I noticed that weaver has one in a 4x28 for under $150. I think the Weaver should be alittle better than the redfield or tasco. If you all have any experience, what objective would you recommend for a handgun. Also, what do you think the range is going to be with this gun for deer and hogs. I've been in LE for awhile and I'm pretty accurate with a handgun. I have to qualify out to 50 yds and shoot out to 100 yrds with my .357 sig. I've been practicing with the open sites using some winchester 240 gr lead round nose.
i think getting better penetration would be better than using hollow points for hunting. I've been hunting forever with rifles, but I don't have any experience hunting with handguns, so any info on this set up would be appreciated.
 
Putting a scope on the 629 makes it heavier and more bulky but does extend the range . The 44 mag with iron sights is good for about 65 yds and the scope extends that to 100 yds. Don't hunt with a round nose bullet. Use a cast SWC or JHP. Any of the 240 grain bullets will do well, don't go higher in the 629. 4x is too much for a handgun, I would use a 2x . Practice is important .You're a handgunner to start which is an advantage,but you have to hit the target [~ 10" dia vital area for deer] consistantly under field conditions.
 
Like the others have said 2x will be the best for your revolver. Leupold is the standard everyone else goes by, but I've always been a big fan of Burris. Stay with a good name for the scope and don't look to skimp on cash too much because the recoil of a .44mag can tear up cheap models in short order. To add to the already recommended bullet choices would be a JSP.
Probably the best practice is to use plain old paper plates. Set them up at various ranges. When you find that you can keep a cylinder full of shots on the plate using various field shooting positions then that would be your maximum range until your skill with your outfit improves.
 
Hey, thanks for the info guys. I don't know where the lead round nose came from. I've been practicing with 240 gr. winchester JSP. I was at the ranch this weekend and had several javelina run out in front of me. I nailed one at about 15 yrds in the rear and the bullet exited the chest. So I think the penetration was pretty good. Although I wouldn't pick that shot placement for anything else. I've found several leupold and burris scopes in a 2x20 that have a pretty decent price. I just wondering if the 20mm objective would be to small. I haven't looked through one yet, so they may work fine. What would you all suggest for the objective size. Do you think the 20mm would be fine or should I move up to the 28mm?
 
If you're use to shooting open sites on a semi-auto out to a hundred yards with the short site radius 20mm will be like looking through a telescope.

It's more than enough.
 
I use an Aimpoint 9000sc red dot sight on my handguns for hunting(and I love it). 50,000 hrs of battery life on full power(new ACET technology). 4X is way too mcuh in my opinion. 1.5x - 2x is all you need imo. For handgun hunting I rarely use anything at all. Aimpoint comes with a 2x.
 
Why put a scope on it at all?

If you can hit vitals at 50 yards and beyond, enjoy the experience and work to get inside that range before shooting. I hunt big Russian hogs in Tennessee with Smith .44 mags, and none of my handguns have scopes. That is what makes handgun shooting appealing to me. Scopes just make them short rifles, and I have scoped carbines that serve that purpose.

Anyway, just another perspective.

Boarhunter
 
Scope/no scope is a personal choice, sometimes influenced by age and deteriorating eyesight. I can still see to shoot open sights at targets but under hunting conditions can not see sights and a game animal clearly enough to shoot accurately. Thus my target S&W M629 6.5" has open sights but my hunting S&W M629's 6.5" wear 2X Leupold EER scopes. Would NOT advise more than 2X power for hunting scope. More than that magnifies the wobble too much, limits field of vision, and has smaller exit pupil diameter making it very slow to line up target. IMO the main benefit of a scope on pistol is to put sights/crosshairs and target into the same focal plane so you can see both sharply. Would advise good quality scope such as Leupold to withstand recoil of full power .44 Mag loads. YMMV

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top