carry .44 magnum search

[klover]

carry .44 magum search

I was thinking it would be nice to have a blued or stainless steel carry .44 magnum to keep my 628-8 3/8 inch company.

Could you nice THR folks show and tell or suggest a short barrel, light or heavy .44?

Thanks, and may God bless all of you on THR.

 

[P95Carry]

This is a 4" 629-6 Mountain Gun ..... could be a good ''companion''!

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edit to upgrade pic ... CT grips now fitted.

 

[Marshall]

I have Rugers in .44 Mag. My next in .44 Mag will be one of the following..........

Model 629 Trail Boss 3" Magna-Ported High Polish SS

Model 629 4" 3/4 shroud

Model 329PD 4"

Not sure what you consider a "short barrel", but in a .44 mag I consider 4" and below short.

 

[Majic]

Here's one for sale right now.
http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/ubb/Forum21/HTML/008186.html

 

[BIGBORESNUB]

I have a 3in 629-1,rd butt.It conceals very well,the sruggle has been with grips that fit my hand correct.The combat grips conceal very well,but hurt the ol hand pretty good buy the 5th round"not good since this is a carry gun".The compacs from pachmayr were to small for my hands.The grippers i had didn't fit my rb butt very well.The jordans i just put on, fit my hand like a glove,but they are large and don't conceal near as well as the factory combats.

I don't like the houges on my carry revolvers,I' think i'll keep the jordans and work on the concealment The biggest struggle with the big magnum,will be hand fit, and loads that the the shooter is happy with..

 

[Hutch]

I have a 3" ported Trail Boss, and it's fine. I don't tote it very much, tho'. It's noticably more cumbersome than a 3" K-frame. (duh) A gun-shop owner/acquaintance of mine told me that CCW'ing a .44M was a sign of a bad attitude

 

[BluesBear]

CCW'ing a .44M was a sign of a bad attitude

COUNT ME IN !

I must really have a bad attitude then since I have two 3" RB .44 magnums a 29-3 and a 629-1.
Hmmm I just might start carrying both for those really "heavy" days. Instead of carrying one 6" .44, I'll just substitute two 3-inchers!

Actually, I DO have a bad attitude regarding muggers and robbers and car jackers and their ilk. As well as anyone else who would attempt to do harm to my family and friends.

So I guess I must have a cheerful attitude on those days I only carry the 2" Taurus five-shot .44 Special?
This could be more fun than a mood ring.

 

[Hatchett]

Another vote for a 629 with a 4-inch barrel. I wouldn't try anything smaller.

 

[Al Thompson]

Bigbore, try lightening up on your carry loads. I find that the Georgia Arms 240 LSWC at 1100 fps is at the limit of fast "shootability" for my 629 Mountain Gun.

klover, one thing to consider is your leather. I got one of the Kramer holsters from Dillon for my 629 and it works like a charm.

 

[M16]

Here are a couple of mine.

The top two are Model 329's. Top middle is a Lew Horton 3". Middle left is a 4" 29. Middle right is a PC 629 ported. Bottom left is a mountain gun and bottom right is a 4" 629.

 

[Majic]

Hmmmm....I guess that I just get a little pissed instead of having a bad attitude when I carry my 3 inch M657.

 

[Marshall]

M16, which do you enjoy shooting best? How's the lighter 329PD compared to the others?

 

[M16]

The 329's kick like a mule with hotter loads. I am loading a 180 grain bullet to around 1000fps that doesn't kick bad at all. Since I don't live in bear country I don't really need to shoot fullhouse loads in these. But it's nice to have the capability to shoot magnum loads if the need arises. They are great "packing pistols." My favorite has to be the mountain gun. It has the best balance and is the most practical if you are only gonna own one short barrel 44. My 4" model 29 and 629 are still an unshot virgins. The 3" guns have a lot of muzzle blast and are a bit much. They are cool though.

 

[Highland Ranger]

Bought the Lew Horton PC version of the 329: http://www.lewhorton.com/329.html

Nice weapon.

 

[BluesBear]

Highland Ranger, how does yours shoot?


Did you read this thread?
Especially notice the pics on page 2.

 

[Highland Ranger]

BluesBear - yeah, I saw it. Gotta think that they got a bad casting or they were playing the triple charge reload game. Maybe poor machining - off center somehow that left that side thin? Be nice to get some info from S&W on what happened.

I shot it with 44 specials, no biggie. Recoil is stiff with the Hogue's that come with it and full house loads (300 gr 44mags). I'd have to say less than comfortable and I have a good sized hand. My brother with a smaller hand found it intolerable. The backstrap left a bruise on my hand the next day after about 75 of the full house rounds. Again - beefy hand. I didn't even try the wood grips which weren't all that pleasing to the eye anyway.

I switched to some Pachmyr decelerators that cover the backstrap (the Hogue's do not) but I haven't had a chance to shoot it with the new grips yet (if it's not snowing it's raining . . . . ) I expect it will be much better - Pachmyr rubber is softer than the Hogue and there's more of it where it counts.

All in all couple hundred rounds through it and I love it. Silly accurate, and they did a nice job with the trigger.

And no sign of the barrel heading up range . . . . at least not yet!

 

[Highland Ranger]

Better sized picture

 

[MrPink]

Like Highland Ranger, I have a PC 329. I've been shooting Proload "Tactical Lite" 44 mags - a 200 grain Gold Dot at 1050fps advertised. Recoilwise it shoots pretty much like a SIG 220 with +P ammo. Firm and with a flip, but shootable. Step up to Silvertips and the recoil starts to get sharp. I've only fired a few fullhouse 240 grain loads, and they hurt.

 

[The Rabbi]

My vote is the 329PD 4". I consider it the best carry gun around. It is a little bulky but the light weight makes it very easy to carry. I load my own light magnum loads, 240gr XTPs with either Titegroup or Accurate #2. Ihave not chronographed them. It is quickout of the holster (where do you get a leather holster for one btw??), easy to carry, reliable, and deadly with one shot. What more could you want??

 

[John Ross]

FWIW I carry a 329 with Glasers in a strong-side IWB holster, and a 340 with .38 Thunderzaps in a weak-side pocket holster.

With the right leather, this combo is comfortable all day. On t-shirt days, the 329 stays home.

JR

 

[Highland Ranger]

where do you get a leather holster for one btw??),

It's a large frame Smith so shouldn't be a problem.

I had FIST (http://www.fist-inc.com/holsters/) make a #1 (http://www.fist-inc.com/holsters/holster/1.htm) with a tension screw, body protector and full reinforcement (http://www.fist-inc.com/holsters/opalt/Default.htm). Nice holster, reasonable price.

 

[Highland Ranger]

Here is a picture:

 

[Highland Ranger]

S&W has recalled the 329PD PC version for KABOOM issues. See this thread for details: http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90291

They have offered unsatisfactory replacements. I am looking at the 3" stainless trail boss: "629 Trail Boss - Deluxe Anniversary (Fluted Cylinder, Mag-na-port)" (see http://www.swfirearms.vista.com/store/index.php3?cat=293607&item=838767&sw_activeTab=1) No price on the site. If its a $500 gun I need to ask for two!

Anyone have any idea on a price for a new one?