629-1 Info Needed

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wanderinwalker

wanderinwalker

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In the on-going quest for a 21st birthday present, I had just about set myself on a 1911-type with two weeks of waiting left to go. While at one of my favorite "local" gunshops today I spotted the other contender on my list: A used Smith and Wesson 629. It wasn't exactly what I wanted; it had a 6" barrel, but it was a half-lug. Intrigued, I asked the clerk for a close look.

What I found was a Smith and Wesson 629-1, 6" barrel, SN AD(?)50XX. Barely fired and clean as a whistle. The trigger felt great, there was no endshake and the barrel-cylinder gap was perfect. Wow!! I don't think the grips were the originals, but I don't know. Price? $469 OTD. (No tax in NH.)

From a brief online check it seems this is a square-butt frame. It pre-dates the frame-mounted firing pin, so I am positive this was made before 1999(?). No internal locks, etc, etc. Just a functional double-action revolver.

Is there anything else I should know about this gun? I am just about willing to raid any of my savings accounts required to get it into my grubby little hands on it two weeks from Saturday. I hope it is still there when the calendar ticks, because I know used Smiths in this condition don't turn up for under $500 very often around here.

Comments welcome, please share whatever info you may have for me.

"Tommy likey..."
 
I bought a 4" 29-2 recently for $420. I can tell you you 29-1 is at least pre-68 or so. Mine was also in perfect shape.
 
Yes, the gun looks good. Almost (probably?) unfired. I did not see any blast rings on the cylinder and only a little residue at the rear of the barrel/top strap junction. The bore was mirror bright, as were the chambers. It definitely had a gunsmith trigger instead of a lawyer trigger *drool*.

I am going to head back in a couple of days and see what can be worked out. Sure, I really wanted a 4" (actually, a 4" 29 instead of 629), but the 6" with the half-lug isn't hugely heavier (what can I say? I'll be 21 so I'm still young and strong enough to lug it around.).

So this revolver predates the endurance package then? Which means I won't want to be putting too many super-duper mega-stomper magnums through it. (Fine with me, I'd rather shoot Specials and low-end magnums anyway.)

Thanks all, we'll see how it goes.
 
The model 29 was designed around the 240 and 250 grain bullets and with these the guns do last a long time. The problem came when steel silhouette shooters started using 275 grain or heavier bullets in the S&W. Rugers and Dan Wessons are stronger and will take the added recoil energy, but the S&W was not designed for those loads. So stick to magnum loads that do not exceed the factory 240 grain offerings and you should be enjoying that S&W for a long time.
 
stans,
Thanks for the info. I already figured the stash of 300gr HardCasts I have left over from a stint with my dad's pair of Super Blackhawks will continue to gather dust until another Ruger comes home. (I won't recite the load data; needless to say, they are stiff, although safe in the big Rugers. Oh yeah, the SBHs are gone now.)

I'm going to head back up to the shop this weekend and see if we can make an arrangement. This is probably the first handgun I've seen in the past 2 years that really, really captures my imagination. Hopefully I can snag it first and someday add a 4" companion to it!

Thanks all, take care.

Here's a similar piece on gunsamerica.com: http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976336162.htm
 
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The cylinder on the 629-1 has a tendency to unlock when firing heavy magnum loads - 240 gr and higher. It can be fixed but it could cost a few hundred dollars.

The price seems high for a used gun.
 
Went back today and talked to the shop manager. The gun is on hold for me until February if need be. SN is actually AYD30XX, price $469 for a like new-in-box gun. (No blast rings on cylinder, mirror bore, smooth as glass rotation on cylinder.) I have no intentions of firing anything stouter than a factory 240gr SWC .44 Magnum or maybe an odd 250. (Honestly, I can't think of too many things around here I want to perforate that can't be handled by a 240-250 at between 1000 and 1200 fps. And there are many things that can be easily done with lighter .44 Special ammo.)

Thanks all, I'll try to post some pictures when it comes home.

(I just checked the price on that link I posted. $575 IS steep.)
 
A model 29 shooting 240 grain bullets at 1000 to 1200 feet per second should last you a long, long time. I load my own and I load hard cast lead semi-wadcutters of 240 grains at 1000 feet per second. It is definitely more than any 44 Special, but still easier to control than full power magnum loads. For paper punching this load is hard to beat and it should be plenty effective on a whitetail deer out to 50 or so yards.
 
Not meaning to hijack the thread, but I had a question about heavy bullet loads in older 29's.

Do the heavy bullet loads just have more recoil than the 240 gr loads, and the cylinder unlocks because it just doesn't have enough locking bolt for that? Or is there something else going on when a heavier bullet is launched?
 
It is an excellent article, but still leaves me with a few questions.

Is the unlocking a long term effect that is caused by component damage over time with extended use of heavy bullets that recoil more than factory 240 gr ammo?

Do heavy bullets cause excessive wear and/or frame stretch due to increased recoil?

I find my 4" 29-2 is plenty to try and hold onto with moderate 240 gr loads, but I'd like to understand the mechanism of damage better so I can avoid any handloading misadventures.
 
ColtShooter - some guns unlocked new, right out of the box when firing the 240 gr and heavier loads. Other guns took some time before they developed that habit.
 
"... some guns unlocked new, right out of the box when firing the 240 gr and heavier loads"

I could see how that could be a PR nightmare for S&W. And they took 15 years to fix it; amazing.

Mine doesn't have much of a dragline on the cylinder; perhaps that's because the bolt doesn't engage the cylinder that well. Time will tell. I expect I will feed mainly cast 240's with 8.5gr Unique which should be pretty gentle.
 
My favorite load for my 29-3, six inch barrel, is 8.0 grains of Unique under a commercially cast 240 grain SWC, Remington brass, Winchester large pistol primer. This load gives me exactly 1000 feet per second and is very easy to shoot accurately.
 
I also picked up a used 6" 629-1, about 6 years ago. I paid $350 for it, in similar condition to the one that you describe. It had been stolen in a pawnshop break-in, and released from police evidence, when I bought it from the dealer who had taken possession of it. I prefer the 6" over the 4" barrel, especially in the big magnums, due to muzzle blast and slightly increased velocities. I also load my own .44 Mags, mostly JHP's...240's at about 1100fps, and 210's at about 1200. I've also got 3 other .44 Mags, so I haven't shot the 629 a whole lot, but it's a great gun...a typical S&W. You'll be happy.
 
larryf1952,
Wow, good deal! If I ever spot a Smith and Wesson in excellent condition for $350 (actually, less than $400 around here) I wouldn't be long jumping on it.

The gun is waiting for me to pick it up. The salesman was very patient with my litany of questions, showed me where to check for flame erosion and asked me if I had any experience with big-bore magnum revolvers. I explained that I have had experience with such beasts and had a pile of .44-cal reloading supplies gathering dust from the last round of big-bores to come through the combined collection of my grandfather, father and I. He seemed impressed, telling me "You're worlds ahead of most of the guys that come in here looking for .44 Magnums." All that I need now is for the calendar to turn to my birthday, fill out the 4473 and bring a modicum of cash to finish the transaction and procure ammunition. Needless to say, I'm stoked.

Thanks all for the replies. You've been very helpful. I'm confident I am getting a fair deal on a great firearm and am looking forward to having the beast accompany my pup and I during our winter outings.
 
I was very active in metallic silhouette but don't remember anyone who had unlocking problems. Unfortunately there are many who have mental problems and insist on loading beyond SAAMI pressures .The 29 will certainly will be damaged with a steady diet of heavier than 240s. The damaged 29s I saw were abused and those shooters abused their Rugers too.They screw up their 29 so they get a Ruger ,then say a Ruger can take more so they load even hotter for that and screw up the Ruger !! My 29 has seen many rounds without problems but of course I'm sane ! BTW if you are going to use it for hunting , a 240,[or even lighter] will easily take any deer out there .I know the 300+ bullets are the latest rage but they aren't necessary.I always used the old Speer 225 with great success.
 
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