Estimated studying time: 8 minutes
Whereas Smith & Wesson launched the Mannequin 29, .44 Magnum revolver, round 1956, it took Soiled Harry Callahan to make it legendary. Within the 1971 movie, Clint Eastwood performed a renegade San Francisco PD Inspector out to make a nasty man’s day! Now, nearly 55 years later, the Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum is alive and effectively.
Many shooters choose the traditional blued metal, whereas outdoorsmen and others acknowledge some great benefits of a chrome steel working pistol. In 1979, Smith launched the 629, a stainless model of the 29. In 1987, Smith launched a lighter mannequin of the 629, particularly designed for this market. The 629 Mountain Revolver featured a tapered barrel that lowered the general weight and made it simpler to hold. This was adopted by the Mountain Revolver sequence. They have been extremely popular, however like a number of different fashions, they fell sufferer to market developments, they usually have been discontinued.
Whereas the Mountain Gun was discontinued, the road of 629 fashions is alive and prospering. In Smith & Wesson’s web site, I counted 9 totally different 629 variations. For many who choose conventional blued revolvers, the corporate presents a 6 ½” and a 4” Mannequin 29 in addition to a machined, engraved mannequin.
LIPSEY’S HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING
Final 12 months, Lipsey’s launched the wildly profitable Smith & Wesson Final Compact Centennial in each .38 Particular and .32 H&R Magnum. The 2025 SHOT Present noticed Lispey’s and Smith & Wesson hitting one other dwelling run. They’ve introduced again the Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum Mountain Gun. The weapons have been an instantaneous success and, in consequence, it took a number of months for us to get one for this evaluate.
The brand new Mountain Gun is predicated on the present manufacturing, spherical butt, N body, stainless 629. Nonetheless, it options numerous upgrades, making it a very distinctive wheelgun. It has the traditional 4” tapered one-piece barrel with a serrated rib and a half-lug ejector shroud. The entrance sight blade is a Patridge model, with a .125” extensive entrance sight blade and a gold bead. The rear sight is the standard Smith adjustable configuration with a .140” notch. A “black powder” bevel has been utilized to the forefront of the cylinder. That is each aesthetically pleasing and sensible, because it reduces holster shaving. All the pistol is properly polished and void of any offending edges.
The hammer and set off, whereas MIM development, are flash chromed. The set off has a easy face with radiused edges. The double motion, on our check pistol, broke cleanly, averaging 9 lb. 10 oz. The one motion broke an excellent 4 lbs. I’d be remiss to not point out and thank Smith & Wesson for deleting the contentious lock! This has been the supply of angst for a few years, and the deletion is appreciated by “Huge Blue” followers.
Nonetheless, the pièce de résistance is the flamboyant walnut Bear Hug shares from Tyler Gun Works. These are far superior to the usual N-frame shares and provides the brand new Mountain Gun a customized enchantment. The unique Bear Hug shares have been manufactured by Deacon Deason and gained recognition by the writings of Skeeter Skelton and others. The design fills the sinus behind the set off guard, has a near-vertical entrance strap profile, and incorporates a palm swell. The shares on our check pistol are trustworthy reproductions that have been bookended, that means each panels have been lower from the identical block, and the grain matches.
RANGE TIME
We hit the vary with six masses, each .44 Particular and .44 Magnum. Instantly, I concluded that the Bear Hug shares are extra fitted to the .44 Particular load. For many of the testing, I used Pachmayr Gripper shares which might be full protection with a cushioned backstrap. For formal testing, I used the masses listed under. For my part, these are essentially the most appropriate masses for the Mountain Gun.
The accuracy teams have been shot, at 25 yards, from a bench with a bag relaxation. I fired 5 rounds single motion and 5 rounds double motion. I then measured the perfect of 5 hits. Recoil was vital with the magnum masses, however due primarily to the Pachmayr shares, it was not painful. With the particular masses, the Mountain Gun was a number of enjoyable. Clanging metal at 50 yards.
Whereas chambered in Magnum, the Mountain Gun actually shines when utilizing .44 Particular Masses. The recoil of the Magnum masses ends in vital restoration time. I significantly just like the Excessive Desert Cartridge masses. Their 200-grain flat level, jacketed spherical, averaged 785 fps and was very nice to shoot. The corporate additionally presents a jacketed hollow-point looking load. This load encompasses a 200-grain Hornady XTP projectile that gives the penetration wanted to carry down massive recreation.
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Closing Ideas
The MSRP of the Lipsey’s Mannequin 629 is $1,199. That is precisely $100 greater than the usual Smith & Wesson 629. Given the upgrades, to incorporate the Tyler Bear Hug shares, which retail for $249.00, what’s to not like? Frankly, I’m unsure how Lipsey’s can promote it for that value. It’s actually the most effective values of the 12 months. In case you are not a fan of the .44 Magnum/Particular, I extremely advocate looking at their Mannequin 686 Mountain Gun. It has all the identical options, together with the TGW shares and the deleted lock, in a seven-shot .357 Magnum.
As with earlier articles on Lipsey’s exclusives, I want to categorical my appreciation to Jason Cloessner at Lipsey’s and the good people at Smith and Wesson. Lastly, I need to thank those that present the ammunition that makes these critiques attainable.
For added info, go to lipseys.com
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Rob has been writing for the firearms business for over 40 years in addition to 38 years of legislation enforcement expertise. With over 1,000 revealed article, he enjoys bringing a historic perspective to lots of his articles. An ardent revolver fanatic, Rob understands the sensible utility of the “artwork of the revolver.” In lots of articles, Rob consists of ballistic testing knowledge of lots of the fashionable private protection masses.
When not on the vary, or pounding the keyboard, Rob enjoys spending time together with his household, is lively in his native church, and networking with an ever increasing group of like minded shooters.
Expertise
40+ Years writing for the firearm’s industryRetired Lieutenant with a big Georgia legislation enforcement agencyAvid shooter and day by day practitionerConsultant within the firearm’s area
