S&W .44 Mag - 629 6.5" barrel

[OVERKILL]

Was back at the DFW range today. I took out the Thompson full auto, which was an absolute HOOT!!! and put a box through the S&W .44 Mag they have as a rental.

A bit more recoil than the .357 mag, but not too bad. Gun was plenty heavy and felt great in the hands. Performance, for an amateur such as myself, seemed excellent. The long barrel aided in shot placement and combined with the weight meant one was able to get back on target very quickly. I didn't grab a pic of the grouping, but going for fast placements at 15 yards, it was around 4", which for me, is pretty good with a handgun, as I rarely shoot them.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Where is the like button? I had a couple of Colt Anacondas that I sold a few years back; one in .44 Magnum and one in .45 Long Colt. Both were great to shoot, but my interest in revolvers took a turn and these days I have a S&W 686+ and a S&W 617, but rarely shoot either of them.

 

[OVERKILL]

I've got a serious hankering for revolvers for some reason

Enjoy shooting them far more than a semi.

That is an absolute shame that yours don't get taken out, you should use this as an excuse to go exercise them

 

[AZjeff]

You sound like a shooter. What's the situation in Canada with respect to firearms ownership etc? Seem to recall pretty restrictive about some things.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: AZjeff
You sound like a shooter. What's the situation in Canada with respect to firearms ownership etc? Seem to recall pretty restrictive about some things.


I've got a couple nice bolt guns that I try to take out as often as I can. There are a few threads on them around here. The laws in Canada aren't awful. Bolt guns are, with a few exceptions (McMillan TAC-50) unrestricted, as are shotguns as long as they meet a minimum overall length.

A non-restricted rifle can be shot pretty much anywhere that permits shooting and can be used for hunting. I have a few friends with land where we go out, my one buddy has 88 acres with a range on it that he put together that we use semi-regularly. Top field is 220 yards, bottom is 100, we plan on joining them which should give us at least 500 (there's a forest in between them).

Semi's vary in classification. The AR-15 is restricted, which means you need to have your restricted license, and it can only be discharged at a registered range. However semi-auto shotguns are non-restricted, as are M14 clones (Norinco for example), and many .223/5.56 and 7.62x39 rifles from the likes of Ruger, Robinson Arms....etc. However these are all limited to a magazine capacity of 5.

Handguns are all restricted, which means you can't go out to the back 40 and shoot targets with them, they have to go to a range you are registered with.

Bolt guns have no magazine capacity limits (my .308 has a 10rd AI mag), nor do tubular mag shotguns. However there are limits in place on the # of rounds for hunting purposes, depending on what's in season and where you are.

 

[AZjeff]

Are those federal laws or are things different in different provinces? Are all your firearms registered?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Are those federal laws or are things different in different provinces? Are all your firearms registered?


Only restricted guns are registered. Non-restricted stuff, you just walk in and buy after showing them your license.

Hunting regs vary province to province, the laws however are federal. There are some areas where the hunting regs bugger up the federal stuff, but that's more to do with where you can discharge a firearm and has nothing to do with classification or any of that stuff. I'm thinking in particular of New Brunswick, which has some screwed up hunting laws, Ontario is pretty decent.

 

[splinter]

Beautiful piece of hardware...I like its nickle finish.

Of all our handguns, revolvers are my favorites. Probably my grandfather's Colt SAAs planted that appreciation.

 

[OneEyeJack]

 

[Colt45ws]

Yas! Ive had a hankering for a big long barrel 44 Mag since I shot my Uncle's Colt Anaconda. I didn't think I would like it but I kept going back for more ammo until I ran him out as he only bought a box.

I always thought I was gonna get a .357 revolver...I want a 44 Mag instead.

 

[Robenstein]

Originally Posted By: splinter
Beautiful piece of hardware...I like its nickle finish.

Of all our handguns, revolvers are my favorites. Probably my grandfather's Colt SAAs planted that appreciation.





That is a stainless gun, not nickeled. A bit glossier than normal. That may be the result of lighting or someone hit the thing with some polish (relatively common and easy to polish up a S&W with Mothers or something similar).

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Robenstein
Originally Posted By: splinter
Beautiful piece of hardware...I like its nickle finish.

Of all our handguns, revolvers are my favorites. Probably my grandfather's Colt SAAs planted that appreciation.





That is a stainless gun, not nickeled. A bit glossier than normal. That may be the result of lighting or someone hit the thing with some polish (relatively common and easy to polish up a S&W with Mothers or something similar).


I think it was just the lighting. There's a big LED strip above each lane. And yes, you are 100% correct, the gun is stainless, thought I mentioned that in the OP but looks like I didn't after going back and looking.

Here is a link to it on the S&W website.

 

[bvance554]

I've never fired that much gun before. I see all of the guns in the case at the range available for rent, but renting one has never once crossed my mind till I read this. I don't know why... thanks.

 

[AZjeff]

That honking big chunk of metal is actually nicer to shoot that these bitty little pocket pistols in 9mm or especially 40. And much more manly!

 

[john_pifer]

I'm in the market for a Smith & Wesson Model 29 with an 8-3/8" barrel.

Blued steel and wood are the only way to go with a revolver (about 10 years ago I bought a S&W Model 686+. I should have gotten a Model 29 instead).

Would like to have one without the silly lock, like my 686 has. Looks like that's my only choice, as the Model 29 "Classic" they sell new, these days, is only available with the 6.5" barrel, as far as I know.

 

[billt460]

I hear you about the lock. Another solution to a non existent problem. Thankfully all of my Smith & Wesson revolvers are all pre lock.

 

[Sonic]

Originally Posted By: john_pifer
I'm in the market for a Smith & Wesson Model 29 with an 8-3/8" barrel.

Blued steel and wood are the only way to go with a revolver (about 10 years ago I bought a S&W Model 686+. I should have gotten a Model 29 instead).

Would like to have one without the silly lock, like my 686 has. Looks like that's my only choice, as the Model 29 "Classic" they sell new, these days, is only available with the 6.5" barrel, as far as I know.





I have this gun. When I pull this out at the range, everyone always wants to see it. The 8 3/8" barrel is bad looking.

 

[Robenstein]

Not only is are the new classics adorned with that hideous lock, from what I understand the bluing process is also changed and the resulting finish is less durable.

 

[bunnspecial]

If you're going to go for a Model 29, make it a 29-2. S&Ws lost something at the end of the P&R era-granted it was a gradual decline but still that's a definite turning point.

I have a handful of N frames. My favorite is a tough call between my 8 3/8" 27-2 and my "S" serial number(pre-68) 28-2. The "S" N frames just seem a touch nicer.

In any case, the 8 3/8" models are probably the least wanted ones these days, something that works to your advantage when buying. They're also so incredibly nice shooting at the range even if they are almost comically large.

6.5" 29-2s will probably always be in demand as the "Dirty Harry gun."

Personally, I just wish that everyone would forget about 5" 27-2s

. 5" is probably my favorite all around wheel gun barrel length. Per the production figures it's actually one of the most common 27-2 barrel lengths, but they carry a huge premium when they come up for sale.

 

[john_pifer]

What's the P&R era?

What's the difference between a Model 29 and a Model 29-2?