ltwguns.com

Howdy All
I am going to have someone customize a 629 Mountain Gun in 44mag for me. The smith is yet to be decided. I thought I would post what I want done and get input from LTW and its members.

I want to have an action job, cylinder chamfered or set up for moonclips, tritium sights (front and back) and...suggestions?

This gun is for bear country. I have had 3 people killed or mauled by Griz within 10 miles of my house in the last year and twice I have been chased on horse back. I do not want to shoot a bear, but want to be well prepared.

I had the S&W custom shop do their Master Everthing package on my last MG and the gun was defective and so was their work. So, after the 3rd time I sent it to them I demanded a new gun or $ back. They have refused and I have refused the gun everytime it shows up at FEDX for a year. They now have my $ and my gun. I am currently looking for a non internal trigger lock model. Preferably a 629-2 or 629-3.

Or would the extra couple of ounces in the regular 629 full size 4" barrel be a significant plus in any way?

I think moonclips are the way to go, but have no experience with them?

Feel free to help out with any and all info, opinions and gunsmith recommendations.

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God Bless
45Fundi

The problem with moonclips in the .44 is what are you going to use for clips? Unless someone has been working behind my back, there aren't moonclips that work in regular .44 rimmed brass. In the old days guys moonclipped .44 by making .308 brass into .44 automag-like brass and useing .45 ACP moonclips.

If you want .44, getting moonclips in it might be very tough. If you want moonclips reloading, is there any other cartridge that delivers "enough" power for your needs? for instance, a 10mm, loaded to the redline with the heaviest bullet you can locate?

TK Custom is now offering moon clips for the S&W 29/629 (http://www.tkcustom.com). You'll need the cylinder machined for them of course, but they have recently become available.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

I looked at having my cylinder machined to take the TK Custom moons, but didn't want to be
stuck if they closed up or stopped making them. If I had a second cylinder fitted, maybe....

I'd just practice my speedloads, or practice throwing an empty gun at a bear shaped target,
and work on marathon running!

Since you don't have the gun yet, can I make a suggestion?

You seem to be set on moon clips. Would a .50AE revolver work for ya? Same thing, DA/SA, fixed or adjustable sights, tritium...all that.

Only thing is that it would be built on a Ruger Redhawk.

I'm not qualified to debate a .44mag/.50AE which is better discussion, but here is a pic.



The 'smith is Hamilton Bowen

_________________
"Suppose they gave a war, and nobody came?
Why then, the war would come to you!"
(Bertolt Brecht)

That sneaky TK, going behind my back and making moonclips for everything up to and including my planned custom 20mm Mountain Gun.

A moonclipped .50 AE in a Ruger DA? nice. I was not at all surprised to see Hamilton Bowen's name at the bottom of the photo.

You might try sending a letter to the Pres of S&W as well as head of their so called customer service dept. It should be a letter that won't get you sued in court but one that you intend to send to all the magazines and post in all the forums. I did that with a Japanese motorcycle maker and they eventually saw things my way. Many companies don't really care about a few annoyed customers, but they don't like bad publicity. A new gun is cheaper than bad press. Good luck.

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Lynnie, NRA Life Member

Thanks All!
I will be talking to Hamilton Bowen, but fear he might be out of my league. I've seen his work it is something to behold. Last I heard he doesn't work on S&W, but I'll check again.

Any leads on where I can get Tritium rear sights for S&W?

I did not realize that moonclips were not common for 44mags? Are there any negatives to moonclips that I am unaware of? Are they for competition only? I thought they were more foolproof and compact than speedloaders?

I also can not find a S&W 629-3 Mountain Gun. Any advice on where to look?

I am writing a demand letter to S&W through my lawyer for $ back or else. I am saddened by how S&W has handled this.

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God Bless
45Fundi

Was this whole mess with S&W recent? I had some problems with them too, but it was in the
mid 90's, and I thought they've changed. They recently refinished my 29 that Don Williams
fine-tuned, and it's as close to perfect as I'm likely to own.

Bowen works on Smiths. He just prefers the Ruger Redhawks for high pressure work in a DA/SA.

_________________
"Suppose they gave a war, and nobody came?
Why then, the war would come to you!"
(Bertolt Brecht)