[300winmag]

Slow week, except for this deal I swung with the owner of my local EBR shop. A virtually-unfired (50 rounds) S&W 629 from 1983 (the inside of the grips were stamped) for this 2008-vintage 629. Why lug around six inches of heavy barrel when you can get by with three?

My old Model 60 can now aspire to grow up to be a 629 snubbie. The 629 is currently configured as someone's idea of a concealed carry piece. New Hogue grips, like the ones on the "big" 629, will offer a bit more to hold onto.

I convinced myself that the "little Smith" is more convenient and practical if I'm out in the boonies somewhere where the treat from four-legged vermin is greater than the two-legged kinds. I can probably get away with a single reload, rather than a bag full of loaded magazines. I just have to remember that I have less than 100 rounds of .44 Mag ammo at home.

[Squantos]

300..... I personally think this was a baaaaaad move. That old (no key smith) 6 inch boomer for the 3 inch version.

Now what ya “want” is the point and always agree all should get what they want and can pay for but I think yer gonna regret letting that 6 inch 629 go.....:o)

I have some very old S&W’s and their actions are night and day different with the older ones, even new in the box finds, are much better than todays versions. Unless they come out of the performance center or such as Cylinder and Slide type shops that perfect such actions.

I have the performance center 44mag “snub” with fixed sights etc and it is horrible bad to shoot with full house defense loads.

If I remember right you mentioned something about arthritis ?.......:o) I have it and you will “remember” shooting that 44mag 3 inch fer sure.

[SuziQ]

Those three look like Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear.;o)

[osagebowman]

Nice trade Win-Mag. Surprised to see it was de-horned though. Those three inchers are all the rage now, at least according to smithwessonforum. A nice tooled El-Paso Tom ThreePersons or Border Patrol holster would set you up for a nice bar-b-que rig. Seriously, the .44 Special loading of the .44 Magnum makes for a much nicer range session, aka leaving the icy-hot in the medicine cabinet. My 66 2in really lights up the range when I got my 296 loads in it. I would bet the 3 inch with full bore loads would do the same. OB