Older 29s made prior to the introduction of the Endurance package would go out of time or have other issues if fired extensively with heavy loads. My late brother had an original 629 and it began to skip over a chamber at times. He sent it to a smith for magnaporting, an action job, and a ball-detent in the crane. The Endurance package, according to what I’ve read, makes them able to handle a bunch of hot loads, probably more than the vast majority of shooters would ever fire. For carry, a 29 seems better to me, although a good chest or shoulder rig should make any of the three tolerable.
I’ve owned an early 29, a Redhawk, and a Super Redhawk, all fine guns. My dream gun would be a Super Redhawk with the frame cut back and fitted with a Redhawk barrel like Hamilton Bowen does, maybe in .45 Colt.
