s&w 44 mag

S&w 44 Mag - The Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum has a distinctly American background. The .44, touted in 1955 as "the most powerful gun in the world," arrived at a time when we were adding power and strength to cars, jets, and space rockets. .44 Mag. was a dramatic jump from the previous record holder, the .357 Mag., to the same size Smith & Wesson double-action revolver. Now known as the Model 29, the revolver was introduced simply as the ".44 Magnum" and was a premium product in every sense. This deluxe status follows the precedent of the “Registered Magnum” that accompanied the release of the .357 Mag. dot. The .44 Magnum is a real achievement; shooters now have pistols that can produce more energy than many of the popular frontier rifles.

The new Smith .44 was an immediate success and became an iconic symbol of Smith & Wesson. Even now, the familiar profile of the original .44 Magnum is printed on the Smith & Wesson gun case. Collectors and shooters alike were excited about the early “Pre-Model 29” .44 Magnum N-frame. There is something undeniable about them, and the prices reflect that, as early revolvers sold for two or three times as much as later examples. Smith & Wesson produced a relatively small number of early revolvers before removing the upper sideplate screws, leaving the .44 "four screws" instead of the original five screws. Some time later, in 1957, the factory adopted model numbers and the .44 Magnum became the Model 29.

S&w 44 Mag

Legendary gun writer Elmer Keith aggressively lobbied for what became the .44 Mag. cartridges for years, and he said so in the 1966 printing of his definitive book

Revolver Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum

: “[The Magnum] is a masterpiece both in terms of accuracy and careful fit and appearance. In fact, I consider it the best product from the Smith & Wesson factory.

Keith quoted a S&W executive describing the new magnum coming off the assembly line as simply a nice, hand-fitting, high-quality gun. Remember, this was what many consider the "golden age" of S&W, so the supers of the time had to be really special.

I have recently been able to handle and shoot a pristine five-bolt .44 Magnum. This Smith was one of only a few hundred 4-inch models produced in those early years, with most of the first thousand produced with the heavy, ribbed 6½-inch barrel. This particular revolver was later returned to the factory for nickel refinishing and when I first inspected it, it did not appear to have fired after refinishing. Nickel can look a little flashy on many firearms, but in my book, the 4″ nickel N-frame is one of the best looking pistols ever made. This specimen has excellent polish, fit and finish. in every sense of the term.

There were various features that distinguished Smith's "Pre-29" or "Five-Screw" from those that followed in later years. Arguably none of these things, but as a group they add to the overall richness of the whole. There is a recessed chamber, a recessed rim that completely covers the head of the case. Repeating the serial number on the back of the barrel and inside the ejector rod housing adds a touch of class. These sections don't stop there; they are meant for mating. The screws at the top of the side plate and the forward camber of the trigger guard suggest an old way of assembly - not necessarily better, but different and distinct over time.

Smith & Wesson 629 5 Revolver .44 Rem. Mag Ss 6 Inch Barrel

Discussing the Smiths of this era, one respected gunmaker noted that by today's conventional standards, every revolver—especially high-end models like the .44 Magnum—was completely hand-built and equipped with "sharpened key parts." to the original ad. This mounting level was the magic that made Golden Age weapons so special. However, hand fitting/sharpening will definitely introduce some variability from revolver to revolver. Everything is certainly up to the expected standards, but the feel of how the parts interact can vary from N-frame to N-frame. The timing and trigger of the big Smiths have a quirk that seems to have the personality of the big strap guns. This particular Pre-29 has a timepiece that provides a lasting testament to the craftsmanship of the craftsmen who installed it. This .44 Cocking Magnum is an experiential sonnet to American specialties in the postwar era.

Rolling pulls with double action is a real treat. It's almost completely smooth and flat, with a short barrel with a heavy profile that keeps the front sight relatively still as the big hammer retracts and drops. Towing weight is 10 lbs. but it seems easier. I have often marveled at how a bulky Smith can turn and lock a fairly large barrel and simultaneously rotate the target hammer when the shooter feels only a smooth, even pull. There may have been a lot of physical work, but the beauty of the levers and the careful grinding hid it all from the shooter. There are more than a few double-action semi-autos where the shooter feels like he's doing a lot of work and feels like a lot of parts are rubbing together just to pull the little hammer back and drop it.

Launching double-action shots at somewhat more difficult targets is one of my favorite shooting hobbies. I have been very fortunate to have been able to shoot a wide variety of firearms and in a variety of settings. Shooting this S&W at low pressure in .44 Spl. loads really fun. I tried a Black Hills 210-grain lead flat point, as well as a 240-grain Magtech jacket flat point, and both pushed the weight and speed of what was considered a serious manstopper in the past. However, the feel through the N-frame magnum is surprisingly light. Accidentally connecting with my steel 3"x6" steel "Truther" target in double action from about 25 yards was pure joy.

With a .44 S&W, you can only shoot the Special and be perfectly happy. However, the heart of this model was the .44 Mag. cartridges, and Smith takes on a completely different character when the magnum is hidden in those hidden chambers. You can't push 800 feet. energy 42-oz. weapon without knowing it. The portability of the 4-inch barrel ensured that ignitions were often accompanied by terrifying daylight fireballs, and the velocity produced a terrible rumble. I can imagine that this experience will disturb the public shootings of the 1950s, which were based on light guns in .38 Spls . ineffective hearing protection Many of these shooters no doubt make up the oft-repeated "For Sale: Used, Like New, Only Six Shots" story.

S&w's Mo. 66 And 69 Combat Magnum's

These early gun stocks are a story in themselves. Widely known as "Coks", the striking gonçalo alves wood differs from traditional walnut and is designed with gentle curves and waves reminiscent of old-fashioned Coca Cola bottles. Stock shape and fit is very good. They feel great in the hand, perform well in both single and double action modes, and handle recoil quite well. Smith & Wesson kept the basic stock profile, but over time, later versions got bigger, squarer, and blockier—until they were almost single-handedly supplanted by aftermarket replacements like Pachmayr. One indication of how good old coke stock is is in the current price of a set sold separately from the magnum. Shooting grade kits that show their age are often more expensive than new J-frame revolvers. Clean kits can be used as much or more than full-fledged shooter-grade Model 29s from decades to come.

The S&W's recoil is at a level where experienced shooters can handle it in moderate doses. Moderately experienced shooters can handle it with a few occasional shots from the field or range, and a beginner can enjoy the experience or be slightly injured, depending on the point of view. There is no doubt that some serious energy will be released and the experience will be intense with a full force charge.

Lighter .44 Mag. revolvers are relatively common these days, but the original is still perhaps one of the best compromises—light enough to carry, but heavy enough to fire and control the considerable energy released. Magnums, which are more fun to shoot, tend to be clunky and awkward and impossible to carry far or often. Very light .44 Mag. revolvers are best for moderate .44 Mag. a lot, with many shooters finding them downright unpleasant or even painful with high-powered ammunition.

One of the most important shooting challenges in my opinion is group shooting with heavy recoil magnums. For me, it was a test of will and discipline like few others - it's not that hard

Smith & Wesson Model 29 Classic Revolver 44 Remington Mag 6.5 Barrel

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