Bought a 325 Nightguard - Questions

[ASA335]

Picked it up brand new ($799.00) yesterday at the gun show.

To those of you who have a Nightguard, my questions are:

1. What stock and holster are you using and why?

2. Have you made any modifications and why?

I'm not fond of the stock that came on it (it covers the back-strap of the grip frame); it places my hand too far back, so I can't get a proper finger palcement on the trigger face without misplacing the gun in my hand. The trigger pull is going to have to be smoothed out some. These two are the only concerns I have so far with this gun.

I'm not too concerned with potential recoil issues; I already shoot handguns with hefty recoils (for some), and I'm not particularly recoil shy.

I'm planning on using this gun for defensive carry. Since I live in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, we don't often have really warm weather, so i rarely wear what I would call "light clothing" as someone in the south or southwest might have to consider.

Any help, ideas or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

[carelesslove]

ASA335, carelesslove, here!

I don't have a 325 Nightguard, but I do have a 325 Thunder Ranch Revolver. It, too, is an N Frame Round butt, and I tried several stock combinations, before settling in with the Pachmayr Decelerator.

I have huge mitts and don't have any problems with trigger "reach" - even with stocks that cover the backstrap.

Have you ever tried a pair of the JM's? They don't cover the backstrap and the pair I bought off the Forum were fairly inexpensive and fit the gun great - they just didn't fit my odd hand.

Good luck with the hunt for the "perfect pair". I went through 4 or 5 different pairs, before I tried the Decelerators (which I already had!)

-carelesslove

[Texas1941]

I've carried one for about two years now. So far, it has served me well.

Watch the screws, especially on the rear sight. Mine work loose after 20-30 rounds with out blue loc-tite. Even with the loc-tite, they will loosen after 100 rds or so. Ditto the screw retaining the thumb latch.

I have the original grips in place. I need the extra length the covered backstrap provides, so any replacements would have to have the same feature. I tend to shoot with goodyears anyway.

I have three holsters I use, depending on circumstances. I have a Mernickle that I use for crossdraw, mainly on long road trips. Excellent holster and they provide quick turnaround. I also have a Milt Sparks Summer Special, which is the most concealable of the bunch. It is comfortable and very well made. Any thing you order from them will take six months to be delivered, but they do tell you that up front. I use this holster less than I thought I would, because my right shoulder has turned to...well it doesn't work as well as it should and I have trouble with high ride holsters.

The third holster I use is a SOB made by Lobo and it has become my favorite. There are some safety considerations with SOB type holsters, but they fit my needs at present. The workmanship is first rate and the price is great. Highly reccommended.

Charles

[ASA335]

Thanks for the input!

Any others?

[Sixgun Southpaw]

+1 for milt sparks. I don't have a night guard, but I do carry a n frame.

[NE450No2]

I have a 325 NG. I like it. I have Ahrends non finger groove grips on it.

Recoil is not bad to me at all. I do shoot a lot of 44 Mag however.

A Milt Sparks IWB is the best way to carry IMHO.

[Papa]

I have a 325 night guard and I like it. I have smaller hands and I put a pair of Hogue bantam rosewood grips with finger grooves. I have a galco silhouette and a desantis speed scabbard. Sometime I carry it in my smart carry holster.

[AKAOV1MAN]

No Nightguards, but I have a few 3" N frames. I use the JM grips on one, and Spegels on another, and Ahrends on two more. They are all good grips and each has its good points. I think you should try as many as you can before buying so that you will not wind up like some of us with drawers full of grips and holsters.
For holsters I use Lobo Leathers Tom Threepersons iteration and an "Avenger" model from the same guy, for OWB they are really nice. They also make an IWB model if that is your preference, which it may be with a much lighter gun.

[310nightguard]

Make sure you run 20-30 cylinders of ammo through it to make sure it runs properly before carrying it. The nightguards and scandiums in general in the big calibers have had some issues with failure to fires. Light primer strikes from a short firing pin being the problem.

S&w will replace the firing pin under warranty, but it is a pain.

I have a 327 (.357) and 310 (10mm) that both had that same issue right out of the box- 2-3 failures to fire from each cylinder.

Hope you have better luck than me.

[ASA335]

Again, thanks for the info!

[AKAOV1MAN]

Just another note: For my money you bought the only big bore lightweight worth packing. The .45 ACP load tends to be much more controllable then the .44/.41 magnums in those flyweight guns. If I were to get one of the flyweights in a big bore, it most definitely would be the .45 ACP( add in the fast moon clip reloading and you have a real winner, IMHO).

[jimonfly]

Sorry for the late post, but I just got back to the computer. I replaced the factory grips on my 325NG with the Hogue Bantams, which are shorter and don't print as much under a shirt. Also, the length of pull was too long for me with the factory grips over the backstrap. I also replaced the springs with a lighter set from Wilson Compat and an extended firing pin. After 2k rounds I've never had a problem. i just purchased an extra hammer which I plan to bob and play with a little. For a holster, I use the Galco Summer Comfort. Its actually for a 4" barrel, but it rides up very high with the cylinder above the belt line. I thought about cutting the extra length off, but haven't because it stabilizes it in my belt. Hope this helps.

[bronco45]

Keep that extra bbl length on the IWB holster it will always help to stabilize the gun, and its nice if you get a 4" N frame.