adcoch1
Member
That's prettyIt's all in the grips.
S&W 44 mag with 5" barrel
- Thread starter Edcnh
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gotboostvr
Member
Dicky, you're right. Good fitting grips are a necessity when dealing with the bigger boomers.
I'm keeping an eye out for some Ahrends for my 629
I'm keeping an eye out for some Ahrends for my 629
dickydalton
Member
Hogue pretty much got it right a couple decades ago.
dickydalton
Member
Thank you adcoch1.
gotboostvr
Member
The only rubber grips I've ever liked were the factory X frame grips (which fit round butt N frames) which were made by Hogue.
Kingcreek
Member
I have a 5" 629 Classic also. I think the 5" is a nice compromise in length and weight. The recoil is stout but not painful with the rubber grips but I most enjoy shooting reloads at less than full throttle.
Handloading the 44mag has a way of evening things out. For instance, I test my handloads DA, including one hand grip, also double tap.
What I've learned over the years is to experiment with different powders, AA #9 softens up felt recoil, muzzle flash/blast compared to powders like W296/2400 in the heavier weights. AA #9 gave 0.95" groups @31 meters through a M629/6.5", 1429fps/1088fpe, ES 20fps, SD 08fps, Sierra 240gr JHP.
Hornady recommends Vihtavhuori N105 powder for 185gr - 200gr (~about the same sectional density as 357/140gr) and this is the sweetheart (include 210gr Gold Dots) of 44mag carry. To give you an idea of the comparison between two calibers......17.7grs of 2400 is the equivalent of the 357mag/125gr SJHP factory load. Under the Arizona sun I can see the large muzzle flash and the concussion waves of the muzzle blast.
N105/19.0grs, 200gr XTP, M29 Mountain 4" = 1471fps/960fpe, ES 12fps, SD 04fps......
M629/6.5" = 1606fps/1144fpe, ES 25fps, SD 09fps. (SD=standard deviation)
The MV 5" barrel will in all probability be in between the above two MVs.
Due to the burning characteristics of N105, this is a capable double action carry load powder, very low blast and flash. As a comparison, max load N105 is 19.8grs vs H110 at 28.7grs......H110 lower MVs much higher blast/flash and felt recoil.
For practice, powders like W231 and Unique work very well with lead bullets like the 240gr Oregon Trail Lasercast line.
For the handloader, the 44mag is a very versatile carry (thinking the Barnes TAC-XP bullet 44 Special/44mag) and hunting caliber, I'd jump at the 5" barrel option.
What I've learned over the years is to experiment with different powders, AA #9 softens up felt recoil, muzzle flash/blast compared to powders like W296/2400 in the heavier weights. AA #9 gave 0.95" groups @31 meters through a M629/6.5", 1429fps/1088fpe, ES 20fps, SD 08fps, Sierra 240gr JHP.
Hornady recommends Vihtavhuori N105 powder for 185gr - 200gr (~about the same sectional density as 357/140gr) and this is the sweetheart (include 210gr Gold Dots) of 44mag carry. To give you an idea of the comparison between two calibers......17.7grs of 2400 is the equivalent of the 357mag/125gr SJHP factory load. Under the Arizona sun I can see the large muzzle flash and the concussion waves of the muzzle blast.
N105/19.0grs, 200gr XTP, M29 Mountain 4" = 1471fps/960fpe, ES 12fps, SD 04fps......
M629/6.5" = 1606fps/1144fpe, ES 25fps, SD 09fps. (SD=standard deviation)
The MV 5" barrel will in all probability be in between the above two MVs.
Due to the burning characteristics of N105, this is a capable double action carry load powder, very low blast and flash. As a comparison, max load N105 is 19.8grs vs H110 at 28.7grs......H110 lower MVs much higher blast/flash and felt recoil.
For practice, powders like W231 and Unique work very well with lead bullets like the 240gr Oregon Trail Lasercast line.
For the handloader, the 44mag is a very versatile carry (thinking the Barnes TAC-XP bullet 44 Special/44mag) and hunting caliber, I'd jump at the 5" barrel option.
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