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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 10-06-2008, 06:01 PM
magnumb magnumb is offline
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I see the big appeal of .44 special. Big bore, low pressure loads, can be relatively mild or pretty stout. Why not get 44 mag so you can shoot either? Is there a downside to this thinking? Is there an advantage to 44 special only gun
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Old 10-06-2008, 06:01 PM
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I see the big appeal of .44 special. Big bore, low pressure loads, can be relatively mild or pretty stout. Why not get 44 mag so you can shoot either? Is there a downside to this thinking? Is there an advantage to 44 special only gun
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  #3  
Old 10-06-2008, 06:09 PM
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Weight
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  #4  
Old 10-06-2008, 06:11 PM
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I guess it depends on how you look at it. I understand your thinking.
However....if you have ever held a 36 oz. 696 and felt how well it balances, then fired it and experienced the wonderful accuracy with mild recoil, you just might change your thinking. Easier to carry, to shoot, to handle. It just fits. Not too much, just enough.
Don't believe me? Try buying one.
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  #5  
Old 10-06-2008, 06:55 PM
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This may sound a little contrite but the love afair with the special is just like any other love afair. Sometimes it doesn't make a lot of sense..We love the special and its various specific incarnations, just because. And most of us that do own both, do shoot specials in our mags. as well as the full bore load...
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  #6  
Old 10-06-2008, 07:30 PM
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This may not be the right way to explain it, GB pretty much summed it up, but try this. You have a mod 36, or 10 in a snub, it is .38 spl only. You have a 686 snub it is .38/.357. Both shoot .38's. But you really like the mod 36/ mod10. Just something about those old .38's. Kinda bad anology, but sorta like that. I love my 44 spl. I want another one. A Mod 24 classic on the list as a last resort if I can't find a 24-3,6.5 1983 or a 624 the 86,87's series. I will take the older ones if I can get one. 1st mod, 2nd mod, 3rd mod, 24 1950 target,etc. You get the point, I am not picky. Anyone seen any lately? At a good deal.
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  #7  
Old 10-06-2008, 07:32 PM
carguychris carguychris is offline
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Because you don't like magnum loads and you're sick of scraping the crud out of the front of the chambers.
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  #8  
Old 10-06-2008, 08:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by GB:
This may sound a little contrite but the love afair with the special is just like any other love afair. Sometimes it doesn't make a lot of sense..We love the special and its various specific incarnations, just because. And most of us that do own both, do shoot specials in our mags. as well as the full bore load...
Exactly.....just because we can have both.
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  #9  
Old 10-06-2008, 08:53 PM
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Dr. Evil has captured Austin Powers and has suspended him over a tank full of "ill-tempered" giant sea bass. He is being lowered into the tank excruciatingly slow.

Scott says he will go to his room and get his gun and bang it will be over. "No big deal"

Dr. Evil says: "You just don't get it, do you Scott?"
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  #10  
Old 10-06-2008, 11:37 PM
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Because I'm a perverse, twisted and thoroughly contrary old fart. And, just because I can. Just to illustrate how weird I am, I sometimes take both a .44 Special and a .44 Magnum to the Peach Orchard. I shoot .44 Special in the Model 24 and .44 Magnum in the Model 29. Seems logical. To me.
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  #11  
Old 10-07-2008, 03:55 AM
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Some of us are just contrary. I first bought a new 629MG for .44 Specials - then both a new 296 & 696 - nearly six years ago. I had a 6.5" 24-3 - horrid. I bought a closeout Heritage 6.5" 24 - too pretty to shoot. The blued guns are gone - in their place, a new 6" 629. And, a new 4" 629 replaced my 629MG. Now I have revolvers capable of 'real' Keith loads, should the need arise. Clean those chambers well, put on the .500 Magnum grips, and they revert back to .44 Magnums, too. I'm happy.

Here are my .44 Specials:



Oh yeah - the 696 is fun, but what a dimunitive forcing cone. The standard 4" 629, SKU 163603, and at a whopping six ounces more, has a longer barrel, another round, larger hammer & trigger, and is certainly Keith-level plus ready. It balances even better in my hand than the 696 - and will be here when the 696 is long gone. A 629MG is only four ounces heavier. Choices... YMMV.

Stainz
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  #12  
Old 10-07-2008, 04:46 AM
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I've got a 6 1/2" Model 29-2 .44 Magnum that handles the recoil of full house magnum loads well due to its long, heavy barrel. Sometimes I shoot .44 Specials in it too.



I've also got a 4" Model 624 .44 Special and its thin barrel and short length and lighter weight makes it very easy to pack in my Threepersons crossdraw holster. I'm not a fan of shooting full house magnum loads in a 4" Model 29. Ouch. I don't see the need in packing a heavier 4" magnum (barrel is heavier and cylinder is too) when I wouldn't shoot magnum loads in it anyway.

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  #13  
Old 10-07-2008, 04:56 AM
RDak RDak is offline
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Because I wanted one!
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  #14  
Old 10-07-2008, 05:19 AM
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I, like Stainz, solved the problem by getting a 629 MG in .44M. It is a wonderful shooter with both light .44M and .44Spl loads. It weights around 39 oz, so the weight is close enough, but you can still shoot heavier 'Keith' type loads with no problem. It is nice to have that option.
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  #15  
Old 10-07-2008, 05:35 AM
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Watch out for the new model 24s they appear to have the longer 44 mag cylinder with the tapered 44 special barrels not a true model 24 not to mention the infernal lock.
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  #16  
Old 10-07-2008, 05:36 AM
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Well, because it's the classic S&W caliber.

Plus, I'd shoot a regular 29....but I just don't like them heavy barrels and wide ribs!

Tapered barrels and narrow ribs forever!
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  #17  
Old 10-07-2008, 06:52 AM
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You folks who like the .44 special guns because they are light otta try a 329PD. 26 ounces unloaded and you can shoot either the .44 special or .44 magnum in it.
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  #18  
Old 10-07-2008, 06:58 AM
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I weighted my 4 inch 624 and then weighted my 629 MG.

On my scales they both weighted the same.
I sold the 624 and kept the 629 MG.

Seemed logical to me
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Old 10-07-2008, 10:43 AM
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I have no use for a .44 magnum but love the .44 spl. so why buy a .44 magnum? If I want to shoot magnums then I use the .41 magnum.
Quote:
You folks who like the .44 special guns because they are light otta try a 329PD. 26 ounces unloaded and you can shoot either the .44 special or .44 magnum in it.
No one is looking for a light .44 spl. It's just that some don't want the added weight that the magnum revolver has over the spl. revolver.
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  #20  
Old 10-07-2008, 11:56 AM
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Because I can.

Bruce
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  #21  
Old 10-07-2008, 12:09 PM
Nygma Nygma is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Shuz:
You folks who like the .44 special guns because they are light otta try a 329PD. 26 ounces unloaded and you can shoot either the .44 special or .44 magnum in it.
The 396 was 17 or 18 ounces.
Why buy a model 25 when you can have a 460? Drive a 200 horsepower car when you can get 400?
The boomers are rarely needed. There's something nice about moderation I just can't put my finger on.
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Old 10-07-2008, 12:41 PM
deanodog deanodog is offline
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I have a model 21-4 in 44 special only and I like it's light weight and handling but I am getting older and no longer like the recoil of the 44 mag.
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Old 10-07-2008, 05:51 PM
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Nanook 450 Nanook 450 is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Shuz:
You folks who like the .44 special guns because they are light otta try a 329PD. 26 ounces unloaded and you can shoot either the .44 special or .44 magnum in it.
I'm carrying my 329 all the time in the field; showing nice signs of holster wear and the grips a scratched and chipped - did a super trigger/action job and usually carry hot specials w/ 250 Keith style hc lead ammo.
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Old 10-08-2008, 08:27 AM
Shuz Shuz is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Nanook 450:
Quote:
Originally posted by Shuz:
You folks who like the .44 special guns because they are light otta try a 329PD. 26 ounces unloaded and you can shoot either the .44 special or .44 magnum in it.
I'm carrying my 329 all the time in the field; showing nice signs of holster wear and the grips a scratched and chipped - did a super trigger/action job and usually carry hot specials w/ 250 Keith style hc lead ammo.
I carry my 329PD all the time and it's loaded with 16g of 2400 behind a 429421HP @230g, in magnum cases. Hogue 500X frame grips, available only from S&W, make this gun real tolerable to shoot. I particularly like the Hi-Viz front sight for easy target acquisition for my aging eyes.
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Old 10-08-2008, 10:01 AM
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Either gun is fine by my....as long as there is no lock !!
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Old 10-08-2008, 10:15 AM
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Why buy a .44 Special when a .44 Magnum shoots both?
That has been my question for several years, now. I shoot 5.0 grains of UNIQUE in my Redhawk and 8.0 grains AND 5.0 GRAINS OF of UNIQUE in my 657's [.42 Magnums].
Buy the magnum and it is safe to vary the load.
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Old 10-08-2008, 10:21 AM
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All my 44s are 44 Mags (3 S&Ws and 1 Ruger) that I shoot 44 Specials in.
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329pd, 44 magnum, 624, 629, 657, 686, 696, crossdraw, heritage, hogue, lock, model 21, model 24, model 25, model 29, model 624, redhawk, ruger, sig arms, snubnose

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