[FunYet]

Well, I had to go and do it. I rented a 629 at the range today and went through a box of 50 rounds. I was sort of hoping I wouldn't like it, but alas, it was fun to shoot. The recoil wasn't as bad as I thought it might be but it sure was stout. The model I tried had a 6 or 8 inch barrel (I don't recall the exact length). It was longer than I'm used to shooting so it felt a bit awkward to line the sights up. I was getting surprisingly tight groups.

I might look into a 4" model or possibly the 3" Trail Boss mentioned in another thread. The local gun store has a few 629s and I also saw a 610 that caught my eye.

Oh, the pain of decisions.

[Rockrivr1]

Yeah it's a nice revolver. But I might suggest that you wait until the new 460 comes out and try that before you buy. I heard it should be soon. Or you can just go all out and get the 500. :D

[Glock19Fan]

FunYet- You experience is similar to mine.

The very first time I shot a .44 magnum (DA/SA Ruger), I brought a few friends along to just give them a change to shoot it. Since I was the most experienced shooter, I decided to shoot first. I was a little hesitant, becuase from the stories I heard, I was expecting the gun to fly back, smack my forehead, and embarass me infront of everyone at the range.

So I pulled the trigger, and I was plesantly suprised at how little recoil the gun had. I was even more suprised when I looked at the target and saw a nice clean hole an inch or so from the bullseye.

I dont know if it was the gun, or just the caliber, but the gun was VERY accurate, in fact I shot it better my first time than with my Glock 19 after several range sessions. :what:

I would really like to get one someday, just not anytime soon.

[Bandit01]

You boys are more than welcome to come to Charlotte, N.C. and shoot my Super Redhawk. I'm a reloader and I have a .44 mag recipe that'll knock your socks off. BUT, it's totally accurate.

[Marshall]

It's an amazingly accurate caliber which in addition to it's lessor recoil is why I prefere it over it's bigger brothers.

[dairycreek]

Just a thought. As long as I wear good ear protection and keep the dreadful noise to a minimum the recoil also seems to be less too. I think, with the 44 mag, that much of the fear of the recoil is the fear of the noise. FWIW :)

[GreenFurniture]

We just put a 4" 629 in our rental case.

I've got to admit, I've been shooting it so much that I've got a blister on the web of my right hand.

[Marshall]

Just a thought. As long as I wear good ear protection and keep the dreadful noise to a minimum the recoil also seems to be less too. I think, with the 44 mag, that much of the fear of the recoil is the fear of the noise. FWIW

Dairycreek, I understand. You know though, my .357's have a more harsh noise than my .44's. They're louder to me, by quite a bit. It seems I remember seeing some decible numbers on the various calibers here on THR and the 357 was up toward the top. Maybe someone has those?

[klover]

My favorite. Don't forget to get a .44 marlin lever to go with the 629 ;)

[Standing Wolf]

The .44 family of cartridges are inherently more accurate than many others. I've never understood why.

[SASS#23149]

THE best group I ever shot was with a rented model 29 years ago at a range.Cloverleafs are fun to shoot!!
but that particlular gun rappped me in the knuckles on every shot and I soon developed a flinch from it,the fun ended whent the pain escalated on each shot.But it sure could shoot!!

[double0757]

I'm looking to buy my second 629, a mountain gun or just full log 4" as my next purchase. It will be my third revolver. I like my 629 a lot. Double O

[c_yeager]

A 6.5" model 29 is on my must-buy list. its just a matter of finding one at the right price, im still looking. They are awesome guns and arent nearly as unpleasant to shoot as their reputation would indicate.

[FunYet]

What's considered a decent price for a 4" 629? They go for about $670 in the local shops, a lot less via resources on Gunbroker.com ($560 seems average).

What's a decent price for a Trail Boss?

[kennedy]

have you thought of a colt anaconda with rare 4 in barrel, E-mail me if interested, I have one for sale

[Majic]

Don't think that the 3 incher will shoot the same. That's a beast of a different color.

[71Commander]

I recently got rid of a 6" 629 for a 3" 629. The recoil on the 6"er was a pussy cat. I haven't shot the 3"er yet. It can't be any worse than a .357 S&W 386PD using full throttle loads. :what:

[stormyone]

I love my 3" 629. I have no problem shooting a box of 240gr magnums through it in a range session. I was surprised... from what I've heard I expected it to break my hand. And 44 Specials I can shoot all day.

[Sharps Shooter]

Whenever I hear that story from somebody who knows somebody who heard of a guy who ended up with a broken wrist from firing a .44 Magnum, I point to my 5'2", 110lb wife, Barbara. Barb has a wall full of trophies from knocking over 50 to 200 meter steel silouettes with her .44 Magnum. She did break her wrist once - she fell off a skateboard when she was a kid. :rolleyes:
I'm with others who have written they don't like the sound of a .357 Magnum as well as a .44 Magnum. I think the .357s have more of a "crack" to them where as the .44s have a deeper "boom." Either will ruin your ears for life though if you don't wear hearing protection. I learned the hard way. I only have about 60% of my hearing left in either ear. :uhoh:

[W Turner]

A good friend of mine (at the time) bought a Lew Horton edition 629 that was round-butted and had a 3" magna-ported barrel. It was incredible to shoot. With full-power factory loads (Remington 240gr. JSP IIRC), it was not bad at all. Lotsa flash and boom, but the porting helped keep the recoil in line. You couldn't pay me enough to shoot a Garrett Hammerhead load thru it though.

There is a 5" SW Model 629 at a local shop for $499 with no box or papers that I keep trying to convinvce myself ot pull the trigger on, but just haven't been able to make myself whip out the cas-er plastic yet.

There is also a used model 329 at another shop for $629. It has had exactly 4 rounds fired thru it by the original owner, who promptly traded it right back in on something else....lol.

W

[Working Man]

My girl is about the same size as Sharps Shooter's wife. The fact that
she shot a .44 so well is one reason why we started dating.

[FunYet]

I broke down and bought a 5" 629 Classic. Actually I should say I traded a few of my locker-loitering semi autos and a small amount of change for the 629. Very happy with the deal I got. I was within inches of choosing the 629 Mountain gun then whimped out and changed my mind in favor of the full-lugged 5". There was also a Super Redhawk in the case whispering "buy me, not the Smith" but I stuck with S&W. It just so happens I have tomorrow off and have a box of ammo so I'll get a chance to stop at the range. The only difference between this gun and the gun I rented at the range is about 1 1/2 inches of barrel. We'll see how they compare.

Next purchase will likely be a reloading press!

[JMag]

Congrats on the Smith!

As for me, I've owned a Colt Anaconda 4" .44 Magnum for many years. It is a tack driver and a lot of fun to shoot. It looks good, too. I'll never part with her. ;)