Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Whats your favorite barrel length on a Smith 629?

For packing on a belt, a 4" is about ideal.

For hunting and long range work, I find I do my best work with a 6.5" Model 29.

For an "all around" that is comfortable to pack on a belt, yet still has a sight radius that allows precise longer range shooting, as well as better recoil management than the shorter 4" tube, I have yet to find anything better than a 5" Model 29.

The full underlug -4s and -5 blued versions make for some phenomenal hunting guns that are easy to shoot well, and have the modern upgrades. They command a premium when you find them but are worth the price of admission as far as I am concerned.

The flip side is my hands down favorite is an old 29-2 8 & 3/8ths" that I had customized, to include being cut down to 5"s.

It is funny this subject has come up, as the day before yesterday (the day of the eclipse) I had some guests at my cabin (including one some of you might recognize) and we were discussing Model 29s and snapped this pic on the porch:



Both of us are fans of 5" Model 29s, as well as Elmer Keith/the .44 Magnum.

Gotta be a 4"

Mr. Hackathorn! I bet that was a heck of a visit!

Well is wasn't just KH.

A whole slew of friends had come to see the eclipse. We did a small BBQ/picnic/social type thing. My very dirty little minions who had been playing in the dirt for hours were running wild and having a great time. All in all a very fun day. When the total eclipse happened the temps dropped very quickly so i built a fire and a number of us stuck pretty close to it. A great group of people to spend they day with!













The amount of dirt that came off of those 2 little minions when we got home was incredible. Literally showers before baths!

It don't get much better than that.

those girls are just priceless. I have been fortunate to have a number of them around through the years, my case granddaughters. Many good times with them out running around.

Milt made me a Hackathorn Special for a 5" Classic while he was still in Idaho City. Great holster except for the exposed hammer... A 329 PD now lives in it - a joy to carry and a bear to shoot.

The time of totality was simply a blur, way cool but way too short!

Craig,

I too have a Hackathorn Special. It is great when not wearing an over garment, but if I am wearing a coat or whatever, I prefer the 200AW. The things last about forever. I have some rigs that are stamped Idaho City, and I forget the years that I bought them, but they are still doing a solid job.

Funny you mention the 329. I traded into a 329 from one of the guys from the Sparks shop. My medium load of 240 grain SWC and 10 grains Unique is about all I shoot out of it. Beyond that, and the old injuries in my right wrist will ache for days afterwards.

Thanks for the kind words all, in regards to the kiddos! They are a real handful!!

Seriously wild and headstrong.

Someday I have no doubt that they will be shooting their own .44s from my meager collection.

Mackay,

I too have been shooting your 10 grains of Unique load and it is at my upper limit for extended shooting sessions. The 25 grains of 296 is reserved for the FA-83, and then I find that I am shooting the 10 grain load more and more. John Taffin has it right on backing off the powder can and having more fun..

Looks like you had a great eclipse party! Loved the pictures of your daughters.

Looks like you guys had a great time, I love the weekend getaway spot..congrats.....Hb

Beautiful scenery, Mac. And some very cool people pics, too.

Do you ever have any problems with break-ins at your cabin, being remote?

For a carry gun the standard 4" rules. The mountain gun version is not enough lighter to notice a difference on the hip and the slight loss of weight in the barrel results in a slight gain in recoil/muzzle flip. I currently own a 629-4 mountain gun and a 629-3 standard 4".

I shot no better and did not notice any increase in shooting comfort/recoil reduction between my 629-4 6" and 629-3 4" non lugged versions so the 6" went away.

For a range shooter or hunting version the 6.5" Classic with its full lug really tames the recoil/muzzle flip,its probably the best for a shooter. I own two 6.5" 629 Classic DX versions.

No flies on the 8 3/8" classic as a dedicated hunting revolver but its a little too much for anything else. I own a 629 Classic DX version.

The most versatile and best all around IMO is the 5" classic in either 29 or 629 form. I own a 29-6 5" Classic, a 629-3 5" classic and a 629-3 5" Classic DX.

Sweet! I never knew Smith made a Classic DX model with a 5" barrel, I had one with a 6.5" barrel and it was the most accurate handgun i have ever owned, so naturally i sold it....ha! What a dumbass!.....Hb

4" 629 is my favorite to carry when hunting but 8 3/8" is a very nice shooter

5" always seems right for a N frame.

"Knock on wood"

Not so far, but the one full time neighbor within about a 10 mile radius is only a few hundred yards away and he keeps an eye out. He is a super great guy, and keeps a close watch on anything and everything.

I swapped grips and put the sweet Herretts Troopers on the 4" 29-2 to really show off the hand carved leather!

Like a 6" half lug for hunting.
But for fun/all around.........4" half lug (reg contour).
8 3/8 is just too long (shot great, whacked a few deer...went back to 6")