Ive have been drooling over one of these for some time,does anyone have any experience with one good or bad?

It is so stealthy, I can't even see the photo or the link. How does it differ from a 'regular' 29/629? I know my 29 is my primary deer hunting tool.

db

LOL I havent a clue how to post pictures and at 60 yrs old Im not sure this old dog can learn that trick,The gun its self is a pc 629 with a all black finish,a rail for optics,tuned action and trigger.Its looking like no one has one or theyre not too proud of it.

I don't have one nor have I shot one, but I'd certainly consider it if I was in the market for an optics ready DA .44 Magnum.

I had one very similar but mine was brushed stainless. It was ok but I found it to be a bit on the heavy side for my tastes. I ended up selling mine. Cool looking guns which is why I bought one. Finding a holster was impossible without going custom.

looks ported too. Nice. Needs some good wood on the grips, and some weight in your back pockets and you'd be ready to go. If you check s/w's site, they might have a holster for it.

Dogsbreath

Oh, the way to stop becoming an old dog is to keep learning new tricks ;-)

I've always drooled over the pics but never seen one in person.
I love my Rugers for strength & durability (1 ton flatbeds!), but I love the PC 29s for their sexy good looks (Sports cars!).
I have a standard 8&3/8 mod 29 & always wished it had more barrel weight with hot 320s so I figured something like the Stealth would be just the ticket.

I sure agree that Ruger makes some great guns tho the only makes Ive owned are rugers and BFRs,that S&W pc has the best trigger and smoothest action Ive felt,it balances real well for the weight of the gun,its just hard to lay down.

Gary Ive got a Uncle Mikes bandolier style holster that I hauld around my 71/2 inch BFR, you dont think it would work or are you talking a belt rig?

The closest thing I have is an 8 3/8" 629 Classic DX. It's an amazing shooter. If it is anything like my old sixgun, you would really be happy.

My Performance Center 629 isn't the Stealth hunter but it has the similar barrel contour. It is very heavy but what a shooter! The trigger is extraordinary and with the heavy magnaported barrel I can shoot the hottest 44 mag loads comfortably. I bring it with me when I'm hunting out of a box blind or tree stand, it's not a "walk around" gun. I modified an old TC Contender chest holster and it works, it's not ideal but it works for now.

If you can live with weight I would highly recommend it.

Hey Andy thanks for the picture and info,I appreciate it.

Dave, I have an Uncle Mike's that'll swallow nearly anything you put in it. I just ordered a new Performance Center M629 and will find out soon if it will fit sporting an optic. Standby.

Andy,
That's a beaut.

Whit,

How does that ordering work with the PC. Do you order directly, with all the things you want, then pick it up at your FFL? Or does it all have to originate with your FFL?

I ask, as the cover on your book sure got me S&W bit. I just picked up a 625PC in 45acp, and I really like the modern racey lines of the big PC guns.

Craig

Craig, I don't really know. I got a press release from them, and contacted their media representative to get one in my hands to test. I don't know what the normal channels are with Smith & Wesson. This will be tested for American Hunter magazine.

Whit,

Thanks. I was afraid this was one of those deals. I can certainly contact S&W.

Craig

I'm sorry that wasn't very helpful, Craig.

Andy, that's one fine looking gun there.

As to rigs for big or odd shaped (scoped) guns, don't overlook non-gun stuff. I bought a short handsaw for 15 bucks. One of those really aggressive toothed jobs that cuts fast and dirty, and it came with a pouch with a belt loop. You could put a big gun in that. My 14" scoped T/C can be carried easily in a paintball bag along with my thermos. Not on-body, but easy enough to carry, or stuff in a pack, or just put a strap on and carry on one shoulder. So, look around, and don't just concentrate on 'gun stuff'.

db

Craig,

How are you liking that 625pc? Have you ran any 45 Super through it? I've heard of other guys doing that without issue. The ability to run 45 acp for lots of trigger time in the summer would be great, having an unscoped revolver in 45 Super would be even better! I LOVE the idea of a lighter revolver to carry in the woods when I'm doing more walking than sitting.

Andy,

It's been kinda cold and nasty here, so not a lot of shooting with it yet. I have run a couple of cylinders of 45 Super through it, just to get the feel. The narrow backstrap actually does have a bit of bite. This is my first big DA revolver in a very long time, so it will be a learning experience.

I have a ton of experience with shooting and reloading the 460 Rowland, and a couple of years now with the 45 Super in the 1911, so I feel OK with warmer loads in this 45. Probably not going to sling too many more Supers until things warm up a bit, so I can get the chrony set up and my portable bench to do things right. Just like the 1911, not planning on trying to turn it into a 44 Mag, or even a Ruger style 45 Colt, but I do think there is a little wiggle room to work with.

I am probably set it up like my FA 454 where I can put a red dot or scope on it, even if it wears irons most of the time. So far I am liking it, although with a new gun the "accessories" are starting to get a little out of the hand ;^) Need to hide the credit cards..............

Craig

I checked and the Super Redhawk weight is the same as the S&W PC Stealth.

Wonder if the gunsmiths at S&W would fit a Stealth Hunter barrel to my old mod 29? May have to check into that... I would really enjoy the extra barrel weight.

They might if the lower part of the barrel matches up to the action,by the look of Whits SRH 454 we might should all be buying SRHs and forget the Smiths.

Love my SRH 480.

Just put a used Stealth in lay-a-way at my local shop. It's super clean, almost ANIB. Already have a Burris 2X matte, just need some QD rings. It's sweet!

I have one that I have had for about a month. I have run maybe 1200 rounds through it during that time. My buddy and I smoothed up the action and installed a Wolff spring kit in it, and now the SA pull as measured on a Lyman Digital Gauge is 2 lbs 8 oz, and the DA pull is 8 lbs 8 oz. Both are very very smooth.

I have not shot any REALLY hot stuff in it, but have done lots of 200gr Speer Gold Dots and 200gr Hornady XTPs at 14-1500 FPS. It seems very accurate. I also have a 2MOA Aimpoint Micro H1 that I put on sometimes, and it sure helps.

Here are a few pictures (in the target groups, the green dot is 1" diameter and they were shot hand held at 7 yards. All are six shot groups):

Welcome Michaelnel!
Beautiful gun & it shoots to boot!
What holster is that?

Thanks.

The holster is a "Guide's Choice" chest holster from Diamond D Leather in Alaska. Super materials, design, and craftsmanship.

http://www.diamonddcustomleather.com/Chest_Holsters.php

I sure like it and good shooting.

Dave, The first time I saw the black/green stealth hunter I wanted one. Just a beautiful handgun....

Neat looking guns. Weren't the black and green ones associated with Walter Birdsong? He was my neighbor in MS, cool guy and full of funny stories. I miss those visits with him at the shop...

James I picked up one like Michaelnell and after sighting the reddot I got groups like that at 25 yds,my first handloads,240 xtp 20.5 gr of #9 went an inch and three eights at 50 yrds,Im trying some different primers to close it up more,Ive only got one pound of H110 so until I find somemore Im hoarding it.I can take photos with my cell phone but havent figured out how to download them.

It is my understanding that both the olive green and black Stealth Hunters use the Birdsong coating, although S&W has some other name for it. If you look on the Birdsong site their finish is available in both olive drab and black.

http://black-t.com/

I do think the cylinder is finished some other way though. The frame is all a very very dark grey (almost black), and the cylinder is darker and shinier.

About reloading for this gun: I have been loading three bullets (200gr Hornady XTP, 200gr Sierra Gold Dot JHP, and 240gr LSWC.

I tested a variety of loads, several powders, on my Ransom Rest. We had pretty good results from (unfortunately) Vihtavuori N-105 with the XPTs, and similarly good results from Alliant 2400 with tbe Gold Dots. Accurate Arms #9 did well too, but not quite as well as N105 and 2400.

The N105 pumps out good velocity and consistency with very little flash and almost no smoke. Recoil is snappy. Nice stuff... but the reason I said "unfortunately" above is that the stuff is almost double the price of 2400.

2400 pushing the Sierras was "more dramatic" when you touch 'em off (I was loading them to 23gr of 2400), with more flash, a bigger boom, and kind of a softer natured recoil. I think the N105 didn't have any MORE recoil, it just seemed to be more of a crack and slap than the more "punch" feeling from the 2400.

I like 'em both and have both to play with, so I am happy about that.

We did load some Power Pro 300-MP test rounds up too, and they were terrible, worst performance I have seen on my Ransom Rest so far (this is the third gun we have tested this way). Strange flyers out of the group of 6-10" sometimes. LOTS of fire and smoke and particles blown all over the shooter and the bench. Wildly inaccurate. Gonna use it for fertilizer.

I mounted a Bushnell Elite 3200 (2-6x 32mm) handgun scope on it today, just to try the scope. I bought the scope for a Ruger Bisley Hunter .44 magnum that I have on order. Looks kinda dangerous!

That picture you just posted definitely looks like black T. Good stuff.

I agree, Glenn. Walter was a character! Always love spending time in his shop shoot'n the bull and watching his shop in action. Sadly, I haven't been down since he passed away.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/s...playErrorView_Y

l picked up this PC Hunter around Christmas....l realy do lie it so far... Being a traditionalst l am having a bit of trouble getting used to the ''bling'' of it.. Fortnately it shoots GREAT. My first experience w/reddot is putting me in a training mode.. So far the site has held its zero after app 300 rds.. Elmers load is as heavy as l plan to use thru it so l feel it will last me quite a few yrs.. l shoot prairie dogs every couple of years and am thinking about maybe mounting a 4x scope on it and may try and bust some w a few 180gr XTP hornadys.. Btw that Stealth is NICE

We tested out the scope yesterday. Fired about 300 rounds. Once we got it zeroed in, we were able to nail 1 pint water bottles (full) about 95% of the time from 100 yards, shooting from sandbags. We were shooting a phenomenally accurate load that my gun really likes, Starline brass, CCI300 primers, 23 grains of 2400 under a 200gr Speer Gold Dot JHP. We were also able to shoot some 3" six shot groups on paper at 100 yards. It works really well.

Unfortunately, the blast from the Magnaports marked up the underside of the front bell a lot, and I can't remove the deposits with Hoppe's, although the Hoppe's did manage to remove the gold lettering on the underside.

I don't think I will use this scope on this gun any more, the port blast is going to tear it up. I bought it to use on a non-ported Ruger Bisley Hunter, and it will fare better there.

We did determine though that at 100 yards, 2X magnification seemed great, 4X and 6X were too hard to hold steady, and we actually shot consistently better at 2X. I probably should have bought a 2X fixed for what I want to use it for (100 yards of less, target and fun shooting, not hunting).

I'll continue using the Aimpoint on this gun.

I don't know that they are any harder to hold steady, but high X's sure amplify the effect your movements. That can often cause folks to try harder to keep steady and adversely affect the rest of the shooting equation. When I first went from the big bull to a 5-spot target in archery league I was introduced to "target panic", and I believe the same holds true for increased magnification and handguns. It's all mental, y'know?

Those two ports will send you ruunin for the muffs if you forgot them.

Try using a little rubbing alcohol to remove the powder burns although I would try it with a Q tip to make sure it's not removing any of your finish. I use it to remove powder residue from the body and glass of a Leupold 2x on my Desert Eagle and it works just fine on that finish.