CCW/EDC 3" 65-3 .357/.38 or 3" 629 .44Mag/.44Spec which makes more sense?

[cxglock26]

Not sure if this has been asked on the forum before. If so, point me to the thread and I'll go from there. If not, I'd like some opinions if you guys have the time to do so. Okay, I currently have a S&W Model 65-3 in .357 I use as my CCW. I also have a Model 629-1 in 4" that usually is used for the woods, hogs, etc. But I love the power of the .44 so I'd like to start CCW'ing it but the 4" is just too long so I've been looking at a 3". Found a few for pretty decent prices (between $700-$1000). My question is, is it practical to CCW a .44 Magnum over a .357? And I know about all the personal preferences and all and I feel comfortable with both but are there any pros or cons to carrying one over the other? Any opinions or advice is more than welcomed guys. Thanks.

Charlie from Georgia.....

 

[GatorFarmer]

I have carried, variously, a 4" 629 and a 4" Model 58. I would be inclined to figure out how to comfortably carry a 4" N frame rather than spending perhaps a grand to move to 3" N frame.

However, unless feral man eating hogs, errant Sasquatch seeking forest brides, escaped zoo animals, hostile bears, et al are a concern, the .357 Magnum ought suffice.

My wife had a fear of man eating pigs, hence my experience with carrying an N frame.

 

[robertrwalsh]

What do you like better, Ford or Chevy? I do think that the .44 magnum is too much gun in most loadings for shooting people, but the .44 special is outstanding. The weapon size itself may be an issue, as might ammo availability. All things considered, I recommend the biggest, nastiest thing that you can conceal properly, carry for hours at a time and shoot well.

 

[cxglock26]

What do you like better, Ford or Chevy? I do think that the .44 magnum is too much gun in most loadings for shooting people, but the .44 special is outstanding. The weapon size itself may be an issue, as might ammo availability. All things considered, I recommend the biggest, nastiest thing that you can conceal properly, carry for hours at a time and shoot well.

Yes I would probably practice with .44 Mag and .44 special but carry some Hornady .44 specials. And my family is a Ford Truck family. I drive a Toyota Truck though (don't tell Grand-pa)!!!

 

[cxglock26]

I have carried, variously, a 4" 629 and a 4" Model 58. I would be inclined to figure out how to comfortably carry a 4" N frame rather than spending perhaps a grand to move to 3" N frame.

However, unless feral man eating hogs, errant Sasquatch seeking forest brides, escaped zoo animals, hostile bears, et al are a concern, the .357 Magnum ought suffice.

My wife had a fear of man eating pigs, hence my experience with carrying an N frame.

So with all of that said and the pub for the 65-3 you still carried a N frame hahahaha. Classic. Yeah, the .357 is more than enough I would guess for probably 98% of any situation that you're in. I've had a long debate about .357 being able to kill a bear if it's a hot hot load. I just can't see it but some argue me it can.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Concealed carry for 2 legged beasts........ 3" 65....is GTG

Concealed carry for "large 4 legged beasts"...... 12 gage 3" w/ slugs.....LOL

If you can dress around it and handle the weight long term (8-16 hour days) Why not go with the .44 ....

... urban; load and 2x speed-loaders with .44 special. (Dirty Harry specials.... Magnum Force)

.... in the outdoors; 6 rounds of .44 mags for 4-legged beasts backed up by 2 speed-loaders of .44 special for extended encounters with two legged beasts..... and a speed strip of .44magnums in case you have to reload one or two rounds.

 

[cxglock26]

Concealed carry for 2 legged beasts........ 3" 65....is GTG

Concealed carry for "large 4 legged beasts"...... 12 gage 3" w/ slugs.....LOL

If you can dress around it and handle the weight long term (8-16 hour days) Why not go with the .44 ....

... urban; load and 2x speed-loaders with .44 special. (Dirty Harry specials.... Magnum Force)

.... in the outdoors; 6 rounds of .44 mags for 4-legged beasts backed up by 2 speed-loaders of .44 special for extended encounters with two legged beasts..... and a speed strip of .44magnums in case you have to reload one or two rounds.

Yeah I like your thinking. Definitely wanna be ready for both 2 and 4 legged beasts. And the occasional 3 legged beast haha!!!

 

[murphydog]

If you are very determined you can carry a 4" N frame all the time, but if you find that you're leaving it at home because it is too big/heavy you need not feel undergunned with "only" a .357. The 2-3 ounces less with a 3" N frame will probably not change your mind about regular carry, but it is a great excuse to buy a new gun .

 

[STCM(SW)]

This thread needs pic's.

M66 2.5"



M431 SS .44 Spl



M696 3" .44 Spl

 

[smokey04]

I am a dedicated .45Acp/LC,/.44Mag./.44Spl. kind of guy. I have professionally carried a 4" Mod. 29[too heavy and too much power for the urban scene]. the Mod 625 3" is a wonderment but, is heavy and bulky, a 629 Mountain gun and a Mod. 24 3" are near perfect but, in a not so perfect world you would likely find ammo for a .38/.357 Mag. more available than most anything else so, I'm afraid I'd have to opt for a 4" or 6" [preferably 6"] .357 Mag. just for the availability of anything from .38 Wad Target to full house +P+ .357 Mag. ammo.In a "root hog or die scenario" the versatility of the .357 for ammo is hard to beat ,that's my way of thinking. Nick

 

[Biggfoot44]

First off , I will say to avoid the 3in .44 mag. I own a 2.75 , and the drop off in velocity over a 4in is substantial. *If* you are going to step up to a .44Mag , commit to dressing around the 4in bbl, or don't bother.

Yes , it is possable to conceal a N Frame, and there are people who do that. But it will require markedly more care in selection of carry gear and clothing . Another factoid is that a 2.75in .44mag , even with a K frame RB conversion is longer , wider , and heavier than a Four in K frame Sq Butt.

This is a subjective preference , but unless your daily threat profile skews heavily to large dangerous animals, the default rational choice would be the M65 .

 

[CWH44300]

Have you given the alloy guns a look, you can get a full size 4" N frame at 26ozs. They don't make for a good range gun but they excel as a belt gun. With the right holster and belt, a 4" gun is not a problem. I find the regular 4" 629 and the 329 PD make a great pair of handguns, for all around shooting and carrying of a 44 magnum

 

[Snapping Twig]

Hard question to answer. Really a matter for you to decide.

I prefer 44Spl, but I'm not, nor have I ever been a hunter of people.

Reading and effectiveness on game are the measures I go by. Back in the days of the Civil War, bigger was better due to the limitations of black powder. Bigger bullets work better.

Then comes packing the darn thing. I have a 3" 624 and a 3" 629-2 and a 696. None of them pack as well as a 3" 65-5.

Then comes the way they work. In order to make the 357 effective, it has to move fast - and it does.

This leads to recoil and flash and noise. Follow-up rounds are going to be delayed.

44Spl. doesn't have the flash or the big recoil. Noise is lower too.

250g SWC moving @ 850 ~ 900fps is awflully hard to overlook.

 

[cxglock26]

Hard question to answer. Really a matter for you to decide.

I prefer 44Spl, but I'm not, nor have I ever been a hunter of people.

Reading and effectiveness on game are the measures I go by. Back in the days of the Civil War, bigger was better due to the limitations of black powder. Bigger bullets work better.

Then comes packing the darn thing. I have a 3" 624 and a 3" 629-2 and a 696. None of them pack as well as a 3" 65-5.

Then comes the way they work. In order to make the 357 effective, it has to move fast - and it does.

This leads to recoil and flash and noise. Follow-up rounds are going to be delayed.

44Spl. doesn't have the flash or the big recoil. Noise is lower too.

250g SWC moving @ 850 ~ 900fps is awflully hard to overlook.

So are you saying the .44 special is the way to go?

 

[cxglock26]

This thread needs pic's.

M66 2.5"



M431 SS .44 Spl



M696 3" .44 Spl

Those are beautiful. How is that .44 special bud?

 

[cxglock26]

First off , I will say to avoid the 3in .44 mag. I own a 2.75 , and the drop off in velocity over a 4in is substantial. *If* you are going to step up to a .44Mag , commit to dressing around the 4in bbl, or don't bother.

Yes , it is possable to conceal a N Frame, and there are people who do that. But it will require markedly more care in selection of carry gear and clothing . Another factoid is that a 2.75in .44mag , even with a K frame RB conversion is longer , wider , and heavier than a Four in K frame Sq Butt.

This is a subjective preference , but unless your daily threat profile skews heavily to large dangerous animals, the default rational choice would be the M65 .

Yeah I have a model 629-1 in 4" and I like the feel of it. It just seems to be a bit big. I can carry my model 65-3 3" with no problem. I was figuring the 3" in .44 would be the same. I haven't shot one to see the difference between recoils. Thanks for the advice bud.

 

[cxglock26]

I am a dedicated .45Acp/LC,/.44Mag./.44Spl. kind of guy. I have professionally carried a 4" Mod. 29[too heavy and too much power for the urban scene]. the Mod 625 3" is a wonderment but, is heavy and bulky, a 629 Mountain gun and a Mod. 24 3" are near perfect but, in a not so perfect world you would likely find ammo for a .38/.357 Mag. more available than most anything else so, I'm afraid I'd have to opt for a 4" or 6" [preferably 6"] .357 Mag. just for the availability of anything from .38 Wad Target to full house +P+ .357 Mag. ammo.In a "root hog or die scenario" the versatility of the .357 for ammo is hard to beat ,that's my way of thinking. Nick

This is very true. .44 Mag ammo was between $40-$45 a box of 50. .38 is very available and I can find some as little as $16.99-$19.99 a box. .357 is very available as well. I wouldn't shoot the .44 mag that much but then again what's the point if you don't practice shooting it.

 

[cxglock26]

If you are very determined you can carry a 4" N frame all the time, but if you find that you're leaving it at home because it is too big/heavy you need not feel undergunned with "only" a .357. The 2-3 ounces less with a 3" N frame will probably not change your mind about regular carry, but it is a great excuse to buy a new gun .

Isn't it though? I was on the gun auction site and saw prices from $700-$1300 (some V model running at the $1300 price). I was on a couple other sites and from $600 up. The question I do have is the lock versions is the lock active or just for show? I have a pre-lock 4" and I've tried to stay away from the revolvers with the locks.

 

[BobR1]

I live just down the road from Mayberry. My Threat Meter is normally just above the 0 Stop. That said I still carry almost daily. I tend to carry my 38's/357's most of the time. At the moment I have my M15 Combat Masterpiece 2" Snub on my belt. I also have a M10 Snub, a 315 Night Guard, a 3" 66-2, and a 2" 64 on order. I even carry my LCR22 part of the time.

One issue with a Full House Load from a 357 Magnum is the ear splitting muzzle blast. I normally carry the midrange Speer short barrel ammo in mine.

With a Big Bore 44 Special with carry ammo you have plenty of power without the ear splitting noise.

I have a 4" 610 and a 4" 625. They are a little heavy for concealed carry. I can do it, but you know they are on the belt. It seems to me like the weight makes them move around on the belt some. My advive is to find a big bore Night Guard.
I also have a 310 Night Guard, which is an N Frame 10mm. While it is an N Frame, it feels more like a 3" K Frame on the belt. For what ever reason it fells like I am carrying a smaller revolver. This is probably due to it not bouncing around any on the belt.

Just My 2 Cents

Bob R

 

[STCM(SW)]

" How is that .44 special bud? "

My M696 has the best DA of any of my .44's.