S&W 629 a POS???

[Mikeinblack]

I have been admiring the S&W 29 / 629 .44 Mag units as of late, as a possible addition to the collection (don't have a .44) and then I received a mailer for "Gun Tests" Magazine in the mail today... They state that when they tested the 629 it: "was plagued by a cylinder that unlocked after ignition leaving the chamber out of alignment" and "locked up with every shot".

Anyone have the same experience? Is this true?

[Argonaut]

They must have found a broken one. I have been shooting them since my first M29 in 1976 and never had a problem. I have maby 3000 rounds through my current M629 4" without a malfunction. Shot shells, Heavy magnums light loads, it digests everything that I can fit in the cylinder

[Mikeinblack]

Good to hear.... Internal Lock on the current model couldn't be the cause of their experience, could it?

[Argonaut]

Mine is the current model. I studied the new "lock" before I bought it and couldn't find one negative thing about it except for the impact on the collector value.

[ColdDeadHands1]

I love my 629 Stealth Hunter!!!

[nn3453]

The lock myth was invented by guys disguised as old wives who have nothing better to do than knit and post on forums instead of going to the range and actually shoot. Very early locks supposedly had some issues but S&W apparently improved the design.

I have thousands of rounds through my post lock S&Ws.

Gun rags often have agendas. That "Gun Tests" stuff has been around for years and they entice you with controversial stuff so you will buy their subscription.

[Trapper]

I have never had an issue with my 629dx

[liketoshoot]

all I will say is, buy it you'll love it!
mine has about 2000-3500 rounds of just about every kind of ammo thru her and still works and looks good.

[feelinducky]

shortly after I purchased mt 629 I had an issue with the cylinder not wanting to open without useing alot of force to get it open. I had only shot 20 rounds through it. I sent it back to S&W they fixed it no questions asked and it has worked great since. I'm not sure exactly what happened to it but it works great now.

[Mute]

I've shot quite a number of these over the years. Never a problem. The problem with Gun Tests and other similar reviews is that it's only a single sample. The one sample could be a complete lemon or the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it may not be representative of the norm.

[dfletcher]

The lock myth was invented by guys disguised as old wives who have nothing better to do than knit and post on forums instead of going to the range and actually shoot. Very early locks supposedly had some issues but S&W apparently improved the design.

I have thousands of rounds through my post lock S&Ws.

Gun rags often have agendas. That "Gun Tests" stuff has been around for years and they entice you with controversial stuff so you will buy their subscription.

From what I've read on the Smith & Wesson forum (I know, sounds like the "friend of a friend who told me .....") the few people who have posted firsthand experience with the IL failing were using lightweight 357s, 41s & 44s and similar heavy stuff out of a light gun. I don't know if the IL was defective in those particular guns and would have worked otherwise or if the "light gun + heavy recoil" is an occasional issue.

I suppose anything mechanical can fail. I've been shooting 29s since the early 70's and never had an issue, wouldn't hesitate to buy another 29 or 629.

[J-cat]

I guess it depends on the vintage of the 629 you are looking at. The eighties variants had oversized cylinder throats and would lead with .430" bullets. In early 90's they tightened-up the throats and redesigned the lockwork to prevent unlocking under heavy recoil. Then they went to those nasty MIM internals and lost alot of customers. S&W Performance Center variants have forged hammers and triggers, but the rest of the internals are still MIM.

I hate the internal lock. It's not only an eyesore, it is unnecessary and stupid. My favorite vintage are the pre-MIM/lock mid-90's models.

[Mikeinblack]

Great info, thanks for the responses. I am glad to hear that these are still a good option.

[BroncoBob]

Have had mine since the early 90's and never had any problems.

[devildog101]

Got mine back in 99 and I have never had a problem.