Which 629? 5 or 6.5"? ported or not?

Z

zimm

New member
I'm getting ready to order a 629 44 mag smith & wesson. I can't decide on the 5 or 6.5 barrel. If I go with the 6.5, ported or not?

This will be 99% a range gun for shooting paper. Will also be protection while off-roading/camping deep in the back country of Alabama. (No big bears to worry about). Would like to get a holster for it too.

Any suggestions?
 
Strictly personal preference.

The 5" will be a little easier to carry if/when you're off-roading. The 6.5" will buffer some of the recoil. Porting will help with muzzle flip. Some will say no porting on a gun that might be used for defense (even against bears); personally I don't think that's such an issue with the .44, where you're going to get a big flash and boom regardless of whether you have porting or not.

Good luck "punching paper" with the .44. :) Check out your local bowling alley, see if you can pick up some used pins for little or no. They make great targets for larger calibers.

-- Sam
 
Zimm,
Personal preference. Think you will like whichever you choose. I couldn't limit myself to just one and wound up with four S&W M629 Classics. All are non-ported barrels. The two hunting pistols have 6.5" barrels with Leupold 2X EER scopes. The two target guns are open sights, one 6.5" and one 5". The 6.5" has slightly less recoil and slightly better sight radius/accuracy. The 5" is slightly lighter and slightly more convenient to carry. My personal favorite for all around use is the 5". I shoot better groups with the 6.5".

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
This will be 99% a range gun for shooting paper. Will also be protection while off-roading/camping deep in the back country of Alabama.
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I have a 629PP with a 6.5 bbl. So, IMO unless you are shooting 44 specials at paper you probably won't shoot it much at the range. Lots of recoil in the magnum loads. The ported barrel does put out a flash of fire. Some say it is louder. I wear ear muffs and plugs, so I really can't tell compared to no ear protection.

For off/road/camping you'd like a shorter barrel. It's not a lightweight handgun. But, for the big bad four legged creatures, you should have enough knock down power.
 
To me I think the balance on a 5 in would be better. Easy carry and all that. I havent gotten a new wheel gun in some time. But it used to hard to find Smiths in a 5 in other than in the 625. IMHO I would forget the ported route, to darn loud for field shooting. But that is coming from someone that only has hearing left in one ear. :(
 
629 great gun

I own a 629 classic 6.5". It is a utilitarian gun for my hikes and fishing trips. Also its outstanding at the range(a little expencive to shoot). If I had to do it over again I would choose a 4". There is going to be more recoil but it will be more conftable in the woods. The 6.5 gets in the way when you are climing steep heels or when sitng down. It is also HEAVY. I think a good compromise would be the 5".

To magnaport or not magnaport, that is the question. I Magnaported mine after shooting it for 3 or 4 month. I thought I was going to get less recoil but what you get is less muzzle flip to get a second shot quicker. 15 years later I don't know if I did the right thing or not. To really know you would need to shoot them both at the same time and then make up your mind about it. You get some (not much) blast up through the port. It doesn't bather me at all.

As far as holsters go, I carry mine in a cordura holster that covers the whole gun, except for the handle, kind off a military looking holster. For me in the wood retention and protection are my priorities. I think is made by unckle mikes. It air dries after some rain and don't let the gun sit wet overnight.

What ever you decide, get a 629, you wouldn't regret it. Double O
 
My vote is for an unported 5" 629. I picked up a nice used 629-1 with a 6" half-lug barrel for my birthday back in December. About 650 rounds later I am enjoying the beast and looking forward to packing it next hunting season.

My take on recoil: There is muzzle flip. It is substantial, loud and intimidating to shoot. But I reload and mostly run heavy .44 Specials and moderate .44 Magnums. Figure 240s at 800-1100 fps most of the time. It is manageable. I'm 5' 8" and 150 pounds soaking wet, and the big maggie doesn't faze me to shoot, even unported. I don't take in more than a couple dozen full-power Maggies in a row, just to keep from getting twitchy. And I don't like the extra noise and redirected blast of ported guns; I just find it obnoxious at best and uncomfortable at worst. I'd rather have the increased flip and slower shot-to-shot speed.

Get either one. You will have a reliable, powerful, accurate and durable handgun that will do about 90-95% of what you'll ever need a handgun for. Me? I'm hoping to acquire a .44 Mountain Gun some day, just to have a more portable boomer. Whatever you get, it will serve you well.
 
Nice Handguns!

I own several 29's and 629's. One has a 3" barrel, one is 5", the rest are 6.5". For your purpose, a 5" would be perfect. You'll love it.
BTW...none of mine are ported. Personally, I have no use for a ported .44 mag.

Jim
 
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The sight radius distance and extra velocity from the 6.5" barrel will be only a bit more than the 5", and maybe a bit less recoil.. I would get the shorter barrel though, being me.. I enjoy the big recoil in any .44 :D
 
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