looking for oppinions on bullet selection and a load

[cutlass1972]

I am going up to Alaska to do some salmon fishing in July. I bought a 329pd to take with me. I understand the limitations of the 329pd with the scandium frame and titanium cylinder, so I am not interested in loading up super hot loads.

I am looking at the bear tooth bullets 265gr WFNGC. I am thinking of running it around 1100fps.
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/display.php?catagory=4

Does anyone have any experience here? Does this sound like I am getting as much punch out of this combination as I can without pushing its capabilities?

Does anyone have any load data for this combination?

[Matthew 25]

Hey cutlass, I think that's a great combination. I'm sure the velocity could be picked up a little, but I doubt it's necessary. I personally would experiment with how fast your 2nd shot can be comparing different loads. Buy a timer if you don't have one.

[Hickory]

Hamilton Bowen did a piece in the 2005 American Handgunner Annual
Pgs 69-70-71-72 on the S&W 329 using 300 - 310 gr cast boolits.

Bottom line, "This gun and loads are not for wimps."

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/AmHgunAnn05.pdf

[white eagle]

just a thought
If you do need to actually, 100 %, need to defend yourself from
being trail food I doubt very seriously you will ever feel the gun going off
that said I would rather the heaviest biggest boolit the gun will handle
after all you aint going to be shooting for groups here...........

[cutlass1972]

Hamilton Bowen did a piece in the 2005 American Handgunner Annual
Pgs 69-70-71-72 on the S&W 329 using 300 - 310 gr cast boolits.

Bottom line, "This gun and loads are not for wimps."

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/AmHgunAnn05.pdf

Linkey no worky, please try again, I would love to see it.

[cutlass1972]

just a thought
If you do need to actually, 100 %, need to defend yourself from
being trail food I doubt very seriously you will ever feel the gun going off
that said I would rather the heaviest biggest boolit the gun will handle
after all you aint going to be shooting for groups here...........

I am not worried about the recoil. I have a set of neoprene gloves for the tune up shooting, and as you pointed out if I am using it to stop a charging bruin, I will not know I ever pulled the trigger.
I am more worried about blowing up the 329pd, or at least drastically shortening the lifespan.
It is not a big old steel framed 629

[redneckdan]

Brian Peirce did a write up in handloader for that particular gun for your particular purposes. The gist of the article was 310gr keiths at 1050-1100fps. And be darn sure to have a large crimp groove with a heavy crimp, bullet walk out is a major issue.

[Hickory]

Here is a different link hope it works for you.

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/PastPress.html

[cutlass1972]

Here is a different link hope it works for you.

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/PastPress.html

Good read, thank you!

They make it seem like the 329 is only going to last 200 rounds. Jeez, for $900 I hope that is not the case. I may never fire 200 heavy loads, but I do intend on shooting LOTS of manageable 44spl loads.