Hand Cannons

Hand cannons of all types have already been proven to dispatch large game cleanly.  These hand cannons are no different, except that they do it with a bit smoother action, better looks and less recoil.

For years I have watched guys like Jerry Miculek shooting fantastic revolvers and doing things with them that many shooters could only dream of. Well, Now I want one.  I have even made a few for people, but not nearly as many as the 1911’s and high cap semi-autos I have customized.  I must admit too, that revolver fitting jobs are much more difficult, time consuming and expensive to perform than anything else (in my mind).

A love affair with S&W Hand Cannons

I have also had a sort of “crush” on the model 629 for some time now (I once owned a 686 and a 629 but had to sell them because I was tight on money), and always wanted to put one back into my safe. The hand cannons from the Smith & Wesson performance center are now practically forcing me (heavily compelling me at least) to reconsider such a purchase in the near term instead of the “when it happens” term. So why is the 629 custom .44 Magnum so compelling?

Well aside from being stunningly gorgeous, clean as glass and low on recoil; you can kill a bear with it. Yes, a bear.  I personally don’t know if I will ever desire to kill a bear with a .44 Magnum, but who knows, maybe…I won’t have to worry about not being able to do it if I own one of these hand cannons, because they’ve done it, time and again.

The Substance of Hand Cannons

So let’s talk a bit about the substance of these “Magnum Hunter” hand cannons, because while a picture is worth a thousand words (sometimes more), people really want to know what they are getting for the extra $600 on top of the price of a standard 629 .44 magnum they might buy from S&W.

It’s two tone (a trend since the beginnings of the Performance Center offerings, including the awkward .356 TSW semi autos), with a stainless steel cylinder and a black/blue frame and barrel.  The muzzle brake that seems machined into the barrel is bright stainless as well.  The cylinder has an option to be a bull cylinder or a fluted cylinder, but the option or a bull profile is even that much more appealing for these custom hand cannons.  It’s got great lines and not really for weight reduction, mostly just to look cool.  There is a built in scope rail but there are also the standard S&W sights with a bit more oomph (they’re bigger and better than their “contemporaries”). You get a “free” scope from Leaper’s with the price tag, but it’s not an amazing optic, just an entry level one.

The action on this weapon is incredible. I have performed hundreds (maybe 350+) action jobs on S&W revolvers of all types, and I would be hard pressed to replicate this revolver’s smoothness for the price they tack onto the regular gun, let alone all the finishing and add-ons.  The cylinder/crane/ejector as well, are all incredible, much better than factory standard, which is already much better than most competitors.

You get all the normal stuff like over-travel stop threaded into the trigger; the wide trigger face, the wide hammer spur, etc. etc.

Hand Cannons require strong arms and aggressive postures

The weight of the Revolver is just enough to break your arm if you hold it too far out while off hand shooting, but not enough to be bothersome with two hands.  It’s heavy enough to make the recoil and muzzle rise of these hand cannons almost completely mitigated.  Now, I personally would remove the (somewhat helpful) Hogue rubber grips in favor of a nice set of custom wood grips, but no one can dispute S&W opted for the rubber ones to keep felt recoil to a minimum.  I have shot the older less well appointed version of this gun, and it’s ridiculously accurate.  I have only messed around with this particular variant, held it, lovingly, etc.

The 7.5” barreled revolver from the gods weighs 58 ounces, has an OAL of 14” and holds six rounds of the venerable .44 Magnum.  It costs approximately $1300 and can only be ordered through authorized dealers. If you like the pictures, you’re only going to become infatuated when you touch it.  This is one case where being a stalker is acceptable.   Hand cannons like these don’t come around all that often, do what you can to get your hand on this cannon.