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Post by ezekiel38 on Jun 13, 2015 0:04:04 GMT -5
Shot my newer 69 today with the Altamont round to square grips that mimic the old Smith target models. Rounds made up that were in the 1K fps category was ok for recoil and excellent accuracy. Any rounds over 1100fps smacked the base of my thumb and reminded me that 70 yoa, is fast approaching.
Fugly but a Hogue round Butt rubber grip will go on this 69 also as this grip protects the bones at the base of my thumb. Want to shoot some 240LSWCs with 7.0 Unique for an accurate plinking load.
Excuse, I'm old and I want to wear both of these guns out. My brother who is 87 shot the 69 with 44 Mag loads and shot 5 rounds into 2.6"s at 12 yds. First time he ever shot a 44 handgun of any type. He didn't start shooting until 5 years ago when I gave him a 586 and a boatload of 38s.
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meh92
.30 Stingray
Posts: 125
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Post by meh92 on Aug 10, 2015 19:42:09 GMT -5
A shooting buddy had a S&W 329 with both wood and rubber grips. With full-power loads and wood grips, it was downright painful to shoot! With rubber grips, it was seriously unpleasant. For backpacking, I would think it makes a great package. If I were going to use one for CCW, I'd load it with warm .44 Special loads.
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ward01
.30 Stingray
Posts: 128
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Post by ward01 on Aug 10, 2015 21:43:31 GMT -5
I've taken others advice and gone with the rubber grips that S&W supplies with the X frames as it fits the 329 just fine. It surely takes much of the ouch out of that gun. Don't get me wrong, I'm still not prepared to run 50 to 100 rounds of heavy hunting loads thru the 329 but I don't feel bad about shooting a couple of cylinder fulls if I please. But it sure makes shooting the mid range loads much more pleasant. I like the 329. It shoots accurately and is a pleasure to carry. I'm still curious about the 69 but haven't had the opportunity to play with one yet...
ward
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Post by rjm52 on Aug 12, 2015 7:58:11 GMT -5
As stated above...it is too bad S&W doesn't also chamber the 69 in .41 Magnum...would be the perfect round for the gun. I have shot two or three different 329s that are owned by friends with both moderate and full loads. I find the gun totally uncontrollable with full 240s. Trying to make a followup shot would be slow to say the least. That said, does one really need 1300-1400 fps when 1000-1100 will do the job. Being a .41 Magnum fan I do have two 357 .41 Magnums, one PD and one NG. Both have had the IL replaced by The Plug. The PD has the Hogue X500 grips and the NG a set of wood later model Combats. They both get fed hardcast boolits from 165-250 grains. The lighter boolits are running 1200-1350 and the heavier 925-1000. Recoil is manageable and followup shots fast. Although many people bad mouth Taurus I have owned several of their guns and have had no more problems than many have had with their S&Ws. Although Smith doesn't make a L-frame in .41 Magnum, Taurus has for many years in their Tracker series. I have one stainless 4", and two titanium, one 4" and one 6". 15 yards DA slow fire on left, rapid fire on right.. They noticeably outshoot the Smith 357s using the same loads as run in the Smiths. One nice thing about the Smiths are the night sights. I have Meprolight on the PD and the NG comes stock with a tritium dot front. Makes them very easy to find in a dark tent. I personally don't have any problem hiking with a 4" 657 all stainless N-frame like a Mountain Gun. If I only owned one gun that is what it would be. Bob
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gjn
.30 Stingray
Posts: 491
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Post by gjn on Aug 14, 2015 18:53:54 GMT -5
I have debated this as well having shot a friends Model 69 quite a bit and owning a S&W 41 mag. Model 357 PD air weight. After much shooting I decided the best for me was a 45 Colt Mountian Gun. It's less than 2 ounces heavier than the Model 69 while giving me 6 rounds instead of 5 and is much more controllable than the Model 357 PD air weight.
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Post by Alaskan454 on Aug 27, 2015 12:42:47 GMT -5
My first 44 was a 329PD and although I think they are great guns I'd rather buy a Model 69 if I got another 44 packing gun from S&W. My 329 needed to take a trip back to S&W after about 1K rounds for repair and I decided to sell it for an all steel Ruger. If you plan to carry often and shoot little the 329 might last you a long time without repair, but it's not designed for high volume use.
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