300 gr Keith's in S&W 29-2?

Edward429451 · November 4, 2007, 12:43 PM

I'm wondering if it would be too hard on the 29-2 to feed it some 300 gr Keith boolits. My RH & SBH like the heavies. The S&W like the 245's and I wonder how it would like the heavier ones.

But I'm not sure if I'd be beating the gun up unnecessarily. What say ye S&W afficiondoes? Not RH loads mind you but on the lighter side, maybe 800-900 fps...?

steveno · November 4, 2007, 04:41 PM

I wouldn't use the 300 grain bullets and they are kind of a very limited usage bullet in my opinion. use them in the rugers. the 44 mag got along just fine for a long time with 240 grain bullets of the right construction. M-29's don't react very well with heavy loads for very long

Slamfire · November 6, 2007, 10:55 AM

I would agree with the advice not to use a lot of them. If you go to the S&W forum, this issue is asked many times, and the consensus is, it will beat up your N frame and get it out of time.

I have shot 290's in the 44 Mag, and it was more recoil than I wanted. So try a few, and if you like it, get a SuperRedhawk.

O.S.O.K. · November 6, 2007, 06:43 PM

I posted a reply to this last night - and for some reason it disappeared...?

Anyhoo, you can shoot all of the 300 grain bullets that you want out of your Smith - just don't shoot a lot of full house loads. If you are wanting these for hunting, a load that generates 1200 fps will do all that you would want without beating on the gun.

Its the presure of the loads and resulting recoil, not the bullet weight that do the most damage to the revolver.

Edward429451 · November 6, 2007, 07:41 PM

Yeah I seen your post before it disappeared but haven't had time to post a response. I was still on the edge with one yay and one nay but since perusing the S&W forum, I've decided to not shoot the 300's in the smith. steveno made a real good point that 44 mag got along real good with 240's for a long time..I got the 245 Keiths doing 1250 and shootin real straight out of it so eh, why push my luck with a fine revolver with no real goal in mind but experimentation, just to see. I have a RH & a SBH to do that stuff with.

Appreciate your guys responses!

November 4, 2007, 12:43 PM	#1
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	300 gr Keith's in S&W 29-2? I'm wondering if it would be too hard on the 29-2 to feed it some 300 gr Keith boolits. My RH & SBH like the heavies. The S&W like the 245's and I wonder how it would like the heavier ones. But I'm not sure if I'd be beating the gun up unnecessarily. What say ye S&W afficiondoes? Not RH loads mind you but on the lighter side, maybe 800-900 fps...?

November 6, 2007, 06:43 PM	#4
O.S.O.K. Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2007 Posts: 122	300 grainers are fine in a 29 I posted a reply to this last night - and for some reason it disappeared...? Anyhoo, you can shoot all of the 300 grain bullets that you want out of your Smith - just don't shoot a lot of full house loads. If you are wanting these for hunting, a load that generates 1200 fps will do all that you would want without beating on the gun. Its the presure of the loads and resulting recoil, not the bullet weight that do the most damage to the revolver.

November 4, 2007, 04:41 PM	#2
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	I wouldn't use the 300 grain bullets and they are kind of a very limited usage bullet in my opinion. use them in the rugers. the 44 mag got along just fine for a long time with 240 grain bullets of the right construction. M-29's don't react very well with heavy loads for very long

November 6, 2007, 10:55 AM	#3
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	I would agree with the advice not to use a lot of them. If you go to the S&W forum, this issue is asked many times, and the consensus is, it will beat up your N frame and get it out of time. I have shot 290's in the 44 Mag, and it was more recoil than I wanted. So try a few, and if you like it, get a SuperRedhawk.

November 6, 2007, 07:41 PM	#5
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Yeah I seen your post before it disappeared but haven't had time to post a response. I was still on the edge with one yay and one nay but since perusing the S&W forum, I've decided to not shoot the 300's in the smith. steveno made a real good point that 44 mag got along real good with 240's for a long time..I got the 245 Keiths doing 1250 and shootin real straight out of it so eh, why push my luck with a fine revolver with no real goal in mind but experimentation, just to see. I have a RH & a SBH to do that stuff with. Appreciate your guys responses!