UMAREX SMITH & WESSON MODEL 29

Look familiar? Of course, it does, and I defy anyone to hold up this monster of a revolver and not feel compelled to utter “Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”. Clint Eastwood gained cult status as Dirty Harry in those hugely successful movies, but it’s fair to say his Smith & Wesson Model 29, chambered in .44 Magnum, was an equal star in the lineup.

Convincing
The original firearm design apparently dates from around 1956, and on test here is a superb airgun replica from those masters of the art at Umarex. Unsurprisingly, it goes under the same name, Smith & Wesson Model 29, and whilst I should point out that this model is also available with a 6.5” barrel, there’s no doubt that the full 8 3/8” barrel, as per my test model here, adds extra menace and visual impact, living up to the ‘hand cannon’ moniker perfectly.
The full-metal construction and high-gloss bluing throughout create a strong first impression of a high-quality product—well-made and beautifully finished.

Specification
The Model 29 comes in .177 calibre only, and I’m pleased to say it’s designed to shoot pellets only. The trigger is both single and double action, which is always welcome, and there’s also an adjustable rear sight.
Inside the box, there are six dummy bullets for the revolver system, along with instructions, and whilst the guidelines are fairly basic, anyone familiar with this style of CO2 pistol will be instantly at home. As you’d expect, the dummy bullets act as a carrier for the pellets, and power comes from a conventional 12g CO2 capsule.

Powering up
OK, so let’s deal with the CO2 first. Again, the design follows convention, as the capsule is stowed inside the grip. Look to the underside, and a small indent is visible. Simply slide a fingernail under the edge to remove the left side of the plastic grip, revealing a large integral Allen key that can be used to loosen the tension bolt at the base. Next, insert a new 12g capsule into the chamber, then use the Allen key to re-tension the bolt, which, in turn, pierces the capsule to gas the system. Having the grip as leverage means it’s all very efficient, so don’t over-tighten, as the Allen key makes everything very civilised. You may hear a small hiss at this stage as the capsule is pierced. Snap the grip panel back into position, hooking the top bit in first. You are now ready to go.

Six shot
Next, we need to load pellets into the dummy bullets. Press the locking catch (which doubles as a safety) to the left of the hammer to allow the cylinder to swing out. Pellets can either be loaded with the six bullets already in the cylinder, or the bullets can be removed first (they drop out quite easily) using the spring-loaded ejector rod. Each bullet is fitted with a small synthetic O-ring at the lip, and a pellet needs to be inserted and pushed flush into each one. Chamber the bullets, and the cylinder can be closed back up. I found that closing the mechanism just required the cylinder to be rotated anti-clockwise as the action was closed, to keep things smooth. The bullets are a fairly loose fit, so it pays to ensure the pistol is aimed downwards when the chamber is opened, to avoid dropping them into the dirt. Right, we appear to be ready!

Handling and shot count
With this Smith & Wesson in the aim, the authentic weight of 2.7lbs suddenly makes itself felt, and it all adds to the experience. The open sights feature a red dot at the front and a notch at the rear. The rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation, but a small screwdriver is required for adjustment. Windage was fine, but the elevation screw became a little loose on my test gun when I adjusted for height. No major problem, but a minor irritation, nonetheless.
For those unfamiliar with CO2 as a power source, velocity reduces considerably towards the end of the 12g CO2 capsule, but using RWS Superdome pellets on test, I recorded 96 shots from one capsule, which is still pretty impressive. This figure will vary depending on the pellets used and the ambient temperature, which can affect CO2.
As for the exact figures, whilst these aren’t so important with this style of pistol, for the record, velocity peaked at around 300fps, equating to a maximum 1.7ft/lbs.

Performance
Where the trigger is concerned, as mentioned, it can be pre-set by pulling back the hammer for the slightly lighter single action or just pulled right through for double. I liked the broad blade, and on test, whilst not super light, the pull weight was perfectly acceptable, and the results were satisfying. Again, it goes without saying that the emphasis isn’t on pinpoint accuracy when using CO2. Yet, pre-setting the hammer and squeezing through, I managed to empty all six shots within a sub-2” cluster over 10 yards with little effort. With that kind of usable accuracy on tap, some serious end-on tin-can bashing awaits. Indeed, there are all manner of fun shooting activities to be enjoyed, and I defy anyone to handle this model and not get slightly carried away.
At the end of the day, this Model 29 is a cracking bit of kit—satisfying to use and very well made. GM

Thanks to Range & Country Shooting Supplies in Sleaford, Lincs., for the kind loan of this pistol.