I recently had the great pleasure of shooting a friends Triple-lock. A beautiful piece that has great history. Of course there is the "bite" in the web of my hand due to the small stocks on the old HE's. I'm just trying to learn about these models and am wondering about the .44 spl with target grips..pre 24? I'd like to hear others opinions about this caliber as I'm interested in finding a .44 in somewhat better than "shooter grade".

I understand the M 29 family will accomodate the .44 spl. but my previous experience with the .44 magnum completely satisfied my desire to ever go there again and so I'd like to find a dedicated .44 Special. A true Triple-Lock would be great but what about other options?

Any ideas, suggestions would be appreciated.

tcc

" I'm interested in finding a .44 in somewhat better than "shooter grade"."

But you want to shoot it?
I have a 1923 .44 target & it's just a shooter as is my 1935 M&P .44.
My M21 is much newer & is shot more then the other two.
Then a shooter would be more in line as far as cost for sure.
I shoot all my handguns, so when I got my M544 44-40 as new, I shot it.
To each his own......

STCM, sorry If I wasn't clear about that. I do want to shoot the gun (if I find one) but it looks like the ANIB, Exc condition are way out of my budget. "VGC" might be an affordable option. My recent experience shooting a vintage Triple-lock made me want to find a vintage revolver to take to the range.

Have you tried the 2nd model 44HE. They are a "hoot to shoot". I have several Triplelocks and 2nd models and even a 3rd model, all in .44 S&W Special caliber. The lockwork in these old N frames is wonderfully smooth and to me all about the same. They were built by true craftsmen. I handload and shoot all of them. The going price for one in good condition starts at about $800 and increases to $12-1500 rapidely. And just to add a caution, "you cann't stop with just one"!

You can put target stocks on any N-frame, even the prewar models. I suspect that if you look for a .44 Hand Ejector second model (no ejector shroud under barrel) or third model (Model of 1926), you might find a decent specimen for less than a triple lock would cost. You could also look for a postwar Model of 1950 design (Pre-model 24), but those start to get pricy again because so few were made.

Good luck in the hunt! A good .44 special is a delight to shoot.

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David Wilson

tcc,
You have lots of choices of vintage 44s besides TLs, all made before 1920. Any of them made after 1920 will have heat treated cylinders. I stick to very mild loads in my TLs.
There's post 1920 2nd model 44 HEs (no extractor rod shroud, and 3rd models after 1926 (w/shroud), both produced up to WW II. After the war there are 3rd model transition models (scarce) until 1950 then there's the 1950 44 Military (pre Mod 21) fairly scarce, and 1950 44 Targets (pre Mod 24).

A pre Mod 24 6" is the easiest to find in original condition if you want a target model; shooter grade up to $1500 and very nice shooters up to $2000. With box and 99% condition or better go up from there. Real nice examples of the older pre wars are going to be priced like the pre 24s. Shooters will be less and targets are harder to find.



That's generally what's available in old 44s. Hope that helps,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Just what I was trying to say......

you have a bunch of choices. mod 24-3 3"bbl, 24-3 with 4" bbl, 624 with either size bbls and also the 6.5" bbl. All 44 specials. I have the 624 6.5" bbl, a 24-3 with 3" bbl and the 24-3 with 4" bbl and I only started with one. So if you get into 44 special caliber revolvers I dare you to say you can stop at only just one. Frank

I know the feeling tcc. There lots of models in 44SPL. Service sights, target sights, service grips, target grips. Guns built in 1908 to today. There are so many variations that you should be able to locate something you like. I sort of closed my eyes and bought em if the mechcanics were OK. If you buy one that is not quite what you want, then I would suggest trying again.

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Dennis

For straight-up target shooting how about the 24-3 with 6-1/2" barrel? It's a great introduction to the .44 Special world. It's modern, with nearly a hundred years of history and a strong heritage (TL, 2nd, 3rd, transitional, 1950, Model 24, and reintroductions). They are not out of reach price-wise. I believe that very good to excellent examples can still be found in the range of $700-$900. The 24-3 "1950 Target Reintroduction" was produced in the mid-1980's. That's close to 30 years ago, so I suppose they are approaching "vintage" status.

I enjoy the heck out of mine. I put a set of Ahrends targets stocks on it and enjoy shooting it alongside an old 38/44 Heavy Duty.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

I agree completely with what "The Gila Bender" posted. You can find a 24-3 with a 6 1/2-inch or 4-inch barrel.

Bill

I also agree with Gila Bender, for straight-up target shooting a 24-3 with 6-1/2" is the way to go.

I have or have had the option to shoot the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Model 44 Hand Ejectors. I prefer the 6.5" 4th Model as the target stocks (Cokes) fit my hand best

I haven't yet picked up another 24-3 (traded off the first 6.5" and 4" 24-3s in a moment of $$$$ weakness), but plan to do so sometime in the near future.

Attached Images

44 Specials.jpg (85.1 KB, 138 views)

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Dave
SWCA #2465

I have a .44 HE 2nd model and it shoots up a storm with cowboy loads. Even with the old service grips, it is comfortable. Another option that may be even cheaper is to find a shooter grade Model 1917. They shoot .45 ACP in moon or half moon clips which is dirt cheap (comparatively). The 1917 is the same gun as the .44 2nd, just a different caliber cartridge.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I agree with the Gila Bender also. A 24-3 is a wonderful shooting gun. (Even they are getting hard to find in 4".) I bought one new back years ago and now, I am reluctant to shoot it, since it still looks virtually unfired with original box, paperwork, etc., etc. So, I still shoot the ol' 4" worn finish pre-24 that I love so much.... Mike

Thanks for all the input, guys. The 24-3 might be a good introduction...slipery slope noted. I don't really hound the pawn shops and gun shows so I'm not expecting to find a "Grail Gun" at super saver prices...Wiregrassguy, I've thought about the 1917 also, and that might be another option. Any other thoughts are welcome and appreciated.
tcc

that I didn't like. But my favorite style is short barrel, fixed sight versions with enclosed ejector rods.

OK, here comes 'nother 44 special story.

About 20 years ago I bought a nice 24-3, one of the round butt Lew Horton guns. I liked it, but after a few year I realized I also owned way too many guns. So I set about to logically reduce the herd. One of the culls was the Horton gun.

And I have a buddy who can't shoot. He's a gun nut, but his accuracy and confidence left a lot to be desired. So right about that time my state passed its concealed carry law. And this buddy wanted his CCW in the worst way. Lets not talk about how advisable it might be. The guy liked things like Desert Eagles. If he got on shot out of the magazine into a man sized target at 20 feet, it was a good day for him. But he wanted the short barreled 44, so I sold it to him. And contrary to public opinion, sometimes I'm a good guy.

So I dug into my ammo stock and came up with a big ziplock baggie. The heavy kind computer parts are shipped in. So I gave him a double handful of my best reloads to shoot. All was well with the world except I was stupid and let the gun go. The next time I saw my buddy, he was kind of giddy. He produced a target (with no powder burns) he'd fired with the new gun. It was a foot square target, and it had 6 holes up in the target area. More of a pattern than a group, but for Murphy it was an all time best. So I was torn. I was happy my friend was finally doing OK, but starting to regret selling him the gun.

So time passes. Suddenly I get an envelope from my buddy. Its got a list of guns he's selling and prices. On the list was my 44. I couldn't believe he was letting it go, but it needed to come home to poppa in the worst way.

The only problem I'd seen with the gun is that it came to me with Goodyear grips. In the interval that it went to live with Murphy S&W had standardized round butt on N frames, so nice looking grips could be found with effort. It cost me a bundle, but I got some Goncolo Alves finger grip combats for it. Its still a nice gun, and its not going anywhere if I can help it. I've even got a belt slide holster and it fits great. Retaining snap, too. I think its Galco.

That comfortable holster will carry everything from my trail boss and the 24 up to my triple lock, 3rd models, and 6 1/2" Model 29s. And Registered Magnums, etc. Also the 627 8 times. Versatile.

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Dick Burg

I went thru a serious phase where I had many post war .44SPLs. Targets I concentrated on post war models as I believed they were underpriced and I was right! Anyway, they all were accurate regardless of the barrel length but for looks I like the four or five inch which are now too high priced for range use. But the M24-3 and 624 are as accurate as any Smith every made in the 4 inch version.

Opsss....there I go again. I was going to change my name to .44SPECIAL years ago on this forum, probably should have done it !

I reload so I have 240SWCs from 800 to 1150FPS which will do anything I want in a handgun.

HAVE FUN !

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

Lamenting his story of a 24-3 RB. I bought a 624-3 four inch from SmithNut that he had returned to the factory for roundbutting and the installation of a gold bead front sight. AWESOME gun....dan

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

These are all in .44 special. Probley for the best, cheapest available is the ruger. My favorite is the s&w 24-3 4". The last picture shows a .45 colt s&w 25-5 along with my 24-3 in 44 special. They are close in power but with the tapered barrel the 24-3 wins out for less weight.

24-3 or 624. Wasn't there a 24 "classic" also?
If you don't require adjustable sights, theres plenty model 21 Thunder ranch editions that can be had for around $600.

24-3 or 624. Wasn't there a 24 "classic" also?
If you don't require adjustable sights, theres plenty model 21 Thunder ranch editions that can be had for around $600.

I'd agree with all of this except for the part about being reluctant to shoot... I might feel different if I had a 4" pre-24?
I was fortunate to acquire this 24-3 with box, stock grips, tools, paper And these KB custom grips. One of my favorite shooters.

I have posted this picture before. My M624 is polished and loaded with a 240 grain hardcast semi-wadcutter to almost exactly 1,000 fps with Herco.



I haven't gone to work yet on this NIB M24-3 purchased "used" 15 years ago.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Great thread. I really do like the M24-3 with the 4" barrel and you guys have some nice ones. One thing I'd forgotten about on this forum though is the Colt SAA, neat, very neat!!!

Hey, ol' S&W buddy, I know what you mean. But, when my Alabama buddy, Dave Carroll, is selling NIB 24-3 4" blue guns for $1050..... and if I shoot it just a tiny bit more (mine still looks NIB), I've just knocked $300 or more off of that. Hmmmm! Tough to do.

Maybe not - if I didn't already have my old pre-24 4", which is in excellent mechanical shape, but shows about 90% condition - which I shoot all the time anyway. Heck, I even shoot it out the kitchen window in the morning when I'm cooking my grits. "Big Mama" don't like it, but she needs to get up out of that bed anyway..... HAW-HAW!

Still lamenting my 6.5" 624 I blithely let go many years ago.
Yes, a man can never have enough .44 specials

I have had a couple .44 Specials, including a Triple Lock, a 6 1/2 inch Model 24-3 and a 4-inch 624. I think of all of them the 4-inch 624 was the best carrying gun and was very accurate plus I never worried about the loads I put through it. It took the old Skeeter Skelton load, a Lyman 250 grain cast bullet #429421 and 7.5 grains of Unique.

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Vaya con Dios

No wonder I can't find a good deal on a .44 Spl...you guys have all the good ones!! Seriously, great pics and stories! Thanks. I'm still looking..

Yeah, I knew I shouldn't come in here with you guys, now I 'm gonna spend the next hour lookin at 44 specials, when I should stick to 29s. billy

.44 Specials are very popular at the moment. I've think I've got 7, but have had some of them for 20+ years. None of these pics are new..
T-lock target 1908

2cd Model HE, 1926

1950 Target .44 shipped 4/54

Somebody mention SAA? 1910 rebarreled .44 (the last Colt)

Since this seems to have turned into a show your .44 spl thread, here's my Model 24. Not a Horton, but a 4" I had custom round-butted.

I just doubled my .44 special horde with a .44 HE II that's been cut to 4" (looks factory) and nickled (which does not look factory.) Pics to come. As you can see by the Model24 pic, I'm a lazy photographer.

I'd trade, well, something significant to have my 6.5" 624 back. That thing shot like a house on fire with 16.5 2400 behind a hard-cast Keith bullet.

That's a nice-looking 624 David. I prefer a post sight picture over a ramp.

I sorta have another 24-3. It was a retirement gift to my late father and belongs to my mother's estate (she's in a nursing home), along with some very nice Ruger collectibles. I could probably buy it from the estate at a reasonable price, but I have no business with an NIB collectible, I'd shoot the heck out of it.

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IMG_0761.jpg (120.6 KB, 107 views)

Like plenty of others, the .44 special is my favorite cartridge. For a shooter, I'd look for a 624. Modern steel, great looks, easy care. The target grips should make it comfortable to shoot for you, and if you handload, you can take it all the way down to powder puffs with decent accuracy. The afore mentioned Skeeter load shoots like a laser beam, but I have bruised my palm with it with the wrong grips! Good hunting finding one though, I haven't seen one for sale for any price in the last two years at any of my usual places. Or any other .44 special for that matter!

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Member MVGCA, OGCA, NRA Life

Let's get this out of the way now; I'm a self-confessed Philistine. If you want collector value, get something with the correct grips, but take them off when you shoot it. Substitute a set of the readily-available rubber grips on your range days and your hands will thank you. The later S&W target grips are beautiful to look at, they fill the hand nicely and will be reasonably comfortable for most people shooting .38 Specials, but they are too wide at the top for most of us. The combination of the wide wooden grip and the trademark hump under the hammer, designed to keep the gun from rolling back in your hand under recoil, is a lot like getting rapped in the web of your thumb, HARD, with a wooden mallet under heavy recoil. It's not my idea of fun. My personal favorite is the Decellerator series from Pachmeyer. If you just can't bear the sight of tacky rubber on your collector gun, look for a set of the old Herrett Shooting Star wood grips. They have a narrower profile at top and bottom, but still look good. I haven't tried the Jerry Miculek grips that the Custom Shop uses on some of the new guns, but Brownell's sells them and lots of people swear by them. Another benefit is that you won't need to worry about damaging a nice set of original grips at the range.

JGR

I find Hogues way better than Pachmayrs. But old Herrett Shooting Stars? I had a pair on a 19-3 once and would sooner stick my hand in a meat grinder than shoot with those again. Again, Hogue woodies or Miculek.

Oh, Oh CAN I PLAY TOO? OK.... I know, I know, this forum is for older Smiths.... but hey this is a 44spl as well....

18oz of pure joy to carry... and honestly, to me it is pretty pleasant to shoot... recoil is not bad.

396 Mountain Lite Ti..... (no lock BTW)

Gotta love those 44 spls

I have a 624 4" that has been round-butted. I use Pachmyer compacts on it. It also had a melt job (dehorning) done on it. While it won't ever be a collector's dream it is one sweet shooting revolver.

I don't get to shoot it much, but I feel real lucky to have this 24-3,

how popular .44SPLs are. Reloads from 7.5 grains of Unique for Skeeter's target load to my favorite hunting load of 16.5grains of 2400 under Keith's 250 grain at 1,200 fps for deer loads ( in post-war guns ) the .44SPL CAN do it all !!!!

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

Some very nice guns here.

tipoc

Some more. This M696 just got "issued" its load, a 240 grain Hornady semi-wadcutter loaded with HP38 to an average of 760 fps. The fast powder to reduce felt recoil and the soft-swaged bullet to protect the very thin forcing cone. It's still a "rip-snorter".


This 3rd Generation SAA is simply loaded with a 240 grain cast semi-wadcutter with Bullseye to about 800/850 fps for Cowboy Action Shooting and trail riding.


But, there are also .44 Specials "lurking" in other revolver "bodies. This M29-2 will only be loaded with either a jacketed or lead 240 grain bullet (haven't decided yet) to 1,000 fps. Essentially a potent .44 Special


And this "imposter" is a Ruger Vaquero in .44 Magnum, but it is loaded with the Hornady FMJ 240 grain flatnose to 1,000 fps. Again more .44 Special than .44 Magnum...according to ME!

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Man those are nice.... espically that SAA

I would also choose a 4" or 6.5" 624 as a first "shooter" .44Special !
This is especially true if I were planning on carrying the gun in the field very much !

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

Those are all beautiful looking S&W .44 Specials ! Thanks y'all for posting "eye candy" !!!

Thank you S&W for those HE's. Thanks Elmer Keith in gettin' a magnum to be made out of the .44Spl

The 250 Gr. Elmer Keith bullet lets a whole lot of air in & a whole lot of blood out, using .44 Spl or .44 Mag ! For concealed carry, it's a 696 44Spl. Ain't out gunned til ya miss.

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No dash 696 44Spl Left W Service Grips.jpg (92.8 KB, 43 views)

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629-5, 8-3/8" 696-44Spl

OK, everybody posted pic's of there 44's, so here are mine.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

WOW! Where did you get those Roper-style stocks 153?

OP,
Here ya go, you're not likely to find a better deal than this. And on our forum:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sa...-4-barrel.html

Those are the "Skeeter Skelton" stocks from Blumagnum. I have Herrett's Ropers on my Model 29 and like the shape on those better .....

I gotta agree, for a shooter the Model 24-3 are the way to go. They do turn up fairly often on GB. If I didn't already have one, I jump on the 4" for sale here on the forum.

Since we're playing show and tell here.......



I was planning to go to the range today anyway. I think I'll take the 4" out for a spin.

Well, how about this one? A Triple Lock shipped in 1916 with service sights and gold medallion grips, but now sporting target sights acquired on a return trip to Springfield in 1946 and target stocks from the early 80s.

I think this is either the third or fourth time I've posted this photo, but it's the only Smith & Wesson I own.

TL

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TL-00L.JPG (102.9 KB, 85 views)