Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Shot The S&W Model 29-2

Back in the early 1980s, I wanted a Dirty Harry gun, a Model 29 .44 Magnum. Unfortunately, I was not alone. The Dirty Harry movies had made that gun near unobtainium. So, after a year of trying, like so many others, I settled on a Model 57, instead.

This, by the way, is the main reason for the success of the Model 57, i.e., folks wanting a Model 29 (many because of the Dirty Harry movies), and settling for a Model 57. Many then discovered the many favorable characteristics of the 57 and its .41 Magnum chambering, but that's another story.

Anyway, eventually I acquired the gun which is the topic of this post, a 29-2. I would have preferred it in a six inch barrel, but it's pretty cool in four inch, too. Elmer Keith would likely agree.

I did eventually acquire a six inch Model 29-3, but (while it's not going anywhere) that also is a tale for another thread.

Anyway, I got it out and shot it today.



I was shooting handloads that represent the low end of .44 Magnum power potential, just for fun range shooting. The projectiles are Keith style 240 grainers.

Had a great time with it. Very pleasant to shoot with moderately powered loads. I fired a round of full power JHP afterwards, just to clear out any possible leading (of which a visual inspection of the bore uncovered none, but just in case there was a tiny amount in there that I couldn't see, I shot that one JHP round at the end).

Here's a group fired off hand, double action, at 15 yards.



Then I put it back to 25 yards and did some more shooting, but this time off hand firing single action.

Thanks Chris -

I appreciate these threads of yours.

Beautiful revolver.

Nice😎👍

Very nice. I've got 2 629's, a 6 3/8" and 3" barrels. Love the 44 Rem Mag.

I managed to obtain a 6.5 M/29-2 in the mid 70's shot it quite a bit back in the day. Fast forward to the present my .44 Magnum is a M/629 no dash 4" that's been Magna-ported. For more than 40 years now my go to load in .44 Magnum has been 7.5gr. of Unique with a 200gr. RNFP Cowboy bullet. A very pleasant load to shoot, occasionally I'll increase the charge to 9.0gr. of Unique. I have a dedicated powder measure that throws 7.5gr., that's how much I shoot that load.

Very nice model 29. The round that got me into handloading 30 years ago.

I’ve always wanted a .44 but could never justify it having two .357’s Maybe someday.

Probably one of the nicest revolvers made. Yours is a great example of what an old school S&W is.

Another great post Hawk. I like gun topics.

Blue steel and choice woods

Like A lot!!

Sharp gun!

I've got it's ugly cousin, a 5" 629 with rubber Hogues.

Fun gun as well

Well done! For a lot of years now I’ve carried a 4” 629 Mountain model on my hip or in a front rig. Primarily for my dealings in bear hunting tho elsewhere as well.

Like a good neighbor, S&W is there.

Osky

That’s a beaut.

So, after a year of trying, like so many others, I settled on a Model 57, instead.

JMHO, but the .41 Magnum and the Model 57 (and 657) are a great cartridge and revolver, respectively. I wouldn't call that "settling." And, I would gently suggest that the .41 Magnum with its ample power and lower recoil than the .44 Magnum, is probably a better choice for most shooters. Harry Callahan being an exception.

I've got a S&W stainless mountain gun in .41 magnum. I love it.

In the early 80's I was trying to find an M29 and couldn't do so. I did find a new Ruger Super Blackhawk 7.5" and was now in the .44 Magnum business. I grew up reading Elmer Keith so a 240 gr. bullet over 22.0 grs. of #2400 was my standard load. That pistol shot like a young rifle. Eventually, I found my Grail gun, a 6" M29, and added that to the pistol group. I cut the powder charge of #2400 down to 20.0 grs. and was happy with that from my S&W. Over the years I've owned both a 4" and an 8 3/8" M29. Great guns!

I only meant that this was the attitude of most of those who were the early purchasers of the Model 57. I thought I was clear on that.

Once they were forced to "compromise" with the 57 vs the 29 (which was what most of them actually wanted), however, many discovered that the .41 Magnum is an excellent round in its own right, and that the Model 57 was also a great revolver.

Were it not for the fact that most who wanted a Model 29 couldn't find one, the Model 57 (and the .41 Magnum it's chambered for) would likely have faded into obscurity by now. So you can be thankful to Dirty Harry that both the .41 Magnum and the Model 57 have a strong niche following today.

Hawk: You can also remove lead another way. Get a real copper scouring pad like Chore Boy. Unwind some strands and wrap them around an old worn brass undersize bore brush for a tight fit. This will strip the lead out very quickly.

Had a 29 but I was really hot rodding the 44 back then. A steady diet of my loads would eventually rattle all the screws loose. I ended up with a Redhawk instead which is better suited to the abuse I was subjecting the S&W to. I since discovered the 41 mag and its now my favorite handgun. And I rarely shoot maximum loads through either of them.

Agreed.