S & W model 29 Mountain Gun

[allan]

I think that I found a good deal on this gun, but I have heard that it recoils almost as bad as the 329PD. I would love to have new blued Smith so if anyone has any experience with a 29 or 629 Mountain Gun please reply.

 

[Majic]

The 329PD being a 26-27 oz revolver will generate alot more felt recoil over the M29 MG (which weighs in around 38-40 oz I think).
Recoil is tolerable with standard magnum loads in my M29 MG, but turn right nasty with heavy loads (280-300 grainers).

 

[lmccrock]

I have no experience comparing 329PD, nor 629 Mtn gun. But I have a 629 with 4" barrel. I will say that grips are everything. I could shoot it all day long with 44 special or lighter magnums, but it would cut the web of my hand with one or two shots of heavier magnums. Never tried the hunting loads, 300 grain bullets and whatnot.

Changing the grips allows me to shoot it bloodlessly. Now about 2 cylinders of magnum ammo make my hand sore, but no bleeding.

Lee

 

[JNewell]

Check the weights. The MG weighs, IIRC, all of 3 ounces less than the straight tube 4" 629. That's a far cry from the 329, and it makes a lot of difference in how they handle (and in how they carry -- which are you more interested in?).

 

[tech]

Allan,
I am not a recoil fan and found the Mountain Gun to be manageable.

Mike

 

[Mannlicher]

with most 240 grain loads, my Mountain Gun is fun to shoot. When the bullet weight hits over 300 grains, and the velocity stays above 1200fps, it becomes, well, uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, those fast, heavy bullets are what you tend to want to carry when hiking in the wildneress. I can live with the recoil, because I darn sure want the most effective bullet I can get.

As has been said before, grips make the difference. I got rid of those factory rubber grips, and went with Herretts Roper stocks.

 

[HSMITH]

I shot a mountain gun a lot. I lost 4 or 5 front sights with it while shooting, due to recoil in my opinion. Back in those days I was tough (dumb?) and I shot a lot of really heavy loads, and that mountain gun is a brutal sonofasumpthinugly with heavy loads. I had the stock grips with the exposed backstrap and it would literally bruise the palm of your hand. I tore that gun up in less than 3000 rounds, sold it loose as a goose to a guy for a truck gun. I'm not tough anymore and shoot much more civilized loads......

Now, with normal factory ammo it is stout but not bad. Factory 44 mag ammo is quite weak anymore compared to original loadings and the capability of the cartridge. The mountain gun is controllable and a nice gun to carry when you need some serious power.

If you can get one at a good price you will never lose money on it, you will always be able to sell it easily. The next one I see for a reasonable price is mine for sure.

 

[Pappy John]

I'll admit it....I AM A WIMP!!! I've never shot anything heavier than a 250 gr Keith in my 29 MG....and never faster than 1100 fps. I even had to take those pretty Ahrends off and put on a set of Pachy Decelerators to shoot them that fast. I save the heavy/fast stuff for heavier revolvers with more barrel to keep the snap down....like my Redhawk Hunter. Then I can crank up my XTP's to 1350 or so and still be comfortable. I do love that little 29 though with "sensible" loads. It's way more accurate than I ever expected a 4" barrel to be.

 

[dinosaur]

What`s considered a good price for one NIB? I usually see one or two at the gunshows. The cheapest was $569 up to about $639.