Author Topic: Scoped 629 (Read 1330 times)

jaybird · « **on:** December 16, 2007, 03:00:20 AM »

Greetings,

I've decided I am gonna pick up a 629 classic with my next handgun purchase. The idea is to scope this revolver and use it as my primary hunting weapon during deer season next fall. I have been thinking about handgun hunting for a while now, but I can't seem to talk myself into leaving my rifles at home. I think the only way I will talk myself into it is if I have a scoped pistol. I have a question for the experienced handgun hunters: what barrel length would be best if I am planning to use it with a scope only?

Thanks in advance,

Jim

S.B. · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2007, 04:36:48 AM »

What ranges wil shots be presented at? You didn't list your age, could make a difference in the amount of accuracy you'll get out of your Smith(eyes). I see from your profile your in the upper Mi. so is the land your going to hunt forested or open?
Maybe Lloyd will chime in, he's from your area?
This one works for me:

Cheesehead · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2007, 04:56:20 AM »

I had a 1.1 power scope on my 5" 29 and was "hunting" accurate out to 100 yards. Five inch groups at 100 were common. Took one deer at 25 yards. A handy and effective package. I would recommend a 6" with a 2x scope.

Cheese

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2007, 07:10:04 AM »

All my big game hunting guns have only a fixed 2x scope on them. Actually I find this to be the best set up. I do have varmint guns that have variable scopes on them.

It will depend on your style of hunting as far as which scope you will want. On my 629 I have a Leupold 2x scope and it is just perfect:

S.B. · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2007, 07:26:03 AM »

Lawful Larry, is that an aluminum base, I see on your pistol?

Catfish · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2007, 10:08:41 AM »

If it`s for hunting only a 2x Leupold is the best you can do. Handgun scope are alot harder to use than rifle scopes. I do have some 2 1/2 x 8 Leupold scopes on handguns but I will not try to shoot these guns off handed. One of them is a .357 max. that has taken several deer, but it is only fire from a by-pod or sand bags and even then on 2 1/2 X most of the time.
The only other thing is that I would never screw up a 29 or 629 S&W with a scope. If you want a scoped handgun get a Ruger Red Hawk and give it a trigger job. I`ve killed alot of deer with iron sights on a handgun also, but you have to practice alot more with a handgun than you do a rifle.

jaybird · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2007, 11:43:26 AM »

I carried my 357 blackhawk along with my rifle this year, intending to use it if the right shot presented itself. I had been working on loads and practicing all summer, but I still was afraid of leaving my rifle at home. We see so few deer where I live (snow belt) that one seldom sees more than one opportunity at a legal buck. I hunt in some pretty dense forest, so shots are rarely longer than 50 yards, but sometimes longer shots (out to 100 yds) present themselves.

I guess my question was more about which barrel length would be best on a scoped 629 (I know there is a lot to consider: balance, weight, velocity, etc.) So far it looks like the 6.5" barrel would be best, based on cheese's post and lawful larry's pic.

I already have a 4" redhawk, and I would like to experience a smith because of the good things I have heard about them.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2007, 01:32:43 AM »

Quote from: S.B. on December 16, 2007, 07:26:03 AM

Lawful Larry, is that an aluminum base, I see on your pistol?

I believe it is made from an aluminum alloy. It is a B-Square mount.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2007, 08:31:04 AM »

I have a Simmons Pro Hunter http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=113584&t=11082005 EER handgun scope on my 629 classic. It's a 2-6x scope. It's been on the gun for 3 years and has taken all the full 44 mag loads that I have fed the gun, and not moved from it's center.

I agree that a 2x is great for hunting, but for the price of this scope, I don't think you can go wrong. (Oh, use the Burris rings....with the plastic inserts....heck, I can't think of what they are called....but I think they help with keeping the shock from being "passed on" to the scope. I'd use these rings no matter what scope you choose)

MHO

Dave

S.B. · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2007, 09:53:06 AM »

Davemuzz, 2-6x seems pretty strong to me. I have a 4x Leupold on one of my pistols and have a hard time with so little of field of view and picking up targets at any distance? Maybe just my old eyes?

Davemuzz · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2007, 03:21:20 PM »

S.B.,

The FOV when the scope is on 2x at 100 yards is 14'. When I take this gun hunting I always set the scope on 2X. Then I tell myself if I need a higher scope setting, I can just turn it up. But I've never found an instance where I've needed to turn up the setting.

Mikey · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2007, 03:41:15 PM »

Jaybird: I would think either the 6.5" ,or if you can find one with an 8" if they come in that length, would be a good choice for a scoped 629.

If you have a 4" Redhawk I think you will like the 629. Different critters but I like my 29. A 6.5" barrel with full underlug makes for a nice balance and the scope will add weight that helps a lot of guys really enjoy shooting the 44 mag.

One caveat about a scope is that you really have to have a steady hand - at least I do - with a longer barrel to hold steady on the target. I could just never hold a scoped revolver steady enough.

I like the looks of each of the 629s in the pictures posted and they all look like they can shoot great. Those targets are pretty darn good for 100yd. Good luck, let us know how it goes. Mikey.

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2007, 05:57:44 PM »

14' at 100 yards means 3.5' at 25 yards when that deer steps out of the thick stuff walking slowly. I want as much as I can get cuz my average handgun deer kill has been at 25-35 yards. I love the Leupold 2X for it's 21' FOV at 100 yards a 50% increase over the Simmons. The Burris 2-7 has the same 21' at 100.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2007, 04:20:10 PM »

GB,

My deer always stop at 25 yards and pose nicely against a white background for me. So, I never have a problem picking 'em up in my scope.

Dave

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2007, 11:04:35 PM »

everybody that knows me knows i detest long barreled handguns and am not much of a fan of scopes on handguns. I guess if i had to set one up it would be a 6 inch gun. the scopes look kind of funky on a 4 inch gun and as you can see in the ones pictured here they look fine on a 6 inch gun. You will see absoultely no accuracy advantage with a scope on a 6 gun no matter what the barrel length is. Bottom line is its more of luck of the draw when you buy it. Ive seen 4 inch guns outshoot 8 3/8s guns. Even velocity can fool you. Ive got one 4 inch 629 thats faster then any other 4 inch gun and is faster with the same load then any 6 inch gun ive tried the loads in. Barrel to cyl gap and barrel quality mean as much for velocity as does barrel lenght. As to handgun scopes. the variables are great on the contendors with flat shooting cartirdges but for a 44 mag there is only one scoope! That scope was covered here allready. the leupold 2x. Its got good optics a fairly good feild of veiw forgiving eye relief and it is the ONLY scope ive can honestly say ive never seen fail on a handgun.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2007, 11:06:47 PM »

ps my neighbor is an older gentleman that has a 8 3/8s 629 with a leupold on it. He never shoots it and might be talked into parting with it. If your interested shoot me a pm.

S.B. · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2007, 11:51:24 PM »

Lloyd Smale, I don't scope (red dot) my 629) for better accuracy(no argument there), it's easier to see the red dot at dawn and dusk?

Davemuzz · « **Reply #17 on:** December 23, 2007, 03:24:55 AM »

About the only detriment to scoping my 629, is if I were to attempt a shot at a close running deer. By close, I mean within 25 yards. Open sights would be OK for this type of shot, if one would choose to take that shot at all. For me, it would have to be a really nice rack buck to whale a round at it. If it's a doe, I'd just as soon wave to it as she runs by.

But for pinpoint shot placement out to 50 yards, you just cant beat a scope. Place those crosshairs on the spot, put the gun in single action and that bullet will go right where those cross hairs are at. I took a doe this year with my 629 at 40 yards. Bang, flip, flop. Now, for shooting a deer out to 100 yards, a good shooting stick or a solid tree limb, and you will put one in the boiler room. I would not attempt a 100 yard shot with open sights. But then, I'm not 25 years old anymore either......sometimes my mind says I am......then the rest of me remind's me of reality!

Dave

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #18 on:** December 23, 2007, 04:57:29 AM »

Quote from: S.B. on December 22, 2007, 11:51:24 PM

Lloyd Smale, I don't scope (red dot) my 629) for better accuracy(no argument there), it's easier to see the red dot at dawn and dusk?

I guess I don't consider a red dot a scope. But to talk about not getting better accuracy just doesn't compute with me. Are we just talking about pistols or all guns? As far as distances go, you will have the same problem at 25 yards or less with both the rifle and handgun that are scoped I should think.

As to Leupold scopes, they are not my first pick for a handgun. Once I sat in a tree stand and tried to acquire a sight picture with my Leupold 2x on a doe at 45 yards. Well it took me a few seconds to get that picture. Thankfully the doe stood still the whole time and I got the shot and deer. I have had better luck with my Burris scopes. When I bring up the gun and look at the scope eye piece I don't have to keep searching for the sight picture, it is there. For some reason the Leupold handgun scopes will stay dark until the gun is perfectly in line with the target. This makes it very difficult to hunt. At the range it doesn't present such a critical situation as in the field. And remember that these old tired eyes need the additional help in getting off that well placed shot.

I guess after all is said and done, we all have our opinions and experiences.

Merry Christmas guys.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2007, 05:37:38 AM »

Larry,

You can solve that problem by simply supergluing your eyelids over the top of your eyebrows!

Dave

ccoker · « **Reply #20 on:** December 23, 2007, 07:25:24 AM »

the Bushnell Trophy 2-6 gets very consistent recommendations and reviews here
I put one on my 7.5" Ruger blackhawk bisley hunter and can get 2-3" groups at 100 yards off a bench easily
I like the variable power, optics are very good and I am used to much higher priced scopes

this pistol is definitely more of a "hunting from a blind gun" than a walking/stalking gun

jhalcott · « **Reply #21 on:** December 23, 2007, 08:43:26 AM »

Jay, the one thing I haven't seen is the fact that DIFFERENT areas require different MINIMUM barrel lengths.Some area don't have a minimum. I believe a 6 to 7 inch barrel gives ME the best balance for a hunting revolver.I don't hunt beyond 100 yards with a revolver so have no need to scope it. I DO use scope on Contenders and XP's

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #22 on:** December 23, 2007, 08:59:05 AM »

Quote from: Davemuzz on December 23, 2007, 05:37:38 AM

Larry,

You can solve that problem by simply supergluing your eyelids over the top of your eyebrows!

Dave

Hey Dave,
I wish it was that easy. These eyes are giving me fits lately. My diabetes is driving me nuts with my eyes. I will have to go and see my doctor and may have to up my prescriptions. I take pills and a shot a day. May have to go to numerous shots of the juice daily. Life and old age sucks lately.

S.B. · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2007, 11:56:13 AM »

Lawful Larry, I have type one diabetes and have been insulin dependent since age 15 and now am 59. I don't have diabetic retinopothy yet and hope I never do. Last 3 years I've been on a pump and control is much easier than the needles. I KNOW what you mean.