"Older" S&W 629 Competitor - how can I add a rail?

[jayjay1]

Hello guys,
bought me an earlier Competitor version of the S&W 629, it was made by the Performance Center.

Have to wait some days, before I have it here, but it has no hammer lock and no rail.

Does someone inhere now, if there is a "factory rail" or something, which can be easily added on the barrel?
I want to try a Red Dot on it in the future.

Help would be great,
Jay

[dubber123]

I'm willing to bet you will find it factory drilled and tapped for an optics base already. Just remove the rear sight assembly.

[jayjay1]

Here is a link:
http://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=5574265

Are you sure?

That would be really great!

[Joni Lynn]

This is a version not sold to in the US but it should still be drilled and tapped under the sight. It looks like that sight may actually use two or more of the mounting holes for it's own mounting. Nice grips on it.
Nice catch! Congrats.

[jayjay1]

Thank you.

Well, of course it has the holes for the back sight, but where can I get a rail, that fits in there?

[Joni Lynn]

http://www.jackweigand.com/scope.html

http://www.jackweigand.com/swhpmnt.html

[jeepyj]

I just brought a 66 and a 686 to my local gunsmith along with a weaver mount and he drilled and tapped them. Seems just like the newer ones that are already done. I think it was 8 bucks a hole. All I know today was the best I ever shot the ole 66. I used a old Millet ythe was left over from another pistol. Hope this helps.
jeepyj

[jayjay1]

Thank you Joni and jeepyj,
this helps a lot!

In my opinion, the newer competitors have an advantage, because with the rail already fixed on the barrel, you don´t have to reinstall the back iron sight.
So you can drop on and down your optics as you like and still have your iron sights aligned.

I will look for further informations on which Red Dot will be prefered to work on a 44 Mag revolver (including eye distance, dia of the dot, type of optic, reliabelity, etc.) and where it should be mounted (to the rear or forward).

Thanks a lot!
:drinks:

[jayjay1]

Hello again.


This is a version not sold to in the US...

Humm, I thought about this.

I was thinking that it is an earlier competitor, because of the weighted barrel.

There are some gunsmithes over here, which do tune the S&Ws, sure.
But on the barrel is written "Performance Center", the sign of the PC is on the frame, so I was thinking it should come directly from there, not?

[Joni Lynn]

This is a gun made here by S&W but for export. That particular variation wasn't sold here in the states. It's a really neat revolver though. I never used the mounting rail on my PC revolver. It is on the barrel.

[jeepyj]

If you flip the cylinder out and look on the top of the frame is there two holes where screws could be? I just went back and looked at your photo and I'm quite sure that revolver is already drilled for a optic. On the newer ones they are already drilled. Several companies make mounts for that including the ones Joni Lynn listed in her post. It simply requires taking off that existing rear sight and screwing down the base. i have three different revolvers with optics mounted that way.
Jeepyj

[jayjay1]

Thanks to both of you.

I got that with the three holes for the rear sight and as a base for an optic.
Had a 686 Wheelgunner some years ago and know exactly what you are talking about, buddy.

Just shared my meaning, because Joni said that this revolver wasn´t sold in the US, and I was thinking "how can this be?"
If Joni says they make different revolvers for the export, so it´ll be like that, I have no experience in this.

Will get the hand cannon on thursday and take a closer look at it then.
:bigsmyl2:

[Joni Lynn]

The beautiful wood grip on that gun isn't one that S&W would have used on a domestic product. I forget the name of the importer but they get a lot of cool stuff made for them.
A word on scope mount bases. The Weaver mount is load bearing on the sides of the top strap, it'll leave permanent marks after awhile. I know this due to having several guns where the top straps have those marks. The Weigand mount sits down in the sight trench and is available in aluminum or steel. (the steel one is really intended for the 460/500 X frame guns but is dimensionally the same as the aluminum one)

[Joni Lynn]

The beautiful wood grip on that gun isn't one that S&W would have used on a domestic product. I forget the name of the importer but they get a lot of cool stuff made for them.
A word on scope mount bases. The Weaver mount is load bearing on the upper left & right sides of the top strap, it'll leave permanent marks after awhile. I know this due to having several guns where the top straps have those marks. The Weigand mount sits down in the sight trench and is available in aluminum or steel. (the steel one is really intended for the 460/500 X frame guns but is dimensionally the same as the aluminum one)

[jayjay1]

Hi Joni,
I think that is a Nill grip, but there is the Smiff-logo on it(?).

Thanks for the tip with the Weigand mounts, watched their vids, seems very convincing to me, especially because those are not only bolted down.
:drinks:

[Ola]

Jay,

there is a way to keep the original sights in use, too.

a gunsmith can make new holes on top of the barrel for a piece of picatinny rail. Just choose a rail that is low enough and has a"slot" in the middle (when the red dot sight is off, you aim through that "slot". Really hard to explain in english.. like this rail (https://promagindustries.com/accessories/26-archangel-ruger-1022-picatinny-rail-scope-mount.html))

[jayjay1]

Hola Ola!
:mrgreen:

How crazy is that!
A Finn and a German correspond in English over an American forum.
The world is small.

I got you bro, even if your link doesn´t work.

Will think about that, if I want some holes in my barrel....
....well, might be safe or not, whatsoever, on one hand it would be nice to be able to put some optics on it without changing the rear sight, but on the other hand, I like the idea that the mount is not only bolted down, but rather fixed / locked with the frame.

I will talk to my gunsmith and see what he suggests.

Thanks bro,
greetz to Finland.
[smilie=s:

[Ola]

You are welcome, Jay.

I know it can be done: I have a S&W M29 with this kind of a rail. It was a gunsmith that game up with the idea. If there is enough steel in the barrel, there isn't any problems.

Yes it is small world. BUT corresponding in English is our only option unless you speak Finnish ;)

[jayjay1]

Well, believe it or not, my niece studies Scandinavistic and she is able to "break" some words in Suomi.
:)

My sister and here familiy are doing their holidays in Scandinavia since over 15 years, so.

If I can get a good old M29, I would take it.
But they are very rare over here.


But BTT.:
A friend of mine over here means, that there stands "Performance Center" on the barrel, and it is a 629.

So, his logic, it has to be a "S&W Model 629 Performance Center".

Almost to easy, or not?

[Ola]

Yes yes, I now the Performance Center S&W's. They are the Factory Custom series. The ones I have seen seem to be pretty good and shot quite well.

But the model is not important: if the walls of the barrel are thick enough, a skilled gunsmith has zero problem putting the rail on.
And in Germany, you have lots of true master gun smiths..

ps. here is something for your niece: http://depressingfinland.tumblr.com/post/68357378490/different-meanings-of-the-sentence-kuusi-palaa

[jayjay1]

:bigsmyl2:

http://www.club30.de/

http://www.club30.de/waffen.html

[gwpercle]

Jay, check out the mounts sold by Aimtech. They have different ones for guns with adjustable sights, older ones and newer ones already drilled and tapped . I used one of thier no-gunsmithing, no drill and tap mounts, to mount a red dot on a fixed sighted model 66.
I didn't want extra holes drilled in it and it works great.
Gary

[Ola]

:bigsmyl2:

http://www.club30.de/

http://www.club30.de/waffen.html

NICE idea. Now, go and buy Aimpoint Micro and have the gunsmith machine couple of slots on top of the barrel..

I'd do that. A very solid and low mounting + you can use the original sights.

[imashooter2]

If you want to mount one of the newer mini dots (Burris Fast Fire, JPoint, etc.) , the Allchin STS gets it as close to the bore as you can get it...

http://allchingunparts.com/product-info.php?pid47.html