Sw 629

[drgonzo]

Picked up a SW 629 w/ 8 3/8" barrel from a coworker a couple of months ago for about $600; it's not mint but was in pretty good shape and the price was right. Don't know why I bought it (do I need a reason to buy another gun???) as I don't plan on hunting with it--I'd just always wanted a .44 mag.

I'd fired a cylinder full of rounds when I bought it to check function at an indoor range but hadn't had it out over the winter. Last weekend I got out to the range and was sighting in some rifles. I'd brought the 629 along as well.

Had a target at 100 yards and had finished sighting in the rifles but the rangemaster hadn't called a break yet so I figured what the heck, let's see if I can get on paper with the 629.

Open sights, 100 yards, shot seated off sandbags, all six shots on paper (12" x 18")! Impressive gun!

[WIFF]

I love the 629. Borrowed a friend's at the range about 9 months ago. From 25 yards, I plinked 6 bowling pins. Accurate as all get out. I was hooked. Unfortunately, I can't afford the diamonds it would cost for the wife to agree to another gun purchase!!!

[M1911-A1]

Yea I also have a 629, I got the 6in model though, but it is still plenty accurate! love that gun

[jmichna]

Originally Posted by drgonzo

Picked up a SW 629 w/ 8 3/8" barrel from a coworker a couple of months ago for about $600; it's not mint but was in pretty good shape and the price was right. Don't know why I bought it (do I need a reason to buy another gun???) as I don't plan on hunting with it--I'd just always wanted a .44 mag.

I'd fired a cylinder full of rounds when I bought it to check function at an indoor range but hadn't had it out over the winter. Last weekend I got out to the range and was sighting in some rifles. I'd brought the 629 along as well.

Had a target at 100 yards and had finished sighting in the rifles but the rangemaster hadn't called a break yet so I figured what the heck, let's see if I can get on paper with the 629.

Open sights, 100 yards, shot seated off sandbags, all six shots on paper (12" x 18")! Impressive gun!

DrGonzo,
Impressive, even off bag. Curious, what .44 ammo were you using, and do you recall what sight picture you used? How much did you have to elevate for the 100 yards?

[drgonzo]

Originally Posted by jmichna

DrGonzo,
Impressive, even off bag. Curious, what .44 ammo were you using, and do you recall what sight picture you used? How much did you have to elevate for the 100 yards?

WWB, 240gr, JSP bought from Wallyworld. Nothing special.

When I bought the gun, the previous owner said he'd sighted it in at 25 yards. When I bought it I put a cylinder full of rounds through it at 50 feet (max. at indoor range I use) and it shot about an inch high but shots were within an inch so I knew it was an accurate gun.

When I shot it at 100 yards, my first shot was with a 10" diameter target ring perched on top of the front sight. That shot was about 3" below the target ring. Next five shots I aimed about 3" above the center of the target and those shots fell within about 2" from top to bottom and a little less than 12" from side-to-side--paper size was about 12" x 18" with two 10" targets on it; hung on target frame vertically with targets on top and bottom. When I moved the target to 25 yards later that day the gun was right on as advertised.

I'd like to think I've got good technique and I get to shoot about 4-5x/month but I'm no sniper or anything. This is the most accurate handgun I've ever shot (not that I've shot that many over the years; probably less than 20 total). Surprising thing to me is that my thought before I shot the 629 was that it would probably take me a while to get used to the recoil/report and get comfortable with it but that wasn't the case at all. Of course an all steel revolver with an almost 9" barrel is pretty heavy so that helped with the recoil . Though after I test fired it at the indoor range when I bought it I knew I probably didn't want to make a habit to shoot it indoors--when the pressure wave hit my face I could feel it in my sinuses.

Of course now I'm thinking I need to put a red-dot on it...... Anybody have red-dot recommendations?

[scooter123]

Spend the money for a good ret dot. I had a Laseraim scope type red dot on my 617 and had so much fun with it I decided to try out a cheap reflex on my 6 1/2 inch 610. A Sightmark that cost 70 bucks at Gander Mountain. First time out with the Sightmark at long range had me chasing my shots all over the target and constantly re-adusting the windage and elevation. Now the 610 is wearing the Laseraim and the Sightmark is on my 617. Last weekend I was closing in on a 2 inch group at 100 feet with the 610 without sandbags. This weekend I'll proably sandbag it and see what it will do at 50 yards. Considering that I've only been shooting the cheap 40 caliber Federal from Walmart in the 610, I'm both pleased and a bit stunned at it's accuracy.

IMO, for long range shooting, there isn't anything better than a red dot. Personally, I prefer the reflex sights because they make it so much easier to shoot with both eyes open. However, as I discovered, the cheap ones won't hold zero with any gun that has some recoil, which is why it's now mounted on my 617. In my net surfing I've discovered a small 4 MOA reflex that I'll try out on the 610 when I get my tax return this year. One huge plus is that it's a direct mount on a S&W revolver, which means that it's a lot closer to the bore axis than a rail mounted sight. The benefit of this is that the convergence effect is reduced at closer distances and it's low enough to permit shooting with the front sight should the battery fail, the distance is appropriate, and you've practiced shooting co-witness with this reflex. Now, for the details on my next relfex, it's a J Point and was obviously put together by a company of shooters instead of techies. However, note that I haven't actually tried one yet and as I've found there is a big differenece between withstanding recoil and holding zero. Cost for the package is about 350 bucks and I'm hoping at that price level it'll be a reflex that can hold it's zero. One other big plus is that because it so small and sits so far back on the gun that I think I'll be able to fit it into the Galco holster for my 610 by doing a bit of carving on the holster to clear the sight. Check it out, IMO it may be the best choice currently available for a wheelgun, the link follows.

JP Rifles

[KingArthur]

I have a 629 myself. The only complaint I have is that it has that darn key lock. Other than that, I like it.

[JoeOU1]

Congrats! Nice gun.

[RodsnRides]

Is the S&W 629 the same as used by Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry"? I think I read somewhere that it was.

Nevermind-found it. The answer is S&W Model 29:

Smith & Wesson Model 29 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[benp]

Congrats!!! I love mine!!