Would love to find a 4" pre-24/24 -- wouldn't we all.

But if the goal is to get a classic with target sights for shooting .44 Specials -- would I get the same feel from a 4" pre-29?

Thank you in advance

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I own 3 .44 Spls. They are a joy to shoot. but if I couldn't find one I see nothing wrong with a model 29. The Magnum is a great gun, you can load it up or load it down, extremely versatile.

But, it isn't the same as a .44 Spl. I used to say they were rare but then I started running across them.

So what is the difference?

Balance?
Weight?
Cool factor, which in my book is not to be ignored

(P.S. I am not going to be loading up the .44 Special, and do not plan on running any .44 Magnums)

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The 44 Mag has a heavier barrel with considerably more metal, but Hey, its still a sweety..

Might want to try a 44 Magnum "Mountain Revolver or Mountain Gun", with the lighter profile barrel.. all sweet, all nice, but nothing would really "beat" a pre-war 5 screw 44 Special...

all the above my boy, all the above, and you are a bright lad for figuring this out on your own.. LOL KOOL

The more metal would actually be a good thing to help control recoil.

Can anyone please tell me the weight of a 4" 29?

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The classic N frame .44 Special uses a shorter (and lighter) cylinder as well as a tapered barrel. Those few ounces make for a handier revolver. Using handloads, the .44 Special fills 95% of all needs that I have for a handgun.

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My 4inch Model 29-3 weighs 2lb11oz.

2 Lbs. 7 Oz.


2 Lbs. 13.7 Oz.
1955 5" pre-27


I will guess that the 4" 24 should come in at about 2 Lbs. 3 Oz.
How about a 4" 29 with walnut grips?
Anyone have those measures

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The 4" model 24 is listed at 41.5 oz and a 4" model 29 at 44 oz. Some of that extra 2.5 oz is in the heavier barrel and some in the longer cylinder. If you are obsessing over the weight difference, you can buy the model 29 and load only four rounds.

You may have better luck finding a 1980s era 4" 24-3, or 624, than a 4" model 1950 Target. Good luck in your decision.

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Of course I would love to have a 4" 1950 target; any S&W man worth his salt would. But I've had to settle for a 24-3 4", and there ain't a thing wrong with that. I used to have a 4" 29-2 as well, but liked the 24 so much better I eventually traded the 29. I know it's only a few ounces, but it feels like a lot more. Very effective, too:

I have both a 4" 1950 Target, and a 4" pre 29 4 screw and love them both. If I could only have one of them it would be the 24. Love the .44 special

Given you are not going to be using Magnum ammunition, why would you want to add to the throat length----and add in a bullet scraper to boot?

If you are not familiar with the effects of either/both, you can buy your very own machine rest for maybe $500-----and be amazed.

And once you have such an amazing machine, you can rent time on it to your friends and neighbors; and get your money back---pronto!!

Ralph Tremaine

I am a big .44 special fan and have a thing for tapered barrels so I would hold out for the special. The main factor for me though, is I just don’t enjoy shooting .44 magnums, especially from a four inch barrel!

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The difference between the 24 and the 29 is the same difference as exists between the Model 15 and the 19. The tapered barrel and shorter cylinder make for a slightly better balanced feel to me.

I used to think there wasn't any real difference until I held them both in hand together, and was able to look to see what the differences were. In my case they were a 24-3, 4", and a 29-2, 4". I wish I still had that 24-3. It had the box, papers, tools, the whole package. I think they only made 2700? of them. But NOOOO...I had to sell it. I'll just get another one...Yea...right.

I do have a 29-2, 4" though. It's not a bad choice at all. I just never shoot magnum ammo through it.

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You can shoot 44 specials in a 44 Magnum, buy the Model 29. You won't be disappointed.

Bill

I tend to buy .357 magnum guns for the option ..... even though 90% of my shooting/needs are met with a +P.38 or milder load.

Think I'd do the same in .44........................

To illustrate the difference between the Spl and Mag a picture. The gun on top is a model 624 in .44 Spl, gun on the bottom is a 629 Mag.

The differences are the thinner barrel on the 624 which in this case is 6.5" long vs 6" for the 629. Second difference is the shorter cylinder on the 624 vs the 629.

Doesn't matter if the guns are carbon steel or stainless or what barrel length they have. I used the stainless guns for this because they are nearly identical in configuration.

Well, it wasn't easy, but I had to settle for a 5 inch 44 Spl.



It's a dream to shoot! I posted it here: S&W .44 Hand Ejector 1st Model #1103

Curl

And now that I've pointed out that the .44 Spl has a thinner barrel, short cylinder and the 29/629 have a heavy barrel longer cylinder I hear a fly coming for a landing in the ointment.

That fly would be the Mtn Gun, a .44 Magnum with the thinner barrel like a .44 Spl. However, the cylinder is still long for the magnum cartridge.

Not sure if S&W is still doing it but they were selling the model 24 a few years ago. I believe it was the Mtn Gun with the long cylinder bored to accept the .44 Spl.

Model 29-8 on top 24-3 lower picture.

For me the 24/624 is sexier with its tapered barrel, but the 29/629 has more utility in that it can shoot magnums and specials. Soooo that makes the 29/629 MG/Revolver the best of both worlds.

Attached Images

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The hand feels the extreme difference between a 24 and a 29 more the eye does. Same with the way grips feel. There's still Model 24-3s around. They are just about the perfect gun, imo, for a ton of uses if you reload. Though mine are loaded 7.5 grain Unique tops. It's a very polite gun.

"There's still Model 24-3s around."

And the stainless 624 too. I had 4 of the 624s at one time before I started selling them. The 24-3 you don't see to much of but they are out there.

People used to tell me the 24 and 624 were not rare, I disagree. How often do any of you see one of them in your travels?

I was given some .44 special brass, so I loaded them up with .44 special loads for my 629. They shot OK, but just like the 38/.357 thing, I got that crud ring around the cylinder. It made loading .44 magnum rounds during the same range session a little harder and grittier. It did clean up just fine. I don't load up the .44 special brass anymore, I just down load .44 magnum brass.

Although I have a passel of vintage .44s, I still greatly enjoy the two barrel length M-24-3s that I own. They are the strongest, most mechanically refined and best condition of the group.
They are not as valuable as Pre-24, 4" guns but are not inexpensive nor particularly easy to find. Both of mine wear custom grips and I often think that they might be the last to go if I broke up my collection.
These 24-3s are the two at the back of the grouping.
(BTW: A couple of these have gone down the road but a few more have arrived. Also, the only .44 Magnum I own is a sentimental, barrel shortened Super Blackhawk. I just don't find the magnums that pleasant to shoot.)

If in the market for a 4" 44spl don't overlook the 21-2 made in 2006-2007.It's fixed sight but has great accuracy.

There's blued and nickel versions of the 21-4 distributed by Thunder Ranch and non Thunder Ranch.

Then there's the 3" L frame 696 that's a personal favorite in the no dash version.

The 4" 629-3 and -4 Mountain Guns are great shooters and very accurate with Bullseye or Unique target loads in 44 magnum cases.

If you prefer a shorter 3" then the 629-4 Backpacker is the way to go but finding one may require a wait.

I lean toward a 44mag over a 44spl only revolver.

A new Model 69 might sooth your itch?

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Count me in the crowd advocating the 4" 24-3. It isn't my favorite .44 Special and lacks the mystique of the pre-24 and the pre-war models, but it still fills the role very well. That being said, I prefer 5" and longer barrels on .44s, so I have never considered the 4" pre-24 as a grail gun. I will definitely concede that my 4" 3rd Model has a special appeal though.

In my search for the "Perfect" companion revolver I tried quite a few and thought I found it with the 1st issue 629 Mountain Revolver. Although even after converting the stocks to custom made square frame on the round butt framed 629 and having it quadra-ported I still did not like the recoil and noise. I lucked into a Horton 24-3 and using the round to square stocks found it a near perfect blend. I am of the opinion that a well placed shot from a .44 special that one is accustomed to carrying and comfortable to shoot outweighs the need for .44 magnum. I find the weight and balance of the 3" 24-3 to be about perfect.
I have a 4" customized Brazilian model of 1917 that used to be my favorite carry piece, the 24-3 took its place...its a keeper

Years ago before I even got my first .44 I had a friend that worked for a LGS. He taught me a lot about Colts and .45 acp. What I will never forget is he always said the .357/.44 mags were loud and obnoxious.

I have to agree. As much as I like the 29/629 I hate them because of the noise and recoil. The .44 Spl has none of that, and that is what makes it great.

Of all the regrets of letting a gun get away from me it would be the Lew Horten 24-3 with 3” barrel. In 2004 I could have picked one up for $650 but thought about it one day too long.

Oh, haven't we all done that at least once.

Curl

Here's all these fine shinier guns posted here and I'm liking this old grey converted cut down 1917. I'd love to come across something like this.

Better choice is a Model 29. uses .4 spl or .44 magnum ammo

The .44 Specials have better balance IMHO. I have a 4" 29-2. Nice revolver....no doubt! But, there is something about my 4" W&K 3rd Model that just feels "right" in my hand!

It is interesting how many people talk about the better balance of the shorter cylinder/tapered barrel revolvers. I much prefer the balance on the heavy barrel and full cylinder of the Model 19/Model 29.

This has been a great thread!

I've always loved the .44 Special as a cartridge. Maybe I read too much Skeeter Skelton as a kid. Sure, I've got a few magnums, but I'm generally reloading them down to the energy of the specials these days. For me anyway, the .44 Special does all I ask it to do.

I've managed to accumulate a bit of a collection of .44 Specials over the years. I shoot a set of 5.5" Colt SAA that I run hard as my SASS revolvers. A 5.5" New Frontier brings it together for target and field use with the combination of great balance and adjustable sights. I've got a 4.5" Ruger New Model Blackhawk, but it feels much heavier in the hand than the New Frontier. The only real safe queen I have is a Colt 4.5" SAA that is fully engraved with ivory grips. It's a beautiful revolver that shoots as good as it looks.

The Smith and Wesson .44 Specials that I have are the Lew Horton 3" 24-3, another 3" LH 624, a 6.5" 624, and a 696. The 3" guns point instinctively for me and I shoot them very well. The 6.5" 624 doesn't work as well for me for some reason. I think the longer sight radius combined with my bad eyes has become the issue. I'd like to trade it off for a 4" model. If it wasn't in such nice shape, I'd consider having it cut down to a 5" by someone.

So, there you have it. Buying a .44 Magnum and feeding it .44 Specials is certainly a valid option, but the weight and balance of a dedicated .44 Special has something very Special about it.

Kinda like trying to decide between a Model 15 in 38 or a Model 19 in 357 with the exception that Model 15's are generally alot less expensive than Model 19's where older Model 24's are collectable and generally more money than later Model 29's.

The later 624 or 24-3 variants roughly cost the same as their 44 mag equivalents so less gun for same money.

Seeing as the 629 Mountain gun has the same narrow rib profile and look but will shoot either 44 Special or Magnum seems the better choice,
The Mountain gun is also a round butt grip frame so can be fit with either SB target conversions stocks or any variation of N round stocks.

Basically if you want a tapered barrel look of the Model 24 IMO the 4" Mountain gun is the way to go,

I have a 29-2 NIB 4"and besides not fond of 4" guns a 24 with a
6" barrel feels like the perfect balance for Ns. You can tell big difference against a 6" 29 vs 6" 24, the 4" 24 should feel even
better.