Model 29 Hot-Rodding!!!

[Evyl Robot]

All,

I have a wild hair that won't leave me alone. I told you in an earlier thread that I purchased a brand-new, engraved, 29 Classic on January 1. I love this gun, but I'm thinking that I could love her more. I'm thinking of sending her back to her maker for the Master Revolver Action Package. I spoke with a local smith, who came highly recommended, and his price for the same service was pretty close to this S&W's. Plus, it looks like their "Express Service" is well worth it just in shipping charges, not to mention their 5-day turn around. Have any of you worked with S&W's PC Gunsmithing Services, and would you advise that I go for this? I'm probably not going to do it right away, as I need to save up some pennies for it. This is also a good thing since it gives me time to change my mind.

 

[earplug]

Go with the local Gunsmith

You can work with your local guy to get the exact thing you want.
Tell him what primers you will be using for your reloads, Federals go bang easier then others. DA only, SA or what ever.
If you have a problem, your local guy is nearby.
Before you make any changes decide what you want the revolver to do for you.

 

[Confederate]

Well, if you're going to shoot it, go for it; however, I've never really seen a Model 29 that really needed an action package. I have a 629 that breaks like ice and I sure wouldn't fork out the $$$ just to make it a tad better. So NO, I wouldn't do it, but money is an object for me. That gun should shoot just fine. A .44 mag isn't what I'd call a tack driver, and the tolerances, I would think, would play a greater role than the action in this particular gun. Still, I haven't tried it.

If it were my gun, I wouldn't shoot it, either, so that's just me.

 

[MCgunner]

One of the slickest worked over triggers I've ever felt was on a 29. It also has magnaporting, friend picked it up at an estate sale for ... sit down for this one ... three hundred bucks. :banghead: Anyway, after shooting that 29, I gotta say, the trigger work is worth the money. It is amazing. It's primarily the DA trigger that is so impressive. The SA triggers on 29s are already good, but not THAT good!

 

[mec]

Ive had a couple of things done byS&W gunsmiths and pc over the last decade. everything came out exactly right.

 

[RobertFBurnett]

Sent in my 686 to S&W PC about 6 months ago for master revolver package and couldn't be happier with it. The express also reccomended.

my $0.02

RFB

 

[Confederate]

I've never understood what they can do with these actions. They no longer hard chrome the triggers and the hammers, and their standard triggers and hammers—aren't they case hardened?

I've usually taken stainless (flat) mainsprings and ground small amounts off both sides to reduce double action trigger pull. And I've snipped or replaced the rebound spring after polishing the moving parts (frame and spring housing). This creates a tremendous action without having to shell out the $$$.

I don't know too many people who double action shoot the .44 mags, but the only way I could improve mine would be to put in an overtravel stop. It just doesn't need it enough for me to go through the trouble, as it is very, very slight.

 

[Master Blaster]

A .44 mag isn't what I'd call a tack driver, and the tolerances, I would think, would play a greater role than the action in this particular gun. Still, I haven't tried it.

An 80 yearold gentleman at my club would beg to differ with your accuracy statement. He used a 8 3/8" Smith 29 ( made in 1964) to win quite a number of Trophys in IHMSA competitions at 200 yards over the years, even after shooting thousands of what we now consider Ruger only loads (look at 60's and 70's reloading manuals) the gun shoots like a rifle, and still has good timing.

 

[MCgunner]

I've never found that either an N frame or the .44 mag are "inaccurate".

 

[Seafarer12]

For that nice of a gun I would send it to smith to work on it. If it was a cheaper gun I would work on it or send it to a local smith. Unless the local smith was a world famous smith smith.

 

[Evyl Robot]

Seafarer,

That's the direction that I'm leaning. This local guy seems really knowledgeable, but he nearly recommended that I send it in, himself. I think that I'll probably do that, and if I want yet a lighter trigger feel (which I probably won't), I can always install an aftermarket spring at that point.

 

[rcmodel]

A .44 mag isn't what I'd call a tack driver,

Say What?

rcmodel

 

[Seafarer12]

That's the direction that I'm leaning. This local guy seems really knowledgeable, but he nearly recommended that I send it in, himself. I think that I'll probably do that, and if I want yet a lighter trigger feel (which I probably won't), I can always install an aftermarket spring at that point.

I don't blame you. I have been thinking about getting a 27 in less than perfect shape to tinker with. I have a model 19-3 but don't want to fool with it. I know they don't have a whole lot of value but mine is just about mint without being NIB. I bought it from my old shop teacher after high school. It was pretty much unfired with all the factory stuff. I have only shot a few boxes through it. I would just like to get one with a longer and slick it up.

 

[PzGren]

I have two S&W 629s and both profited from action jobs. I am one of the rare guys that do shoot their revolvers double action.

As to .44 Magnums not being tack drivers, I vehemently have to oppose this statement! The .44 Magnum has proven its accuracy in skillful hands but to avoid errors by recoil shyness, it takes a bit more practice and skill than a rimfire gun.

For this nice - and collectible gun - I would highly recommend the S&W service.

 

[BigG]

I always thought "fixing" a S&W large frame trigger pull was gilding the lily. They don't get no better'n that.

 

[ShunZu]

A .44 mag isn't what I'd call a tack driver

Would politely disagree. I have an early 629 stainless with absolutely NO custom work on it, because I've never felt it necessary. It -is- a tack driver, but it took me a few weeks of tuning loads to find what it liked best. But any reasonable quality factory ammo shoots with very good accuracy imho.

If you have money just burning a hole in your pocket, get the custom job. But I've never owned a 29 or 629 (out of 6 thru the years so far) that needed -anything- to shoot and handle very well.

 

[Oro]

I have a 28 that has had a nice action job (not from the PC). It was done before I bought the revolver. Nice work, smooth pull, the nicest I've ever felt on a S&W. I have a 629 that is factory and it is just about as good - it would not be worth much to me to improve it to the 28's level. My 629 was a limited run - not quite as limited as your model, but it came with a near-amazing action. My point is that I have seen that the higher-end the gun that leaves the factory, the higher-end the action job already on it. Put a few hundred rounds through the gun to smooth things in and see how you feel about the action, and compare it to a PC gun at that point. I bet you'll not find much difference.

If you are going to shoot it SA, then it's also not as important - your main benefits are in the DA pull, not the SA break point. Personally, like PzGren, I don't shoot SA with any of my revolvers. I am not a long-range silhouette shooter or hunter. When I need to use a gun for business, it will be in DA mode. Thus, I practice that way. Learning the skills to DA stroke a firearm accurately is both fun, rewarding, and possibly life-saving. (Secret - dry firing).

The one action job I have had done on a S&W over the years was by APW on a 15. I would highly recommend them. Or Clark's (I have 1911 work from them). Anecdotally, I hear only positive things about S&Ws PC work, so that sounds like an excellent choice if it's cost competitive with other world-class outfits like APW, Clark, etc.

 

[Evyl Robot]

Thanks to everyone for the input! I believe that I will put 1,000+ rounds through this thing prior to screwing with it any. I've only put a few hundred through it so far. The first 50-100 made the biggest difference by a long shot (pun intended). From what I've heard, this gun has not come into its own yet. I think that by this Summer, I ought to have a better idea on whether or not I actually want to do this.

 

[Marshall]

.44's are amoung my most accurate handguns.

 

[Evyl Robot]

SZ,

It's not that I have "money burning a hole in my pocket," or that it "needs" it, but this is a "forever gun." This is my first handgun, and it's gorgeous. I will never let go of this one, short of passing it off to an heir because I am too old and feeble to shoot it myself. In sending it to S&W for the tuning, I will not be trying to make it right or ok, I will be trying to make it perfect. So, I hope you can see my situation a little better from that perspective. I had wanted to get a handgun for years before this, but there were certain events that pushed me into finally buying one. The purchase of this gun was not because it was cool or just that I liked it, but there were some sentimental reasons attached to heritage that I purchased this particular handgun. This one is my baby, and always will be. It breaks my heart that I will not be able to CCW this one wearing shorts. Fortunately, I feel that it will conceal under a sport coat as long as I've got it in a shoulder holster while wearing pants. Of course, that's a different thread completely. I hope that this helps you understand my situation on wondering whether I should have S&W hot rod it or not.

--Michael

 

[hexidismal]

One thing I think is worth mentioning is that the price for the S&W master package seems more than reasonable to me. I do my own action work, partly because I enjoy it and partly because I can do it cheaply (and very well). The other stuff though is what really makes it worth it. I don't know about anywhere else, but I do know the local guys around here would charge about $100 just for the action job. The chamfered cyl. charge holes, and an added trigger stop for an additional $40 would be one heck of a steal. And add the express package and you are getting it done in less than a week and shipping both ways for just $18 .. which if you've ever shipped a handgun, you know is great.

As much as I am a fan of S&W, and I am, I do think that with their current line of handguns they are charging too much for too little product. The PC work though seems to priced quite nicely.

 

[Sunray]

"...A .44 mag isn't what I'd call a tack driver..." Work up a load.
I'd have the local guy do a trigger job and forget the rest. The trigger stop you can do yourself now.

 

[Jeff F]

I've got a 629 that has had a Davis super tune done to it. It is slick! As far as accuracy goes, .44 mag mid range loads at 25 yards six rounds, cover with a quarter. .44 special 200 grain full wad cutters, 50 feet six rounds, cover with a dime. I shot it in quite a few PPC matches in the bay area with very good results when I was in the groove. A few perfect 600 out of 600 and my best was 57 X ring 60 shots fired.