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What are the max loads for a 629-1? I know that Redhawks, Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks and several other revolvers can handle much higher pressures. I'm wanting to know where the ceiling is for hunting loads in a 629.
Thanks
L
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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20 to 21 gr of 2400 with the Keith 250 gr is my hunting load. As far as the Rugers the Smith will take the same loads but may shoot loose a little quicker over time.
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Not true. I understand HP White Labs, under carefully controled conditions, blew up both a Smith 29 and a Ruger Super BH. Both let go at 80,000 psi.
Stick with pressure tested loading data, and don't get powder happy is what works well. If you insist on getting "a little more," sooner or later your pistol will often unravel. You can't be sure just where you are pressure wise with any handgun if you insist on pushing the limits.
Buy a more powerful pistol, there are lots of selections, rather than push something into unknown territory. E
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That's the whole point of this thread, Eremicus, to try and findout where the limit is for prudent loading.
It seems that lots of people jump to the wrong conclusion on these boards.
Perhaps I was wrong about the Rugers being able to handle more pressure. On the other hand, one can go to about any custom ammo maker and see that they advise not to use certain loads in S&W revolvers but they are just fine in Rugers. A few of those loads are too long but many would fit just fine in S&W cylinders.
Anyway...
Landrum
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Campfire Outfitter
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E,
Bolt thrust (and it's component forces) is the primary cause of a revolver shooting loose, not pressure. Single action designs with their base pin hold up to bolt thrust much better than swing-out cylinder designs. The White Labs test is really only a test of cylinder strength.
In my experience a M629 will hold up just fine with heavy hunting loads as long as the loads are from the .44 Mag section of the manual.
Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense.
Robert Frost
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Elmer Keith Load of 22 gr of 2400 is the load i use in the 70's but now 2400 is a little faster burning and develops more pressure than the older version of the powder and that is why i backed off to 20 to 21 gr's for my 44 mag loads. Another good max load is 23 gr of H110 with the same 250 gr cast bullet. I have shot thousands of these loads over the years and they work in the Smith Model 29 and 629 44 mag. Use CCI 300 primers with the 2400 and 350 Magnum with the H110. You can substitute Win 296 for H110 if you like. With these loads the 44 mag is at it best .
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I've killed several deer and quite a few hogs with my model 29's, but I don't ever load them for more than the published reloading manuals data anymore. They seem to do the job just fine. I once bought an old loose Mod. 29 just for the purpose of playing with hotter loads (on a lanyard from a vise). I never blew it up, but I can tell you it loosened up very quickly even more than it already was to the point it would bind and you had to fiddle with it to cock it. Decided I didn't want to do that to my good revolvers. I think Ememicus has the right idea though, if you really want or need more power that's a good enough excuse to get you another bigger gun! At least that would be my excuse! 
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost....
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24gr of W296 under 240gr bullets is one heck of a load. Not max, but not far from it. Stout and accurate. Elmer got it right on this one.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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I've seen loads to 22.0 gr of 2400 for the 29/629. They are strong, but hot loads make them loosen up. I'm not a big fan of H110 since I discovered 2400, it's a lot more forgiving.
I have a few of the S&W's and never seem to go higher then 18.5 gr of 2400 using a 250 gr LSWC. This load will do anything I need.
My favorite load with the above however is 17.0 gr of 2400. It's easier on the gun and me.
One more word of advice that was passed on to me when I bought my first .44 Mag, a 629-1. The gunsmith in the store told me to stay away from 300 gr bullets as these guns were designed when the 240 gr bullet was the preferred load. He told me the gun would handle it for awhile but would soon start to need adjustment. I've followed that advice.
The reason for not shooting the 300 gr bullet is the early S&W .44's did not have the endurance package. When insane hot loads were used in these guns sometimes the cylinder would rotate backwards after firing. This is where the endurance package comes in. I believe it started to show up on the 629-3 but don't remember which model 29 it was on.
I've never seen a reason to shoot anything heavier then 250 gr in my revolvers.
Good luck and enjoy your gun.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
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What are the max loads for a 629-1? I know that Redhawks, Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks and several other revolvers can handle much higher pressures. I'm wanting to know where the ceiling is for hunting loads in a 629.
Thanks
L The max load is the same for all of them and that is set by SAAMI. The44 mag is not loaded to the same PSI today that it was in the 60', 70's, etc and that is when S&W m-29 got the rep for geing a bit weak for full powered loads. This only showed it's self in the IHMSA game because of the high volume of ammo fired
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I've seen loads to 22.0 gr of 2400 for the 29/629. They are strong, but hot loads make them loosen up. I'm not a big fan of H110 since I discovered 2400, it's a lot more forgiving.
I have a few of the S&W's and never seem to go higher then 18.5 gr of 2400 using a 250 gr LSWC. This load will do anything I need.
My favorite load with the above however is 17.0 gr of 2400. It's easier on the gun and me.
One more word of advice that was passed on to me when I bought my first .44 Mag, a 629-1. The gunsmith in the store told me to stay away from 300 gr bullets as these guns were designed when the 240 gr bullet was the preferred load. He told me the gun would handle it for awhile but would soon start to need adjustment. I've followed that advice.
The reason for not shooting the 300 gr bullet is the early S&W .44's did not have the endurance package. When insane hot loads were used in these guns sometimes the cylinder would rotate backwards after firing. This is where the endurance package comes in. I believe it started to show up on the 629-3 but don't remember which model 29 it was on.
I've never seen a reason to shoot anything heavier then 250 gr in my revolvers.
Good luck and enjoy your gun. You're probably right about when the Endurance Package started showing up, but you can count on dash 4's to all have it, as anything after them.
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