smith and wesson model 629

Question
I recently inherited the above mentioned handgun and am entertaining the possibility of scoping it to help increase distance accuracy. It came with a fine trigger action so that is cool but do you think I need to modify it further? Ammuntion is another question. Any recommendations on type and where to puchase?  I find it to be quite expensive and am limited on selection at the local stores.....Perhaps an internet site for ammo?  Overall do you think is a good idea to go through the expense and trouble to try to mod/scope this gun as I do not know the ballistic charactaristics of this round and do not know what to expect as far as distance/accuracy limitations. Thanks,john zunich  

Answer
Hi John.

A scope will definitely help with target acquisition but won't necessarily make you more accurate.  The most important factors for accuracy are your shooting position, grip, breathing, sight alignment, trigger squeeze, and follow through.  For example you will be much more accurate when shooting from a prone position or when supported by a rest than while shooting freehand from a standing position, especially when you are shooting at long distances.

It will most likely cost you a good bit to buy a quality scope and have it professionally mounted, possibly $400 or more depending on the type of scope you get.  I wouldn't get a cheap scope or a flimsy mount since it will need to stand up to the strong recoil forces.

Some handguns with long barrels and powerful cartridges can be fired with reasonable accuracy out to 100 yards or more but this takes much more skill and the bullet may not have enough energy at farther distances to do the job.  My personal preference is to use rifles for distance shooting (50+ yards) and handguns for up close work (0-50 yards), thus I have never needed a scope on my pistols.  I also don't like the idea of spending more on the scope than the cost of the firearm but for some avid handgun hunters or competitors it is well worth it.

The best thing you can do to keep ammo cost down is to shoot .44 special for practice.  These are milder loads that are cheaper.  I often get the best ammo prices locally at Walmart or Academy Sports.  If you buy ammo in bulk, like 500-1000 rounds or more at a time, then it might be worth it to order some from the web.  Checkout cheaperthandirt.com, cabelas.com, cdnninvestments.com which usually have pretty good deals on bulk ammo.  If you plan to shoot more than 50-100 rounds per month then it may be worth it for you take up reloading.  You can usually save about 50-90% of the cartridge cost by reloading and it is a very enjoyable hobby.

Here is some more info on your revolver and the .44 magnum caliber:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%26W_Model_629
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.44_Magnum

Hope this helps.  Good luck.

Bob