The Gun Counter

Around the Water Cooler: .44 Mag
By Rich Grassi


While gearing up for the porcine search in the southeast part of the Texas panhandle, I was told that smart money was on having a handgun of appropriate power level to have always accessible if needed. As I was to come to find out, a gun full of shot cartridges would have had more utility, but there was still some comfort to be had from having a .44 Magnum at hand.

The .44 Magnum I took for personal defense was the 5-inch S&W Model 629 Classic. Sharing the underlugged barrel style of the Smith and Wesson L-frame series, the 5" 629 used the front sight arrangement of the "DX" - a spring-loaded plunger arrangement that allows easy change of the front sight. The Classic was in good company: Surefire's Dick Williams had selected a Novak customized S&W 629 Classic - to which they'd added their light-rail!

The holster I used was the Galco Dual-Position Phoenix. A thumb-break holster with screw-post tension adjustment, the Phoenix can be carried straight or cross-draw. I selected cross-draw as I'd be spending lots of time sitting in a blind or on one of the topside seats on the ton-and-a-quarter truck. Galco sent along their 2x2x2 pouch for spare ammo, though I didn't figure the hogs would require that much firepower. Also, one of their nice leather belts was sent along to round out the ensemble.

I added a Tuff Products Quick Strip, to which I added six rounds of Hornady 225 grain FTX LeveRevolution ammo.

During sight-in - the guns were new and hadn't been fired, the 629 Classic fired a tight group at fifty yards, likely as far as I'd take a shot. The Hornady ammo contributed to the accuracy as did the welcome weight of the Classic barrel.

Hornady provided the FTX ammo, for which I am grateful.

So, in addition to thanking Hornady, I want to express appreciation to the camp crew, Smith & Wesson, Surefire, XS Sight Systems and Galco for assisting in this trip.

Bob K wrote:Great eating.