New S & W today

[Steve]

Picked up a new 329 NG today and had a set of CT laser grips installed as well. I am looking forward to getting it sighted in tomorrow. I will run a box or two of 44 mags through it, but I am pretty sure I will carry it with CorBon DPX 44 specials. I am guessing at 29 ounces it will be tough to get follow up shots with full mag loads. What say ye? I really like these Night Guard Smiths. Now if they would just offer a Night Guard in 45 Colt, I would be a real happy camper. I would like to hear any thoughts on sighting in the laser grips. There seems to be two schools of thought on this. One school, and Crimson Trace suggests you set it to exactly match the point of impact at a given range, like say 20 yards. A second school says to determine the exact measurements of down and right between the tip of the laser and the center of the bore. Then set the laser to be offset by that same amount at say 20 yards. The idea is that the laser will be off target by that same small amount a long way out, instead of the point of impact meeting and crossing over out past 20 yards. Anyone have any comments one way or the other?

[jamesjames]

I've been lusting after the 329NG for awhile now. Love the idea of night sights and a laser grip.

Since its a .44 magnum snubbie, its not for hunting or long distance plinking. Its for decisively ending a gunfight (or killing a bear) at 20 yards or closer. Zero the laser at 20 yards and be done with it. Its not a sniper rifle. You will be pulling this in response to a threat, and most threats don't make themselves known until they're inside the 20 yard perimeter.

The bigger question is whether to use maggies in it or specials. Again, its a snubbie, and maggies won't get up to full muzzle velocity before exiting with a big fireball of wasted propellant. If I were to carry this in an urban environment I would use hollow point .44 specials. If I were to carry this as a trail gun, I might use Buffalo Bore hard-cast heavy .44 specials. Just because you can shoot magnums with it doesn't mean you should shoot magnums with it. IMHO.

[serialsolver]

The 329NG will make a great 44sp. If you hand load you will be able to tailor the power level you want to your comfort level given the limitations of the short barrel. Since the short barrel may limit velocity a heavier bullet, 300 gr or so may be the best bet. 44 mags may be brutal. They are in my 329PD and the 329NG is only 4 oz heaver.

I’ve been playing with the laser that came with my Kimber Custom Crimson Carry. If the laser is sighted to a know distance, say 20 yards, the dot would be 1 in low and .5 in to the right at 1 yard. Then at 40 yards the dot would be 1 in high and .5 in to the left on a 1911. That is good for self defense but if the range was farther the shot would go even higher and more to the left complicating the corrections for shot placement at long range. I decided to sight the laser parallel with the bore instead of having the laser sighted in to a known distance. In sighting the laser parallel with the bore I know the laser is always 1 in low and .5 in to the right of the bore. I can then make the corrections with the dot and place the bullet were I want the round to impact. Much like I’m already doing with the iron sights. I think this is more useful in a self defense and hog hunting combination I plan for the Kimber. In day light the laser is washed out by the sun at 15 yards but then there is plenty of light to see the sights. At night I can see the laser dot on a water tower half a mile from my house. They are pretty amazing. I used to think that lasers were a gimmick but now that age has made the sights harder to see I don’t think that any more. I now find it very useful as a sighting aid and it will show you how steady or unsteady you really are.

[coyote]

having used CTs on numerous handguns and having tried both methods, i now stick with the "parallel" system. instead of guessing which way i need to compensate, i always know exactly where to sight and what to expect.

the DPX is perfect for two-legged beasts but for wilderness uses i'd go with a hard cast WFN (wide flat nose) or keith in a heavier bullet at around 1000 fps. Buff Bore offers the right load in a lightweight 44sp for you.

[Steve]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have decided to go with the parallel method for sighting the laser. I like the idea of knowing it will always be in the same place relative to the bore. I will look at the Buffalo Bore 44 special loads. I already use the CorBon DPX in all my CCW guns.

38 plus p in my J frame 357
44 special in my 386 NG
45 Colt DPX in my FA 97
45 ACP PPX in my Kimber Ultra CDP II
and now probably
44 special DPX in my 329 NG

[rWt]

Which J frame and why did you select it versus the others?

[Steve]

It is the 340 PD. It is rated for 357, but at 11 ounces I have only shot a few 357's from this featherweight hand cannon. I picked the 340 PD for several reasons. I wanted something extremely light, I liked the fiber optic front sight and I wanted a shrouded hammer.