First time out w/629

[brunowbe]

Took my new S&W 629 out to shoot a few rounds through. I have only shot 44 magnums once prior to today for a total of 6 trigger pulls, pretty sure it was through a Ruger Blackhawk. Absolutely hated the grip on it, but didn’t find the recoil to be bad at all. I did not know what to expect from my 629. What I knew going in was that the factory rubber grip fits my hand to a tee and is super comfortable. The ammo I used was Federal American Eagle 240 grain jacketed hollow point. I shot standing from 30 to 35 feet away from the target I was using. I found the gun to be extremely pleasant and fun to shoot. Recoil was actually very enjoyable and controllable. It hit where I aimed, especially after a few rounds and I knew what to expect with each trigger pull. The only regret is that it took me this long to finally get a 44 mag! I love it! Feeding this is going to be expensive.

 

[Riomouse911]

Well done on your first time out with it!

Stay safe..

 

[WrongHanded]

Feeding this is going to be expensive.

.44 mag is why I decided to get into reloading. You might look into it because it's a good way to save some money (once you pay the equipment off).

 

[gotboostvr]

Always a good time out when a 629 is involved. Especially once you have grips that fit properly.

Once I started hand loading, the 44 became one of my favorite cartridges. I find that area between more than a "special" and not quite a "magnum" makes for a good load.

 

[LoneGoose]

Once I started hand loading, the 44 became one of my favorite cartridges. I find that area between more than a "special" and not quite a "magnum" makes for a good load.

I agree that the 629 is a great gun to shoot. And I recommend handloading if you can do it. And I also find the best load for me is what gotboostvr said.

 

[MaxP]

Nicely done!

 

[DR505]

Hand loading will not save you any money; but you will get a lot more ammo for the same cash outlay. Good choice on revolvers.

 

[GBExpat]

Since the late '80s I have fired hundreds of rounds of American Eagle 240gr JHP thru my 3½" 629 and Marlin 1894S. In my experience, it has always been (surprisingly) accurate out of both.

One reason that I added .44mag & .44spc to my reloading efforts ~20 years ago was my old '90s supply of the American Eagle was running low. When I checked prices, sticker shock made my decision.

For over a decade, now, I have rolled & fired many more .44spc loads (or mild .44mag loads) than full-boat .44mag loads.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

.44 mag is why I decided to get into reloading. You might look into it because it's a good way to save some money (once you pay the equipment off).

Hand loading will not save you any money; but you will get a lot more ammo for the same cash outlay. Good choice on revolvers.

Listen to these guys. ^^^^^^^^^

Congrats on the gun. very cool.

 

[Reinz]

Congrats, glad you are happy with your purchase.

44 mag is what got me into metallic reloading as a teenager, and it was my first centerfire as well, Ruger Super Blackhawk. My SW 29 came next.

I shot all my Ammo on the weekend and loaded with a Lee Loader (whack a mole) during the week.

Fond memories, however you couldn’t pay me to use that Lee Loader again.

 

[brunowbe]

For the time being reloading is out of the question due to space issues. Being able to do that would also help feeding my Garand. In a few years when we buy a different house, maybe I will have the space to set up an area to do it (and hopefully enough land to shoot on so I don’t have to drive out to the club I belong to). It’ll be factory loads til then.

 

[alfsauve]

Yep, love me some 629's I got a 5" and a 8-3/8", plus a 69 4". I always thought as I approached my "senior years" I go with lighter recoiling pistols. Not so, am shooting more 44 now than ever.

 

[Pat Riot]

For the time being reloading is out of the question due to space issues. Being able to do that would also help feeding my Garand. In a few years when we buy a different house, maybe I will have the space to set up an area to do it (and hopefully enough land to shoot on so I don’t have to drive out to the club I belong to). It’ll be factory loads til then.

You really don’t need a lot of space for reloading on a single stage press.

https://leeprecision.com/lee-reloading-stand.html

A friend uses one of these with a Lee press in his 1 bedroom apartment. He has the full Lee single stage set up, a vibrating brass cleaner, his powders and bullets, cases and some reloading blocks. All his stuff takes up about 8 or 9 square feet, he says. Personally, the Lee press is okay but I like RCBS primer tools, scale and powder measure, which could be mounted on the stand, I am sure.

 

[Tallball]

The 629 is the cat's meow!

Smith and Wesson Model 629-5

• Tallball
• May 25, 2019

 

[sparkyv]

Welcome to the club, brunowbe! Mine has the full lug, and she likes hot loads and so do I.