Anyone shoot a S&W 329PD very much?

[Float Pilot]

I have owned a 6.5 inch and a 8 3/8ths inch Model 29 for the last 45 years. But they are heavy to carry at times.
I have been thinking about a 329PD lightweight, ALTHOUGHT I HATE THE SIGHTS, but I can't find anyone local who has ever fired one.
So here I ask......

 

[The German]

Ok then,,,,,, I've been packin a 329PD since about 2003-2004, and yea, quite a lot of Posts on this Forum, and quite a bit of In-House Work/Modifications Accomplished as well, if you use the above "Search Function" and in-put S&W 329PD, you'll find it all, and then some,,,,,, see attached photos to get you started.....
TG
FWIW, if you have any questions, Fire-Away.......

 

[Float Pilot]

I have read a couple articles where the writers claimed that the 329 was not as accurate as their steel framed 629 and model 29s. How does your experience compared? Do they loosen up after a couple hundred rounds? I have only seen two used ones for sale and the selling parties would not give me a guess on the round count.

 

[The German]

I have read a couple articles where the writers claimed that the 329 was not as accurate as their steel framed 629 and model 29s. How does your experience compared? Do they loosen up after a couple hundred rounds? I have only seen two used ones for sale and the selling parties would not give me a guess on the round count.

Ok, well as far as comparing accuracy, I've found that that situation/question usually boils down to who's doing the Shooting, and remember, this piece is not a "Target Style Handgun", It's designed and marketed as "Light-Weight Carry" piece, that is usually carried way more than actually Shot, but in those up-close situations,,,,, it is the Gun to have, because it hasn't been left in the Truck, or in Camp, it's on your body, right where it needs to be, and as far as Shooting-Loose, I've never worried about that, I've got about 5,000 +/- rounds put thru mine, since 2003......
Also, there is a Very Good Write-up By John Taffin on the Virtues of this S&W 329PD, it's a .pdf, I've attached the 1st page, in the lower left corner, you'll see the Link..... www.sixguns.com/Bookofthe44/bot44c23.htm
Also a couple of photos as to how I got Started with HandGuns.....
TG

 

[PRDATR]

I have one I bought around 2007? I consider myself an accurate shooter and at 70 years old I have been shooting handguns since my late 20's.
With that said maybe I got a finicky one but I have trouble shooting it with any consistency. Now I have a Rossi 4" 357 and it is very accurate.
I also have a Redhawk 7 1/2 44 that is very accurate and a Super Redhawk in 454 that is also very accurate. Still, I prefer to shoot the 329 and have no problem putting a box of ammo through it in short order.
The screw for the cylinder release did loosen up but it was no big deal. My only gripe is the finish on the cylinder is a carbon magnet and it doesn't clean up 100% but it will be the last handgun I will sell as it's a joy to carry and fun to shoot.

 

[The German]

I have one I bought around 2007? I consider myself an accurate shooter and at 70 years old I have been shooting handguns since my late 20's.
With that said maybe I got a finicky one but I have trouble shooting it with any consistency. Now I have a Rossi 4" 357 and it is very accurate.
I also have a Redhawk 7 1/2 44 that is very accurate and a Super Redhawk in 454 that is also very accurate. Still, I prefer to shoot the 329 and have no problem putting a box of ammo through it in short order.
The screw for the cylinder release did loosen up but it was no big deal. My only gripe is the finish on the cylinder is a carbon magnet and it doesn't clean up 100% but it will be the last handgun I will sell as it's a joy to carry and fun to shoot.

Ok,,,, well, here is your fix for that Cyl. issue.....
TG

 

[Float Pilot]

I have read some folks had issues with sticky extraction. Was that due to the type of metal, or due to quality control issues on the earlier guns?
What was the driving reason to go with the stainless cylinder?

 

[The German]

I have read some folks had issues with sticky extraction. Was that due to the type of metal, or due to quality control issues on the earlier guns?
What was the driving reason to go with the stainless cylinder?

Ok,,,,, use this Highlighted Text in the Search Box Above...... it will answer your question's......
TG

Ok, I just added this for you, as that Search Function does always work......

 

[The German]

I have read some folks had issues with sticky extraction. Was that due to the type of metal, or due to quality control issues on the earlier guns?
What was the driving reason to go with the stainless cylinder?

Ok, if you have time, check out this Thread/Post I did awhile back on this Forum.....
TG
Insert the attached "Highlighted Text" into the Search Bar.... or just in-put 329PD and scroll down to this Thread......

 

[Alaska Bush Hunter]

Great trail gun very light !
Best load for trail was the Buffalo Bore Reduced power load 255gr Hardcast .
Or 255gr Hardcast and Universal @ 9.0 and CCI 300 primers

 

[tvfinak]

I have owned a 6.5 inch and a 8 3/8ths inch Model 29 for the last 45 years. But they are heavy to carry at times.
I have been thinking about a 329PD lightweight, ALTHOUGHT I HATE THE SIGHTS, but I can't find anyone local who has ever fired one.
So here I ask......

I've been shooting a .44 Mag for nearly 60 yrs now. I started out with a Ruger SBH, and have had numerous .44s handguns since then.

When I first saw the 329 PD about 20 yrs ago I knew it was must have. I finally found one at GNGs about 15 or so yrs ago - one of a run they had with their logo on the side. It was a customer trade it that had never been fired, so I got a big price break.

It is a delight to carry but a real nasty gun to shoot. I carry 310 gr loads from the Lee mold in mine - same as in my 629 BUT I do drop the powder charge back a grain to avoid the sticking cases. It still hurts, and a few cylinder fulls is all I can stand. The J frame .357s are similarly painful - a very sharp rap on the hand. In comparison, I can shoot several boxes of the same load out of my 629 or a box or so out of my .500 with no pain.

In the early 80s I carried an old Ruger Blackhawk flat top .44- I think I also got it a GNGs. It is also light, but the worse problem with it is skinning up my trigger finger.

As I learned with cameras years ago in Alaska - if it isn't easy to carry, you probably won't have it with you when you want or need it. I shoot a lot of pictures with my cell phone camera that I would have never gotten with my Nikon, and I have my 329 PD with me a lot more than my 629.

 

[sea2summit]

Ok, well as far as comparing accuracy, I've found that that situation/question usually boils down to who's doing the Shooting, and remember, this piece is not a "Target Style Handgun", It's designed and marketed as "Light-Weight Carry" piece, that is usually carried way more than actually Shot, but in those up-close situations,,,,,
TG

I'm gonna disagree it's not meant to be shot...don't have a PD but been on my list for a while to get a hair more velocity than my PC is giving me

Honestly my PC is one of my favorite guns to shoot, makes you feel alive. I did change out the wood to VZ grips though.

I'm going to agree that a lot depends on who's shooting...but good shooters are made not born IMHO. Gotta practice, same reason a lot of 10mm guys are 10mm guys they are practiced with the platform and most don't want to invest time in training a different platform for better performance.

100yards...need to push those sights over some and see if I can go 6/6. Got it used and the front post is actually visibly bent.

And for the 10mm fans, any time you're ready to race post up your numbers. 10 yards, 5.3 from low ready, someday if I practice a whole lot I hope I can be 1/3 as fast as JM.

 

[Alaska Bush Hunter]

329PD is not designed to shoot heavy loads .
The frame is not designed to handle it.
Buffalo Bore Reduced Load with 255 hard cast or 9.5 of HP38 with 240gr JHP makes a great load.

 

[PRDATR]

329PD is not designed to shoot heavy loads .
The frame is not designed to handle it.
Buffalo Bore Reduced Load with 255 hard cast or 9.5 of HP38 with 240gr JHP makes a great load.

That's been the general consensus. I have had mine for a very very long time, just shoot factory loads through it though. I think some people get caught up in shooting higher than the regular SAMMI loads. The 240's are track proven. Does a 300+ grain have more energy? Absolutely! Will it really be more devasting at 10 or 20 yards. Yes and no depending on the bullet design.
I could carry a belt with ten speed loaders but realistically make the first shot count.