Howdy:
I have some questions that I will fill out to the best of my ability with the "Search" feature, with attribution, but will likely leave holes. My thanks for any help y'all might render.
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My grandmother just passed after a long illness and left me a enough for a revolver & some extras. I want to get a weapon and mildly customize* it to memorialize her and my grandpa (passed years ago).
I have decided on a S&W N-frame, most likely in stainless steel, and would likely prefer a Mountian Gun profile bbl or the partial underlug. The full underlug does not interest me.
I am considering 3 different chamberings:
I would like this revolver to be a powerful big-bore, but I have some other considerations, since I already reload for/own weapons in .44mag & .45ACP.
629/29 is likely the easiest answer, since that seems to be the most popular N-frame.
I would probably send a .45ACP chambered 25/625 to Clark Custom Guns for the .460 Rowland conversion on the cylander, which nips at the heels of .44mag. Does anybody do a .45 Winmag conversion? The .45Winmag ballistics are not as impressive as .460 Rowland, but I bet equivalent performance could be had for less pressure, due to the longer case.
.45Colt is the real dark horse. I own no weapons currently chambered for it and no relaoding dies/brass.
Which years were the "bad" years for S&W quality? How does this relate to the "dash" (model#-revision#)? They were owned by some outfit that let them go south, so I recall.
When/what model numbers for 29, 629, 25, & 625 was the last year of pinned & recessed barrels & the (model#-revision#)?
My research lead me to believe the year was 1982.
29: -2
629: -1
25:
625:
(Recesed N/A for models chambered in .45ACP, I presume.)
When/what model numbers was the "Endurance Package" applied? Was it ever done to the 25/625?
29: -4
629: -2E and up
25:
625:
What are the first years/(model#-revision#) for "the lock?" I am not completely anti-lock, but it is an ugly bugger, IMO, and if I can get a better used S&W without it, so much the better.
29:
629: -5
25:
625:
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629 "dash" translation (Phil DeGraves):
-1 No longer pinned and recessed
-2 redesigned cylinder latch
-3 Square ejector star
-4 Remove the hammer nose and replace with integral firing pin
-5 Safety lock over cylinder latch
29 "dash" translation (Bluesbear):
-2 (made fron 1961-1982) had recessed chambers and a pinned barrel
-3 (1982-1988) no P&R
-4 (1988-1990) had the endurance package.
-5 (1990-1994) had the longer cylinder stop notch and improved bolt block. (Actually those who like to shoot heavy Buffalo Bore and Garrett style loads prefer the -5 over the -4.) The -5 was also the last series to be made with NO MIM parts whatsoever
* Maybe some grips with their names carved into them or some such.
I have some questions that I will fill out to the best of my ability with the "Search" feature, with attribution, but will likely leave holes. My thanks for any help y'all might render.
-----------------
My grandmother just passed after a long illness and left me a enough for a revolver & some extras. I want to get a weapon and mildly customize* it to memorialize her and my grandpa (passed years ago).
I have decided on a S&W N-frame, most likely in stainless steel, and would likely prefer a Mountian Gun profile bbl or the partial underlug. The full underlug does not interest me.
I am considering 3 different chamberings:
- .44mag (Wife already owns .44mag lever gun) 29/629
- .45Colt (I own nothing in .45Colt) 25/625
- .45ACP (I own a 1911, S&W1917, & Webley MK VI in .45ACP) 25/625
I would like this revolver to be a powerful big-bore, but I have some other considerations, since I already reload for/own weapons in .44mag & .45ACP.
629/29 is likely the easiest answer, since that seems to be the most popular N-frame.
I would probably send a .45ACP chambered 25/625 to Clark Custom Guns for the .460 Rowland conversion on the cylander, which nips at the heels of .44mag. Does anybody do a .45 Winmag conversion? The .45Winmag ballistics are not as impressive as .460 Rowland, but I bet equivalent performance could be had for less pressure, due to the longer case.
.45Colt is the real dark horse. I own no weapons currently chambered for it and no relaoding dies/brass.
Which years were the "bad" years for S&W quality? How does this relate to the "dash" (model#-revision#)? They were owned by some outfit that let them go south, so I recall.
When/what model numbers for 29, 629, 25, & 625 was the last year of pinned & recessed barrels & the (model#-revision#)?
My research lead me to believe the year was 1982.
29: -2
629: -1
25:
625:
(Recesed N/A for models chambered in .45ACP, I presume.)
When/what model numbers was the "Endurance Package" applied? Was it ever done to the 25/625?
29: -4
629: -2E and up
25:
625:
What are the first years/(model#-revision#) for "the lock?" I am not completely anti-lock, but it is an ugly bugger, IMO, and if I can get a better used S&W without it, so much the better.
29:
629: -5
25:
625:
---------------------
629 "dash" translation (Phil DeGraves):
-1 No longer pinned and recessed
-2 redesigned cylinder latch
-3 Square ejector star
-4 Remove the hammer nose and replace with integral firing pin
-5 Safety lock over cylinder latch
29 "dash" translation (Bluesbear):
-2 (made fron 1961-1982) had recessed chambers and a pinned barrel
-3 (1982-1988) no P&R
-4 (1988-1990) had the endurance package.
-5 (1990-1994) had the longer cylinder stop notch and improved bolt block. (Actually those who like to shoot heavy Buffalo Bore and Garrett style loads prefer the -5 over the -4.) The -5 was also the last series to be made with NO MIM parts whatsoever
* Maybe some grips with their names carved into them or some such.
