I have carried a 629 when in bear country foryears. Mine has a 6" barrel and a wonderful trigger. Normally I shoot 240 grain XTP bullets with medium loads, but when backpacking in bear country it is stuffed with 300 grain XTP's and a stout charge of 296 or similar. Moving up to the 300 grain bullet makes quite a difference in recoil. The S&W is not as heavily built as the Ruger so I do not give it a steady diet of heavy loads. The 629 is simply a great pistol.