S&W 629 Mountain Gun Returns Better Than Ever

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Lipsey’s-exclusive S&W 629 Mountain Gun brings the classic 4 inch .44 Magnum back with smart upgrades like a gold bead Patridge front sight, Bear Hug stocks, and no internal lock. On the range it shines with .44 Special loads and remains trail ready in a lighter, tapered barrel package.

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Legend, Revival, and Why the 629 Still Matters

While Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 29, .44 Magnum revolver, around 1956, it took Dirty Harry Callahan to make it legendary. In the 1971 film, Clint Eastwood played a renegade San Francisco PD Inspector out to make a bad guy’s day! Now, almost 55 years later, the Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum is alive and well.

Many shooters prefer the classic blued steel, while outdoorsmen and others recognize the advantages of a stainless steel working pistol. In 1979, Smith introduced the 629, a stainless version of the 29. In 1987, Smith introduced a lighter model of the 629, specifically designed for this market. The 629 Mountain Revolver featured a tapered barrel that reduced the overall weight and made it easier to carry. This was followed by the Mountain Revolver series. They were very popular, but like a lot of other models, they fell victim to market trends, and they were discontinued. For readers interested in more .44 lineage, see our look at the Model 29’s impact in our best handguns guide.

While the Mountain Gun was discontinued, the line of 629 models is alive and prospering. In looking at Smith & Wesson’s website, I counted nine different 629 variations. For those who prefer traditional blued revolvers, the company offers a 6 ½” and a 4” Model 29 as well as a machined, engraved model.

Lipsey’s Exclusive Brings Back the Mountain Gun

Last year, Lipsey’s introduced the wildly successful Smith & Wesson Ultimate Compact Centennial in both .38 Special and .32 H&R Magnum. The 2025 SHOT Show saw Lispey’s and Smith & Wesson hitting another home run. They have brought back the Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum Mountain Gun. The guns were an immediate success and, as a result, it took several months for us to get one for this review.

The new Mountain Gun is based on the current production, round butt, N frame, stainless 629. However, it features a number of upgrades, making it a truly exceptional wheelgun. It has the classic 4” tapered one piece barrel with a serrated rib and a half lug ejector shroud. The front sight blade is a Patridge style, with a .125” wide front sight blade and a gold bead. The rear sight is the traditional Smith adjustable configuration with a .140” notch. A “black powder” bevel has been applied to the leading edge of the cylinder. This is both aesthetically pleasing and practical, as it reduces holster shaving. The entire pistol is nicely polished and free of offending edges.

The hammer and trigger, while MIM construction, are flash chromed. The trigger has a smooth face with radiused edges. The double action, on our test pistol, broke cleanly, averaging 9 lb. 10 oz. The single action broke an even 4 lbs. I would be remiss not to mention and thank Smith & Wesson for deleting the contentious lock. This has been the source of angst for many years, and the deletion is appreciated by “Big Blue” fans.

However, the pièce de résistance is the fancy walnut Bear Hug stocks from Tyler Gun Works. These are far superior to the standard N frame stocks and give the new Mountain Gun a custom appeal. The original Bear Hug stocks were manufactured by Deacon Deason and gained popularity through the writings of Skeeter Skelton and others. The design fills the sinus behind the trigger guard, has a near vertical front strap profile, and incorporates a palm swell. The stocks on our test pistol are faithful reproductions that were bookended, meaning both panels were cut from the same block, and the grain matches.

Range Time and Load Notes

We hit the range with six loads, both .44 Special and .44 Magnum. Immediately, I concluded that the Bear Hug stocks are more suited for the .44 Special load. For most of the testing, I used Pachmayr Gripper stocks that are full coverage with a cushioned backstrap. For formal testing, I used the loads listed below. In my opinion, these are the most suitable loads for the Mountain Gun.

Manufacturer	Caliber	Projectile	Avg. Velocity	Accuracy
Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel	.44 Magnum	200 gr. GDHP	1,115 fps	3.25”
Federal Hydra Shok	.44 Magnum	240 gr. JHP	1,018 fps	3.5”
Hornady Critical Defense	.44 Special	165 gr. FTX	841 fps	2”
High Desert Cartridge	.44 Special	200 gr. FP TMJ	785 fps	1.2”
Speer Gold Dot	.44 Special	200 gr. GDHP	788 fps	1.25”
Federal Personal Defense Punch	.44 Special	180 gr. JHP	872 fps	1.5”
Accuracy Shot from 25 Yards/Benched Bag Rest

The accuracy groups were shot, at 25 yards, from a bench with a bag rest. I fired 5 rounds single action and 5 rounds double action. I then measured the best of 5 hits. Recoil was significant with full power magnum loads, but due primarily to the Pachmayr stocks, it was not painful. With the special loads, the Mountain Gun was a lot of fun. Clanging steel at 50 yards.

While chambered in Magnum, the Mountain Gun really shines when using .44 Special Loads. The recoil of the Magnum loads results in significant recovery time. I particularly like the High Desert Cartridge loads. Their 200 grain flat point, jacketed round, averaged 785 fps and was very pleasant to shoot. The company also offers a jacketed hollow point hunting load. This load features a 200 grain Hornady XTP projectile that provides the penetration needed to bring down large game.

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Closing Thoughts and Value

The MSRP of the Lipsey’s Model 629 is $1,199. This is exactly $100 more than the standard Smith & Wesson 629. Given the upgrades, to include the Tyler Bear Hug stocks, which retail for $249.00, what is not to like? Frankly, I’m not sure how Lipsey’s can sell it for that price. It is certainly one of the best values of the year. If you are not a fan of the .44 Magnum/Special, I highly recommend taking a look at their Model 686 Mountain Gun. It has all the same features, including the TGW stocks and the deleted lock, in a seven shot .357 Magnum.

As with previous articles on Lipsey’s exclusives, I would like to express my appreciation to Jason Cloessner at Lipsey’s and the great folks at Smith and Wesson. Finally, I want to thank those who provide the ammunition that makes these reviews possible.

For additional information, visit lipseys.com

Specifications

Lipsey’s Exclusive Model 629 Mountain Gun
Frame Size	N-Frame
Caliber	.44 Magnum
Weight	39 oz.
Barrel	4” One Piece Taper Profile
Grip Configuration	Round Butt
Stocks	TGW Bear Hug Fancy Walnut
Front Sight	Pinned .125” Patridge Style w/Gold Bead
Rear Sight	Fully Adjustable
Additional Features	Black Powder Bevel on Cylinder
	Flash Chromed Hammer & Trigger
	No Internal Lock
MSRP	$1,199.00

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Classic 4 inch tapered barrel points fast, excellent gold bead sight picture, Bear Hug stocks add control and style, no internal lock, accurate with .44 Special loads.
  
• Cons: Full power magnum recoil slows recovery, Bear Hug stocks less forgiving with magnum loads, initial availability limited.

Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest

• Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 686 Raises the Bar
• The Perfect Sidearm: .44 Magnum S&W Model 69
• Which Revolver Caliber Is Best For Concealed Carry
• Best Handguns: Annual and Usage Based Guide
• A Look Back at the S&W Model 629

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