Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Picked up a S & W Model 329pd...

1250 fps with a 300 gr cast performance out of a 4 5/8" barrel SBH. Not an overcharged load, within specs. Loaded and chronoed. Guess I'll put my cone back on now. Maybe you should look into listening and learning instead of telling everyone they are wrong, but you are right.

By the way Mr. handgunner, hodgdon shows a start charge of h110 at 20 gr for a 325 hard cast. Max of 22. My load was lower than that max with a 300. Please tell me how I was overpressuring my gun again?

I've been packing a M329PD as an every day woods carry piece for 5 years. The hype of 'inhuman recoil' is hyperbole. It's not a good choice for a novice to learn on, but more experienced pistoleros should have no problem ........ as long as you NEVER try heavy loads with those pretty wooden stocks. As was mentioned earlier, S&W's 'X-frame grips' fit perfectly, and cushion the recoil much more effectively. I had mine Magna-Ported and the formerly big muzzle jump was eliminated, and double action is, with practice, usable.

Finally, I no longer handload for my .44s. I use Buffalo Bore's 'reduced recoil' 44 Mag load in my 329PD. The load is a full magnum load ... a 255 gr Keith-style hardcast GC @ 1270 fps (average) out of my barrel ... and features a different pressure-curve than the higher pressure BufBore heavier bullet loads.

In my long time S&W M396ML ....44Special, I use BufBore's 'heavy' 44 Special load ... same bullet as the Mag load, but @ 975 fps from the 3.125" barrel. I executed a moose in my dog team, about a decade ago, with 2 applications of that load.

Now I have more time to load for my rifles. For my use, I doubt I could improve on the these 2 loads. The right bullets @ the right speed with excellent penetration.

The M329PD is a dandy carry piece once you become proficient with it.

Endgame, did you do any modifications to your 329PD? With mine, I replaced the so called "SAFETY" lock, loc tighted the cylinder latch, and replaced the sights with regular patridge style sights plus a trigger job.

We are supporting you as best we can, but your dumbfucktitude makes it difficult

Keep diggin' stupid.


Travis

DLA,

I have loaded one or two rounds on 44 mag myself in the last 2+ decades I have been loading and hunting with it.

Nothing that Montana Marine posted was inaccurate or unsafe. In fact I have pushed hard cast bullets faster out of tubes 4"s and longer. I guess I would say that I am a little bit of a .44 mag aficionado.


I have enjoyed reading Montana Marine's posts through the years, as he has similar interests (such as long range precision shooting and reloading). He carefully works up loads, is observant of pressure signs, and by my observation seems to have his head screwed on pretty darn straight.

On that note, I read your article. It is well written and informative. You obviously spent a good amount of time compiling the information.

You may not agree with MM, or JWP, or me for that matter, but understand that their experiences differ from yours and I for one (and many others)value their opinion based upon the manner in which they present it.

As for me, I am a life long learner. I tend to be a sponge on some subject matters. On others that I feel I have the knowledge or experience base to reply with an informed reply, I will.

In regards to this subject there is no reason to get fired up simply because your experience differs from others.

Cheers Friend.

BTW, there is a thread called the 44 mag pics and discussion thread that I started a couple years back. Please feel free to post pics in it, as we all love to see pics of 44 mags.

I'm not hogpiling this DLA feller either, but I gotta say your observations on Shane (Montana Marine) seem accurate to me.

When I first saw the loading and read some of the post, I thought "whoa", but then I read who it was and had no more concern. I've never met him in person, but Shane seems to me to be one of the most careful and precise guys here. I read a bit further and found that indeed his load came straight from the book anyway. My own concern initially was the range of the H110 loads, since IME many times H110/W296 don't have a range of loadings but just one set load. I've loaded with that powder over the years and it is still my go-to loading for hot 44 Mag. and even some 45 Colts, but it is sensitive. Again, though, reading that it came from Shane and then further reading that he got it from the book-no worries.

Indeed one of the best threads ever on this forum and spawning a bunch of similar ones that were good too. 45 Colt, 45 ACP and 357 (I think?), come to mind. Pics always rock. An otherwise pedestrian thread can literally be transformed by some good pics. I always like watches, knives, canteens, Zombie targets and the like in the background. Pics with settings in the mountains are always good too. You could take a pic around here right now, but you'd pretty much get dead grass that ain't even brown but grey and ponds that are about empty.

Ok, I get it that you have some sort of jones for Montana Marine. But instead getting all gushy, at least go back and read what the discussion was about. Never hurts to do that before you add your two cents to a thread.

I summed it up nicely in post #6821889. Read that, think it over, and then post.

I'm all for safe loads.

I'm all for safe loads too. Been loading since 1977, still have 10 fingers, 2 eyes, and a pulse. Plan to keep them all for as long as possible.

The only reason I even weighed in here is because dla was having a bit of a scoff at those who didn't run their 329pd's wide open, then stating he loads the 240 to 1200 fps. Seemed kinda odd to me, for a guy running a midrange load himself.

Hell, I mostly shoot light/mid loads in my 44 too, but I also have some full house stuff on the shelf.

Cool, now I know what got you going. I like 240gr1200fps from a 4" tube. You said 240gr1400fps was the top for a 4" tube and I called you on it. Show me, (data please), how you get 1400fps with 36kpsi and a 4" barrel and I will be educated.

Think hardcast, and H110.

240 gr LSWC and a stiff load of H110 (under book max btw) will do 1400fps my 4 5/8" SBH with no pressure signs It's been chronographed and as it appears in several manuals I will assume their data shows it to be safe pressure.

I was born in 1977. Just sayin'...




Travis

BORN in 1977? I was already working full time, driving a Hurst Equipped Olds 442, and chasin the gals in 1977. Had already built one custom rifle and been handloading 6 years. I guess that makes me an old fart

dla,

The commments in regards to MMs loads and posts were a sign of respect. Something which you obviously need a lesson in.

I posted in a friendly and polite manner to smooth out your puffed up and ruffled feathers. It was apparant that you considered yourself as the "expert" on the subject matter, while not having a clue whom your audience was. The clue might have been how quickly you got jumped.

Ironically (or hyopocritically)you entitled "Christian" before your first name in your article but launch personal attacks on someone who ("Jonesing and "gushy" for MM")did nothing of the sort to you.

How very Christian of you.

I suppose that is how you would conduct yourself if we were having a personal conversation too.

We have many self appointed subject matter experts at the fire. Skipping over one more really won't make much difference.

MS

Cool! Show me the load that gets a 240gr pill moving to 1400fps from a 4" barrel at/under 36Kpsi. Do that and I will acknowledge it publicly.

dla,

Nobody really gives a [bleep] what you do or don't acknowledge.

I'm late to the party, and it looks like there's a ton of BS in here, but I'll offer my .02.

I had a 329pd. It was awesome. To carry. Shooting? it sucked. After a full cylinder I didn't ever want to shoot more. 44 specials were fine, but the mags? no thanks. I sold it and haven't regretted it for a minute. I want to own guns that I like to shoot.

I now carry a glock 29 as my backwoods sidearm. Light, more capacity, and i don't care if it gets wet, dirty, or nasty. I can trust it. And...I like to shoot it.