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Post by tentcamper on Jul 11, 2024 15:55:05 GMT -5
For the last couple years I've been thinking I really wanted a lightweight 44 magnum and the Smith 329PD fit the bill. I've handled them and I'm absolutely amazed at how light and nicely balanced they are. I've never shot one but I've read plenty of testimony by people who have on various message boards and everybody pretty much agrees they are brutal with 44 mag loads and about perfect with 44 special. Today at the range playing with a couple of my other Smith 44 magnums (2.75" 69 and 3" 629 Deluxe) I discovered that maybe the lightweight 329PD 44 magnum would indeed be recoil-brutal and perhaps my hand doesn't need that any longer. Having shot about a 150 rounds of 44 special and only one box of 44 magnum I could feel my hand beginning to weaken pretty quickly with some discomfort in the wrist as well. The two I brought are absolutely wonderful revolvers with 44 special of all flavors but opening up with even 180 grain mags was really pushing my stamina. This said, when I broke out my new 6" Colt Anaconda I discovered it really, really and really likes the Hornady 200 grain XTP load. With this heavy revolver there is not a recoil impulse issue and this gun with these loads is ridiculously accurate. this Anaconda is way too much fun at the range. I have put 300 grainers through it as well before and it just shines. Would be a great choice for deer hunting, I am thinking. Perhaps I need to stick with heavier revolvers going forward and leave that lightweight fantasy 329PD to remain just that. I don't do enough fishing anymore in bear/moose country to need a lightweight belt gun and I'm afraid even as a range toy it would eventually lead to unnecessary damage to my hand. Yeah, I could use a shooting glove or put an X frame grip on it, but why bother when there are plenty of steel guns that are a better fit. (All this said though, the Smith 327 8 shot lightweight snubby looks fun... down the rabbit hole I go...) Before I left the range/gun store one of the employees beckoned me over to a few boxes on the counter and proceeded to show me and almost unfired 4" Smith Model 29-10 that was in impeccable show room condition that had just come in on consignment. By far as the Smith Classic line goes this one had the best fit and finish of any I've handled and it's trigger is insanely good. So instead of that lightweight 329PD I lucked into a better choice and wasted no time making that 44 magnum all mine. All-in-all an excellent day off work.
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Post by x101airborne on Jul 12, 2024 8:07:56 GMT -5
You are not alone. I thought I wanted a 329PD also. I have yet to even hold one much less shoot one, but I have a 325PD and even standard 230 grain hollow point loads with a large grip frame is about as far as I have decided to push it. I dont mind going to 45+P, but not for everyday use. Did they ever make a titanium series in 44 special? That might be another good one.
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Post by paleroadster on Jul 12, 2024 8:31:54 GMT -5
You are not alone. I thought I wanted a 329PD also. I have yet to even hold one much less shoot one, but I have a 325PD and even standard 230 grain hollow point loads with a large grip frame is about as far as I have decided to push it. I dont mind going to 45+P, but not for everyday use. Did they ever make a titanium series in 44 special? That might be another good one. They did make a couple variations of the 396 L frame 44 special. I think the longest barrel was a "Mountain Gun" version at 3.125" long. I've had a 329PD for some time, I describe it as "Spiteful" with full house loads. That said a 357PD in 41 Mag is a grail gun for me. And I would like to eventually get all the N frame scandium variations. |
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Post by reflex264 on Jul 12, 2024 8:52:25 GMT -5
I have came close several times to diving in to the cult of the 329PD. I love the way they feel. They are a gun that is carried much and shot little. My better judgement took over and I bought a 4.2" Redhawk. No regrets.
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gw425
.30 Stingray
Posts: 367
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Post by gw425 on Jul 12, 2024 10:25:31 GMT -5
I bought mine to use in a chest holster while elk hunting in Colorado. Took it to the range and promptly shot a few cylinders full of Federal 310 grain loads at around 1150fps. Holy cow! Now, when I do carry it I load it with 44 special. It is no fun, at all. Handful of hate.
Greg
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awp101
.401 Bobcat
They call me…Andrew
Posts: 2,757
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Post by awp101 on Jul 12, 2024 12:46:32 GMT -5
Today at the range playing with a couple of my other Smith 44 magnums (2.75" 69 and 3" 629 Deluxe) I discovered that maybe the lightweight 329PD 44 magnum would indeed be recoil-brutal and perhaps my hand doesn't need that any longer. Due to chronic hand, wrist and tendinitis issues, .44 Magnum in any handgun is a non-starter for me. Didn’t stop me from trying to find a 4” 29/629 as a .44 Special launcher for several months though. In the end I stumbled upon a clean 4” 624 at a nice price to fill that slot in the safe and I don’t regret it one bit. |
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Post by handgunhuntingafield on Jul 12, 2024 13:00:08 GMT -5
I carry one fishing in grizzly country in the summer.
I practice with about 2 cyl fulls and that’s enough. For what it’s intended for it works fine. It’s not a range toy.
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markwell
.30 Stingray
Firearms resale value should be your children's problem
Posts: 354
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Post by markwell on Jul 12, 2024 13:17:02 GMT -5
I gave up on full house .44 Mag loads (300gr LBTs over a stiff charge of W296) long ago. Even in all steel guns, the old wrists and elbows couldn't take it anymore and putting multiple shots on target quickly became nigh on impossible. Switched to a 1911 in 10mm for carry in griz country and never looked back. 200gr RNFP/GC hard cast bullets at about 1250fps can be kept on target and don't hurt too much. Son has taken a few black bears with this combo with very good results; not griz, i know, but they do a great job and fully penetrate.
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Post by x101airborne on Jul 12, 2024 15:17:23 GMT -5
You are not alone. I thought I wanted a 329PD also. I have yet to even hold one much less shoot one, but I have a 325PD and even standard 230 grain hollow point loads with a large grip frame is about as far as I have decided to push it. I dont mind going to 45+P, but not for everyday use. Did they ever make a titanium series in 44 special? That might be another good one. They did make a couple variations of the 396 L frame 44 special. I think the longest barrel was a "Mountain Gun" version at 3.125" long. I've had a 329PD for some time, I describe it as "Spiteful" with full house loads. That said a 357PD in 41 Mag is a grail gun for me. And I would like to eventually get all the N frame scandium variations. Now a 41 mag would be the stuff!!! Never knew they made that! |
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Post by tentcamper on Jul 12, 2024 15:55:20 GMT -5
I bought mine to use in a chest holster while elk hunting in Colorado. Took it to the range and promptly shot a few cylinders full of Federal 310 grain loads at around 1150fps. Holy cow! Now, when I do carry it I load it with 44 special. It is no fun, at all. Handful of hate. Greg I was thinking using it just like that while trout fishing in the Rockies. Shoot just enough to dial it in and make certain it's reliable then just carry it. 310 grain loads would probably be a bone cracker in this. I was thinking something a touch lighter. If I DO get one it will be for the cool novelty factor and definitely not shot frequently. |
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balin
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 62 
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Post by balin on Jul 12, 2024 22:38:54 GMT -5
I bought my 329pd about 15 years ago. I never planned for it to be a range gun. I use it for woods carry. With moderate magnum loads I find it fine to shot. My 340pd is worse for me to shoot.
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Post by pacecars on Jul 12, 2024 23:38:51 GMT -5
You are not alone. I thought I wanted a 329PD also. I have yet to even hold one much less shoot one, but I have a 325PD and even standard 230 grain hollow point loads with a large grip frame is about as far as I have decided to push it. I dont mind going to 45+P, but not for everyday use. Did they ever make a titanium series in 44 special? That might be another good one. They did make a couple variations of the 396 L frame 44 special. I think the longest barrel was a "Mountain Gun" version at 3.125" long. I've had a 329PD for some time, I describe it as "Spiteful" with full house loads. That said a 357PD in 41 Mag is a grail gun for me. And I would like to eventually get all the N frame scandium variations. You mean like this one?  Sadly I sold it and moved on to something else. It wasn’t bad for everyday carry but I like a 5” N frame better |
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Post by stubshaft on Jul 13, 2024 0:35:29 GMT -5
I love my 325PD Airlite BUT, have no interest in a 329pd.
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Post by giblett on Jul 13, 2024 6:48:26 GMT -5
Perfect toting gun in a tanker rig for me. The frame cracked on mine and a trip back to the factory fixed that. Didn't trust it after that and it went down the road. Shot more snakes than anything else. Bought a 4 inch 629 to replace it.
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Post by paleroadster on Jul 13, 2024 17:36:10 GMT -5
They did make a couple variations of the 396 L frame 44 special. I think the longest barrel was a "Mountain Gun" version at 3.125" long. I've had a 329PD for some time, I describe it as "Spiteful" with full house loads. That said a 357PD in 41 Mag is a grail gun for me. And I would like to eventually get all the N frame scandium variations. You mean like this one? Sadly I sold it and moved on to something else. It wasn’t bad for everyday carry but I like a 5” N frame better I now have a 41 mag Ti cylinder assembly from 357pd and may buy a used 329 swap the cylinder and make up a 41 barrel liner. Might not have the collector value, but I don't want it as an investment. |
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