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Post by seancass on Jun 8, 2019 12:24:29 GMT -5
I just got a 329PD. It'd been on my list for a long time, just never near the top. One popped up at a too-good price so I snagged it. I plan to shoot this a little and I'm wondering if there's anything I should do(or not do!) to extend it's life. I'm sure it won't see many magnum loads! I've already got plenty of guns that recoil! Seems like light bullets at low velocity will be the rule of the day. Maybe 180-200 grains at/near minimum loads. Mine has the little anti-flame cutting steel. Out of curiosity, would anyone say "It can take all the Magnum loads YOU can handle!"? Am I trying to baby a perfectly sound (44 Magnum!) working gun? edit: After a search and before writing this, I picked up my copy of The Book of the 44 and read the chapter on this gun. It didn't directly answer this question. It did remind me that I enjoy Taffin's writings. I'm glad technology lets me have even the smallest interactions with him on here. Obligatory picture: (wow, I need a new phone...)  |
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Post by Frank V on Jun 8, 2019 12:28:16 GMT -5
I have shot a friends with 300gr loads it's a handful. I'd like to have one, it'd be an easy packing six-gun, but I'd feed it .44 Special loads 99% of the time. I think it & you would last a long time with Skeltons .44 Special load, that's what I'd use if I ever fall into one.
Should have said this first...… CONGRATULATIONS.
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Post by paul105 on Jun 8, 2019 12:42:47 GMT -5
I've had three over the years. Still have two. Mine are equipped with the Hogue 500 S&W tamer grips. Shot around 9,000 rnds thru them (started keeping count after first negative event). Loads were 240gr to 265gr Jacketed/Cast at a chronoed 1,150 to 1,250 fps (Rem 240gr JFP factory chronoed 1,250 fps). My primary carry gun (all day every day) for the better part of a decade. Still carry one when bow hunting elk in high country. Always considered the 329 to be a primary defensive gun. For this reason, always liked the "V" notch rear and fiber optic front.
With that said, these are very specialized pieces of equipment. If shot a lot with loads equaling the above, they will require frequent trips back to the mother ship. If primary use is .44 special equiv and occasional .44 mag, then maint/repair frequency probably a non issue.
For sure, "the lock" might be a problem. Also, carry ammo needs to be vetted for crimp jump -- these are extreme bullet pullers.
Key to shooting these comfortably is:
1. Use the X Frame 500 grips -- not those provide by the factory.
2. Grip the gun a bit lower than you normally would (place you hand on the grip lower).
3. Don't mussel up on the grip -- not loose, but no gorilla grip.
I'm a fan, but don't try to make it more than it was designed to be -- short range, up close and personal, light weight carry gun. Have run 300gr+ over max charge(s) of 110/295 -- not for continued use, but doable.
Continued shooting of hi intensity loads will wear on the anatomy, so proceed with caution.
Go ahead and get the 329 -- load it to the threat level in your area and enjoy. Remember, under stress, recoil won't be a factor.
Certainly in the FWIW category!
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Post by bula on Jun 8, 2019 15:23:03 GMT -5
While the gun may have a warranty, we do not. The greater "snap" of higher velo type loads hurts me more than the heavier bullet with sensible velo loads do. A 200gr XTP at book max hurts me worse than a 300gr CastCore WFN or BB 305 wether thru my SBH or the M69's. YMMV.
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Post by coldtriggerfinger on Jun 8, 2019 23:01:07 GMT -5
Imo, in a handgun velocity or should I say the highwe the velocity. The worse the recoil.
Heavy bullets at modest velocity, not bad.
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Post by bula on Jun 9, 2019 6:42:38 GMT -5
That's always been my thought. Talking "felt" recoil. A formula may not bear this out. It's what my hands and wrists tell me. Eyes and ears, stay safe folks.
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Post by bradshaw on Jun 9, 2019 8:31:55 GMT -5
I just got a 329PD. It'd been on my list for a long time, just never near the top. One popped up at a too-good price so I snagged it. I plan to shoot this a little and I'm wondering if there's anything I should do(or not do!) to extend it's life. I'm sure it won't see many magnum loads! I've already got plenty of guns that recoil! Seems like light bullets at low velocity will be the rule of the day. Maybe 180-200 grains at/near minimum loads. Mine has the little anti-flame cutting steel. Out of curiosity, would anyone say "It can take all the Magnum loads YOU can handle!"? Am I trying to baby a perfectly sound (44 Magnum!) working gun? edit: After a search and before writing this, I picked up my copy of The Book of the 44 and read the chapter on this gun. It didn't directly answer this question. It did remind me that I enjoy Taffin's writings. I'm glad technology lets me have even the smallest interactions with him on here. Obligatory picture: (wow, I need a new phone...) ***** It would have been fun to see a Model 329 on firing lines of the International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association (IHMSA). Some guns with steel frames suffered durability problems. No aluminum frame .44 Mag would have stood a chance in the long haul. Hell, a season likely would do it in. And forget one’s anatomy; let’s leave orthopedics out of this discussion. By DEEP SEATING in .44 Mag brass to .44 Special performance, the 329 should last quite a while. I just don't see trying to build a diesel on a gas engine block. David Bradshaw |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2019 9:04:09 GMT -5
Congrats on your new 329PD. This is an interesting read on the gun. sites.google.com/site/hobbyhintstricksideas/Home/s-w-329pd-infoOne of these days I am going to run across the right deal on one too. Have always wanted one but it hasn't been a priority for me either. It would likely be used with 44 SPL brass and a 250 Keith at 1025fps for a great woods gun. |
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Post by oddshooter on Jun 9, 2019 9:44:18 GMT -5
Scandium can be a great thing, if you are like me, and have problems carrying weight.
However,
I can't imagine the 329 since I have a 360PD in 357mag that beats the hell out of me. It's much worse than my 44 mags for painful recoil, notice I didn't write heavy recoil. I still carry it every trip to the backcountry. It can save your life.
Paul has it right.
Except that part about the 9,000 rounds in a scandium. I'm too light in the butt to even handle a cylinder full. Scandium is not my idea of a FUN range toy. Maybe Paul will share with us those negative events he alluded to. What do ya say, bud.
Prescut
Thanks to Vmaxsplat for that article. Interesting comments and good pics.
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Post by seancass on Jun 9, 2019 10:22:04 GMT -5
I've had three over the years.[...] Key to shooting these comfortably is: 1. Use the X Frame 500 grips -- not those provide by the factory. 2. Grip the gun a bit lower than you normally would (place you hand on the grip lower). 3. Don't mussel up on the grip -- not loose, but no gorilla grip. Certainly in the FWIW category! Paul, what a post! Thanks for the input! The gun came with the x-frame grips, so they will definitely see use. Lowering my grip made a HUGE difference in Felt recoil. I was just about done shooting it when I remembered that note and it gave me fresh wind(pain tolerance?) to keep going. I definitely tend towards a crusher grip, so thanks for that point as well. That is an excellent read! Two take-aways for me: I don't mind shooting light loads and HolyCow 1,000 rounds of spec ammo per lifetime/rebuild!? Yowza. Wonder what pauls experience has been in that regard. |
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Post by seancass on Jun 9, 2019 10:30:53 GMT -5
Range Report! I didn't actually take Any magnum-spec ammo! I did take some very heavy Specials that would probably match the weakest of magnums and I did not enjoy them out of this gun! Actually, I didn't enjoy them out of the 629! A 7.5" Vaquero put them to good use instead. So, the 329, shooting 240gr coated bullets over TrailBoss. I love the way the grips feel! Until the gun goes off. Moving way down the grip made for a bunch of flip, but really no pain. The sights are a bit rough for me with the v-notch. I'm so used to one particular sight picture that this will take some practice. Maybe that's not necessary for this gun, i don't know. Does it recoil? Yes, a snappy recoil. Like others have said, it's different than the big boomers. The trigger is good, but heavy. I like titanium cylinders for their lightness, it gives a slightly different feel. Makes me wonder about carrying it. There are very few bears in my neighborhood...  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2019 10:55:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the range report! How about the "Skeeter" load? Wonder if it would be powerful, yet manageable in a 329. For my uses, that load would shoot straight thru anything in the Southeastern woods and I could still run my 44SPL homebrew Shotshells for venomousreptilius. BTW, digging you avatar pic. Check out my photo site. Might find a train or two there... Eric's Photos |
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Post by paul105 on Jun 9, 2019 13:13:34 GMT -5
Sean,
Some points from my post above:
Always considered the 329 to be a primary defensive gun. For this reason, always liked the "V" notch rear and fiber optic front.
These are very specialized pieces of equipment. If shot a lot with loads equaling the above (240gr +, 1,100 fps +), they will require frequent trips back to the mother ship. If primary use is .44 special equiv and occasional .44 mag, then maint/repair frequency probably a non issue.
"The lock" might be a problem. Also, carry ammo needs to be vetted for crimp jump -- these are extreme bullet pullers.
I'm a fan, but don't try to make it more than it was designed to be -- short range, up close and personal, light weight carry gun.
Continued shooting of hi intensity loads will wear on the anatomy and the gun, so proceed with caution.
Additional Info:
Followed the above linked poster from inception. As best I remember he never shot any “Special” level loads, so the 1000 rnd rebuild comment applies to “Magnum equiv” ammo. His experience pretty much is the same as mine but I’ve shot twice as many hi intensity loads and probably encountered more problems. I sent one gun back for repair at a little over 400 rnds. Another went back at 2,700 rnds (although it should have been fixed at 1,900 IIRC) – this was a blast shield/frame erosion issue. Two of the three guns I had went back approx. 6 or so times.
Never had any cylinder face erosion issues.
FWIW,
Paul
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Post by 41freak on Jun 9, 2019 15:35:59 GMT -5
I also had a 329 but someone wanted it more than I did and actually paid me more then I paid for it. And as luck would have it, S&W came out with the 357 (41 mag) version so I picked one up and have loved it. I threw a red dot on it and carry it hog hunting as my backup it works great and has finished off a couple hogs. I plan to use it for my primary hog gun on a few hunts this year.
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cable
.327 Meteor
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Post by cable on Jun 13, 2019 20:20:10 GMT -5
had one since they came out... carry it in horizontal shoulder holster when fly fishing, and on long wilderness float trips ---where weight and convenience are most important. works well will barnes solids, either the 240 or the old 260, in a moderate 44 mag level load. very accurate ….. at the range I can put the first 4 into one wide hole at 60 feet..the next two are an inch or two away !!  it wears rubber grips....any other grips would be foolish for me. when I am at remote camp / remote mine...I and my wife use the much heavier 3" astra terminator 44 mags......they shoot amazing well, and are much heavier and very sturdy.., yet small enough to be convenient. the 329 is special purpose tool for me, and I am glad I have it. |
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it wears rubber grips....any other grips would be foolish for me.