Why own a Model 24?

BigBill · May 15, 2015

Well my lgs had the last brand new m24/6 1/2" barrel in nickel a few years back. It's in the safe sleeping. Dang nickel has me hooked. Plus I want all the 6" & 6 1/2" N Frames in different calibers.

STCM(SW) · May 15, 2015

I haven't taken my M29-2 6" out more the 2 or 3 times since I got a deer with it in 1976.
Now, my M24 -5 target, M24-3, Target 1923 and M21 see more time at the range and hunting it seems.
That bad guy Skeeter caused it for sure...

Chuck24 · May 15, 2015

Cuz it's a Smith, it's a revolver, it's cool, it's blue and I want it!

Engine49guy · May 15, 2015

Great Lazarus Post...
I didn't get it either until I shot one....

The .44 Magnum Mountain Gun has the same barrel profile but is slightly different.

carbone131 · May 15, 2015

M24

The model 24 is a "Shadow of the Past"
A past it is nice to return to.
Believe me.
Own a M24--shoot and reload with cast Bullets.
Enjoy
J. W.

Hondo44 · May 16, 2015

Bohonkie said:
Slugged the cylinder and barrel - Has anyone tried .429 cast bullets (aka .44-40) in one of these? What have you folks found to be a good bullet/propellant combination?

What dimension is "very tight"?

You must mean .427" bullets (.44-40). No I have not. .429 44 Spl bullets shoot too well to try undersize bullets.

240 gr SWC with Unique powder.

Bohonkie · May 19, 2015

Hondo - The bullets I bought from Buff Arms are .429 and are intended for the 44-40, black powder. They have SPG lube and weigh 200 grains. I'm gonna try them. The five different types of bullets I've tried so far measure .431 (standard cast for .44 magnum and special). As for the slugging... I measured the lead slugs again and can't say that this is accurate but the cylinder measures .430 exactly and the bore is less than that. How much? Can't measure it very well because of the odd number of rifling.
As for this thread, might as well ask me why I love my dog. The .44 Special is the finest cartridge ever devised for a handgun and the model 24 is without a doubt the best firearm ever produced to fire it. For years I have wanted one and finally I have one. Second choice (one I'm still looking for) is a 2nd gen Colt, 5.5" or 7.5". Third would be the Colt New Frontier (current "production"). But for the coolness factor, the model 24 is it. I have a model 21 (4") and she points and shoots great but nowhere near as cool as the model 24. I just need to figure out a good load - I know the gun can do better than the one range session I've had with her. Thanks - m

Photog · May 19, 2015

Actually there is NO good reason, so if yours is a 24-3 or before, let me know your address and I will send you a check for $400 and take it off your hands.......

Nemo288 · May 19, 2015

Never, EVER, buy a 44 special revolver!
To paraphrase the old potato chip commercial: "You can't buy just one".
Skeeter got me into the original 624's, then I discovered the L frame jobs which IMHO are built better and shoot better as they have modern throats.
I now have 6 S&W 44 specials and am looking at a couple of others that are different yet.
God forbid I ever start getting into blue steel.

===
Nemo

jtcarm · May 19, 2015

Aside from the well-formed female human anatomy, there are no sexier lines in the world than those of a tapered-barrel N-frame.

The .44 Special on the N-frame is the perfect coupling of cartridge to gun.

The cartridge is powerful enough to handle 85% of six gunning tasks, accurate, and generates as much or more energy with less pressure and noise than the .357.

Give us more!

Frank46 · May 20, 2015

I blame all of you for my addiction to the 44 special. What with your excellent photographs and shooting stories I just didn't have a chance to resist. My first one was a 624 with the 6.5" bbl followed by the 3" 24-3 and last was the 4" 24-3. Got so my wife started going to the shows to keep me in check with my quest for 44 specials. Caught me red handed getting the 3" one and downhill from then on.

I might add that my Ruger Redhawk from which I have shot many times 50 and 100 rounds at a session is now quietly pining away in the safe after my getting the 624 with the 6.5" barrel. The 624 shooting the Winchester 200 grain silvertip bullet is almost like shooting a 38 special without all the bang, and recoil. The stock factory wood grips were quickly replaced with a set of Pachmayer de-accelerator grips. No more bruised finger. No such story to relate with the 44 special. Frank

Bohonkie · May 20, 2015

Hondo - Successful measuring: Bore is .429" on my pre-24 (1955).

Nemo288 · May 21, 2015

Very nice! That kind of answers the original question too.

Only the (relatively) newest one I have (a 696-1) achieves a .429 throat and bore.
I suspected that if you went back far enough one would encounter the proper specs to account for the legendary performance.
I am still looking for the real story of why S&W (and others for that matter) made the 44 throats and bores larger and larger till they reached .433 in the mid 1980's.
All 3 624's have throats about that size and my Redhawk from that era is .432.
Then slowly the throats and bores miraculously get smaller over the next 20 years till we are back to where they should have been all along.

Properly loading cast bullets .433 is not completely straightforward.
I have ended up with 3 different expander stems of increasing size to match the 3 different bullet diameters I stock.
As it turns out the microgroove 444 also likes those big bullets.

I guess I shouldn't gripe too much however as the 45 folks have seen bore diameters all over the map since the beginning.

===
Nemo

Krogen · May 21, 2015

It's the tapered barrel, I tell ya! The tapered barrel!

To me the 24 is just about perfect in its proportions. I have never met one I didn't like.

Hammergun · Nov 28, 2018

You folks are a bad influence. I was already to purchase a mint Model 29-2 4” blued for a fair price to shoot .44 specials in as I don’t care about shooting .44 mags. And then I come across this post and you have drawn me to the tappered barrels of a Model 24. So I have posted an ad in the Wanted Classified and am searching the internet for a blued 4” 24-2 or 3. Thanks for the enlightenment or addiction!

HamHands · Nov 28, 2018

Hammergun said:
You folks are a bad influence. I was already to purchase a mint Model 29-2 4” blued for a fair price to shoot .44 specials in as I don’t care about shooting .44 mags. And then I come across this post and you have drawn me to the tappered barrels of a Model 24. So I have posted an ad in the Wanted Classified and am searching the internet for a blued 4” 24-2 or 3. Thanks for the enlightenment or addiction!

Wait until you start to get into the Lew Horton 3" versions... Then you'll need a "sponsor" to keep you in check!

Not an M24... But my beloved M29-3 Lew Horton Special sure gets it's fair amount of .44Specials thru her. Underwood's 255gr Hard Cast "Keith's" are it's favorite loads! I got it as a result of losing out on 3 separate M24 Lew Horton's on GunBroker. I'm really glad I lost those bids but won this one as .44Spec and .44Magnum are now both my favorite caliber(s) with a slight edge going to the Mag.

Mike SC Hunter · Nov 28, 2018

DCWilson said:
I own .44 Specials because it's America and I can do anything I damn please.

YOU SAID IT BEST..........YOUR RESPONSE IS BEST

Mike SC Hunter · Nov 28, 2018

I am showing these again. No justification needed.........No justification required. What you like or your opinion has NO bearing on mine,.

jack the toad · Nov 28, 2018

Mike said:
I am showing these again. No justification needed.........No justification required,.

What he said...
I just like them (4” & 5”).

Hammergun · Nov 29, 2018

In regard to the shortage of Model 24’s compared to Model 29’s does any body know a smith that can replace the barrel and cylinder on a 29 with a tappered Model 24 .44 special barrel and .44 cylinder and how much that would cost. Is this a mistake in changing a 29 like this.
Thanks
Jeff

Why own a Model 24?

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