Thinking of buying a new gun.

[JulesMaximus]

A S&W model 29. It is a blue steel .44 magnum with 6.5” barrel. Basically, it is the ‘Dirty Harry’ gun.

Now, I already have a S&W model 629, which is the same frame, same caliber, but stainless steel and 8” barrel. I love shooting it and think the smaller barrel would be a lot of fun. I love hand cannons though.

 

[K1052]

I always found the recoil of shorter barreled large caliber handguns to be sufficently unpleasant that I didn't shoot them much. Just didn't seem to make much sense unless there was a specific purpose like protection from dangerous wildlife. Then again I'm not the biggest person around so YMMV.

 

[Preyhunter]

Go for it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I always found the recoil of shorter barreled large caliber handguns to be sufficently unpleasant that I didn't shoot them much. Just didn't seem to make much sense unless there was a specific purpose like protection from dangerous wildlife. Then again I'm not the biggest person around so YMMV.

The only thing I use them for is punching holes in paper targets. Home defense would be a secondary use but I have other more suitable guns for that purpose.

My son loves shooting the hand cannons too. We were blasting zombie targets yesterday at the Range with my 12 gauge pump action, my Sig P220 and the .44 magnum.

 

[PliotronX]

Blue steel?? Is this you

 

[darkswordsman17]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D519hT7-ytY

Hope you're making your kid wear several means of ear protection. I know several people that are my age and have serious hearing issues (loss and tinnitus) from shooting from a young age. Couple that with kids often listening on headphones at too high volume for extended periods of time and its a recipe for hearing problems (and far earlier than you'd expect).

 

[IBMJunkman]

Buy what you want. Ignore any naysayers.

My first purchase after leaving CA was a Sig P226 TACOPS and silencer. Due to the Feds still waiting to take possession of the silencer.

 

[JulesMaximus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D519hT7-ytY

Hope you're making your kid wear several means of ear protection. I know several people that are my age and have serious hearing issues (loss and tinnitus) from shooting from a young age. Couple that with kids often listening on headphones at too high volume for extended periods of time and its a recipe for hearing problems (and far earlier than you'd expect).

It’s an indoor range that requires the use of eye and hearing protection.

 

[brainhulk]

Sigh, 8 posts and no zoolander reference...

ATOTDB I am disappoint

 

[clamum]

Nice. I'm a sucker for blued steel and wood grips (on a rifle, pistol, whatever).

I don't have any revolvers but would like to pick one up some day. I've seen the S&W TRR8 and liked that but I'd be ok with something a little more "old school" looking too. Not sure yet. I think something like a 4"-5" barrel would be good, for my first one.

I don't think there's a big difference between Colt revolvers and Smith & Wesson revolvers, is there? I mean besides cosmetic/minor things; like neither is a "stay away from them" sort right?

 

[DigDog]

So much movies-seen-this-week here.

So you want a model 29 which means you'll do some research, discover the ruger is better in everything, and then not buy it because you didnt want a ruger, you wanted a S&W dammnit !



If i was you .. in the states ... id put every penny towards a Marlin 1895SBL
https://www.marlinfirearms.com/lever-action/model-1895-big-bore/model-1895sbl

Seriously how cool is that. You guys got some seriously cool stuff there, with all these modern calibers, the grendel, the beowulf, the creedmor, the 458 socom, the 300 whisper, and this awesome M1A https://www.springfield-armory.com/products/m1a-socom-16/#AA9611PK (called socom, but chambered in 308), but NOTHING, nothing beats the Marlin T-Rex Killer 45-70 govt.

 

[gill77]

Totally get the concept of sticking to one caliber, although there is something to be said for having a variety of tools. You could consider a smaller 44 should the need for concealment arise.

The difference between the two S&W's will be minor, but if that's what brings you the most joy, go for it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Totally get the concept of sticking to one caliber, although there is something to be said for having a variety of tools. You could consider a smaller 44 should the need for concealment arise.

The difference between the two S&W's will be minor, but if that's what brings you the most joy, go for it.

I already own a 9mm Glock, a Colt .45 ACP and a Ruger 1911 clone along with a SIG Sauer P220.

I’m not a fan of Ruger revolvers personally. I just prefer Smith & Wesson.

I don’t really have any need for this gun whatsoever. I will never carry it for self defense, I doubt it will ever serve as home defense but I wanted it, so I bought it. And so begins the waiting period.

 

[gorobei]

.........
I don't think there's a big difference between Colt revolvers and Smith & Wesson revolvers, is there? I mean besides cosmetic/minor things; like neither is a "stay away from them" sort right?

most of my info is nearing 2decades old, but:
the main functional differences between colt and sw are lockwork and mainsprings.

• colt uses a single springloaded pin on the cylinder at the rear for lockup, while sw uses 2 pins [one on the ejector rod tip and one on the cylinder rear]. 2 points of lock is considered more reliable, but i never saw or heard of any actual users getting misalignment issues. (ruger uses a 2nd locking latch on the crane.) but with magnum loads and the general cylinder mass there is some cause for concern about force-moments long term.(its more of a techno nerd moot topic like direct impingement vs piston/tappet)

• older colts like the python and trooper use leaf springs for the mainspring which requires a gunsmith for tuning when it eventually gets out of time. sw uses coil springs which is more of a drop-in replacement kind of maintenance. the colt python has a better reputation for trigger feel but like a luxury car you will be taking it into the mechanic regularly if you do a lot of shooting and want that same luxury trigger feel every time. the colt king cobra and anaconda used coil springs as they werent colt's premiere market segment. (this is somewhat moot as colt no longer makes DA medium/large frame revolvers. so you are limited to used market.)

• the only other difference is that you pull back on the colt cylinder release and push forward on the sw. you push in on rugers.

So much movies-seen-this-week here.

So you want a model 29 which means you'll do some research, discover the ruger is better in everything, and then not buy it because you didnt want a ruger, you wanted a S&W dammnit !

the super redhawk and gp100 were monsters of reliability. i kept meaning to pick up a 4" gp100 back in the day, but never got around to it. that and the sw625 5" are my only non-purchase regrets.

 

[DigDog]

You know, that Marlin 1895 is cheaper than a model 29 ...


I dont own a gun - me being a Euro. My knowledge comes from google and whatnot.
1. Apparently the Model 29 went through 10 models, M29, M29-2 -> M29-10. They even did away with the double lock and long term usage of heavy loads is not an issue (not that it ever was, unless you were insane with your handloading).
2. The Rugers could handle hot loads from day1, which is why they became so popular.(and they were cheaper)
None of these guns had a history of failing, but the ruger's "even moar" ruggedness contributed to the M29 being perceived as "not as rugged as the Redhawk", as if that meant anything.

So which one should you get?

You should get the marlin.

 

[Muse]

My wrists hurt just thinking about it.

I already have tinnitus (loud rock shows). Protect your ears. My dad went near totally deaf, maybe it was the guns during the WAR.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You know, that Marlin 1895 is cheaper than a model 29 ...


I dont own a gun - me being a Euro. My knowledge comes from google and whatnot.
1. Apparently the Model 29 went through 10 models, M29, M29-2 -> M29-10. They even did away with the double lock and long term usage of heavy loads is not an issue (not that it ever was, unless you were insane with your handloading).
2. The Rugers could handle hot loads from day1, which is why they became so popular.(and they were cheaper)
None of these guns had a history of failing, but the ruger's "even moar" ruggedness contributed to the M29 being perceived as "not as rugged as the Redhawk", as if that meant anything.

So which one should you get?

You should get the marlin.

Marlin 1895? Isn’t that a lever action rifle? Why would I chose that when what I want is a handgun?

Besides, I already own a Winchester lever action rifle chambered in .44 magnum.

 

[brainhulk]

I think I would rather shoot 3.5" shotgun slugs instead of large caliber revolvers. Give me my 9mm or .45 semi autos instead pls

 

[JulesMaximus]

Blue steel?? Is this you

Pretty sure that’s a .357 magnum.

 

[DigDog]

No, the film is called Blue Steel.

Yes, the 1895 is a lever action (in 45-70 and can take +p loads). I guess since you already own one then you can skip the other.

If you already have a 629, there shouldnt be much difference, barrel length not included. At least i understand thats what S&W would say, as the 629 was made to be the replacement of the 29, at least from a practical standpoint. It was just the iconic shape of the 29 that kept up the demand for that model.

Me, i would expand the arsenal with a different caliber. Not knowing what you already own makes it hard to give recommendations, though ...

 

[clamum]

Wow, thanks for the great info, gorobei. I forgot to mention Ruger in my post; I'd consider one of their revolvers too (the GP100 and SP101 look really similar; I'd consider a single action or the others too).

 

[JulesMaximus]

Wow, thanks for the great info, gorobei. I forgot to mention Ruger in my post; I'd consider one of their revolvers too (the GP100 and SP101 look really similar; I'd consider a single action or the others too).

I’ve owned single action revolvers before. I prefer double action. Not a huge fan of Ruger revolvers personally. I owned a Ruger Vaquero chambered in .45 long colt, which was the first mistake I made in selecting that gun. The second was the model. It was basically a remake of a Colt SAA but with modern internal safety features. It was a cool looking gun but other than that it had nothing going for it. The sights were horrible, it was cumbersome to load and unload and it wasn’t very powerful. At least I didn’t lose much money on it when I sold it and it actually sold fairly quickly.

I own a Ruger Mark IV pistol, which is great fun to shoot and a 10/22 rifle. I also own a Ruger 1911 clone in .45 ACP. I just don’t like the look and feel of Ruger revolvers.

I have a SIG P220 in .45 ACP and a Colt Officers model. I also have a Glock model 17 which is a 9mm so I have plenty of other guns in various calibers. I just thought this would be a cool addition and it is a gun I’ve always wanted to own.

I’ve owned a number of different Smith & Wesson revolvers over the years and I like the way the trigger feels on them. It’s like meeting an old friend when I pick one up. Very familiar and that’s a good thing.

I might pick up a SIG 1911 at some point and get rid of the Ruger clone.

 

[sdifox]

Lease one from Madoka

 

[darkswordsman17]

It’s an indoor range that requires the use of eye and hearing protection.

Yes but its up to you to make sure its proper hearing protection and worn properly. Many of those people I mentioned claimed to have used hearing protection regularly.

Sigh, 8 posts and no zoolander reference...

ATOTDB I am disappoint

Son, I am disappoint:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D519hT7-ytY

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yes but its up to you to make sure its proper hearing protection and worn properly. Many of those people I mentioned claimed to have used hearing protection regularly.



Son, I am disappoint:

I had foam ear plugs in when I went in last weekend and quickly determined that wasn’t enough so I went back out and asked for their range ear protection to wear with the ear buds. I gave my son my good ear muffs.