S&W 629 Backpacker

[justbill]

Every game animal in North America has been taken with the .357  (some big name shooter/hunter back in the 30's who's name I can never remember )

Col. D.B. Wesson

Keith did a lot of the early development though. Here's a pic of a .38-44 he used when working-up the new cartridge.


Phil Sharpe was also solidly involved with development of the bullet shape.

[justbill]

Is anyone familiar with this revolver?  Yes I am, starting with the original Lew Horton 3" guns from the 80's. I have a lot less personal experience with the newer guns but have shot one and handled several others. As Tom noted earlier, the older guns of the pre-ILS and MIM part era are more reliable. I'll also throw in my personal opinion that overall quality is better as well - fit, finish, action smoothness, etc. The marketplace agrees with me, since the older guns sell for significantly more than the current models.

I'm looking for a compact, powerful, short barrel revolver for close range use in the woods.  I'd like to stick with 44 mag caliber. Good idea in big bear country. You'll probably never need it but if you do a double action .44 makes an effective lifesaver. IMO there's nothing else that combines handiness, speed into action and rapidity of accurate fire as well as a DA .44 Magnum or .45 Colt loaded with warm handloads.

I have found a new S&W 629 Backpacker (2 1/2") at a local dealer for $795. Is this an older example or one of the current guns with the hated lock? If the former, $795 is a steal. If the latter, it's a fair price.  

I have an old Ruger Security Six 357 to trade on it. Great guns, one of the best .357's ever made.  


The Dealer said he'd sell me the Backpacker for $475 plus my 357 and holster. $320 for your Ruger is pretty good. Near-NIB examples don't sell for much more than that in my area. If the 629 is a pre-lock gun and in the stated condition, I'd go for the deal in a heartbeat. If it has the lock, keep your Security-Six and load it with 180-grain WFN ammo while saving for a harder-hitting bear defense revolver.

[Ping]

^^^^ What justbill said! 

[spentbrass]

I may not have been clear enough about the Backpacker.  This is a NIB current production revolver that DOES have the security lock.  Everyone talks about these new guns with the locks as a negetive thing.  I guess someone will have to fill me in on the pros and /or cons of this type of feature.  I am not familiar with the subject of the lock on these newer guns.

[tombogan03884]

Recoil from heavier calibers such as .44 Magnum can cause the lock to partially engage leaving you with a club.
Bane had this happen to him and blogged about it.
AVOID THESE GUNS !

[Sponsor]

[justbill]

Ditto Tom's reply and then some. I've held a J-frame in my hands in which the MIM hammer sheared in half. I've seen several photos of another in which the lock failed and made the gun into an expensive paperweight...just from dropping the weapon. Mas Ayoob has reported of ILS failures in print. I'm sure there are many others, these are just the ones with which I'm familiar. Smith & Wesson revolvers of today are in no way comparable to those of little more than a decade ago.

[Herknav]

There's a guy over on the S&W forum who makes a plug for these that allows you to remove the lock and plug the hole.  Ask for "the plug" if you're interested.  Of course, that still doesn't solve the MIM problem.

[fightingquaker13]

There's a guy over on the S&W forum who makes a plug for these that allows you to remove the lock and plug the hole.  Ask for "the plug" if you're interested.  Of course, that still doesn't solve the MIM problem.

OR, you could just buy a Ruger, and save money on the deal. Don't get me wrong, I own a late '60s Smith and like it, but it really doesn't seem worth the premium you pay over a Ruger, particularly with the aforementioned issues. YMMV.
FQ13

[alfsauve]

Basically, many S&W fans avoid anything made after 2000.  That was the date of the infamous anti-gun agreement.  And while the newest owners of S&W have recanted that agreement, they haven't removed the infernal, internal locks.  The jury is still out on MIM.  S&W isn't the only manufacturer to use that methodology. 

There are many very well made 70's, 80's and 90's revolvers out there.   I saw an early 4 inch Model 66 "listed" at a gun show for $575 on Saturday.  This was one of S&Ws first all stainless revolvers and I do mean all stainless including the sights.  Had a pinned barrel, a trigger stop and recessed cylinder (all standard features in the early 70's).  It is K frame so it's a good balance between weight and firepower. 

The only "current" model I would consider buying is the 460, only because they didn't make one prior to 2000.

There are still good bargains out there, though some insanity exists.  A 625 in 45LC just closed on GunBroker for >$1,500.   

[justbill]

There are still good bargains out there, though some insanity exists.  A 625 in 45LC just closed on GunBroker for >$1,500.   

Tell me about it. I've coveted a .45 Colt Mountain Gun since they were first made. They were hard to get then at MSRP. Today....