S&W sure hit the nail on the head when they began producing their revolvers in stainless steel, beginning with the Model 60. Over the years I've acquired quite a few of Smith's stainless guns, but these two N-frames suit me perfectly for carry purposes.

I've written about my 625-6 customized Mountain Gun before; I consider it perfect for open holster carry as a trail gun. Good heavy .45 Colt loads get the job done without excessive recoil, and snake loads carry enough #9 shot to take care of the occasional rattler.

The 624 Lew Horton Special is also customized, and fills the bill for a concealed carry piece in the winter when an outer jacket does a better job of covering it. I use an El Paso Saddlery pancake holster that pulls it in tight to my body at the 4 o'clock position. Heavy .44 special loads will get the job done if needed.

Both guns having been made in stainless make them very resistant to weather and sweat - quite ideal for their intended purposes.

Both guns are "old style" with the firing pin on the hammer. Call me old fashioned, but I just like 'em that way. I also like 'em without that goshawful internal lock thingy on the side...

Here's a shot of a couple of my favorite babies!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

they look great, I like the box and the guns - its hard to beat a stainless N frame, I like a 4" 44 magnum myself - heres a few of mine

Nice!

I'm going to have to vote for the 624 Lew as well. Mine has the original S&W combat stocks. Now, what type of grip is that on yours?

If it's good enough for Clint. I also like the option of the 8 shot full moon clips, as well as the standard 8 shot speedloaders. It conceals very well especially with a Lobo belt slide holster.

I also have a 625-6. I carry it in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster. I love this gun.

I was on another forum, and a couple of posters were bashing tapered barrel N frames as poorly balanced & overweight. Their preferred carry gun? Ruger Blackhawks with 5-1/2 in barrel. Now there's a really well balanced revolver

Best carrying revolver for the woods would be a 629 carry comp, fixed sight so it wont snag.

Here is the 629 in some lobo leather

Wish they made the blood work with fixed sights. Best carry revolver when not in the woods.

I'll play Callahan.....

Here's my baby 629-6 Deluxe Talo 3" 44 mag Ned

The best carryin N frame stainless is an L frame.... the 696.



Charlie

My only N frame A Old Brazilian Contact that has been customized..3.5 in barrel ..true DAO , internals all slicked up ..parkerized...


not in the class as I have seen here ....but its all i got...

There they are , those magna ported honeys get my blood flowing , great photos

I don't know about "best," but I sure like my PC 627 UDR. I carry it comfortably almost every day in its Lobo Gun Leather enhanced pancake holster.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

There's always a comedian in the crowd.

The L-frame certainly has its place, but, at the end of the day, it's simply the "Mini-Me" of its older brother, the N-frame.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

Those stocks are made by Ahrends - that's their concealment finger-groove style. Hardly any increase in the size of the stocks over the actual grip frame outline, but really hand-filling and great for retention. I have them on a number of my revolvers.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

This one:

629MG
Carried like this:

Or sometimes in one of these:

I know there are probably lots better/lighter/smaller guns for others to pack but I am more than happy with my 629-6 5". I don't mind the weight at all and never realize it is there but then from years of backpacking with a heavy backpack with hip belt the 629 isn't that big of a deal. I also like the weight of the 629 to dampen the felt recoil when shooting for fun but know that felt recoil isn't that big of a deal when in a emergency survival situation. I wouldn't trade my gun for anything else even if I could.

Unlike others I only have two handguns to chose from anyway, a Sig 229R 9mm and the 629 and while the Sig is smaller to pack it just doesn't have the punch I need/want outdoors in the wild.

Attached Images

629-6 5inch.jpg (68.4 KB, 111 views)

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44 Garrett Defender Ammo 4 me.

I like my 627 UDR with a DeSantis holster and 5 Star speedloaders and the PC 414170000 grip the best.

My "best packin' stainless N frame:
(my only other stainless N frame is a 6" barrel...)
625-3 .45 ACP with RIMZ clips

Come to think of it, my blued steel N frame are both six inch barrels as well. I should remedy that...

This thread should not have made it to the second page - its full of great guns...bump

I'll go with my LH Model 624.

You can load the 624 up to some impressive levels over normal 44SP factory loads, and without all the fierce fuss of a short barrel 44Mag. A 240 cast at 1000+ will handle most tasks that don't need full 44Mag power. If they do, then a 629-4 takes care of them.

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" I said, good DAY! "

You people are driving me plumb wild as I set here with my *** Taurus 85 UL

Thats a slick looking wheelgun right there!


While mine two N-frames are blued, I find the mountain gun configuration to pack very well and balance perfectly.

I know the thread calls for the best one ever made, but I'll throw in MY best packin' N-frame - my model 657-4 41 magnum Mountain Gun. wyatte

I like the MG very much. My 629MG handles beautifully, and a hair better than the 29 bounty hunter I used to have.

I'm real fond of my two Mountain Guns-a M625 .45 ACP and a M629.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Due to the caliber, I guess that the 696 does qualify. Mine certainly packs better than my 629-4 Mountain Gun, but for versitility, the MG 44 is the first one I would grab. I own more 'N' frames than any other size in that I prefer 44 or larger bores. While the 'N' is great in any caliber, it is still hard to beat a model 629 4inch, in any format, for any kind of 'packing', IMHO.

I just carried this .45 Colt on a 2.5 mile walk tonight and barely noticed it was there.

Ooooo.... please, please.... no more... no more... I give up. So a month ago l didn't have any N frames. Thanks to the thread that Allen-frame started l now have a 625-2 5", a 625-3 4", both in .45 ACP and a 625-6 MG in long Colt. That's the good news. The bad news? My 2012 acquisition budget is done! At least for now!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

The top one is an L frame, but you get the idea, I love the Mountain Guns.

The one with the Crimson Trace laser is very nice for shooting wild hogs from a tree stand (legal in Texas).

686+
629-2
629-5

i like you're setup , is that the enhanced pancake model ,and how do you like the thumbreak do you cc with this set up.

With those 3 fine wheelguns what else do you need to buy this year?
Ammo & moonclips.
You're set!

I too experienced that on treks into the desert near here. N-frames this light are quite tolerable to pack.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

It is an enhanced pancake. I don't cc, use it when out camping. I like the thumbreak. It is easy to disengage. Probably don't need it but I like the extra security.

I agree! Working on ammo... gonna get a boatload of moonclips... and keep my eyes open for any 625 with a shorter barrel. The balance and feel of shooting these revolvers makes me look like l know how to shoot! They are far more accurate than l am...

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

My 5" 625 Classic in .45 Colt makes me look like a slower Jerry Miculek.

Its hard to beat a 627 as an N-frame carry gun...

This ones not stainless but the hard chrome kind of looks like it. I know you guys have all seen it before, but as promised, I have new pics. It's my Austin Behlert custom 25-2, I just got it back from Pinnacle last week. I sent it to Mark to give it a good going over and tune up. He fixed a little end shake and a loose crane ball detent and I had him put in a second ball detent at the top of the crane and chamfer the charge holes while he had it. It's one great shooting, great carrying gun, everything you'd expect a Behlert revolver to be.


Here she is with new Pachmayrs, they conceal a bit better than the wood grips-


And all ready to go out on the town in her Mernickle holster-

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

I NEVER get tired of looking at that gun, it's gorgeous.

I suddenly need a 629 no lock 3". Like gotta have one now

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

That's OK Buckeye my first carry .45ACP revolver was an old Brazilian that sat in the safe for a couple of years. Had the barrel
croppped down to 3 inches. this is an older picture now it has all new internals and a park job in dark slate gray.

Fine minds think alike .

You are obviously a man of refinement and taste.

Keep the faith, protect innocent life.

Allen Frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

My favorite two "packin" stainless N frames. Both 45 Colt. Unfortunately they can't be carried at work any more. The infamous "They" decided to $#!%can the late great 45 Colt caliber, along with 44 Mag, 41 Mag and 44 Spcl........


So I had to settle on this old thing for packin' at work.


Could be worse, I guess......

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

Lots of nice guns to put on my wish list, in the meantime I make do with a 4" 629-6 in a Simply Rugged pankcake.

I'll probably go with a .45 Colt if and when I find and buy another.

What kind of speed loaders are those? I didn't think they made them for 8-shooters.

Thomasinaz I was in the same boat on my job and they stopped me from carrying.......



Now is carry a 627 Pro Series in a duty rig on the range and when I am struck working in the office I carry the 627UDR. Changed up from the 625JM after testing on a Honda Accord at
40 yards. 158 grain JSP .357 Magnums really get the job done. I carry the revolver just to p---- the brass hats off. They want me to go to a Glock bottom feeder.

I just bought this for that very reason. One day I hope the PRC will allow CCW and if so, this gets the nod.

65-5

I load a 160g 358156 with 7g Unique and it's juuust right.

Either of these, but the 4" would be best in the woods.

624 ND

These like the Skeeter load, but I found that they are deadly accurate with the 429421 over 6.5g W231.

Here's what I've carried in a cross draw holster in the woods for many, many years.

629-2 Custom

This one eats the 429244 over 22g W296 like popcorn. Man... this is a sweet piece.

Wow. I've wanted a short barrel N frame for some time. You guys have some beautiful revolvers.

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Independent Field Tester/R&D

I am gonna go with the OP. 3" 624 in the original holster that
was made for Smith by Gould & Goodrich if rumors are correct.
Spegel extended boot grips in ebony.





...Nemo...

Lots of very sweet N-frame carry-guns here. I have a Horton 624 that I bought new circa 1986, but I've decided to turn that one into a safe-queen, it resided in my office desk for decades and thus accumulated no real wear, was only fired roughly a hundred times when it was new.

My current woods/carry gun is a 629PC in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake:





I live in griz country and if I am going out huckleberry picking or into an area where I know bears are sometimes encountered (a calculated guess at best), I will sometimes carry a 4" 500, but that's another topic.