Does anyone carry a N frame SS for carry? I have been thinking about a PC 629 2.5 or 3, whatever it is, for CC. I did a search and didn't find anything.

Yes. I have a 625-4 3" .45 ACP on my hip right now. Depending on what caliber I'm working with at the time I might carry a 624, 657, 629-2, 29-3, or a 625-7 in .45 Colt (all 3").

A loose fitting shirt cut straight across the bottom covers a 3" nicely.

Whenever I feel the need for 'deep concealment' however I sometimes carry a 66-1 or a semi-auto of some kind in a pancake holster.

Why on earth would you want a 40+ ounce N-Frame for CC? The 44mag is a horrible CC weapon nowadays. There are just too many far better CC solutions in both revolver and pistols.

Sir

I am with you on this. I carry a 625 3 inch in the winter in 45 ACP. I am beginning a project to cut down a 1917 Brazilian 45 acp for CC carry. Of course I am 5 foot 10 inches and 200 pounds so I can conceal pretty good. I usually carry a Colt Combat commander or a S&W airweight in the summer in a IWB holster.

Kelly

Model 657 3" .41 Magnum in Milt Sparks holster...carries fine.

Hmm...that sounds suspiciously like an opinion disguised as a cold hard fact.

If you're using top quality leather - holster and belt- why not carry an 'N'? They must be top notch and should be from the same maker.

Your leather makes all the difference!

I've got a holster right here on my desk marked S&W for a 3 " 629.

I carry a 28-2 H/P 4" 357 all the time in a cross draw holster. But hey that's me. Use whatever trips your trigger if you are happy with your choice that's all that matters really.

26oz. of 44 magnum goodness, will disappear in good leather.

That's beautiful!

Sir,
I think you have great taste.

Well let's see...Maybe you want 44 or 45 caliber? Maybe it fits your hand(s) better than smaller guns? Maybe you prefer 6-shooters to 5-shooters? Maybe if you carry a 357 Magnum you want to actually carry a 357 and not +P 38 Specials like so many do and the weight of a M-27 or M-28 allows you to really control full power loads? Or just maybe we who actually do carry N-frames didn't get the memo from the experts like you that we weren't supposed to! Yea, maybe that's it.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

One word..........Nightguard

I now carry a 649 in a paddle holster. I may try my 3" 24 in a Galco Combat Master though because I shoot so well with it. The 3" 24 is lighter and handles better than my 4" 27 which I open carry cross draw in the field.

I carry my 4" M28-2 a lot in cooler weather under a sweatshirt. Have also carried my 4" M57, my 4" M27-2, my 4" M624 and my 5" Heavy Duty. I got a really nice IWB holster from Ray at Lobo Gunleather. He's a Forum member, and the workmanship is superb. Don't tell Ray I said so, but his prices are unbelievably low.

Check out his website and I'm sure he'll have something that will work.
Jim

In addition to the 3" Model 657 seen above, I'll carry a 4" 629-4 .44 Magnum or a 27-3 .357 Magnum on occasion. N Frames fit my hand well, I shoot them pretty well, and I just plain like them. If you can conceal an N-Frame, why would you not carry one?

BTW - I don't understand why dla dislikes the .44 magnum cartridge. It is extremely versatile, and is a very effective self defense round. Short of a rifle, the .44 does a credible job.

Been carrying Nframes concealed for....oh, I think it's 36 years now, in every possible caliber. Why do it? A bunch of reasons, but mostly BECAUSE I WANT TO!

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Even older, even crankier....

I've found one 329 NG. You bought the one I was hoping for .....lol

My words exactly.

The N Frames are carryable in good leather. I have a 625-3 Power Custom Combat with 3" barrel that I carry in a Lobo Pancake.
I also have about the ultimate N Frame Concealed Carry Revolver the 2.5" barrel 310 Night Guard. Also carried in a Lobo Pancake.

I carry my 4" Power Custom 610 some also. Again in a Lobo Pancake.

Bob

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ICORE MO2908

Yes, when it is loaded to it's potential it is quite the round. But when it is downloaded it is no more than a bulky, heavy .357mag or 45acp.

I like the 44mag and I shoot it a lot. But I have other carry weapons that are far superior to a 6 shot N-Frame.

I CC my M21-4 with no problem.....



But I like .44 SPl......

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I don't want to argue but 44 Spl. in a 44 Mag. are like shooting 38's in a 357. This potential BS I've heard before. It's shot placement. There's no magic bullet. It's just like real estate, location, location, location. I was trained at Glynco, (FLETC) to shoot 2 to the center mass and one to the head. I've ALWAYS qualified expert master. My last in service I shot 300/300. You shoot a man twice in the chest with a 44 and one to the head he won't care what he was killed with. I like the option of carrying 44 Spl. for quicker follow up shots. If I need a Mag round all I have to do is load it up. I'm not carrying it for bear or Bambi. If you haven't looked around lately things are getting worse in our society and they are NOT going to get better. If you feel safe carrying a 22 or 9mm and can hit with it that's fine. Massad said to carry the largest caliber you can hit with. I've carried 9mm to 44 Mag.. I don't trust a 9mm, but that my opinion. Fear the man that has only one handgun. He'll be good with it.

This is good reading for anyone wanting knowledge on ammo. Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

Yes, as has been said for as long as men have been slinging projectiles at each other, placement is the key (ask Goliath about that!). Additionally, handguns are notoriously ineffective for immediately stopping a fight. I was always trained to use my sidearm to fight my way to a rifle or shotgun.

Back in 1964 there just weren't too many options for a CC-piece.

Here are a couple pictures showing the physical size difference between an ideal CC weapon (Kimber Pro Carry) and a 4" N-Frame 44mag. BTW, a fully loaded S&W329pd weighs the same as the fully loaded Pro Carry. But most folks here have been talking about 29's and 629's which weigh close to 50oz loaded. Anyways, hope this helps some noob keep from being duped into thinking a steel 44mag is a great concealed carry weapon.

BTW#2 - most of the 44Wimpy loads advocated on this board are the same energy as the 45acp.

M-325 Night Guard (45ACP) works for me.
The XS Big Dot Tritium front and Cylinder and Slide rear are a bonus for a well placed first shot.

First I carried a ruger redhawk in 44mag with a 7 1/2" barrel at night on my motorcycle in the cold temps. During the summertime I carried the redhawk with a 5 1/2" barrel. I buy the big and tall longer shirts to cover the longer shoulder holsters. I have a shoulder holster for my ruger super Blackhawk in 44mag with the 10 1/2" barrel too. I also carry a s&w m58 w/4" barrel in 41mag in nickel finish(CCW). I have a lined shoulder holster so I can CCW carry the 5" thru 6 1/2" s&w n frames too. We don't want the finish hurt. Just make sure the holster is soft or lined.

I carry a 325PD 2.5" barrel, Trijicon front sight and C&S fixed rear. Basically a Nightguard with a Ti cylinder.

i carry a 657 3" concealed more than anything else...and have for years...

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

dla,

You are entitled to your opinion as are we, but statements like "an ideal CC weapon (Kimber Pro Carry)" are just opinion. After carrying one model or other of Colt 1911 for all of my LEO career, and for over 15 years after I retired, I find the arthritis in my hands (swollen knuckles) makes it impossible for me to practice and shoot them any morel. So a revolver now works better for me and a Kimber Pro Carry...not so much.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Dave you are dead on. Arthritis is one of the hardest things I deal with daily. I too carried 1911's or later P-220's in 45acp. I'm selling my Ed Brown Korba Carry due to the sight radius being too much for my aging eyes. Whomever said that these were our golden years had bad vision and mistook rust for gold.

Thank you for your service.

My hands (and wrists, and arms) are fine, and I can shoot everything up to 454 Casull (from a 7.5" FA) without pain.

But my eyes are becoming a problem.

I can focus on the rear sight, the front sight, or the target -- but only one of the three at a time.

I think I'm going to look for a gun that I can put a scope on, and try that.

Dave

I have a 3" 629, which rides comfortably in an OWB pancake holster. If concealment is an issue, then I have a Sparks VM2, which is also reasonably comfortable. A .44M is probably not ideal for EDC, but recommended for hiking in the Pacific Northwest.

The cylinder tends to ride on top of your hipbone, so your beltline doesn't sag as much as with a pistol.

Attached Images

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IMO an N frame is not a ideal carry gun but it can be done it requires a very good holster & belt.
24-3 3in. Elpaso holster.

S&W governor daily carry here. It's all in what you want. Me, I like variety and the Gov happens to shoot as good as my old 325PD, and can shoot a few more rounds.

my 625-9 45 colt mountain gun is my edc in a simply rugged pancake just wear an untucked t shirt works great . i like the fact that with my carry gun i can hit something from 0-100 yds which makes me feel better even if it may never matter.

Yes sir I know what you mean. I've got a pancake for a 3" 629 on my desk right now. I just don't have anything to put in it yet.

I've never been swayed by the know-it-all enthusiasm of Glock fanboys, Kimber fanboys, 1911 fanboys, or any other semi-auto fanboys. I shoot revolvers almost exclusively, and I shoot them well. If given the choice between a .45 ACP (1911 or otherwise) or N-frame for CCW, I'll go with the N every time, without question. Doesn't matter to me .44 Special or Magnum, .45 ACP or LC, I prefer revolvers to semis, especially in larger calibers. And I won't ever be presumptuous enough to tell someone what the BEST carry handgun is ... that kind of thing is amateur hour foolishness. Sell whatever you want, but sell it across the street from me.

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I'm with the banned ...

zig, I'd LOL if it wasn't so true! Thanks for putting a smile on my face this morning while I wait for the prescriptions to take hold.

And thanks for your service as well, brother!

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

My normal urban carry is a five inch 1911 and a spare magazine. For rural areas, I often switch to a Glock G20 SF 10mm and two spare magazines. I often conceal carry a four inch 29-2 .44 magnum and two speed loaders when I am in remote rural or wooded areas where cougar or black bear encounters are possible. When I was working in areas where brown bear or moose encounters were possible, I conceal carried a five inch 460V X-Frame. I have also conceal carried my Desert Eagle 50 AE and two spare magazines to win a bet with a LEO friend who said it couldn't be done. People can conceal and carry much more than they think. Ya gotta wanna!

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U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

An N frame revolver in steel is a heavy revolver, but not unreasonably so. A 3" 629 weighs about 48 ounces loaded, approximately the same as a steel 1911. The revolver is thicker than the 1911, but not hard to conceal with the right grip (round butt) and holster (pancake or IWB).

You need a good reason to carry a .44 Mag, and bear country is such a reason. I've been getting used to mine, using a Sparks VM2, in anticipation of a trip to the Pacific Northwest. .44 Spl loads are generally lighter than shown for .45 Colt, but pushed to 900 fps would pack a lot of wallop without a lot of recoil. I suspect the .44 is going to gain popularity as more places adopt magazine limits, even for the mean streets.

I wouldn't recommend an N frame for .357 Mag. The 686 L frame is perfectly proportioned, and relatively easy to shoot even with hot magnum loads. It weighs about 40 oz, loaded with 7 rounds.

I carry the 329 PD 4". I made an IWB similar to the Crossbreed supertuck. I forget I have it on. It weighs nothing.

I would. An N-frame capable of shooting 8 rounds of .357 Mag can be a great alternative to a semi pistol in states like NY and CA where magazine capacity is limited.

While this is a bit gussied up it's the first high ride rig I made for my 24-3. I really like carrying that and my 624, and my 2.5" 629-8 Backpacker. I've found since buying the Backpacker I really love the 2.5" barrel length for carry but it's not THAT much of a difference. A thick belt and holster is not really a question in the equation.

I don't carry with the wood grips (put on Hogue rubber for that) but I have learned to CC this .41 very comfortable. As was stated earlier, just a large button down shirt and I have no issues. I'm 5'-10" and 165lbs.

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Have carried my 3" 624 in this Lobo holster.

Will admit, however, that my first pick is now a Colt Lightweight Defender .45 in a Lobo IWB holster.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Zigstar

Back to your original question. Yes a number of us carry an N frame CCW. If I can wear a wool vest or jacket, I can conceal a N frame. A holstermaker I really like is Simply Rugged. Simply Rugged Holsters ? Holsters, Gun Belts, Ammo Pouches and Accessories Rob makes his version of the pancake with inside out straps that allows concealed carry of N frames. The inside out straps allow IWB carry & the belt slots allow OWB carry. I use his holsters a lot. A good holster will go a long ways towards packing an N frame all day.
If you choose a .44 Mag, consider loading it with a heavy .44 Special. There are several on the market Buffalo Bore & Double Tap are a couple of the best.
Good luck, let us know what you decide.

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US RIDE FOR THE BRAND OR LEAVE

Thanks to everyone for all your help..

Heres my take on it:
Revolvers are my first love, and I'm pretty good with em'.
I've carried everything from a S&W Mountain Gun to a 642. They all have a place, for me.
Carried that MG in a Mitch Rosen pancake, on a Beltman gunbelt. Held it all up with a pair of Perry suspenders. Surprisingly comfortable. Certainly comforting.

Some of us have the option of open carry or concealed carry, so an N-frame would definitely make sense in open carry. In fact, if I find the right .38-.44 Heavy Duty, I'll probably OC it.

BTW, comparing semiautomatics to revolvers in an attempt to show that semiautos are superior for concealment doesn't tell the whole story. There are no straight lines in nature, including people who tend to be lumpy. This means that another lump won't be as noticeable as an unexpected straight line to the casual observer. I usually carry a 3 inch Model 13 and a Model 37 when I conceal and have concealed a 4 inch Model 686 without looking like a hunchback.

FWIW, I've seen lots of other semiauto fanboys claim that the "antiquated" M1911 platform is HARDLY the ideal concealed carry platform, even when it's made by Kimber.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36