I traded into one thinking I would not like it but I played with it Sunday and really do like it. Much more than I thought and and about as well as I've liked any new handgun in a while.
It's 40 ounces loaded with six rounds and in an El Paso button-strap Three Persons holster. It's accurate. Recoil is not as bad as the 44-special-only Internet personalities would indicate. I was running 20 grains of 2400 and RCBS 250K bullets and it was heavy recoil but not terribly so. I've shot all-steel, hot-loaded .454s that are much worse. I seriously doubt it will break in half given the few hundred rounds I will put through it over the next few years.
I don't plan to shoot the gun a lot, but for a shoot a little, carry often gun, it's about as good as you will find. One round of snake shot and five 250Ks in this one will be about perfect for my use. I may not carry much else for a while though I think there is a Match Champion 10mm GP-100 that could affect that choice waiting for me at the ffl right now.
ya i had heard the recoil horror stories but when i shot my buddies with the winchester white box factory loads, it wasn't bad. i would buy one if i wanted another 44.
Mine hurts me with full power loads but my hands are getting old. It's always funny that everyone that shoots it's tries to buy it, and it hurts me but I won't sell it.
Nothing else carries this much power that carries so well. Or something like that.
If they had a sku that offered standard red ramp and white outline sights, I might own another one. I despise the fiber optic / V notch rear.
Sights are easy enough to change. I too used to despise fiber optic sights, but as my eyes have changed, I find I get a better sight picture in less-than-perfect light. I still love patridge front, but only when the light is really good. The v-notch will get changed at some point. I double checked and mine still weighs 40 ounces loaded in an El Paso holster.
Owned a lot of revolvers in my life including at least 3 S&W 500's as well as a BFR in 500 JRH and several 454 Casulls. None of them were as vicious as the 329 I shot with full power loads. Mine was quickly sold down the road. Simply not my cup of tea.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
Owned a lot of revolvers in my life including at least 3 S&W 500's as well as a BFR in 500 JRH and several 454 Casulls. None of them were as vicious as the 329 I shot with full power loads. Mine was quickly sold down the road. Simply not my cup of tea.
Among my revolvers, I have a .500 S&W and a 357. With full-house, 210 grain .41 Magnum loads the 357 is every bit as unpleasant to shoot as the .500.
I had one that I would download to 44spl and was very pleasant to shoot. It was a handful with some full power loads, but what do you expect.
I did sell mine and got a 5 shot model 69 and like it a lot more. It packs easier and seems to point and shoot better for me. It does weigh a little more though.
I always considered the 329 as a defensive gun. The weight, v notch rear and fiber optic front are NOT real conducive to precision accuracy. I never changed the sights because I could pick them up quickly in all kinds of light conditions. I shot mine a fair amount and pretty much wore two of them out. Here are a couple representative groups when I was shooting a lot.
. . This was about the best I could do. . Recently added this 329 Alaska Backpacker II . . This is currently my most used .44 Mag - 2 3/4" M69 . . Still carry the 4" 329 when bow hunting elk here in Montana.
Had one (or maybe two). Really liked it when shooting 44spl. I just wasn’t consistent with mags. Too much for me to trust my life in a fight with a grizzly. Switched to a 4” Mountain gun in 44mag. Not much more weight and I can shoot it much better. JMO
Ok, I'll add my 2cents worth, here is what I carry up here in Alaska,,,, Shoulder/Chest Rig, and for in Town, a Belt-Clip BullDog in Cross-Draw.... I've done a lot of work on the 329PD, and it's the Best of Both Worlds Now,,,, in my Opinion. Lj
I traded into one thinking I would not like it but I played with it Sunday and really do like it. Much more than I thought and and about as well as I've liked any new handgun in a while.
It's 40 ounces loaded with six rounds and in an El Paso button-strap Three Persons holster. It's accurate. Recoil is not as bad as the 44-special-only Internet personalities would indicate. I was running 20 grains of 2400 and RCBS 250K bullets and it was heavy recoil but not terribly so. I've shot all-steel, hot-loaded .454s that are much worse. I seriously doubt it will break in half given the few hundred rounds I will put through it over the next few years.
I don't plan to shoot the gun a lot, but for a shoot a little, carry often gun, it's about as good as you will find. One round of snake shot and five 250Ks in this one will be about perfect for my use. I may not carry much else for a while though I think there is a Match Champion 10mm GP-100 that could affect that choice waiting for me at the ffl right now.
I love mine. I carried it while on a feral hog hunt about ten years ago. Light as a feather.
I consider mine to be a .44 Special, though. I fractured my wrist shooting six rounds of heavy, hard cast, bear loads before an elk hunt some years back.
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