Smith & Wesson 629 Performance Center Competitor - Worth It?

[DrewN]

I respect and appreciate all advice. The words of caution on this thread are giving me second thoughts.

LOL, believe me, you'll find plenty of used .44s once things get back to normal. I'd look for a nice Blackhawk probably. Lower cost of entry and strong resale. But every decent gun store used to have a 29 or 629 in the used rack, pretty much 365.

[TMB 1]

I respect and appreciate all advice. The words of caution on this thread are giving me second thoughts.

Don't let them scare you. 44 mag is not that bad and you don't always have to shoot hotter loads. I have 5 revolvers, a 14" Contender barrel and two lever action rifles that are 44 mag.

[plinker202020]

Don't let them scare you. 44 mag is not that bad and you don't always have to shoot hotter loads. I have 5 revolvers, a 14" Contender barrel and two lever action rifles that are 44 mag.

[c good]

I'm sure they are nice shooters. The weighted barrel should definitely be nice as well. I'd get the X frame grip immediately. But,as with all big bores, I'm guessing you might be able to find a low round count example pretty easily. I just got a .41 from a guy who actually shoots his guns and it still looks basically new and it was made in 1977. Even a .44 that's been shot "a lot" is under 500 rounds 99.999% of the time and under 150 rounds at least 80% of the time.

Love my Model 57-1, 4 inch. What did you find from 1977?

[DrewN]

Love my Model 57-1, 4 inch. What did you find from 1977?

Blackhawk.

[plinker202020]

How much is ammo, even in best of times is was about $1 a round? How often do you actually get to the range? How many times a year are you going to shoot it?

I had 2 44 mags back when I was a dumb collector, both 629s. I hated shooting them.

Here's a better use of that same $1900 after tax and DROS. Spend 4 days on 900 acres in the Oregon mountains with Clint Smith learning to be a fighter with your gun, instead of a plinker. This class will give you a lifetime of memories, new skillsets, make new friends and business contacts.

https://thunderranchinc.com/product/defensive-handgun-vehicle-trauma/

Or you could buy another gun that you'll get bored of in 6 months and will end up on Calguns for a fraction of what you paid.

Meow

[TMB 1]

or use that $1900 get a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk or a regular S&W and some reloading equipment. Then you can make anything from full power loads to light target practice load. Read up on Elmer Keith then go out and practice shooting like he did.

[DrewN]

or use that $1900 get a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk or a regular S&W and some reloading equipment. Then you can make anything from full power loads to light target practice load. Read up on Elmer Keith then go out and practice shooting like he did.

Pretty much what I did, plus I bought 500 rounds from LAX or Freedom or somewhere for the brass. It was once loaded, but it lasts forever. Matt's has 6 different .44 wadcutters and I load them to traditional levels. http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.ph...jeo6ue7j06ggd4

[TMB 1]

Pretty much what I did, plus I bought 500 rounds from LAX or Freedom or somewhere for the brass. It was once loaded, but it lasts forever. Matt's has 6 different .44 wadcutters and I load them to traditional levels. http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.ph...jeo6ue7j06ggd4

My first was Ruger Bisley and second a S&W Classic Hunter, but the first 44 I shot was my dad's Old Model Super Blackhawk. I usually use semi wadcutters I cast myself, but sometime buy bullets.

[splithoof]

.44 Magnums are a lot of fun, despite what some of the detractors say. I say to go ahead and find one. The 629 is versatile, and can easily handle light loads all day if you tire of the magnums.

[splithoof]

I had 2 44 mags back when I was a dumb collector, both 629s.

Have you since become a smart collector?

[smle-man]

Or the straight 29. I have one of the machine engraved 4" model 29s. It is supremely accurate with .44 specials. It is more accurate than my model 21. I reload so I also use light loaded .44 magnum loads to get the full case length and avoid the fouling buildup at the chamber throat from the .44 special cases.

[TomReloaded]

This is advice assuming you both have lots of other guns already, and you have significant disposable income:

Get a 500 instead. The 44mag *is* cool, but it also is extremely unpleasant to actually go run rounds though... The 500 is extremely unpleasant too, but so much so, in a package so silly and enormous that it becomes an event to shoot it. That'll leave a mark and a memory. A real conversation piece, and a total cannon.

The 44 mag will just be painful, but otherwise uneventful. Ammo cost really doesn't matter with something like that, it's not like you'd shoot a box of either in one trip.

[Revoman]

Just another suggestion OP.
Basically that same revolver is available in .357, likely around the same price. However, one can easily shoot .38's out of it, making it a much less monster round (I have nothing against .44 Mag by the way). .38's are very easy to reload and normally more available at the local store, plus less expensive.
I had bought an early one made in 1994 and if I could find another from that era I would buy it, I enjoy it that much.
Well built and a good trigger action out of the box (although it can be made better).

[DArBad]

Been following this thread with interest. Wonder what OP decided on.