Smith and Wesson 329pd

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Antihero

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So after handling a 69 and gp100....I really like the 329. I want a 44 special so this is basically a 44 Special with magnum ability, if I'm doing 44 mag, it'll be a handload with a heavy 300ish bullet and 900fps, basically 44 super special if you will.

Who has owned a 329 here and liked it?
 
So after handling a 69 and gp100....I really like the 329. I want a 44 special so this is basically a 44 Special with magnum ability, if I'm doing 44 mag, it'll be a handload with a heavy 300ish bullet and 900fps, basically 44 super special if you will.

Who has owned a 329 here and liked it?
Owned one? No. I have shot 3 of them. They are a handful with any sort of warm loads. Remember this gun is only 2 oz heavier than a glock 19, not something I'd want to be shooting quite a bit If this is for predator defense. I think youd be much better off with a redhawk or 629 if you really want to get the most out of a .44 (the redhawk is the better choice there) if you really want a dedicated .44 spl the ruger blackhawk would be a fine 6 gun that can handle some pretty decent loadings.
 
In his Book of the .44, John Taffin says the Smith 329PD is the best .44 special revolver ever. I own one and agree. It’s a great trail gun.

I’ve posted about it here in bear gun threads, .44 special threads, and trail gun threads.

It’s so light you will a always carry it and never leave it in the truck because it’s too heavy. Its a joy to shoot .44 special in. It’s a great carry gun for in town. In the back country, load with Buffalo Bore low recoil .44 magnums. They are hard cast Keith semi wad cutters.
 
My all day every day carry gun for the better part of a decade after I retired. Had three, still have two. Shot around 9,000 rnds thru them (mostly 240 - 260 at 1,100 fps). If shot frequently with high intensity loads, they will require more repair/maintenance than their steel counter parts. Don't know repair/maint frequency with .44 specials, but suspect it not to be an issue. Still carry mine as backup when bow hunting elk here in Montana.

The Buff Bore low recoil ammo chronos 1,264 fps out of the 4" M69 (per BB site) - same as I got 5 long paces from the muzzle with factory Remington 240 JSPs (vs BB 255gr). These are full power .44 mag loads.

Don't shoot it with the grips that come with the gun -- buy some Hogue or Pachmayr rubber grips that cover the backstrap.

Here's one of mine

329%20033.jpg

FWIW,

Paul
 
My all day every day carry gun for the better part of a decade after I retired. Had three, still have two. Shot around 9,000 rnds thru them (mostly 240 - 260 at 1,100 fps). If shot frequently with high intensity loads, they will require more repair/maintenance than their steel counter parts. Don't know repair/maint frequency with .44 specials, but suspect it not to be an issue. Still carry mine as backup when bow hunting elk here in Montana.

The Buff Bore low recoil ammo chronos 1,264 fps out of the 4" M69 (per BB site) - same as I got 5 long paces from the muzzle with factory Remington 240 JSPs (vs BB 255gr). These are full power .44 mag loads.

Don't shoot it with the grips that come with the gun -- buy some Hogue or Pachmayr rubber grips that cover the backstrap.

Here's one of mine

View attachment 937497

FWIW,

Paul

Very cool to have someone here with that much experience. What holsters did you use for it? It's light enough to make me wonder if I could carry it IWB easily.

I admit I really like the grip on the one I tried, I guess there's 2 types of wood grips. Which ever ones aren't the Ahrends are the ones I like. Hopefully they are up to 44 special recoil
 
Owned 2. Gave one to a friends son as a wedding gift. Was my primary backcountry gun for high altitude weeklong+ backpacking trips in bear country for over a decade. You might want to rethink that 300 grain idea. Factory 240 grain loads have shown bullet creep. If you reload use a stout crimp. Factory 240 grain loads are manageable at the range but aren’t something you will grow used to. I have a friend who conceal carries a 329 PD with .44 special loads. He seems to be fond of it.
 
Very cool to have someone here with that much experience. What holsters did you use for it? It's light enough to make me wonder if I could carry it IWB easily.

I admit I really like the grip on the one I tried, I guess there's 2 types of wood grips. Which ever ones aren't the Ahrends are the ones I like. Hopefully they are up to 44 special recoil

Comment on IWB that exact gun but I have and do conceal a 629 Trail Boss IWB frequently with a holster from Lobo Gun Leather, with a good belt it can be done and done comfortable IMG_20150405_200631.jpg
 
Very cool to have someone here with that much experience. What holsters did you use for it? It's light enough to make me wonder if I could carry it IWB easily.

I admit I really like the grip on the one I tried, I guess there's 2 types of wood grips. Which ever ones aren't the Ahrends are the ones I like. Hopefully they are up to 44 special recoil

For every day carry - Simply Rugged Pancake. Worn strong side on my pants belt over my right hip pocket:

329%20045.jpg

For backup bow hunting elk - Bianchi 111 Cyclone. Worn cross draw on dedicated belt avail to either hand.

thumbnail_IMG_3981.jpg

Also tried Milt Sparks Summer Special for Inside Wasteband - doesn't work for me - way to uncomfortable.

I settled on hard cast 260gr WFNGC from Montana Bullet Co over 23.0gr H110 for my carry load (chronos a little over 1,200 fps at 5 long paces and 45 deg F) . Short nose on bullet, good case neck tension, and healthy crimp prevents bullet jump gun tie ups.

FWIW,

Paul
 
My buddy has one, it’s his hunting/hiking carry gun and is also on his ccw permit as one of his ccw guns.

The above posters who mentioned heavy crimping is necessary for reloads fired through one are all spot on. For his CCW qualification he couldn’t find any .44 Spl on the shelves at a couple of LGS. He hit me up in a panic so I loaded some .44 Spl loads for him to use. During firing he reported later that the last few shots in each cylinder started creeping even with a crimp I thought was okay. I’ve since put more crimp on any revolver rounds to be used on lighter guns.

The 329PD make great .44 Spl guns, as the folks have already said. :thumbup: With magnum rounds, they’re a bit on the brutal side.

Stay safe.
 
as a dedicated 6 shot .44 special I think it would be great.

That's pretty much what I'm going for more than anything.

I have a 45colt Blackhawk for those times that I need lots of horsepower. This intended goal is for less than rattle-your-teeth loads.

There's a bit of mission creep here because originally the 44 special was supposed to be my " bigger CCW for the winter months that can do people and four legged" now I think the 396 is awesome and I'm creating reasons to get it lol
 
Owned one? No. I have shot 3 of them. They are a handful with any sort of warm loads. Remember this gun is only 2 oz heavier than a glock 19, not something I'd want to be shooting quite a bit If this is for predator defense. I think youd be much better off with a redhawk or 629 if you really want to get the most out of a .44 (the redhawk is the better choice there) if you really want a dedicated .44 spl the ruger blackhawk would be a fine 6 gun that can handle some pretty decent loadings.

I actually have had a Redhawk before. Great guns.

I don't really want to get the most out of the magnum, I want the best special I can get
 
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Owned 2. Gave one to a friends son as a wedding gift. Was my primary backcountry gun for high altitude weeklong+ backpacking trips in bear country for over a decade. You might want to rethink that 300 grain idea. Factory 240 grain loads have shown bullet creep. If you reload use a stout crimp. Factory 240 grain loads are manageable at the range but aren’t something you will grow used to. I have a friend who conceal carries a 329 PD with .44 special loads. He seems to be fond of it.

I'm not set on 300s, but I'm thinking heavy and slow more than anything
 
Owned 2. Gave one to a friends son as a wedding gift. Was my primary backcountry gun for high altitude weeklong+ backpacking trips in bear country for over a decade. You might want to rethink that 300 grain idea. Factory 240 grain loads have shown bullet creep. If you reload use a stout crimp. Factory 240 grain loads are manageable at the range but aren’t something you will grow used to. I have a friend who conceal carries a 329 PD with .44 special loads. He seems to be fond of it.
One of the semi-local (next county over) sheriffs deputies carries a 2.75" Talo exclusive Redhawk with a wheel of skeeter loads as an off duty/backup gun. I've had the opportunity to shoot it a couple times and it's a great shooter. He thinks Ruger should offer a 6 shot 44 spl on a Redhawk sized alloy frame as a counterpart to the steel framed 44spl GP-100.. I think he's got something to that idea.
Might even give some of the Smith & Wesson offerings some competition.
 
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That's pretty much what I'm going for more than anything.

I have a 45colt Blackhawk for those times that I need lots of horsepower. This intended goal is for less than rattle-your-teeth loads.

There's a bit of mission creep here because originally the 44 special was supposed to be my " bigger CCW for the winter months that can do people and four legged" now I think the 396 is awesome and I'm creating reasons to get it lol

except for grizzlies and moose, there isn't a North American beast that can stand a few hits from a standard .44spl load. so unless you're in that sort of territory, I'd load up with some Underwood ammo and be as happy as a drunken clam.
 
Is the extra size (not weight) of the N-Frame compared to the GP100 or Model 69 worth the sixth round?

Are the differences you felt between the guns something you could fix with grips or a trigger job or both?

-Stan
 
I have a 396. It weighs 18 oz. Half a pound (8 oz) lighter than the 329. Recoil can be a bit brisk to downright brutal depending upon the load. Depending upon intended use it might be a good option. A range gun it is not. Don't know how easy they are to come by as they haven't been in production for some time and not that many were produced to begin with. I know one thing, mine is not for sale.

Paul
 
So after handling a 69 and gp100....I really like the 329. I want a 44 special so this is basically a 44 Special with magnum ability, if I'm doing 44 mag, it'll be a handload with a heavy 300ish bullet and 900fps, basically 44 super special if you will.

Who has owned a 329 here and liked it?

Had one for a few years.

No longer as I seem to now have an older mans hands that are attached to my wrists !.

And those hands do NOT like magnums in that light a frame & wheel gun.

In fact my Ruger super blackhawk is a "bit" painful to shoot with Buffalo Bore 305 grain full house [ and I mean FULL ] magnums.

I see a valid reason to keep & shoot only .44 SP out of yours,enjoy the hell out of her !
 
I saw a new in the box 329PD today. I looked on S&W web site and do not see any currently in production, but maybe they are. I do not need another 44 but this one has my interest. It was very stiff but that should work out with time and use. Any ideas of a fair price for one.
 
Thanks for the reply Frulk. The asking price is close to $1100.00 and I see some on the web for close to that. I am considering getting it if the price comes down. I didn't have much time to look over but the gun was very tight. The cylinder release was hard to activate and the trigger had a noticeable gritty feel to it. A good cleaning and dry firing may clear up the issues but none of my other S&W have had them. I have not bought a new S&W for some time so that may be the new norm but it shouldn't be.
 
The first 329 PD I bought was shortly after they came on the market. That gun was in the mid/upper $900’s. The second one bought early last year was close to $1100. both were purchased new. I’ve only seen two come up for sale locally in the last couple to three years. $900 or thereabouts was the asking price. It’s a gun you just don’t see very frequently on the secondary market (at least I don't).

With the recent edition the wood grips were changed up. Somewhat less bulky than previously (should conceal better with the rounded butt) with nicely cut checkering. I had no issue with the original wood grips as I liked the way they looked and size wasn't important since I carried it open in the back country. S&W is also using a new style rubber grip which totally encases the metal backstrap. That’s bound to make a noticeable difference in comfort when pulling the trigger on full house loads.

New style wood grips:

oBgPDR1.jpg
 
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