strength of the S&W 629 .44 magnum

[ThePerfectOne]

I am aware that the S&W 629 is not as strong build as the Ruger .44 magnums, but will the S&W be able to eat a steady diet of 240 grain bullets going at 1580 feet/second from an 8" barrel for thousands of rounds

thanks

 

[JohnKSa]

Open the cylinder and look on the frame where the crane covers it when the cylinder is closed.

There should be a model # that looks like '629-1'

if the dash is -1 or -2 then my understanding is that it's probably better to go easy on the gun. Starting with the -2E S&W made some upgrades to the gun so that it would hold up better.

 

[tex_n_cal]

say what? 1580 fps? That's higher than I want to try out of any .44 revolver.

I guess you MIGHT get there with hard cast lead bullets, but that velocity is too high for jacketed, out of a 8" .44 revolver.

My jacketed loads for jacketed 240 gr bullets just get into the 1400's with a 6.5" barrel M629, and they work just fine. You'll get another 60-70 fps out of the longer barrel, and that's about it.

I have seen 2 blown up .44's - one a Super Blackhawk, one a Colt Anaconda. The bigger guns are somewhat stronger, but don't get too ambitious!

 

[ThePerfectOne]

made a mistake, I meant 1480 ft/s.

but if I get it right, the S&W is not really up to the full house loads. too bad, 'cause I really like the S&W, but if it can't handle some serious .44 magnum power safely, it's not meant for me

by the way: these 240 grain bullets going at 1480 ft/s are just factory loads from yugoslavia, from a company called "prvi partizan".

thanks for the replies

 

[Tamara]

by the way: these 240 grain bullets going at 1480 ft/s are just factory loads from yugoslavia

1480fps as measured at the box flap?

With a newer 629, the only thing I'd be worried about are the very heavy bullet hunting loads, and those are frequently indicated as Ruger Only. (Even then, with factory SAAMI-spec ammunition, I'd be more worried about battering and frame stretching than catastrophic failure.)

 

[Gunz]

I have plain 629s to 629-3s and shot Blazer and WInchester 240s through them like rice on Chinese food orders. (I love Chinese food). Years have gone by, and I still love Chinese food, and my plain 629s with 240gr fodder has not blown up, lost timing, or flame cut. It is the weird 300gr hard cast which can kill your lockwork.

 

[WheelMan]

weird 300gr hard cast?

that's my redhawk's staple diet

 

[Tamara]

WheelMan,

that's my redhawk's staple diet

I save that stuff for my Bisquero. My 629 shoots mostly 240gr loads from Georgia Arms.

 

[WheelMan]

I just passed up on a used 629 DX classic for that redhawk. I guess I just like that heavy lead too much.

I've got a Vaquero with a bisley hammer, That probably doesn't qualify it for "Bisquero" status.