I own them both. I am just checking to see who prefers P&R or Endurance Package Smith .44 Magnums.
My take is that I love P&R Smiths the most. That is how Smith started making model 29 and 629, and the looks of those features as well as the exclusivity of them makes them special.
At the same time, the early versions featuring the “full endurance package”, still have all forged steel parts, the firing pin on the hammer, classic wood target stocks, and pretty much look like the originals, but are built to be more durable. I like being able to shoot full power loads in large quantities without worrying about breaking a “collectable” P&R. Additionally, the fact that they are less “collectable” helps me to be less concerned about holster wear or dings when carrying them in the woods and sweat, dirt or humidity.
So, I’m happy having both for different reasons.
I have found that every 29-2 that I own has better factory D/A triggers than ever 629-3 that I own. I’ve had a friend work on all three of my 629-3’s to get the DA trigger to be more smooth. I am fine with a heavy trigger, I just have trouble with accuracy with a heavy trigger with a hard “wall”, and each of my 629-3’s had hard “walls” that were inconsistent from one chamber to the other. Mr. Smitty fixed them for me.