I've got one that I picked up this summer.
Overall, it's like Taffin said, a superlative .44spl. Mine was used and was sold new originally at the same store I got it from. I aquired it for something like $200 less than the original good asking price of $799. The original grips had been damaged by someone resting it on something hard to shoot it, taking a chip out of the edge of the wood grips. Also, they had used some sort of bore solvent to clean the gun and had caused the reddish finish on the Arhends grips to soften and run.
I refinished the grips with dark walnut Danish Oil, and coated with several light coats of satin polyurethane. They look like some of the nicer finished walnut stocks S&W has used in the recent years. The ding isn't as obvious as before either. However, I prefer the rubber S&W Hogue grips, as I use a ring-eye to replace the retention screw so I can attach a lanyard. (I've had some coworkers before I retired loose S&W revolvers and Glocks after we went to those over the edge of boats...... and I hunt frequently from a boat to access areas few others frequent, so I'm paranoid about loosing a gun). Too, often in the stress of a confrontation at close quarters, a dropped gun can be easily and quickly re-aquired.
As comes to shooting, what others said........
My first loads with this gun was to try some of my ancient Lyman #429421 molds and their 245gr Keith-style bullets and some Unique and #2400.
I couldn't get the bullets with 22.0gr of #2400 to NOT walk out. Even with the heaviest crimp in the heaviest brass (Starline), the 5th and 6th rounds would walk foward enough to tie-up the gun. Needless to say the recoil is thrilling. (and painful after several cylinders full).
10.0gr of Unique (my favorite load back in the '70's) would also, except with the heaviest crimp on strongest brass, walk out of the cases.
My new favorite load with this gun is the Lee .429-200gr RFN. Sized to .430" and lubed with Lee liquid alox, and loaded over 5.0gr of Clays (not Univ. or Int.) it delivers groups under 2" at 25yds. The salesman at the shop that sold it to me was at the public range I was shooting it last tuesday and was embarrased when I shot tighter groups with it than he did with a Freedom Arms .454Casull with a 7.5" bbl and a Leupold scope on it.......... (but he's known me for ~20yrs, and wasn't supprised too badly....).
I traded a Ruger RedHawk stainless in .45Colt for this gun and knew what I was getting. In retrospect however, I still want a S&W Mountain Gun in .45Colt. After owning and reloading for several .45Colts, the .44mag just dosen't do anything for me.... I got similar groups from my Ruger BH in .45Colt w/ 4-5/"bbl, and using 8.6gr of Universal for 1,000fps and no bullet walk.... ever.
My "carry load" for this part of the world is the Hornady 180gr XTP over 11.2gr of Unique for right at 1,200fps from the 4" bbl. About a 3" load at 25yds, It dosen't excessively recoil, but still offers a tad bit more punch than a M1911. I have two speed loaders with this load in it on the nylon web belt and altogether they weigh less than 2lbs.
When I go to Alaska next time, this gun with the Lee 310gr WFN-gc at ~1,000fps will probably go. However, if I'm flying a great deal, the S&W will probably ride in a shoulder rig with the 200gr loads in the chamber with some yet to be determined load of some heavy hard cast slug at a speed that won't leave the case.
My 329PD is a keeper. The Ruger RH it replaced (5.5"bbl) was just too heavy to carry in a belt holster all day. Even worse than my old duty belt with Glock M22 w/46rds of ammo, handcuffs, pepper spray, handheld radio, and pager. The duty belt 'balanced' better....
BTW: after I did a trigger job on it, it is a really nice double action shooter. Not one of my PPC mod10's, but "DECENT" !! Who shoots a dbl action revolver single action ????? I've also rounded out and slightly opened up the V-notch on the rear sight with a 5/32" chainsaw file allowing me to get a full sight picture with the fire-sight front sight which gives a much better accuracy potential.