S&W 329PD Airlite shooting experience

[Opg]

Does anyone have any first hand experience shooting the S&W 329PD Airlite .44 mag?
Handling, accuracy, recoil in comparison to a 629 4"

Thank you for any feedback you can provide.

 

[Rabbit2047]

Does anyone have any first hand experience shooting the S&W 329PD Airlite .44 mag?
Handling, accuracy, recoil in comparison to a 629 4"

Thank you for any feedback you can provide.

Very unpleasant. The overpressure feels like it's slapping you in the face, when shooting indoors. It's a handful to hang onto when it bucks. Sometimes heavier is better. This is one of those times!

 

[41mag]

Very snappy. You not going to go through 50-100 rds at the range. Especially full loads.
I would suggest running .44special target rounds.... for any kind of practice.

 

[mikey357]

The Model 329 makes a GREAT .44 SPECIAL...LOL!

 

[atljetmech]

Does anyone have any first hand experience shooting the S&W 329PD Airlite .44 mag?
Handling, accuracy, recoil in comparison to a 629 4"

Thank you for any feedback you can provide.

No but I researched them a quite a bit after handling one at my LGS and didn't like what I read. Everything from the typical new S&W Quality Control issues to the obvious extreme recoil being so light weight. Also, due to the alloy's used, very susceptible to flame cutting (hence the factory shield) that will need replacing periodically if you actually shoot the weapon enough.

This guy did an extremely thorough write up on his blog about the 329PD and I really enjoyed reading it:
https://sites.google.com/site/hobbyhintstricksideas/Home/s-w-329pd-info

In the end I decided a thousand plus dollars would be spent better elsewhere and I would stick to my traditional obese revolvers when it comes to 44MAG.

 

[Wombat7]

I just don’t understand snub nose .357 or 44mag revolvers. They kick like hell and their power isn’t really much better then a micro 9mm or micro .45acp. The pistol is just too light to really be effective and it very unpleasant to shoot. If you want a revolver go with a 4” or 5” barrel so you can really get the performance. I may be wrong but I think the 5” .357mag is normally the standard for an effective barrel length for that caliber.

 

[spistols]

Don't a lot of people use the S&W 329PD Airlite .44 mag as a mountain hike or woods gun? Knowing it is painful on the hand, but in a "I need it now or get the big bear off me moment", the pain quickly disappears? Kind of like toting the Ruger .454 Casull Alaskan- it's sounds and handles like hell came back on earth, but when you need it in an emergency up in bear country, suddenly you forgive its' sins.

 

[500mag]

Great carry piece, not bad with 44 Special, gets your attention with full magnum loads, but at 29 oz not near as bad as the 12 oz titanium 357 mag with full magnum loads.

 

[atljetmech]

I would think this frame with 8 shot 357 would have been better marketing for S&W

 

[Cadcom]

I would think this frame with 8 shot 357 would have been better marketing for S&W

I had a 627. Real cool gun but if it was in scandium I would prob still have it. It was heavier than Thor’s hammer.