[Sven]

Next Saturday I am driving to LA to look and and likely purchase my first revolver - a M29 "Dirty Harry" special in 8 3/8"!

I'll be bringing Jim March's revolver checkup guide along with me... can't wait. Buddy larryw on the forum already reloads for .44 mag, so I'll have a start there.

;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[Archie]

good on you!

The 29 is a delightful revolver. As much as it gets compared to Rugers in terms of top loads, it will handle anything you care to shoot regularly. They are superbly accurate.

The 8" barrel is a bit unwieldy to carry, but a good crossdraw or off side holster does a good job. Of course, that long barrel pays for itself if you are hunting or shooting any target discipline.

Good luck and good shooting!

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

My first revolver was a Ruger RH in .44 with 7.5 inch barrel. Big gun. Big power. 8.5 inch barrel should be fun.

[Standing Wolf]

It's a lot of revolver to start with, but a good one.

[4v50 Gary]

Methinks my first S&W is a 8 3/8" M29. Bought it from a shop in Emeryville, CA. I think I paid $345 and it came with the wood box. This was back around 1981.

[Sven]

Update: Gun didn't check out to my preference using the Jim March guidelines, so passed.

[BluesBear]

You'll find another one. There's lots out there.
Besides Harry Callahan carried a 6½".

[tex_n_cal]

Sven, try a M629 in the 6.5" classic format. The heavy barrel just hangs there, and they usually shoot very well. The 5" versions are a little more portable, too. There's several varieties of 629's approved in CA.

[Sven]

Thanks for the advice - I will heed it.

> There's several varieties of 629's approved in CA.

Does this mean I can buy older used specimens from out of state and have shipped to my FFL?

[Hal]

Does this mean I can buy older used specimens from out of state and have shipped to my FFL? From what I've read on-line, no you can't. This is the reason older Smiths are going way up in selling price in occupied territories)


Nit -an 8 3/8ths isn't a true "Dirty Harry Special".
Bluesbear nailed it. The true "Dirty Harry Special" is the 6 1/2 inch.
(to be reeeeeaaaal anal about it the true "Dirty Harry Special" isn't even a 29, it's a 57)(seems the demand for the 29 was so great the prop dept had to subtitute a 57 for most of the early filming - which in a way disputes what people claim about the film "Dirty Harry" being responsible for the popularity of the .44 Remington Magnum)

[surfinUSA]

Actuallly, he did carry a 29. the 57 story is just that a story. It will take some looking but there is an interview with people that made the movie that dispell this reappearing urban legend.

[BluesBear]

Look at the muzzle, and the front of the cylinder, when he delivers the famous "did I fire five or six" speech. You can tell it's a .44.

[another48hrs]

Doesn't sound much like Dirty Harry as it does Travis Bickle. You need to drive a taxi, get a mohawk and talk to yourself in the mirror. "You talkin to me?" :D

[JNewell]

For a quick tour of the 29 over time, including the changes/upgrades/downgrades, you might enjoy reading this article (http://www.sixguns.com/range/SmithWesson44Mag.htm) by John Taffin. In many ways the older Smiths are nicer guns, but there are trade-offs. In particular, the 29-5 and 629-3 versions are stronger. I generally agree with the point that you're unlikely to wear out a Model 29 with loads that most of us enjoy shooting, but I have seen a couple of older 29s with reeeeally stretched frames. My own choices would be either 29-2 or earlier and be a little gentle, or 29-5 or higher. The -3 and -4 versions are, in effect, the worst of both worlds...lack the old-time QC and finish, but also lack the newer versions' strength mods...but YMMV.

[Standing Wolf]

You might as well start at the top.

I've never owned a model 29 or 629 I didn't like.

[tex_n_cal]

In CA, the Classic 629's are approved, as are the 629 Mountain gun and basic 6" standard weight barrel models. The Trail boss 3" model is available, as is several varieties of Performance center models. The 329 is also CA approved. There may be others - that's what I have recently seen new in stock.

If ya want blue, though, ya gotta find a PPT, at least in this goofy state.