Mountain guns

[VaRecon]

I have a stainless model 66, 4 inch, fluted cylinder K-frame.
The barrel is not as heavy as my L-frame 681, but does not appear as obviously tapered as the 1950.
Is this considered a mountain gun?

 

[Broker50]

I have a stainless model 66, 4 inch, fluted cylinder K-frame.
The barrel is not as heavy as my L-frame 681, but does not appear as obviously tapered as the 1950.
Is this considered a mountain gun?

No..................................

 

[VaRecon]

Only reason I ask is the half lug gives it the same appearance.
The answer, at least, is appreciated.

 

[Broker50]

Only reason I ask is the half lug gives it the same appearance.
The answer, at least, is appreciated.

The half lug was standard on 66's, but with a heavy barrel. Most "Mountain Guns" are N-frames. The only 357 Mtn Gun is the L-frame 686+.

 

[celticfisherman]

Doesn't the Mountain Gun designation just date back to the mid 80's? Or when did they actually start calling them MGs?

 

[one eye joe]

Here's 3 examples. From left to right a 686+, a 629, and a 625 in .45 Colt. All are wearing Ahrends grips.

 

[Broker50]

Doesn't the Mountain Gun designation just date back to the mid 80's? Or when did they actually start calling them MGs?

I could be wrong, but I think the first marked Mtn Guns were in the 90's. Pre-mim Mtn Guns are pretty scarce.

 

[nawilson]

One eye Joe, those Ahrends grips look sharp on those MGs! Personally, I prefer the look of the 686 MG over the standard 686. The half lug reminds me of the old M27. I need to keep my eyes peeled for one.

 

[celticfisherman]

I could be wrong, but I think the first marked Mtn Guns were in the 90's. Pre-mim Mtn Guns are pretty scarce.

I've never been sure.

The question for me comes in when so many 25's and 29's were made that fit the descriptions mentioned. They were just not called Mtn Guns.

But I have always lusted after a 625 Mtn Gun.

 

[Stranglehold]

Here's another example of an early 629-2 "Mountain Revolver". Production was limited to 5000 units in 1989 and it differed from later Mountain Guns by it's hard-chromed forged internals, satin finish, and Pachmayer grips.

Roe

 

[Broker50]

I've never been sure.

The question for me comes in when so many 25's and 29's were made that fit the descriptions mentioned. They were just not called Mtn Guns.

But I have always lusted after a 625 Mtn Gun.

I have two Mtn Guns, a 629-6 44 Mag, & a 625-6 45 Colt. Honestly I think I would prefer the 44 in the std 4" HB. But the 45 Colt is about ideal, I really like it, my 45 is pre-lock, but does have a MIM hammer & trigger, the 44 is an IL gun, but I removed the lock & replaced it with "The Plug". If you're gonna' lust after a Mtn Gun, the 45 Colt is the one to have, IMHO.

 

[one eye joe]

One eye Joe, those Ahrends grips look sharp on those MGs! Personally, I prefer the look of the 686 MG over the standard 686. The half lug reminds me of the old M27. I need to keep my eyes peeled for one.

Thanks for the kind words. Try to find a 686+ MG, no lock, forged parts, 7 shots. I looked for a 625 MG in .45ACP for a long time w/o success. I ended up with a 4" Model of 1989 instead. It's a beautiful revolver, EXTREMELY accurate, and a joy to shoot. I'd still like to have a MG in.45ACP.......

 

[nawilson]

But I have always lusted after a 625 Mtn Gun.

I am a couple of hours north of central GA, but let me know if you want me to keep an eye open for one. It was probably just good timing, but I found three 25/625 MGs within a few months of looking.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I did not realize that the blued .45 Colt Mountain Guns were all that rare. In spite of my misgivings about the damnable internal lock, I bought one new in the box in 2004. Here's a snapshot:

However, that lock and the fact that these guns would show holster wear in time gnawed on me, and I commenced a search for another .45 Colt Mountain Gun, but in stainless. I found it.

This is my idea of the perfect trail gun. It's a 625-6, dating from February of 1996. Note that it has no internal lock, and to boot, it has the traditional hammer-mounted firing pin.

John

 

[Broker50]

I did not realize that the blued .45 Colt Mountain Guns were all that rare. In spite of my misgivings about the damnable internal lock, I bought one new in the box in 2004. Here's a snapshot:

However, that lock and the fact that these guns would show holster wear in time gnawed on me, and I commenced a search for another .45 Colt Mountain Gun, but in stainless. I found it.

This is my idea of the perfect trail gun. It's a 625-6, dating from February of 1996. Note that it has no internal lock, and to boot, it has the traditional hammer-mounted firing pin.

John

Well John, you made me go to the safe & look. I stated in an earler post my 625-6 had a MIM hammer & trigger, it doesn't. They're forged, with the hammer nose firing pin. But the color case hardening doesn't look as good as yours. Mine also has the new style slant cylinder latch. I'm guessing yours has been changed, along with the (at least) front sight. I don't know why S&W put those nearly impossible to see black sights on a gun obviously intended for field carry, not paper targets.

 

[celticfisherman]

I am a couple of hours north of central GA, but let me know if you want me to keep an eye open for one. It was probably just good timing, but I found three 25/625 MGs within a few months of looking.

Man I'll take any help I can get to find one around here that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Nemo288]

Mountain Revolver that's had a little work done on it:

In addition to the ports and fiber sight, it's had the trigger
contoured and polished mirror bright, crane detent lockup,
action job including forcing cone recut. It now wears the 500
Magnum grips. The ports do dramatically reduce muzzle flip
but as a result the gun has more straight back push into the
web of my hand. It was getting painful with the harder rubber
but the 500 grips completely took care of that problem. They
are not a perfect fit but work well.

---
Nemo

 

[Sportsterguy]

HAD a 4" 657 MG that I really liked till I bought a 3" 657. Was great to shoot with light loads, but was brutal with hot magnums. A PAST shooting glove tamed it down though. They make a puusycat out of most magnums. Wish I would have kept it as it was a great shooter and easy to pack.

Nice revolvers guys! Their giving me Mountain Fever

 

[PALADIN85020]

Well John, you made me go to the safe & look. I stated in an earler post my 625-6 had a MIM hammer & trigger, it doesn't. They're forged, with the hammer nose firing pin. But the color case hardening doesn't look as good as yours. Mine also has the new style slant cylinder latch. I'm guessing yours has been changed, along with the (at least) front sight. I don't know why S&W put those nearly impossible to see black sights on a gun obviously intended for field carry, not paper targets.

Sounds like we think alike. Yes, I changed out the front sight for a red ramp type so that it would stand out in the field against any background. Also, as I detest the slant-style cylinder latch, I changed it out with one of the old-style latches. Since this gun is intended for open holster carry in the field, I equipped it with a set of round-to-square conversion Ahrends retro targets. This style of stock gives me plenty to hang onto. All of this plus an action job by Nelson Ford make it as perfect a field gun as I can think of. Handloads with 250-grain semiwadcutters over a charge of Unique that drive them to a little over 1000 fps complete the setup.

John

 

[timpitera]

Would a 396 Mountain Lite (Bite) .44 special be considered a mountain gun