I've got some questions on my smith. It's a 44 mag model 29-5. It's blued and takes 6 rounds. It looks like its got pacmere (sp?) grips and the serial # is either 8HY8xxx or BHY8xxx I can't make out the first digit real well. there is also a 143 stamped on the "arm". I want to replace the grips with some houge soft rubber grips and wanted to know how to tell if the gun is round butt or square. I assume it is an N frame, correct me if I'm wrong. Any info. you have is greatly appreciated.
Smith and Wesson Model 29-5
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P95Carry
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Welcome! 
Indeed yes, an N frame. You don't mention barrel length or other features - is it full or partial lug under barrel, for instance? A pic would help. ..... but if this is a M25-5 it could be one of two or three it seems so far.
If it was a Classic Hunter from 1991 (limited production) .. it'd probably be round butt and came with Hogues.
If OTOH it was a M25-5 but just Classic then again round butt and Hogues. But I think taper barrel.
In either case thay had ceased the P&R .. pinned barrel and recessed cylinder.
Hmmm .. others might help here. I reckon if you take off current grips you'll see if round butt or square. The latter has cross screw holding grip halves and former has single screw in base of grip.
Come back with a few other details and or pic. The S&W officianados may of course get straight to this. The S/N BTW sounds like the changed three letter one so BHY but .. so far not sure where that puts it.
Indeed yes, an N frame. You don't mention barrel length or other features - is it full or partial lug under barrel, for instance? A pic would help. ..... but if this is a M25-5 it could be one of two or three it seems so far.
If it was a Classic Hunter from 1991 (limited production) .. it'd probably be round butt and came with Hogues.
If OTOH it was a M25-5 but just Classic then again round butt and Hogues. But I think taper barrel.
In either case thay had ceased the P&R .. pinned barrel and recessed cylinder.
Hmmm .. others might help here. I reckon if you take off current grips you'll see if round butt or square. The latter has cross screw holding grip halves and former has single screw in base of grip.
Come back with a few other details and or pic. The S&W officianados may of course get straight to this. The S/N BTW sounds like the changed three letter one so BHY but .. so far not sure where that puts it.
The barrel is 4 or 5 inches and the under lug is partial. The model appears to be 29-5. The grips are held by a single screw about half way up. I'm almost positive they are pacmere grips because of the emb. on them, but some one could have changed them out. The trigger has been worked on as it is super smooth and light in both single and double action. Thanks for the help.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
OK ..... hmmm .. 4 OR 5!!!! This is important cos S&W made both at various times... measure from front of cyl to muzzle.
If screw across as you say then it's square butt - pretty sure on that ...... and yeah ... Pachmayr's may well have been fitted later. Odd tho .. seems like most 25-5's were coming out on the round butt .... and i didn't think the initial ''44 magnum'' went beyond M29-3.
I think we need Jim March or Fuff on this ..... there were a lot of M29 versions all told. And I am not guru category. Let's see what else we get as input.
If screw across as you say then it's square butt - pretty sure on that ...... and yeah ... Pachmayr's may well have been fitted later. Odd tho .. seems like most 25-5's were coming out on the round butt .... and i didn't think the initial ''44 magnum'' went beyond M29-3.
I think we need Jim March or Fuff on this ..... there were a lot of M29 versions all told. And I am not guru category. Let's see what else we get as input.
Just take your grips off and look at the grip frame. If it basically goes straight down along the back then it is a square butt. If the back curves toward the front then it is a round butt.
Most likely you have a square butt as the square butt was dicontinued during the -6 series and only a few short barreled M29s had round butts.
Here is a pic of the 2 designs:
http://www.eaglegrips.com/images/b5.JPG
Most likely you have a square butt as the square butt was dicontinued during the -6 series and only a few short barreled M29s had round butts.
Here is a pic of the 2 designs:
http://www.eaglegrips.com/images/b5.JPG
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
OK well... I'd still like for some others to come in on this .. indeed, as your grip config suggested .... and you have confirmed, square butt. 4" barrel too.
All I can say thus far is - approx 1990 production, std M29. ... wish I had more info to glean from S/N letters.
Sorry not more help.
All I can say thus far is - approx 1990 production, std M29. ... wish I had more info to glean from S/N letters.
Sorry not more help.
No way, your proding got me to look a little closer and think some. Thanks for the info. I think it's got pachmyr decelerator grips on it, God knows it needs them, it really barks with a 4 inch barrel. The grips cover the whole backstrap and are relatively soft. I'm considering getting it ported but I don't want to rupture my eardrums if I use it to hunt. It's a great looking gun, if I get a picture I'll post.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Yeah ... a pic would be good and .... DON'T port it ... please! It'll devalue the gun and frankly .. make very little difference IMO.
We really need Tamara or Fuff to drop by ... you could PM Tamara perhaps and see what she thinks. BluesBear too knows a fair bit on Smiths.
We really need Tamara or Fuff to drop by ... you could PM Tamara perhaps and see what she thinks. BluesBear too knows a fair bit on Smiths.
You can dial your loads back. Unless you are hunting really big game all the power of a magnum is not needed. With a good 240 grain bullet, good shot placement, and knowing your personal limitations you can do just fine with a 900 to 1000 fps velocity. A lot of shooters use the 300 grainers going as fast as they can get them, but they are just battering themselves and the revolver on a thin skinned deer. In fact a good .44sp load will do a fine job as long as you keep the range down to handgun level. Move up to elk or large bears and then the heavy loads make sense.
For some reason magnumitis has infiltrated just about all forms of hunting. It's good if you can make the long shots, but most shooters seem to keep their shots inside 75 yards and waste all that raw power.
For some reason magnumitis has infiltrated just about all forms of hunting. It's good if you can make the long shots, but most shooters seem to keep their shots inside 75 yards and waste all that raw power.
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