Welcome friends. Pull up a chair and tell us about your Henry!
Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
- BrokenolMarine
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 6953
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
- Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
Yup, I'm good with the 44 specials for most of my shooting. I'll find some 44 special hp or just use the magnums for truck duty.
If I come across the pachmayr grips in one of the gunshops, I will probably pick them up. I want to test the fit in my hand first.
If I come across the pachmayr grips in one of the gunshops, I will probably pick them up. I want to test the fit in my hand first.
0 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
I don't look back at the things I can't do anymore with regret, I just look forward to the things I still can.
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
I don't look back at the things I can't do anymore with regret, I just look forward to the things I still can.
- daytime dave
- Administrator / Owner
- Posts: 5655
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:27 pm
- Location: Upstate NY
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
I find that Pachmayr grips that cover the back strap on an N frame are a little too big for my hands. The 629 I use hunting has Pachmayrs with an exposed back strap and finger grooves. It fits my hand just right and the recoil goes to the palm of my hand.
0 x
Some days I'm Andy, most days I'm Barney........
Eaglescout, NRA Life Endowment member, BCCI Life Member
Eaglescout, NRA Life Endowment member, BCCI Life Member
- fortyshooter
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 6866
- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
- Location: Va.
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
Very nice 29 BM! Try those full mag loads in the smaller M-69 5 shooter!
9 gr. Unique or even BE-86 would be a sweet load with a 200-240 gr. cast bullet and that's what I shoot mostly in 44 Mag. Great shooting with the 44 Specials too!

0 x
- BrokenolMarine
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 6953
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
- Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
Yeah, No. I shoot the 357 Magnum Full House loads in the M&P340 EDC Smith and Wesson J Frame I lovingly call The Beast at the end of each practice session, AFTER practicing with 38 wadcutters and 38 Semi-Wadcutters.
That Scandium Frame puts the Beast at 11.5 ounces empty and it's brutal as well. I make SURE it's hitting where it should, clean 'er up and then put it in it's holster and we are good to go until the next range session. I KNOW I don't want to shoot 44 mags in a five shot 44 magnum like the Bulldog Pug.

2 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
I don't look back at the things I can't do anymore with regret, I just look forward to the things I still can.
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
I don't look back at the things I can't do anymore with regret, I just look forward to the things I still can.
- BrokenolMarine
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 6953
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
- Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
Good News, found a clean set of used pachmayr gripper grips on ebay for half the retail price... They are on the way. Can't wait to see how much difference they make on the recoil for the magnum rounds.
0 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
I don't look back at the things I can't do anymore with regret, I just look forward to the things I still can.
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
I don't look back at the things I can't do anymore with regret, I just look forward to the things I still can.
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
Yes they doBrokenolMarine wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:33 pmDo the presentation grips cover the backstrap?Steve51 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 5:50 pmI agree wholeheartedly with you on the wood factory grips and hot .44 magnum loads.
I am 74 yrs old now and still shoot my .44 magnum revolvers but I have Pachmayr Presentation grips on them. I would prefer to use the pretty wood grip panels but I like keeping the skin on my knuckles more. Beauty ain't everything.
0 x
H001, H001L, H004, H001TM, H001TLB, H006, H010, H012M, H012GR
NRA Member, GOA Member, ISRA Member, ILCCW
NRA Member, GOA Member, ISRA Member, ILCCW
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
BOM -
RE: THE BEAST
Years ago a good friend acquired a S&W Bodyguard in .38 Special as a gift from his son. Weight right around that 11.5-12 oz range. I shot it with .38 Special "practice" ammo, and it was brutal. I'd rather shoot my 357LCR with full snort .357 Magnum 158gr SD rounds (which are quite a handful) than that thing again. He traded it in on a 9mm shortly thereafter.
RE: THE BEAST
Years ago a good friend acquired a S&W Bodyguard in .38 Special as a gift from his son. Weight right around that 11.5-12 oz range. I shot it with .38 Special "practice" ammo, and it was brutal. I'd rather shoot my 357LCR with full snort .357 Magnum 158gr SD rounds (which are quite a handful) than that thing again. He traded it in on a 9mm shortly thereafter.
0 x
- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
- Posts: 6820
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
- Location: northern Wisconsin
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
I used to shoot all the alloy J frame models, too, as well as the larger scandium frame 357 Smiths. They really are amazingly light, but they can also be amazingly nasty to shoot. For actual shooting, I do prefer the steel J frames. The steel J frames aren't that much heavier and I think they age a bit better.
On the other hand, I have been looking at some of the new J frames without the lock, such as the Performance Center models and Ultimate Carry models. These have much improved sights over the traditional J frame gutter sights.
On the other hand, I have been looking at some of the new J frames without the lock, such as the Performance Center models and Ultimate Carry models. These have much improved sights over the traditional J frame gutter sights.
0 x
- BrokenolMarine
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 6953
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:28 am
- Location: South Central Oklahoma in the mountains
Re: Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum
Tina found a classic model 36 Chief's Special on Gun Broker. Due in tomorrow.
I'm comfortable with the Beast in hot weather, we've been together a long time.

I'm comfortable with the Beast in hot weather, we've been together a long time.

0 x
You can tell a lot about the character of a man...
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
I don't look back at the things I can't do anymore with regret, I just look forward to the things I still can.
by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.
I don't look back at the things I can't do anymore with regret, I just look forward to the things I still can.
- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
- Posts: 6820
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
- Location: northern Wisconsin