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Sanity in what way? We have 4", 5", and 6" 629s and they are all useful and effective for their chosen niche. Unless you are hunting with it, I cannot see why you would want one over 5". The 4" makes a great woods gun and is not hard to shoot well.
The only 629 I have shot that I doubted I wanted to own was the 2" model. It was no fun to shoot yet still heavy. |
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If you plan on shooting it much with full power loads, I would avoid the no-dash or dash 1 guns.
I bought a pair of 629's when they first came out and both had horrible problems with the cylinders backing up. That was only after about 500-1,000 rounds fired. I ended up selling them both since they weren't even functional guns. Tony |
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Quoted: If you plan on shooting it much with full power loads, I would avoid the no-dash or dash 1 guns. I bought a pair of 629's when they first came out and both had horrible problems with the cylinders backing up. That was only after about 500-1,000 rounds fired. I ended up selling them both since they weren't even functional guns. Tony View Quote Thanks for that info. |
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I went through a spell where I wanted a 5" (the model with the 686 looking barrel) very badly. Just could not justify the price or the way the dealers tried to cheat me out of the Dan Wesson stainless vent rib/heavy barrel .44 I thought I'd trade.
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Quoted: Sanity in what way? We have 4", 5", and 6" 629s and they are all useful and effective for their chosen niche. Unless you are hunting with it, I cannot see why you would want one over 5". View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Sanity in what way? We have 4", 5", and 6" 629s and they are all useful and effective for their chosen niche. Unless you are hunting with it, I cannot see why you would want one over 5". No hunting, just fun. I regularly shoot the Redhawk at 100yds as well as my 357 GP100, w/ 5" bbl. I'm at about 50% hit rate, on 12" steel, but I think a lot of that is because of holdover (sights are kept at 25m). I just thought the 6.5" bbl would be a bit more appropriate for the round and the gun's balance? Quoted:If you plan on shooting it much with full power loads, I would avoid the no-dash or dash 1 guns. Yes, I would sway more towards a more modern model. I'm not a "purist" and don't look for/at the sought after dates, etc. Quoted:I went through a spell where I wanted a 5" (the model with the 686 looking barrel) very badly. Before I bought my GP100, I was hard after a 586. The selling difference was that I very much liked the balance of the 5" GP100 over either 4" or 6" 586. The 586's were ~$200 more, but that wouldn't have been a deal killer. The 5" 629's do seem to be a bit pricier than the 6.5" models, though. Local shop has a 6" blued Dan Wesson, but I just don't like half-lug bbl's. He's also asking way more than I think it's worth. |
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Quoted: Great guns... Performance Center models are even better... https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/86935/IMG_2187_JPG-1904290.JPG View Quote That is one impressive revolver! |
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You're a bitch if you don't get that gun.
You'll hate yourself forever, your food will be tasteless, and you'll forever feel unfulfilled. Buy the gun. |
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As mentioned, they aren't recommended for anything over basic loads or at least that's what S&W says. Not the best marketing in my opinion. I never shoot anything over basic 240 grain loads for that reason. One of these days I'll get a Ruger for a stronger .44 mag.
Mines a PC V-Comp and I have no experience with the standard models but I would be surprised if it wasn't a great gun. I'd say buy it as long as you know it's limitations. |
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I have a 629 with a 5" barrel, and think it's the optimal for power / carry trade off.
If you already have a long 44, I'd suggest going with a 5" model for something different. |
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I have both a 5” and a 6.5” model 629 Classic. Shooting the same load the 6.5” has less muzzle rise and less felt recoil .
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One of the guns I regret selling when I was young and dumb was a 5” 629.
Buy your gun |
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Nice looking revolver. I have a 4" model. I wouldn't try and dissuade you in the least. In your case, there's no reason why you shouldn't. You've already covered the bases that I would normally throw out by way of personal preferences. For me, a full under lug gets a bit nose heavy after 4" but you seem to enjoy the (much) longer barrels and the reasons for it and uses. As you based your opening on a Ruger, I would have said that there are different characteristics to a Smith and you killed that with mentioning the 500. Enjoy your new revolver.
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Took this deer at 65y with mine a couple years back
I’m not a big time hunter but usually get out every other year for pistol or bow. Took two steps and dropped from Barnes Vor Tex solid copper hollow point Attached File |
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BUY IT!!
I had a 29 Classic full underlug 6.5 inch and regret selling it when I hit a poor spot in my life. Most accurate handgun I ever had. All these years later I think of it and still get angry with myself. |
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Allow me to offer a sane alternative.
S&W 29 Classic in 5" barrel. Beautiful gun, balances wonderfully & blued steel > SS in looks. Attached File |
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I shot Colt's new Anaconda last weekend, and it is worth waiting for.
Slicker than any 29/629 I have owned in the past. |
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I also have the Performance Center model that's been pictured several times in this thread. It's great, but not exactly the most portable of revolvers. The 5" 629 classics look great, but I generally prefer the 6" without the full underlug. Balance should be fairly similar to a 5" with a full lug, but you get an extra inch of barrel and they're probably more readily available. If you really want a nice carrying 44, the 4.25" model 69 is also great. You do give up a round, and I definitely wouldn't use anything more than a "standard" 240 grain load though. For me, standard 240 grain loads will get the job done, if you need more, any S&W probably isn't the answer.
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Quoted: Allow me to offer a sane alternative. S&W 29 Classic in 5" barrel. Beautiful gun, balances wonderfully & blued steel > SS in looks. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/15596/29_Classic_jpg-1911328.JPG View Quote I would love to find a pre-lock version of that. |
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What is the difference between a 629 and a 586? Stainless vs blued?
I have a 586. Love it. Attached File |
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Get it if you can find what you want and keep both kidneys.
Grab it they don't normally stay in stock long if priced right. The 4 inch mountain gun was a grail gun for me. Took a while to find a 100% in box complete one. I also have other 44's I like em around 5.5 inch barrels. Have a ruger SBH if you load your own be careful not to mix heavy loads up in the 629. Hot loads will cause sticky case extraction in the 629 where the SBH or RH they pop right out. Same with the 336 marlin. They pop right out on ejection. Not sure if it's the 629's lack of steel in my mountain gun, they are made of thinner material then a standard 4 inch 629 or if the steel is just that more elastic. Sure someone here knows but it is one reason you see the " ruger only" load data And like mentioned already just a avoid the hot stuff and the gun will last a life time. The one you are looking at with the full luv will be more front heavy again as already mentioned. I find them even more front heavy then the SBH of the same barrel lenght. Good luck. |
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Quoted: What is the difference between a 629 and a 586? Stainless vs blued? I have a 586. Love it. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/327887/DSC_7674_zps18xebffm_jpg-1920698.JPG View Quote 629 is stainless 44 mag N frame 586 is blued 357 mag L frame |
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Quoted: 629 is stainless 44 mag N frame 586 is blued 357 mag L frame View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: What is the difference between a 629 and a 586? Stainless vs blued? I have a 586. Love it. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/327887/DSC_7674_zps18xebffm_jpg-1920698.JPG 629 is stainless 44 mag N frame 586 is blued 357 mag L frame Thanks. I feel real dumb for having asked that. I was super tired last night. |
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Quoted: Allow me to offer a sane alternative. S&W 29 Classic in 5" barrel. Beautiful gun, balances wonderfully & blued steel > SS in looks. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/15596/29_Classic_jpg-1911328.JPG View Quote @BobCole Actually, that's exactly what I want, but you're not going to find one for sale. If you do, it's going to be as much, or more, than any Colt. |
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Quoted: @BobCole Actually, that's exactly what I want, but you're not going to find one for sale. If you do, it's going to be as much, or more, than any Colt. View Quote I love it. |
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Quoted: @BobCole Actually, that's exactly what I want, but you're not going to find one for sale. If you do, it's going to be as much, or more, than any Colt. View Quote Could be, I haven't looked for one since I already have one. Hard to believe it would be priced higher than a Colt though. Whodathunkit? |
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@BobCole
I know. They're just such a rare pistol that the prices are very high. I know of a 500 piece run that was done w/o cylinder flutes and those are going for quite a bit, too. |
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Quoted: @BobCole I know. They're just such a rare pistol that the prices are very high. I know of a 500 piece run that was done w/o cylinder flutes and those are going for quite a bit, too. View Quote Non-fluted cylinders have always gotten the attention from the buyers & collectors, IMO. I remember discovering this in the late 1980s & was surprised about that. Now I understand it as I want one too. |
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I am trying to get myself out of a 4" 629 and .44 Magnum altogether.
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Quoted: Great guns... Performance Center models are even better... https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/86935/IMG_2187_JPG-1904290.JPG View Quote Dang son. Nice. I had a 629 that I sold for $400 about 20 years ago. |
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All this talk of “standard” 240 gr loads only needs some perspective. Out of my 6” 629 the Winchester white box 240 grain JSP loads are averaging 1352 FPS, just a hair under 1000 Ft/lbs.
Some PMC 180Gr JHP loads averaged 1570 FPS, again just under 1000 Ft/lbs. SAAMI spec is no slouch for .44 Mag, I wouldn’t hesitate to run either in quantity. Over SAAMI? Well that’s not really .44 Mag spec and I like to stick with the guidelines. ETA: OP, buy it. I don’t need onc since I have a nice classic in 6” single under-lug yet I’d put one of those 6.5” wood gripped beauties on a credit card right now. I might even check GaG they’ve been out of stock for a while... Oh, Geeez, look at that not a single Smith .44 Mag in stock |
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