Regarding competitive revolver shooting, the Smith & Wesson 929 is a masterpiece that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Designed in collaboration with world-champion shooter Jerry Miculek, the 929 was crafted to dominate the range. It delivers on that promise with spectacular precision, speed, and reliability. It’s the kind of gun that makes you want more of them—if only you could afford to buy them all.
The Smith & Wesson 929 Wheelgun
From its titanium cylinder to its clever compensator design, every detail of the 929 screams. But what truly makes it the greatest race gun of all time? Let’s break down the features, enhancements, and gear that turn the S&W 929 into an unrivaled competition beast.
The 929 Race Gun Foundation
The Smith & Wesson 929 is a purpose-built competition revolver chambered in 9mm. Right out of the box, it’s designed to give shooters an edge on the range. Its eight-shot capacity is a significant advantage over traditional six-shooters, especially in fast-paced matches where every fraction of a second counts.
The gun’s titanium cylinder is a stroke of engineering brilliance. Because titanium is much lighter than steel, the cylinder’s reduced rotating mass results in quicker follow-up shots. Specifically, the gun returns to target faster and has less torsion when the cylinder stops on the firing charge. This enhanced speed is immediately noticeable during rapid-fire drills and matches where precision and time are critical.
My 929 has been customized with an Apex Tactical N Frame Evo hammer, a Burris Fast Fire 3 optic, and a Hogue Big Butt grip. Each modification plays a unique role in enhancing performance.
The Apex hammer sharpens the trigger pull and speeds up cycling. Additionally, the Burris Fast Fire 3 optic provides rapid target acquisition with a clean, reliable red dot. This is ideal for quickly transitioning between targets during high-pressure stages.
The Hogue Big Butt grip is another essential addition, providing a perfect fit for two-handed operation. Its single finger groove allows for quick and consistent indexing, ensuring a secure hold and better recoil management. Combined with the Hogue Cylinder Latch, which offers more real estate for your thumb, opening the cylinder is faster and more intuitive than ever.
The 929’s removable front compensator is a noteworthy feature. It allows shooters to compete in more than one division, depending on the organization’s rules. This flexibility makes the 929 a serious contender across various competitive disciplines.
Magic – Moon Clips and the BMT Mooner Tool
One of the defining characteristics of the S&W 929 is its reliance on moon clips for feeding 9mm cartridges. For the uninitiated, moon clips are thin metal discs that hold cartridges in a circular pattern. As a result, they can be loaded and extracted as a single unit. This design dramatically speeds up reloads and makes the 929 incredibly competitive even against autoloaders.
But there’s a catch. Without the right tool, loading and unloading moon clips can be a tedious and even painful process. Enter the BMT Mooner Tool—the gold standard for moon clip management.
The BMT Mooner is an elegantly designed device that simplifies the entire moon-clipping process. To load, you simply place the cartridges into a slot, align a fresh moon clip, tip the tool forward, and twist. Just like that, you’ve got a fully loaded moon clip ready to go.
Unloading is just as simple. You place the moon clip back onto the pawl, insert the unloading peg into the center of the tool, and twist. Empty casings fall away, leaving you with a clean, empty moon clip and all your brass neatly collected. It’s efficient, ergonomic, and saves you from bending over to pick up brass from the ground.
What makes the BMT Mooner tool particularly valuable is its ability to keep your rhythm consistent during a match. The quicker you can get fresh moon clips ready, the less downtime you experience between stages. For a sport where tenths of a second matter, that’s a huge advantage.
The Right Gear for the S&W 929
Owning a performance-driven gun like the 929 is one thing, but having the right gear to support it elevates the entire experience. And when it comes to the 929, the Speed Beez competition setup is as good as it gets.
The Speed Beez Kydex Holster is an absolute beast regarding fit and retention. Straight out of the box, it provides an incredibly secure hold. You can jump, shake, and even sprint with the holster on, and the 929 isn’t going anywhere. High-quality Kydex construction and robust hardware ensure that your gun stays in place, but still allows for a quick, clean draw every time.
The CR Speed Nylon Belt offers exceptional support. Its double Velcro design creates a rock-solid hold for all the gear mounted on it, including holsters, moon clip holders, and accessories. Despite years of use, the Velcro shows no signs of wear, proving its durability and high quality.
The Speed Beez Moon Clip Holder Pack is another critical piece of the puzzle. Explicitly designed for revolver moon clips, this holder pack features pegs with a perfect outer diameter for securely holding clips.
But it doesn’t stop there. Each peg is topped with magnets that keep your moon clips in place, even during high-energy movement. No matter how much you sprint, run, or even fall, your moon clips stay locked in place, ready to be accessed at lightning speed.
With eight pegs on the holder pack and another eight rounds in the 929, you’re looking at a total carry capacity of 72 rounds. Unlike most moon clip holders, this design doesn’t stack moon clips on top of each other. Instead, each clip has its own dedicated space, making retrieval quicker and more consistent. The only missing link is your own training!
The Smith & Wesson 929 Rocks
The Smith & Wesson 929 is, without a doubt, one of the greatest race guns of all time. Its titanium cylinder, generous capacity, and modularity make it a formidable weapon on the competition scene. When paired with the BMT Mooner Tool, the Speed Beez Holster, CR Speed Belt, and Moon Clip Holder Pack, the 929 becomes more than a gun—it becomes a complete competition system. This setup offers unparalleled speed, reliability, and efficiency. The combination of precision engineering, effective modifications, and quality gear makes the 929 a weapon you can trust to perform at the highest level, whether you’re shooting steel challenge, USPSA revolver division, or any other form of competition.
I’ve shot the 929 in snow, rain, heat, and humidity. My biggest problem is that I don’t own more of them.
Shoot safe.
