Model 629 vs Anaconda ?? .430 okay??

[10mmShooter]

Hey Guys,

Looking to pick up my new toy next week, I currently load .44 for my 8 3/8 Anaconda, I'm picking up a Model 629-6in, I know I could slug the barrell when I get it. But just hoping to get a jump on the sizing thing.

How do you guys SW 629's run size wise?? I'm hoping for .430, just like the Anaconda.

[Randall]

I have 2 629's that need the cylinder throats enlarged.I slugged the barrels on each and the slugged bullet will not pass through the throats. Both pistols lead the barrel.When I get time I will either send them off or buy the tools to do the throats myself.

[fredj338]

There can be a lot of variation within one manuf, much less two. Slug the throats. My M629 goes 0.431", RBH 0.430", another S&W 0.429".

[RobS]

I've yet to see any company that makes all their barrels of each caliber the same throughout the years of production. It would be hard to say what you have there for sure when your revolver arrives without slugging. If you don't want to slug right away you could however just take some sized boolits and find the largest one that fits the cylinder throats and try them. If they work.........great!!! If not and they lead the bore then there's the possibility of tight cylinder throats and slugging the barrel will the first thing to look into.

[Artful]

.429 barrel and throats on my old 29.

[Mal Paso]

Actually my Anaconda barrel slugs .430 with the throats .431. The 629 barrel slugs .429 with throats at .4295. Shoot what you got loaded and fine tune later. BTW .431 WW Boolits shoot fine in the 629.

[TDC]

As everyone has said, there are just no reliable options to slugging revolvers. All my 29-2s and 629 shooters have had slight discrepancies. Do yourself a favor and slug them all....

[10mmShooter]

Thanks everyone, I didnt mention its a PC Stealth Hunter, so I'm waiting for it to come in. I'll get ready to slug it.

[Shuz]

Folks..I sometimes think we wring our hankies too much over the correct size boolit to shoot thru our guns. I have many .44 mags both Smiths and Rugers and I've found that .431 diameter boolits shoot well in all of them; even the ones with .4285 inch throats. Oh yeah, when I use 7g of Green Dot with some of the Smiths, I get a little leading in the forcing cone, but is easily removed by shooting 5 rounds of a gas checked boolit and at least 18g of 2400.

I've also found that slower powders like 2400, H-110/296 and WC 820 don't lead at all in my ..4285 throated guns with .431 plain based boolits such as 429421, as long as the powder charge is at least 18g.

[MtGun44]

Like trying select your shoe size by asking your friends what sizes they wear - hopeless
waste of time.

Slug the barrels and throats.

Bill

[lwknight]

+1 MtGun44

[Dale53]

10mmshooter;
John Taffin recently stated that he no longer worries about the barrels on a new handgun. However, he IMMEDIATELY slugs the cylinder throats. Many of us have learned over the years, that the critical measurements are the cylinder throats. It has been well documented here.

So, the first thing I do (as Taffin suggests, also) is to measure the cylinder throats and then decide. Others, quite rightly, suggest that you might want to shoot it first, then decide. Of course, you might have a leaded barrel to clean (undersize throats typically lead barrels) but with a copper chore girl that is relatively easy to correct.

My Smiths all work well with .430" bullets. However, I have heard from others that is not necessarily the case. Maybe I have just been lucky...

Dale53

[EDK]

I'm casting/loading 44s for a BIG group of Ruger single actions, Marlin Cowboy rifles and a few Smith & Wessons of various ages. While not as precise as the guy with one or two guns in a caliber, I just standardized on .432 +/- diameter. The alloy will change slightly after it ages.

I'm using a Brinnel hardness about 12, LARS' 50/50 or B-A-C, and HP38 or TITEGROUP around 6.5 grains in 44 magnum brass with MMA10MM or Mihec's 44 Keith boolits. Go 7 or above with either and I get minimal leading at 50-to-100 rounds; a couple swipes with a chore girl gets it all removed. Load hotter; cast harder.

Stay with lower end loads in the S&W...both it and your wrists will last longer. I had carpal tunnel on one hand and the other is acting up some now.