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03-30-2013, 06:45 AM
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Seeking .44 Spl. wheel guns w/maximum 3" barrel
Newbie again: am undergoing a massive change in our firearms portfolio. Getting rid of all the 1911s and junk revolvers and looking to add S&W .44 Spl. with maximum 3" barrel. Just found a 24-3 and seeking same or other models in .44. Suggestions from the board? Many thanks.
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03-30-2013, 07:14 AM
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TOM,
Welcome to the .44 Spl. club. A large following of fans here on the Forum. A 3" .44 Spl collection means the L frame 696 will be required. That was my first. I just obtained a 624. Many other models such as the 296, 396. All discontinued and becoming very hard to find. Good luck.
Last edited by KLYDE; 05-05-2013 at 12:45 PM.
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03-30-2013, 07:50 AM
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I have a 696 and 396 in 44 special and love them!!
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03-30-2013, 11:32 AM
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Let the fun begin!
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03-30-2013, 12:00 PM
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696, 396 Airlite, 396 Nightguard...all disco'd.
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03-30-2013, 12:25 PM
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24-3 with reworked Rd Butt to Sq Butt grips.
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03-30-2013, 02:37 PM
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03-30-2013, 02:53 PM
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shoot .44 Special, as well as .44 Mag with a 629 and a 29....
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03-30-2013, 03:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhorn1903
am undergoing a massive change in our firearms portfolio. Getting rid of all the 1911s and junk revolvers and looking to add S&W .44 Spl.
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Welcome back from the Dark Side 
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03-30-2013, 05:19 PM
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03-30-2013, 06:02 PM
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Here's a pair...696-2, 396 dash nothing.
Last edited by JNewell; 03-31-2013 at 12:39 PM.
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03-30-2013, 06:10 PM
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Do yourself a favor and stick to an N-frame for this caliber. Anything less is a compromise.
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03-30-2013, 07:55 PM
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03-30-2013, 08:00 PM
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A M21-4 is great!
But I want a M696 for carry, the M21 is just a little too big at times....
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03-30-2013, 08:09 PM
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Once you have the steel bases covered (624, 696, etc.) then you can go lightweight. The .44 Specials are consistently tougher to find, so happy hunting.
And once you're done with the S&W .44 Specials, there's always SAAs to start with. 
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03-30-2013, 08:26 PM
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Lew Horton 24-3
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03-30-2013, 08:35 PM
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Not to argue the point or try and convince you otherwise.
Why only .44's ?
Blessings
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03-30-2013, 08:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by williamlayton
Not to argue the point or try and convince you otherwise.
Why only .44's ?
Blessings
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Because you can go from mild to wild & match any other calaber for what ever you need it to do!
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03-30-2013, 09:11 PM
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Well ....
You CAN shoot .44 Special out of these....
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03-31-2013, 12:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mc5aw
Once you have the steel bases covered (624, 696, etc.) then you can go lightweight. The .44 Specials are consistently tougher to find, so happy hunting.
And once you're done with the S&W .44 Specials, there's always SAAs to start with. |
I can't say it any better than that! Model 24, 624, and 21.
Then 4 SAAs including a favorite sheriffs model with 3 inch barrel
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04-04-2013, 06:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KLYDE
TOM,
Welcome to the .44 Spl. club. A large following of fans here on the Forum. A 3" .44 Spl collection means the L frame 696 will be required. That was my first. I just obtained a 624. Many other models such as the 296, 396. All discontinued and becoming very hard to find. Good luck.
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Beautiful weapons !!
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04-04-2013, 06:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilgrim
Lew Horton 24-3
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Just acquired its twin. No box or papers but got a letter from Lew Horton confirming it to be one of the early Special Editions.
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04-04-2013, 06:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhorn1903
Beautiful weapons !!
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Picked up a 95% 624 this week by trading a Kimber Ultra Carry II LG even up. Only had $ 790 in the Kimber.
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04-04-2013, 06:37 AM
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No one has mentioned the model 296; alloy (Bodyguard-like) L frame, DAO, titanium alloy cylinder.
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04-04-2013, 10:51 AM
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There is a 296 for sale here at a lgs, advertised price of 650, not sure I like the looks or I would pick it up, going to look at it today
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04-04-2013, 02:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomhorn1903
Seeking .44 Spl. wheel guns w/maximum 3" barrel
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Aren't we all?
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04-04-2013, 07:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justintyme
There is a 296 for sale here at a lgs, advertised price of 650, not sure I like the looks or I would pick it up, going to look at it today
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I used one while I was at S&WA years ago, when they were still new. It struck me as neither fish nor fowl. How often do you want an L-Frame pocket gun???  On the other hand, it handled nicely and if I didn't have a 396 I'd probably snap up one of those.
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04-04-2013, 07:59 PM
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It sure took a long time for someone to mention the 296. 
A joy to carry and stunning good looks (in a Quasimodo sort of way).
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05-05-2013, 10:20 AM
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Newbie Update
Quote:
Originally Posted by williamlayton
Not to argue the point or try and convince you otherwise.
Why only .44's ?
Blessings
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It stems from the fact that in '94 I bought a 625-5 Classic .45 Colt 1 of 1500 in Grand Junction, CO. After sighting it in and discovering that it shot quarter-sized 5 shot groups at 21 feet I made the mistake of letting my wife shoot it. It is now her "Punkin Roller". She loves wheel guns. That aside, we are getting a bit long in the tooth and she can't rack the slide on quality 1911s so we decided to switch to S&W revolvers. Neither of us is fond of the magnums and .44 Spl. and .45 Colt, especially in +P,have plenty of thump to stop the bad guys.
Update: I received a letter from Lew Horton Distributing confirming that my 24-3 is in fact a "Lew Horton Special". I also have traded a Kimber for a 98% 624 and found a 696 no dash in pristine condition for cash. I'd like to round out with a 396. Still looking. Thanks guys for the great pictures and information.
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05-05-2013, 12:50 PM
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Absent Comrade
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I have no money, but I would just about mortgage my firstborn (if she weren't 48 years old) for a three-inch 24 or 696, preferably the 24. Hell, I might even settle for an early Charter Arms Bulldog!
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05-05-2013, 01:27 PM
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These 2......
will run 44 spedcial's too.
Ned
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05-05-2013, 04:01 PM
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Tom
Welcome to the forum. Don't we just love spending other peoples money??
I'm going to suggest the 329PD,, I know I know it's a .44 Mag. but is probably should be used mostly with .44 Specials & it would be so darn easy to pack. I'd want a nice S&W mod 24 as my first, but I'd sure consider a 329PD for a packing six-gun in the hills....
Enjoy & Please let us know what you do????
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05-05-2013, 05:12 PM
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This is the only 44spl three incher that I own. It is a model 24-3 and wears Bearhug grips. I've been looking for a round butt model but they are hard to come by. I just lucked into the one pictured.
Notice that the barrel is pinned and the square butt is not welded up. Roy says that its not a factory job. Guess somebody wanted a short barreled .44 real bad.
Charlie
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