50 years of the Smith & Wesson .44 Mag.: it's hard to believe, but the gun that started it all is no more

Guns Magazine, Feb, 2005 by John Taffin

Over the years many limited editions and Performance Center Model 29 and 629 revolvers have been produced. In 1985, two versions of the Elmer Keith Commemorative were produced with 4" barrels, gold embellishments and either smooth wood or ivory Magna stocks. Looking back at the 1950 Target .44 Special, Smith & Wesson has produced both Model 29 and 629 Mountain Guns with the lighter tapered barrel of the .44 Special. One of the latest .44 Magnums is the scandium/titanium Model 329PD which, at 26 ounces recoils much worse than the group of teenagers experienced in 1956, and in fact, makes an excellent .44 Special as do the Mountain Guns. Smith & Wesson also resurrected the Model 29 for a short time as the Model 29-9 in the Performance Center Heritage series. They were produced in either blue or nickel with 6 1/2" .44 Special style tapered barrels and post front sights.

Taps For the Model 29

The 29 is gone, however the 629 remains in both standard production and Performance Center Models. The original 629 is only available with a 4" or 6" barrel. while heavy under lug versions are cataloged with 5", 6 1/2", and 8 3/8" barrels all with round butts. It is very easy at my age and after decades of shooting sixguns to look back and long for the older models with square butts and standard barrels. My soul, heart, and spirit recognizes yesterday's guns were much more beautifully designed and finished, and usually had high polished bluing that matched up naturally with carved ivory grips and floral carved leather. However, I know the newer guns are stronger, normally have tighter tolerances, and, when tested head-to-head with comparable older guns, they have proven to be more accurate.

There was a time when I shot nothing in my Model 29s except the standard Keith load of a 250-grain hard cast bullet over 22 grains of No. 2400. Those sixguns from the 1950s, '60s, and '70s are now older and so am I. My favorite load for the .44 Magnum Smiths these days is either the 250- or 295-grain hard cast Keith bullet over 10 grains of Unique for an easy 1,150 fps. The heavier loads are mostly saved for newer, stronger, and especially heavier .44 Magnums.

Many double actions sixguns are offered today chambered in 44 Magnum. They are larger, heavier and stronger than the originals. They are certainly more comfortable for shooting the heavy-duty .44 Magnum loads with 300- to 330-grain bullets now offered. As the politicians like to say, "The fact remains" and that fact is no .44 Magnum double action ever made is slicker, smoother, or easier handling, let alone better looking, than the original.