Scope rail for 4" 629?

[bjk7]

Hey all,
I was thinking about putting a scope rail on my 4" 629. I use this gun mostly for animal defense up here in NW Montana. I have decent accuracy with the irons but my experience with red dots on my 22/45 .22 leads me to believe that I could really extend my range with this gun making it more useful for taking camp meat and general plinking.

The red dots I am looking at have enough battery life to have them constant on whenever I am out and about. And from all the stories of attacks I have read about, at least 8 up here this year, I don't think I would have time to get a sight picture anyway, just point and shoot. I have decent accuracy practicing the instinctive point and shoot, but I don't know if a dot sight in the way would really effect that or not. Anyone got any experience with this?

With that in mind:

First, is it possible to rail this gun without affecting the use of the irons? Because I would need the red dot to be removable to rely on the irons for backup.

Second, What do you all think about the idea of affixing a rail and small reflex red dot like a Doctor or Burris Fastfire to a 629 used for bear defense? Would a samll red dot really impede the utility of the gun as bear defense?

Third, What kind of accuracy are you guys getting from a 4" 629 at distance?

Fourth, got any pictures of a 629 with a reflex style red dot setup?

Thanks,
bjk7

 

[glockman19]

Why would you want to mess up a great gun? Leave it the way it is and practice.

I wouldn't take a shot on a bear at more than 100 yards with a 4" .44 mag.

First, is it possible to rail this gun without affecting the use of the irons?

I'm not sure on the 4". I'd scope a longer barreled gun myself.

Second, What do you all think about the idea of affixing a rail and small reflex red dot like a Doctor or Burris Fastfire to a 629 used for bear defense?

I wouldn't.

Would a samll red dot really impede the utility of the gun as bear defense?

Probably not but how will you carry it? in a holster?

Third, What kind of accuracy are you guys getting from a 4" 629 at distance?

I have a 5" and cah easily hit 18" steel @ 100 yards. anything closer and I'm getting tight enough groups for a heart/lung shot.

 

[bjk7]

Thanks for the info Glockman,

I was hesitant about altering this gun and you pretty much made up my mind. You made me see the real answer to my question: buy a new gun. I should have thought of that in the first place. I will probably just have to go out and buy a scoped 6" 629, or Redhawk or something because I really want to start hunting with a revolver. Furthermore, your info about your shooting really inspires me.

I have a 5" and cah easily hit 18" steel @ 100 yards. anything closer and I'm getting tight enough groups for a heart/lung shot

..

That is awesome. Great shooting.

Thanks again, I can always count on the good people here for good advice,
bjk7

 

[jameslovesjammie]

If you do decide to scope your new revolver, Jack Weigand makes some really good mounts at an incredibly reasonable price. I think the one I have on my 686 was like $30.00.

 

[Walkalong]

586 and a Weigand scope mount

 

[bjk7]

James- the Weigand rails do look reasonable, thanks.

Walkalong- That looks AWESOME! I see you had to remove your rear sight. I would not want to do that to my bear gun, but I might do that to a S&W I was just looking at. A 5" 629 classic. Had such a nice feel with the extra weight and longer sight radius. What sort of applications are you using it for, and how accurate are you with it? It just looks so smooth. Thanks again for the info guys,
bjk7

 

[jameslovesjammie]

Here's my long barrel 686 with the Jack Weigand mount and a Tasco PDP3 red dot.

 

[jameslovesjammie]

p.s. Sorry it's a little dirty. Just got back from a range session!

 

[bjk7]

Wow James, that is tricked out too. Like the setup. I am partial to the red dots. Red dots are the most accurate setup for me. I just can't shoot as well offhand with a magnified scope, let alone irons, as I can with a dot at the distances I shoot with handguns, i.e. under 75yds. I don't know if it is the lack of magnification, the dot reticle rather than cross hairs, or the lack of biofeedback my brain/eyes can perceive from the wobble visible with traditional scopes, or all of the above. I am a fan of red dot scopes for almost any short range shooting on handguns. Do you hunt with that rig, or target shoot? Thanks for the pics,

bjk7

By the way, I appreciate a dirty gun, I like to use them for their intended use as well.

 

[Stainz]

The screw holes for a sight rail are on all S&W K/L/N frames - under the rear sight (One screw to remove!). And, no, a scope rail won't interfere with that removed rear sight one bit - if you put it on another gun!

I bought a new 6" 66-6 a few years back from a closeout dealer - it came with a Redline rail - for $350 - a super deal, even if the 66 has the IL. My first .38/.357M, too. Everyone at the range used red dots, so I put a red dot (Tasco) on it the day it arrived... looked like a space gun! I sold the rail and red dot before I went home. The next day I came back with a HiViz pinned in the front - and some Ahrends grips on it - still the same way, over four years later. I can't stand red dots... their use dependent on a battery, etc. Not what I want in a 'safety' device.

"Excuse me, Herr Bruin, as I switch my red dot on... Oops - I see I'll need another battery... can you point me to a Wally World? Yes, I'll pick up some A1 Sauce while I am there..."

I had a 7.5" .454 SRH for years - with a Weaver 2X28 scope atop it. Great at distance. Heck, my long barrel revolver today is, well, that 6" 66 - or my 6" 629. I wouldn't even think of scoping either of them. That HiViz helps the 66 - I may pin another one on the 6" 629 one day. That is one great attribute of a Classic DX 629 - the spring-loaded front sight - no tools for a sight change. My 4" 629 is identical to the 6" 629, save the extra barrel. That additional 2" of sight radius really helps the standard sights at a distance, of course. Maybe a 6" or longer 629 is needed for 'hunting'... and that 4" for 'carrying', when rifle-hunting?

Stainz

 

[Walkalong]

The screw holes for a sight rail are on all S&W K/L/N frames

Not the older ones. Check to see. I don't remember which "change" (dash) on the 586 they started drilling and tapping the top strap. Same with other S&W guns. Of course any competent Smith could drill and tap an older gun for you.

 

[earplug]

ZIESS makes a red dot sight that is very small and solar powered. Haven't read a review of its use on a hundgun. Its advertised to be light and easily mounted and removed from a rail.
I was thinking about trying one.