S&W 329PD as a .44 special launcher

[fatdog]

I know that the 329PD is a totally obnoxious uncontrollable animal that should never have been created, etc. etc. when shooting full power .44 magnum loads.

My question for those who own or have owned them. How obnoxious is it as a .44 Special launcher?

I once owned the 296 in .44 special and it was controllable and not really that bad so I figure this one must not be much different, but curious to hear the opinions of those who have actually owned the thing and shot .44 specials in it.

I have a chance to pick one up from a friend at a really good price but I would not shoot any .44 magnum ammo, except perhaps 44 magnum cases that I have personally loaded down to .44 special power levels, e.g. 200gr at 800-900 fps.

[Jay585]

Owned a 329PD, I think I put maybe 1 box of .44 specials through it. I didn't own the monstrosity for that long. Biggest problem I had was the projectile breaking free of the case crimp, though it never jammed the cylinder.

44 specials weren't bad in it, it was a nice break from the magnums. Personally I wouldn't bother with a 329PD unless it's strictly a back country trail gun.

[Oldherkpilot]

I know that the 329PD is a totally obnoxious uncontrollable animal that should never have been created, etc. etc. when shooting full power .44 magnum loads.

My question for those who own or have owned them. How obnoxious is it as a .44 Special launcher?

I once owned the 296 in .44 special and it was controllable and not really that bad so I figure this one must not be much different, but curious to hear the opinions of those who have actually owned the thing and shot .44 specials in it.

I have a chance to pick one up from a friend at a really good price but I would not shoot any .44 magnum ammo, except perhaps 44 magnum cases that I have personally loaded down to .44 special power levels, e.g. 200gr at 800-900 fps.

I have a 396 in .44 Special. It is 8 ounces lighter than the 329. My hands are full of arthritis but I can still handle mid range Special loads. I think you'll find it quite shootable with the load you mentioned. I always wanted a 329, so my advice is to buy it. 😁

[Velo Dog]

BUY IT

Here's a low recoil option

103114

CCI's "Big 4" Handgun Shot Loads - a review. | Bushcraft USA Forums
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[Chemsoldier]

I own a 329 PD. I have run about 40 rounds of PMC Bronze JHP (180 Grain). It wasn't bad at all. It didn't seem any worse than .357 magnum SD rounds out of a 4 inch steel gun. Note that is with the Sorthobane or whatever the cushy grips are called now, installed on the 329.

I have not intensively tested it, by any stretch (small sample size). But, gun went bang and didnt lock up. No issues with ejection of spent cases with one clean hit of the rod. I didn't have a particular issue with the recoil. I didn't one hand it, but I would have felt comfortable practicing one handed.

[GJM]

I have a half dozen 329 revolvers. One is set up as a dedicated, 44 special launcher, and it required a shorter front sight to properly regulate. It is reasonably comfortable to shoot most 44 special loads as long as you're using the rubber, Hogue grips and not the wood ones they also put in the box.

[JCN]

Can anyone educate me on the relative difference between 45 ACP out of a 625 versus 44 special out of a 329?

Similar? Any reason to pick one over another?

[GJM]

Can anyone educate me on the relative difference between 45 ACP out of a 625 versus 44 special out of a 329?

Similar? Any reason to pick one over another?

I also have a 4 inch Scandium, in .45 .acp, but I would take the .44 all day every day. Lot more capability in the loading possibilities and no moon clips.

[JTMcC]

I'm pretty sure it was Taffin who said the 329PD was the perfect .44 Special.
Some people hate them but some people don't, mine has been my every day gun for several years now and it's very easy to live with, I enjoy shooting it. I've only shot a very few .44 Specials thru it.
Recoil is subjective.
I know ladies who since teenagers hunted with big boomers (the Casull and the .475's) happily.
Also, you can read on the web of men who find .40 S&W recoil bothersome so the scale swings large.
But I'm pretty sure, based on your previous light revolver experience that you won't be bothered about .44 Specials thru a Airlite 44.

ETA: I had to look it up, but the M296 seems to weigh just over 19 Oz, the 329PD is right around 26 Oz so it looks like you're good to go for sure.

[Nick B]

If you can get it for 6-7 hundred bucks I say go for it .

[JTMcC]

I've never seen one sell for less than 900 bucks, most go north of 1200.
I would buy them all day long at 6-700.

[john c]

I also have a 4 inch Scandium, in .45 .acp, but I would take the .44 all day every day. Lot more capability in the loading possibilities and no moon clips.

I take the opposite view. I have a 625 and 329, and like each. Get Rimz plastic moon clips, it dramatically reduces the hassle of moon clips, with almost all the benefits. The main advantage is you can use light thumb pressure to load and unload the clips. Though .44 has more versatility in loading, I'm kind of a wimp about recoil, so I never loaded my 329 with rounds hotter than .45 acp. Plus you can shoot .45 Super through it, if you need more power. .45 ACP ammo cost is at least half of .44 mag or special. Cases are abundant if you want to load, and I have a Dillon press that stays set up in .45 acp.

I've been looking for a model 325, but haven't found one for the right price, yet.

[HCM]

Can anyone educate me on the relative difference between 45 ACP out of a 625 versus 44 special out of a 329?

Similar? Any reason to pick one over another?

Did you mean a 325 vs a 329 ?

The 625 is a stainless steel frame gun vs the scandium frame 300 series guns.

[JCN]

Did you mean a 325 vs a 329 ?

The 625 is a stainless steel frame gun vs the scandium frame 300 series guns.

It was my ignorance! I still have a hard time understanding the different nomenclature of the Smith & Wesson Revolvers.

I should have known, but did not realize about the scandium revolvers. In my head, I was just comparing ballistics of 44 special versus 45 ACP. I kind of love moon clips so my half-baked thought was that I was extremely happy with my 45 ACP revolver and was trying to figure out what I was missing with the 44 special. I do have a clearance sale 44 magnum cylinder for my scandium N frames.

[Stephanie B]

It was my ignorance! I still have a hard time understanding the different nomenclature of the Smith & Wesson Revolvers.

This (https://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4201466&postcount=3) will probably tell you more than you thought you wanted to know.

[jh9]

3-digit, 3xx model number indicates a scandium/aluminum frame for revolvers. It's the only thing AFAIK they're consistent on.

2-4 digit, 6x, 6xx and 6xxx indicates stainless or a stainless+aluminum combo. Applies to revolvers and 2nd/3rd gen metal frame autos. There are stainless guns that don't start with a 6, too. model 500 revolver, 3rd gen 3906, etc.

Everything else is a rabbit hole. Stephanie's TFL link has individual model number explanations. (They indicate the 396 is aluminum not scandium/aluminum but otherwise looks right.)

[jtcarm]

Can anyone educate me on the relative difference between 45 ACP out of a 625 versus 44 special out of a 329?

Similar? Any reason to pick one over another?

I could tell you about a 625 vs 325 PD.

The 325 needed a heavy roll crimp to keep from slipping (which made moons or AR brass a requirement .)

With 230 grain factory loads, the sixth chamber made a great inertial bullet puller.

I did like the Ti cylinder, IMO it turns more easily, reducing DA pull. It would be great on a steel revolver.

For a gun that will be shot more than occasionally, it’s no contest: 625.