| Posted: Tue Feb 8th, 2005 12:32 AM |
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Gunrunner
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I thought I'd try and post a picture of the first 44 Magnum revolver I ever owned. It's a Smith & Wesson Model 29-2. The barrel length was 6 & 1/2". The gun was nickel plated, and very nicely too. It had the standard Goncalo Alves grips, and the 3 T's. It took quite a while to finally purchase the fabled M29. I bought this one in 1976 for about $500. Those Dirty Harry movies had really pushed the prices way up. Believe me, I got every pennys worth out of this gun. I sort of liked the looks of nickel plating in those days, and it turned out there was a side benefit. I lived near the ocean, and the nickel seemed to take much more use before cleaning than my blued guns. Of course I regret to this day ever having sold that gun. Others have come and gone since then, but this one was a very sweet shooter. But I suppose we all think that about our first one. LOL, let me show the picture:
Attachment: 44magnum525.jpg (Downloaded 91 times)
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| Posted: Tue Feb 8th, 2005 02:27 AM |
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2nd Post |
NH_Hunter
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The .44 Mag kind of has a sex appeal to it. It was a movie star, and for a time actually was the largest handgun round on the planet (minus T/C thingamajiggies). I certainly wouldn't mind one, and if the opportunity arrises, i might just get on in a Ruger Blackhawk with a 7 1/2" barrel. But that is a big maybe.
Can't say i have ever actually shot a Smith, so I dont know how they handle, but I sure do love the feel of the Blackhawk.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10th, 2005 05:53 PM |
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billt
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These are my 2 current favorites. Both are Magnum Research BFR's with 10" barrels. One is in .45-70, the other is a .500 S&W Magnum. They are both good shooting, accurate handguns. billt
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12th, 2005 02:56 PM |
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LAH
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Nice Gunrunner. Love those 44's.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12th, 2005 05:25 PM |
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Gunrunner
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LAH, what model number is the top one with the tapered barrel? I'm sure it's a 44Scpl. It also looks like an earlier model with recessed cylinder. I'll guess the lower one to be a 29-3.?
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12th, 2005 07:38 PM |
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LAH
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Sharp eyes Gunrunner. The lower is a 29-3, my everday sixgun for 8 years. The top is an old MMC conversion to 44 Special using a M-28.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12th, 2005 07:57 PM |
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mr mom
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gunner : what are you doing with that pimp gun????? you got silver bullets to go with that thing?????
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| Posted: Sun Feb 13th, 2005 06:17 AM |
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Gunrunner
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Mrmom, oh mrmom.... If Harry Calahan heard you talking like that I think he'd have a fit.
If you really wanted to see a Pimp Gun you should have seen my M57, 41 Magnum, 8 3/8" Nickel. Now that gun would shoot!! Don't have a picture of it. Used it to buy the M29. That was one I shouldn't have let get away.
I wish I had some silver bullets. All I have for my 44 are these nickel cased vampire killers. "Sweet Dreams to all"
Attachment: 44MagTallon400.jpg (Downloaded 63 times)
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| Posted: Sun Feb 13th, 2005 06:40 AM |
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Gunrunner
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Billt, about those hand cannons you have. Do you fire them mostly from a rest, or freehand. Maybe some of both? I've never fired, or even seen up close, a BFR revolver. But I have read some favorable reviews on them, and they look to be pretty massive. (Meaning "Heavy") Just thinking back here, and I might have seen one at a gun show. But it was so big, I walked on not wanting to check it out. And also, have you seen a noticable difference in the recoil of the 45-70 and the 500 S&W? It's been many years since I've fired a 45-70, (in a rifle), and have never fired the 500. Just some thoughts on my part. I'm sure you have a heck of a good time with those two.
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| Posted: Sun Feb 13th, 2005 07:02 AM |
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Gunrunner
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LAH, I'm also curious about the grips and grip-fillers that you have. I know there have been many model variations throughout the years, but those grips don't look factory at all, not to me anyway. At least not for an N frame. Did you shave down the upper portion of them, or did they come that way? They look really good. And how is the filler attached? They both look so clean.
For my own hands I like the original grip of the N, L or K frames: that is, without a spacer. With some Hogue finger groove grips on a M29 I feel right at home.
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| Posted: Sun Feb 13th, 2005 12:49 PM |
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mr mom
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gunner: i have 2 sets of mustang grips for mine. they are a little over sized to fit the kids hands , but i like them.. they are made out of zebra wood. i had 1 set checkerd, but the factory 1's stay on most of the time so the kids can handle it...
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| Posted: Sun Feb 13th, 2005 01:03 PM |
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billt
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Gunrunner,
To be honest, I fire both the .500, and the .45-70 the same as any other handgun. They are large and heavy, and that in itself takes care of a great deal of the felt recoil. I haven't shot the .500 enough with heavy bullets to really judge it's full potential, recoil wise. I can say thus far with factory ammo in the BFR, it's not as bad as my Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull. The .45-70 with stout loads useing heavy cast bullets, (Lyman 552 Gr. Gas Checks), recoil is substantial, but not over powering. Both guns are very accurate. Overall I'm pleased with both BFR's, and would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a well built accurate single action in a larger caliber. billt
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| Posted: Sun Feb 13th, 2005 05:13 PM |
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LAH
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The stocks are standard S&W service stocks. The gip frame fillers are Tyler T Grips. They have, for lack of a better word, wings that fit between the stocks and the grip frame.
I have part of my little finger missing, right hand, so while I need a little filler behind the trigger guard, I also need the grip smaller near the bottom. Thus the fillers and small stocks.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 18th, 2005 02:14 AM |
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bea175
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I haven't been without a Model 29 or 629 since 1973 . I have owned around 15 different 44 mag Smiths over the years and now have the 4 inch 629. I have always like the 4 inch mod. better than any barrel length. I gave my 5 inch to my son.
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Mickey Rat
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I know a Police Captain (now retired) that had the first joint of his right hand trigger finger cut off. He carried a 1911A1 the whole time and shoots right handed. Knew a guy in the Army that had no right trigger finger and managed a 1911Al with the right bird finger (sorry but I don't know the technical term for middle finger). A lady at church lost right pointer & middle finge and gets along just fine. I bet the pinky is hardly missed.
My first 44 was a model 29 (recessed cylinder) 8 3/8 blue that my wife bought me in 1976 at the Rod & Gun Club in Maintz-Kastell Germany for Christmas. Gave me the reciept to pick it up with about 10 minutes AFTER closing on a Saturday (closed on Sunday). I couldn't find ammo anywhere in Germany (I went TDY a lot). I ordered a RCBS press and dies, my brother bought a the only 2 boxes of Remington 240 gr LSWC in town, a 240 gr LSWC Lee mold, 2 LBs of WW231 and 500 primers and MAILED them to me. I was in hog heaven. I had to go scrounge 230 gr FMJ 45's from the berm at the range for lead, and spray on molibdium disulfate (complements of the Army) for lube. I was set for the duration. By July of 77 I had finally scored some full power 240 gr jacked HP.
I couldn't handle the full power loads, so I cast a 20 lb weight and attached it to an oak stool spreader and practiced rolling it up and down with arms extended (Skeeter Skelton solution). A month of that for several hours each night and the 44 shot like a 38 to me.
My cylinder locked up (loaded and cocked) at the range. I took it back to the Rod and Gun club (packed in sandbags) and they figured out how to get it back to S&W. I got the gun back in about 3 weeks with a note from the S&W tech saying that he was sorry for the failure, but he went thru the gun completely and even did a trigger job.
I still have the gun and the wife (who would let a woman like that go?). Sadly, the presentation case got broken up over the years and the letter got lost. The gun is still my pride and joy. If I had to cut back to just one, this would be it.
My son is now stationed at Ft. Wainwright (Fairbanks) Alaska. I ordered some 320 gr lead bullets for bear loads, and the 29 handles them great, so does my 4" 629. My son has a Taurus full sized 44 mag and the smaller 5 shot 44 mag. The large will just barely handle the bear loads, the 5 shot is purely wicked and ejection is very hard (almost have to drive empties out). I advised a 629, but he insists on the 5 shot, says the lighter weight is better. I say tote in a holster and the 8 3/8 isn't a problem.
Last edited on Tue Apr 5th, 2005 06:22 AM by Mickey Rat
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