Posted: 7/27/2026 3:37:03 PM EDT
| How do the new Anacondas stack up to the new 629s or a Redhawk? I have look hard to find a relook four incher 629 in my area and wanted to get something stainless. I understand that the older Anacondas were not as refined as the old Pythons. I might just get a new Redhawk otherwise if I can’t get a vintage 629. |
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RedHawks are heavy and sturdy but lack the smoothness of the Smith. Colt lockwork tends to be more delicate and wear faster, with revolver gunsmiths in general and those that work on colts few and far between. I would be patient until you can find a vintage no lock S& W in good shape. Unless you bathe regularly in saltwater the need for stainless is massively overblown. Blue is prettier looks great even when it acquires some wear and even when I lived in a high humidity region with guns constantly getting wet never had rust issues and I am not Mr Meticulous with gun maintenance either. One rifle I use in competition regularly I had built 4+ years ago and someone asked me when the last time I disassembled it for maintenance and my answer was never. The follow up question was when was the last time it malfunctioned in a match - also never. |
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I’ve had 2 Anaconda’s and they both had light primer strikes with Winchester and Federal primers. Sold one for a major financial loss just to get it out of my sight . The second one will be going soon . I’ve also have had several Redhawks over the years but would never buy another one. Yeah they’re tough but not very refined . Also I have never seen one that didn’t have undersized cylinder throats. Ruger’s QC is really hit or miss . As for the currently made 629’s only buy one that you examined in person . Don’t order one sight unseen. As with Ruger S&W’s quality control is all over the place . It took me almost 2 years till I found my current 629 . So many that I looked at had canted barrels, huge cylinder gaps and endplay and just terrible finishing. |
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Love my older Smith revolvers. Just remember that if you are dealing with a pre Endurance package 29 or 629 to keep the bullet weight at 240 grain or lower. You can hand load “appropriate” 300’s but I don’t. My 29’s and 629’s are all 3 or 4 inch and I don’t want the punishment of the heavy loads anyway. For “pretty” it’s hard to beat a nice 29-2 4 inch….. 
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"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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Originally Posted By compuvette: Love my older Smith revolvers. Just remember that if you are dealing with a pre Endurance package 29 or 629 to keep the bullet weight at 240 grain or lower. ... |
Disclaimer - OP is bad at knowing things, and might catch on fire.
Vet - Op MMAMA
Every other species kills off their stupid......we cater to them. -- spin-drift
Nobody ever called 911&said I just did something smart. -- TheFlynDutchman
Vet - Op MMAMA
Every other species kills off their stupid......we cater to them. -- spin-drift
Nobody ever called 911&said I just did something smart. -- TheFlynDutchman
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Originally Posted By Amish_Bill: What's an Endurance Package S&W? When Silhouette shooting was a bigger thing, full power (or more) 240 grain and 300 grain 44 mag loads were the go-to. The model 29 was not really up to the beating these loads dealt out. It was possible for the cylinder to rotate backwards due to the heavy recoil. Smith studied the problem and brought out a package that included a bolt lock, radius studs, and elongated cylinder stop slots. This allowed the N frame to deal with more punishing recoil. The Endurance package started with the 29-3E and the 629-2. My nickel 29-2 pictured above has a replacement cylinder courtesy of the Smith Performance Center and it’s an “Endurance” cylinder with the elongated stop slots. The N frame is fine for “original level” 44 magnum, but if you really want to turn up the wick, you are in Ruger or Colt territory. I’m not a recoil junky anymore so I keep my hardcast 240’s loaded to just under 1100fps from a 4”. I do load 300’s for my Henry levers. |
"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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Originally Posted By 03RN: What are you planning to do with it? Carry or just shoot at the range? A smith will be lighter, a mountain gun even more so. A Colt or ruger will help with recoil It would be a carry on ranch and possible short-range deer hunting so the 4" or 6" at max. |
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Originally Posted By XM21Nick: I’ve had 2 Anaconda’s and they both had light primer strikes with Winchester and Federal primers. Sold one for a major financial loss just to get it out of my sight . The second one will be going soon . I’ve also have had several Redhawks over the years but would never buy another one. Yeah they’re tough but not very refined . Also I have never seen one that didn’t have undersized cylinder throats. Ruger’s QC is really hit or miss . As for the currently made 629’s only buy one that you examined in person . Don’t order one sight unseen. As with Ruger S&W’s quality control is all over the place . It took me almost 2 years till I found my current 629 . So many that I looked at had canted barrels, huge cylinder gaps and endplay and just terrible finishing. Were you talking about the newer Anacondas or ther older models? I've never read anything positive about the older models and I have the reference of owning a 1963 Colt Python as a highmark in quality. However, the YouTube algorithm is feeding me positive stuff on the newer Anacondas. I suppose it's marketing? |
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If memory serves the old ones were coil spring based and the new ones use the same “V” spring as the new Pythons. My new Python has been perfect except for the cheap rear sight. I keep thinking about a new Anaconda but I don’t know what purpose it would serve other than to have it. |
"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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Originally Posted By HuntFishGunCar: It would be a carry on ranch and possible short-range deer hunting so the 4" or 6" at max. For carry it’s hard to beat the Smiths. Go to a well stocked gun store and check them out. Also, don’t sleep on the Smith 69. Don’t have one but they sure get raved about on the Smith forum. |
"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
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I saw a review on the Anaconda. The guy said that Colt beefed up the Anaconda in the right places to address the issues with original losing timing or wearing too soon. Is it true? IDK. I've had other people tell me that the modern gun is an all new design which is not exactly true because I've seen the internals and they appear to be the same mechanisms from previous generations of Colts. Rugers are stout and I always say the answer you seek is get a Ruger. The Redhawk is different though, it has its own design with a short main spring. If you want a nicer trigger then get the GP100 or the Super Redhawk which uses beefed up GP100 mechanism. |
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Originally Posted By HuntFishGunCar: It would be a carry on ranch and possible short-range deer hunting so the 4" or 6" at max. Originally Posted By HuntFishGunCar: Originally Posted By 03RN: What are you planning to do with it? Carry or just shoot at the range? A smith will be lighter, a mountain gun even more so. A Colt or ruger will help with recoil It would be a carry on ranch and possible short-range deer hunting so the 4" or 6" at max. A mountain for sure then |
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Originally Posted By HuntFishGunCar: Were you talking about the newer Anacondas or ther older models? I've never read anything positive about the older models and I have the reference of owning a 1963 Colt Python as a highmark in quality. However, the YouTube algorithm is feeding me positive stuff on the newer Anacondas. I suppose it's marketing? Originally Posted By HuntFishGunCar: Originally Posted By XM21Nick: I’ve had 2 Anaconda’s and they both had light primer strikes with Winchester and Federal primers. Sold one for a major financial loss just to get it out of my sight . The second one will be going soon . I’ve also have had several Redhawks over the years but would never buy another one. Yeah they’re tough but not very refined . Also I have never seen one that didn’t have undersized cylinder throats. Ruger’s QC is really hit or miss . As for the currently made 629’s only buy one that you examined in person . Don’t order one sight unseen. As with Ruger S&W’s quality control is all over the place . It took me almost 2 years till I found my current 629 . So many that I looked at had canted barrels, huge cylinder gaps and endplay and just terrible finishing. Were you talking about the newer Anacondas or ther older models? I've never read anything positive about the older models and I have the reference of owning a 1963 Colt Python as a highmark in quality. However, the YouTube algorithm is feeding me positive stuff on the newer Anacondas. I suppose it's marketing? My Anaconda’s were the new 2nd generation. |
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The Redhawk is bomb proof and the most likely to have no issues out of the box. They are not as elegant as the Colt in terms of fit, finish, and trigger pull, but they work. The new Anaconda has beautiful fit and finish but may have a more delicate action. Also, I had to replace the front sight on mine with a taller one to get it zeroed with 240 grain bullets. I would not take a new production 629 for free. I have a vintage one from 1983 that runs fine, but it has been reworked and ported by Magnaport. |
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (ESV)
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I debated these three, only in 45 Colt not 44 magnum. I ended up settling on the Ruger Redhawk chambered for both 45 colt and 45 auto. Ruger model #5050 I believe. I carry it frequently on the farm and ranch. In fact, I have it on my belt right now with just a t shirt covering it. I absolutely love this gun and I am not sorry that I purchased it. |
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