hogshead
Member
A loud 44 special.
Tell me about 3-inch .44s
- Thread starter Legionnaire
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Digger
Member
Back when I had my shop, about 10 years ago, I thought the 629 Mountain Gun would be the perfect carry gun when I was deer hunting. It was pretty light, especially for a big gun. I shot about 20 rounds of magnum loads and about 25 of 44 special. My right hand hurt for a week! Maybe it was just my gun, but that thing was torture! After that range session, the screw holding the crane in started backing out. Needless to say, I stuck it in the case and sold it as used. Bought a 4 5/8" Ruger Super Blackhawk. That thing barks too, but it is manageable, I think it is due to the grip.
Lloyd Smale
Member
love my 3 inch 629. It would be a hard choise which id part with first between it and the 4 inch.
ShadyScott999
Member
Stainz
Member
If you have a 629, especially a snubbie/lite weight/Mountain Gun, and you are not interested in dimunitive grip size for concealment, consider the Hogue made for S&W .460/.500 Magnum monogrips. They fit K, L, N, & X frame round butts. Below you'll see them on my L frame 296 2.5" .44 Special AirLite Ti. While that absorptive material over the backstrap is appreciated if you are a plinker, that isn't the 296's forte - it got it's OEM boots back and went back to being a CCW. The grips really helped, however.
Now, put those grips on a 629MG, as I did when I bought them, and it really becomes a .44 Magnum 'shooter' - even more so on a heavier 'production' 4" - or a 6". Mine are fine, most days, sporting wood - but my .44 Magnum reloads are a tad wimpy - glorified .44 Specials. Just a thought - if the size of the grips, admittedly larger than the usual Hogues - the X-frame Hogues from S&W Accessories ($37 + s/h), doesn't bother you, they may just be the best accessory you could buy a 3"/4" 29/629.
Stainz
Now, put those grips on a 629MG, as I did when I bought them, and it really becomes a .44 Magnum 'shooter' - even more so on a heavier 'production' 4" - or a 6". Mine are fine, most days, sporting wood - but my .44 Magnum reloads are a tad wimpy - glorified .44 Specials. Just a thought - if the size of the grips, admittedly larger than the usual Hogues - the X-frame Hogues from S&W Accessories ($37 + s/h), doesn't bother you, they may just be the best accessory you could buy a 3"/4" 29/629.
Stainz
71Commander
Member
My 3"er. It's a hand full. Not as bad as my 4" 500.
My most favorite handgun that I own is S&W 629 Carry Comp. I have owned mine for about 2+ years now. I bought it to carry on my property in southeastern Colorado where venomous critters abound and medical help is scarce. I carry it loaded with CCI shot loads. I really enjoy shooting this revolver. Where I camp, fish and hunt in the national forrest is an old logging area littered with huge old stumps and downed logs. One time, by mistake, I took a 100 rounds of .44 special reduced loads for Cowbay Action Shooting. This turned out to be a very enjoyable recreational plinking camping trip. I did some Jerry Miculek fast double action shooting into VW sized logs. What a hoot. My 629 goes with me everywhere. When I go to the woods, it goes with me. If I go down on the land, it goes with me. If I went to Alaska to do some fishing, it would go with me. Its as useful to me as a good pocket knife. I'll never be without either.
I highly recommend the 629 Carry Comp. There are other good brands of short barreled .44 mag/special revovlers out there. The size, compensator, action smoothness, sights, fit and feel of the CC just makes it "right". If your looking for a short barreled .44 examining a 629 CC is a must.
'Loose
I highly recommend the 629 Carry Comp. There are other good brands of short barreled .44 mag/special revovlers out there. The size, compensator, action smoothness, sights, fit and feel of the CC just makes it "right". If your looking for a short barreled .44 examining a 629 CC is a must.
'Loose
Loosenock said:
That's the best explanation of why these 3" 629's are so practical and desirable. They are indeed like a ".44 magnum pocket-knife." Powerful, easy to pack and take everywhere, and versatile. I rank mine as my MOST versatile handgun.
Too much
I found the 3 inch barrel on a .44 Magnum to be too short.
When loaded with .44 Specials, it is a decent defense revolver and the old .44 Special factory load with .246 grain roundnose bullets is pleasant to shoot.
I gave up on the full house stuff. A heavy frame gun with a 5 inch or more barrel makes a lot more sense to me for true magnum loads.
Jim
I found the 3 inch barrel on a .44 Magnum to be too short.
When loaded with .44 Specials, it is a decent defense revolver and the old .44 Special factory load with .246 grain roundnose bullets is pleasant to shoot.
I gave up on the full house stuff. A heavy frame gun with a 5 inch or more barrel makes a lot more sense to me for true magnum loads.
Jim
FoMoGo
Member
I love me some snubby .44s.
2" special and 2.5" magnum.
Jim
2" special and 2.5" magnum.
Jim
RidgwayCO
Member
You're right, Stainz, I totally forgot about my "not-quite 3 inch" .44s!
My S&W M396 Mountain Lite weighs all of 18oz empty, has a 3.375" barrel, and carries 5 rounds of .44 Special, great with the Speer 200gr GDHP rounds. With a speedloader in my pocket, it's my usual choice for woods-bummin'.
Conversely, the S&W M296 Airlite weighs a touch more at 18.5oz empty, has a 2.5" barrel, also packs 5 rounds of .44 Special, and is also nice with the Speer's. It's not a M638, but then the .44 Special isn't a .38 Special either...
My S&W M396 Mountain Lite weighs all of 18oz empty, has a 3.375" barrel, and carries 5 rounds of .44 Special, great with the Speer 200gr GDHP rounds. With a speedloader in my pocket, it's my usual choice for woods-bummin'.
Conversely, the S&W M296 Airlite weighs a touch more at 18.5oz empty, has a 2.5" barrel, also packs 5 rounds of .44 Special, and is also nice with the Speer's. It's not a M638, but then the .44 Special isn't a .38 Special either...
OP
OP
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Thanks, guys. Will definitely post some pics when I take possession. Looking forward to finding out how it shoots with various loads. And then I'll be looking for a good holster ...
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dogngun
Member
I had a 29-2 4" with magnaporting, and that was enough for me, thanks.
I bet the fireball is kinda interesting around dusk, though...must be a real attention getter at the range.
mark
I bet the fireball is kinda interesting around dusk, though...must be a real attention getter at the range.
mark
OP
OP
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
SwampWolf
Member
If you want a powerful, yet compact revolver, you might want to consider the five-shot, Model 415 Taurus, chambered in .41 Magnum. It came in two variants: steel (the one I have) and a much lighter alloy version. This revolver has a 2 1/2", ported barrel. I have had good success with mine.
I believe this model has been discontinued but I do see them from time to time at gun shows. You can get one in excellent condition for well under $400.00 or so.
I believe this model has been discontinued but I do see them from time to time at gun shows. You can get one in excellent condition for well under $400.00 or so.
Deltaboy1984
Member
Those are some hand Cannons!!!!
OP
OP
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Range report. 24 rounds each of .44 mag and .44 spl this afternoon. The former are definitely a handful; controlable, but not pleasant to shoot. Still shot into 2.5 inches at 10 yards, though, if I take my time ... did have a flier shooting DA. On the other hand, the .44 spls were sweet! I suspect this will mostly be carried with the latter, unless out hiking, and even then I'll probably throw some of each into the daypack.
Very pleased thus far. Thanks, all, for the input.
Very pleased thus far. Thanks, all, for the input.
Legionnaire,
Nice gun. Nice to see what you ended up with. I was really torn about the grips. Switching to rubber could make the full-power rounds more pleasant, but gosh the stock ones are so gorgeous. I left the factory ones on mine.
Nice gun. Nice to see what you ended up with. I was really torn about the grips. Switching to rubber could make the full-power rounds more pleasant, but gosh the stock ones are so gorgeous. I left the factory ones on mine.
FoMoGo
Member
I took my Astra Terminator 2 5/8" .44 magnum to the range today.
50 240 gr WWB magnums and 24 250 gr Black Hills specials thru it.
The specials were so soft it was anticlimactic... the magnums were nothing but fun.
Essentially an N frame clone with Pachmayer grippers on it.
Jim
50 240 gr WWB magnums and 24 250 gr Black Hills specials thru it.
The specials were so soft it was anticlimactic... the magnums were nothing but fun.
Essentially an N frame clone with Pachmayer grippers on it.
Jim
THE MACHINIST
Member
CH47gunner
Member
Nice gun there Legionnaire.
The 3 inchers can be a real handful when firing full Mag loads. I'm with you, I'll stick to the .44 Spl.'s unless I'm packing in the sticks.
For recreation .44 Mag shooting, I've got a 629 Classic 5" that sucks up a lot more of the recoil.
Here's another pic of a 629 3".
Bruce
S&W 629-4 3"
The 3 inchers can be a real handful when firing full Mag loads. I'm with you, I'll stick to the .44 Spl.'s unless I'm packing in the sticks.
For recreation .44 Mag shooting, I've got a 629 Classic 5" that sucks up a lot more of the recoil.
Here's another pic of a 629 3".
Bruce
S&W 629-4 3"
FoMoGo
Member
2 5/8" actually... and yes, great guns.
This is mine.
Here is the grip frame and interesting 4 position hammer spring adjuster.
Jim
Rem.222
Member
I often thought of trading my DW RZ10 for a 3" S&W haven't but both fit the nix I would use it for. House gun and back-up hunting deer and pigs.
Ray
Ray
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