Shot my Smith & Wesson 329PD!

[gulogulo1970]

I shot my 329 PD on Saturday. I shot three loads 50 rounds of .44 Spl 240gr JHP @ 800fps it was very nice and mild to shoot. I shot 50 rounds of .44 Spl 240 gr SWC @ 1000fps recoil was easy to deal with, most accurate of the day. The heaviest load was 20 rounds of Corbon .44 Mag 165 gr JHP @ 1300fps recoil was stiff but not too bad the muzzle blast was incredible. I've never lit up a indoor range like that. It was like a huge flashbulb went off!. Fun!

Next week or the week after I'm going to try a full power 44 Mag 240gr JSP. I hope I can handle it. I don't think I'll ever try any of the 300-320gr loads. I'm not brave or stupid enough to try those out in a really light gun, not yet.

Over all the gun didn't recoil as much as people had warned me much less than a Charter Arms Bulldog that I fired but it does weigh almost 7oz more than that gun. I know that I didn't shoot that powerful or heavy loads. I shot about 4-4.5" groups at 25 yards, that's good for me, so I think the gun is plenty accurate. A real shooter probably could really improve those groups. I'm pretty happy with my purchase. I'll let you all know how my full power heavy load shoot goes with it.

 

[Nightcrawler]

You may want to get yourself a set of Pachmayr Decellerator grips.

 

[The Rabbi]

I shot my 329 first time today. The .44spc was quite pleasant: stiff without being punishing, authoritative I might say. The 185gr Remington semi-jacketed .44Mags on the other hand were a chore. After the 3rd shot I was hoping I was out of ammo.
This is a handloader's dream, trying to find just the right level of punch. My feeling is that it is like your car: just becaue you can drive at 100mph doesnt mean you have to every time you turn the key. Same here. I think a .44spc +P+ with maybe a Barnes XTP bullet might be the perfect carry load. But I am just get started in loading so what do I know?

 

[444]

I would really like to have a 329. I handled one a few months ago and was really impressed. I have no good use for it since I already own three handguns in that caliber. If I had one, the vast majority of the loads I would shoot would be max loads. For me, the gun would be used for carry. Not concealed carry, but wilderness carry. For that reason I would want to use high performance ammo. If I want to plink with a .44 Mag handgun I would use one of my other ones.

 

[Yo]

329 grips

The new Ahrends grips on the 329 were the most comfortable and best pointing grips I've ever tried on a S&W. I like them much better than the round butt wood grip on my 627PC or the Hogue grips. I don't know what it is about the Hogues--maybe the palm swll is in the wrong place or the finger grooves are tool large, but they don't work real well for me. The Ahrends, on the other hand, fit my mitts real well.

I was pleased to see S&W is selling these grips for other N-frames in their accessories store.

 

[The Rabbi]

I dont know about feel just in holding the gun, but no way would I want to shoot the 329 with wooden grips, I dont care whose they are. Someone mentioned Pachmayr Decelerators. Any experience with those?