Model 29 Smith 44 Magnum

[BrokenolMarine]

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.

[daytime dave]

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.

[fortyshooter]

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!

[BrokenolMarine]

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.

new smith and wesson round butt boot grips.jpg (308.11 KiB) Viewed 907 times

[BrokenolMarine]

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.

[Steve51]

I 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.

Do the presentation grips cover the backstrap?

Yes they do

[cpaspr]

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.

[North Country Gal]

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.

[BrokenolMarine]

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.

[North Country Gal]

Good find. Bet she will like it. I sure like mine.

[daytime dave]

I hope Tina likes the old school model 36. They are hard to beat.

[BrokenolMarine]

The Smith came in late yesterday, and once we got it home, I had her take it down to the range to test fire it before I would let her swap it for the 642 as her EDC. The gun turned out to be MUCH nicer than the pics on GunBroker made it appear. It looks like it was shot very little and carried even less. Very Nice. She will get in some practice with it over the next few weeks to get used to the weight and the trigger. Much heavier than the 642 Airweight, but she likes it.

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As you can see, it's a classic Model 36, no keyhole, and old enough that the firing pin is on the hammer.

[North Country Gal]

Great choice. Looks just like my 80s vintage 36, which is the one I shoot and use for carry. I do like the extra several ounces for the steel frame. Does a better job of handling recoil and helps with control. Steel has a different feel than the aluminum frame stuff. Those Pachmayr grips on hers should help with control, too. May add a Pachy to mine at some point.

[BrokenolMarine]

The Pachmayr Gripper grips came in, and they are lightly used as promised, but I have to say, I am disappointed.
Unlike the seller said, they don't cover the backstrap. I'll give them a try, they are a lot firmer in the hand than the Hogue grips, so they may offer more control at least, but I'll keep an eye out for the Decelerator grips. Maybe I can find some "In Stock" somewhere for the N-Frame. They must be good, they are always shown "Out of Stock."

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[BrokenolMarine]

Found a listing for N Frame Square butt decelerator grips on Ebay. NOT cheap, but put them on order. Tina has the account so she sent the seller a direct question. "Will these grips cover the back of the grip frame?" We'll see what the reply comes back as. They are supposed to... according to the information on the Pachmayr website.