Need more information about 45 caliber Mountain Guns

jdickson397 · #1 08-25-2011, 08:04 AM

I own a Model 25-2 and a 625-8 and enjoy them both. Have seen some threads about 45 caliber Mountain Guns but don't really know much about them. I have the Supica book but it really doesn't shed much light on the subject. Educate me please. Thanks.

tbury · #2 08-25-2011, 08:25 AM

A mountain gun is a 4" N-frame revolver with a tapered barrel. They have been made in 45 acp as well as 45 colt. There have also been 44 mag mountain guns. The main characteristic is the tapered 4" barrel, they are designed to give you the power you want in a lighter (easier to carry) package for hiking or camping.

smokey04 · #3 08-25-2011, 08:31 AM

They are also round butt guns. I like the configuration and think it is one of the best going.I have a .45 Colt and a .44 Mag. but I'm still looking for a .45 ACP to complete the set. Nick

David LaPell · #4 08-25-2011, 08:42 AM

This was my 25-13 Mountain Gun which I kind of regret selling. It was very accurate especially with my handloads. The only thing I did not like about it was it was a roundbutt.

When I got it.

After some modifications

Mack · #5 08-25-2011, 08:52 AM

The tapered half lug barrels make a big difference on a gun that is going to be worn all day every day. I don't care for the full lug heavy barrels, they cater to gamers and range shooters and distract from what a working handgun should be.

David Sinko · #6 08-25-2011, 09:26 AM

Here's my 625-4 Springfield Armory Commemorative .45 ACP Mountain Gun. It's one of 500 that were made. Mine is different from the others in that I removed the hammer spur and installed a .265" grooved trigger with stop. These Commemoratives are the only pre-MIM/pre-lock .45 ACP Mountain Guns that were made.

Another Mountain Gun feature is the beveled front edge of the cylinder, also called the black powder chamfer. You can re-barrel a regular revolver to copy a Mountain Gun. A good gunsmith should be able to bevel the cylinder too.

The Mountain Gun is a great gun but I'm finding that I like my 3" full lug and 2" snub 625s even more.

Dave Sinko

Rolan_Kraps · #7 08-25-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Sinko

Here's my 625-4 Springfield Armory Commemorative .45 ACP Mountain Gun. It's one of 500 that were made. Mine is different from the others in that I removed the hammer spur and installed a .265" grooved trigger with stop. These Commemoratives are the only pre-MIM/pre-lock .45 ACP Mountain Guns that were made.

Another Mountain Gun feature is the beveled front edge of the cylinder, also called the black powder chamfer. You can re-barrel a regular revolver to copy a Mountain Gun. A good gunsmith should be able to bevel the cylinder too.

The Mountain Gun is a great gun but I'm finding that I like my 3" full lug and 2" snub 625s even more.

Dave Sinko

Stu454 · #8 08-25-2011, 02:45 PM

I had one of those Springfield Armory Mtn Guns.

I miss that revolver.

smokey04 · #9 08-25-2011, 05:02 PM

David Sinko, PM me or e-mail me [email protected] I may be able to help. Nick

one eye joe · #10 08-25-2011, 05:28 PM

These are my Mountain Guns. From R to L they are a 686+ in .38Spl/.357Mag, a 629 in .44Spl/.44Mag, and a 625 in .45Colt. Grips are by Ahrends.

jdickson397 · #11 08-25-2011, 06:50 PM

Well, thanks to all for your prompt and informative replies. As a result I just wandered over to my LGS and found that they had a 629 Mountain Gun. Took it home with me. Will post pictures tomorrow. It's all your fault!

one eye joe · #12 08-25-2011, 10:56 PM

CONGRATS ! ! ! You will LOVE it.

David Sinko · #13 08-26-2011, 08:59 AM

You mean like this one? This is my 629-2 Mountain Lion, another one of 500. You can't see it because of the glare, but there is a somewhat lame graphic on the frame of a guy with a revolver fending off a mountain lion on a ledge above him. I don't think this one is as nice or versatile as my SAC, but the .44 Magnum is no joke in a revolver as light as this one. This revolver took my first ever hog earlier this year.

I don't exactly go around looking for these special run revolvers. It's a matter of luck and being in the right place at the right time.

Dave Sinko

mes227 · #14 08-27-2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdickson397

Well, thanks to all for your prompt and informative replies. As a result I just wandered over to my LGS and found that they had a 629 Mountain Gun. Took it home with me. Will post pictures tomorrow. It's all your fault!

I have this and it's one of my favorite all-around revolvers! I liked it so much I also bought the MG in .45 Colt as well as the 610 and 686, both with 4" (non tappered) barrels. On the hunt now for a .41M mtn gun!

NRA UR2 · #15 08-27-2011, 05:44 AM

All Mountain guns are designated the same on the barrel in gold etching, ie 45 acp, 45t Colt and 44 Mag and these are all N frames. There are no L frame mountain guns.

one eye joe · #16 08-27-2011, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mes227

I have this and it's one of my favorite all-around revolvers! I liked it so much I also bought the MG in .45 Colt as well as the 610 and 686, both with 4" (non tappered) barrels. On the hunt now for a .41M mtn gun!

IIRC, there's one on GunBroker currently.......

one eye joe · #17 08-27-2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NRA UR2

All Mountain guns are designated the same on the barrel in gold etching, ie 45 acp, 45t Colt and 44 Mag and these are all N frames. There are no L frame mountain guns.

NRA UR2, your statement is INCORRECT...
There is NO gold etching on any of my 3 Mountain Guns nor on any that I have seen other than a few commemorative runs of 500. The 686+ Mountain Gun is an L frame.

Stainz · #18 08-27-2011, 08:17 AM

My first-ever S&W was my 625-7 MG in .45 Colt. My wife bought it for me prior to a vacation trip nine years ago. It started a trend! Afraid I would wear out my sentimental favorite, I ultimately traded a Ruger for a second 625MG in .45 Colt, actually, a 625-6 from '96 - with hammer mounted fp. It had a Rube Goldberg clipped return spring/rebent leaf - and resultant horrid trigger. A couple of Wolff springs and it was nearly as nice as my original.

A couple of things re the 625/629 MG's. First, they are bright finished SS. The obvious frequent move is to wipe them clean - and/or polish them. Sadly, the laser-etched barrel nomenclature fades with just normal cleaning - polishing fades it more quickly. Enjoy the '.45 COLT' on your S&W barrel while it's there. Roll-imprinting is likely difficult on a tapered barrel. Another weak point is the 'black on black' sights, but that may just be my tired eyes. A final observation is that some like a larger hammer or trigger - or both.

I had a 629MG - but carelessly distributed it into pieces it was not assembled from. S&W agreed - it was a stuck bullet. They sold me a new 629-6 in 4", as they still haven't made more 629 MG's, for a song - and I can't sing. I prefer it to the MG, even though it weighs 2 oz more. The majority of said weight is in the normal partially lugged barrel out front, keeping the muzzle down a bit better during recoil. It also has an orange ramp/white outline sight combo and both a larger hammer and trigger. Add to it the .500 Magnum Hogues I bought for the 629MG (All MG's I've seen are RB!), and you have a 'real' .44 Magnum that can be easily and repeatedly shot. Wood or Dymondwood, like the Combats on my 625-6 MG above, are perfect for my .45 Colt MG's and any load I will ever feed them. So - .44 Magnum - I'd go with a regular production 4"-er. >45 Colt - your choice recently is just the MG - which works fine - still a favorites. Of course, it shoots .45 Schofields fine, too.

Stainz

J. W. · #19 08-27-2011, 10:38 AM

There were also Mountain Guns in .41 magnum. When I was looking for my .45 Colt Mountian Gun back in '05-'06, the .41 mags were pretty common.

SgtSam · #20 08-27-2011, 06:04 PM

Yep! That M629 sure answered a lot of questions about .45 Caliber Mountain Guns!

one eye joe · #21 08-27-2011, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtSam

Yep! That M629 sure answered a lot of questions about .45 Caliber Mountain Guns!

WHAT would those questions be, SgtSam ? ? ?

LOBO · #22 08-29-2011, 05:22 PM

Heres my 625-4 4" SAC/MG,

jrod · #23 08-29-2011, 05:28 PM

Hey Lobo,Nice Mtn. Gun. I had the same one when I was in Fbks. Ak. Traded it. One of my most foolish trades.

Wish I still had it. It was unbelievably accurate.

LOBO · #24 08-29-2011, 11:55 PM

I love mine. They are the perfect balance of weight and size.

batmann · #25 08-30-2011, 11:54 AM

I will love your MG! I have a 629 and once had a 29 MG (sold) and I can think of no finer handgun to pack in the woods or while camping. I also put the X-frame Hogue's on mine and it really does help with the recoil.
My normal 'outdoor' load is either Georgia Arms 240 gr GD HP or Double Tap's 250 gr HCSW (240 gr in their new listings).
Enjoy your new S&W, it will last you a lifetime.

SgtSam · #26 08-30-2011, 10:49 PM

I originally posted: "Yep! That M629 sure answered a lot of questions about .45 Caliber Mountain Guns!"

Quote from One-Eye-Joe: "WHAT would those questions be, SgtSam ? ? ?"

The title of this thread is: "Need more information about 45 caliber Mountain Guns"!

I was just trying to figure out how buying a 629 .44Mag answered anything at all to do with a 45 caliber Mountain Gun!

I guess I just missed the connection or something! Not knocking the 629, just can't make the connection.

one eye joe · #27 08-30-2011, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtSam

The title of this thread is: "Need more information about 45 caliber Mountain Guns"!

I was just trying to figure out how buying a 629 .44Mag answered anything at all to do with a 45 caliber Mountain Gun!

GOTCHA,Sarge. I didn't think there was a connection either. I missed your sarcasm......

jdickson397 · #28 08-31-2011, 06:43 PM

Well, the connection was "Mountain Gun" since to me the 45 and 44 calibers are similar because I shoot 45LC and 44 Special. The 629 MG was available at my LGS, it can be loaded with 44 mag and it felt good, etc. That's your answer and your publicly expressed sarcasm is misplaced as well as impolite.

SgtSam · #29 09-01-2011, 12:21 AM

Please don't get your shorts in a knot. I was simply asking a logical question. And, I thought the smiley's would let you, and anyone else, know that it was all in fun. Sorry you took it personally as it sure wasn't meant that way.

stevieboy · #30 09-01-2011, 10:07 AM

Great thread but I have a question: where does the name "mountain gun" come from? Not trying to be funny here, but what is the connection between these guns and mountains?

I've fired a .45 Colt mountain gun and it was great. But, honestly, what differentiates that configuration from any of the half-lugged N-frames that Smith has produced for generations. For example, I have a four-inch Model 27. Looks like a mountain gun to me but no one would ever call it that.