657-4 Mountain Gun

[Murph12]

I'm new to the forum so I hope I'm putting this in the right place and not breaking any rules.

Anyway, I stumbled into a deal that I thought was very good and ended up buying my first S&W this afternoon. An older gentleman was selling off a large portion of his collection to set up a trust fund for his grand kids before he "kicks the bucket". He had several revolvers but this 657-4 mountain gun chambered in .41 mag caught my eye. I don't really know much about the gun and I was hoping to get some more information here. I understand .41 is hard to come by and a lot of people reload it. He included 230 rounds of ammo and a set of .41 reloading dies with the gun so I do have some ammo to feed her for awhile until I decide if I'm going to get into reloading.

My main questions are:


1) Just how hard is .41 ammo to find?

2) In your opinion is this a good hunting caliber?

3) The original owner put some fluorescent green paint on the front ramp, if I want to remove that what is the best method?

4) Is this a desirable model? What exactly makes it a Mountain Gun?

5) What is the approximate value of the gun? I think I got a good deal but I'm wondering just how good it was.

Thanks for any help or advice you're willing to provide!

 

[arjay]

1 It's not commonplace,but it's not too hard to find.
2 Yes
3 Acetone or mineral spirits
4 Yes.A 4 inch tapered barrel that says mountain gun [emoji1]
5 I'll guess $750
Nice gun !

 

[SuperMan]

You have come to the right place Grasshopper....

You have bought yourself the best of the Mountain Guns...they were made only in 1998 and only a few thousand if that made. They are somewhat hard to find and usually over a grand when you do.

What makes it a Mountain Gun:

N-Frame
Round Butt
4" tapered barrel
Chamfered cylinder
..and because that what Smith called them.

As to the .41 Magnum...welcome to the Cult of the .41. It is the "in between" Magnum as in in between the .357 and .44 and for many of us the best of all...

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/385798-1964-2014-41-magnum.html

Reloading is something you really need to get into regardless of the caliber you shoot but especially so for anything bigger than a .357. The .40+ calibers cost over a dollar a round and can be reloaded for 25 Cents or less. A press and other equipment very quickly pays for itself if you shoot very much at all...

Ammo is available through Midway, Cabelas, GunBroker and many online dealers.

The paint can be removed with anything that removes paint...like paint thinner...just dab on a little at a time.

As to hunting...anything from mice to moose...it is all I use for handgun hunting.

Any help you need getting set up just ask...

Bob

 

[theoneff]

The right time and place and buyer $1200 is not unheard of. I own three MG all but the 657. I almost paid 1250 recently but had to back out. I love all mine, you will too! Congrats, Theo

 

[wyatte]

My 657-4 Mountain Gun is my favorite of all of my revolvers. I think the 41 mag is the perfect caliber for the 4" N frame, particularly in this configuration. I bought mine a couple of years ago from a fellow forum member here. Great gun. wyatte

 

[Smith61]

I am a .41 Magnum fan. I have a pristine NIB M-58 Nickel. I also have a Ruger Flattop 4 & 5/8th" Blackhawk, and 6.5" Blackhawk. Someday I will have a nice M-57 either 6 or 8 & 3/8th". But that Mountain Gun is a grail gun for most of us .41 freaks...
And yes, get a press and shoot that thing!

 

[MM1313]

Not much. Can add that hasn't already been said, I'm waiting on a model 57 mountain gun in 41 mag from gunbroker as I speak. Only difference is mine is blued, you may check out SGammo.com for your 41 ammo, I plan to buy 2 boxes of factory, an the rest I'll handload. You've got a great piece there, congrats..

 

[Dan Christopher]

Very nice gun. And as others have said, reloading is a must for the 41 Magnum.

Enjoy that wheelie!

 

[SuperMan]

I lucked into two many years ago...would be my last Smith if it ever came to that.



Just got these Herrett S&W Classic Round To Square grips the other day... Just have a better feel....







The white set are round to square Eagle Hammer....used to have a set of black laminated Miculek grips on the other one...




As some posters have indicated...you could not have done better if you tried...


Bob

 

[SuperMan]

This will give you some more information on .41s. Somewhere in this thread is a list of all the different .41 factory ammo available...

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/173441-unofficial-58-club.html

...and maybe one day you'll be a 58 owner... A 58 and a 657 MG...you would be the envy of every 4T1er....

Bob

 

[ACP230]

One of my regrets is that I didn't buy the .41 Magnum Mountain Gun I had in my hands the year they came out (or the next year.)

It was at Jay's Sporting Goods in Gaylord and the price was around $600. Could have paid it but thought I might find a used one cheaper.
Bad thinking on my part. Never seen another except in pictures
here.

The .41 is a fine cartridge. More oomph than the .357 Mag and
more cachet than the .44s that everybody has. I have used my .41s mostly for bowling pins and steel plates. It does a find job on both. Pins
used to leave the table in a shower of splinters when hit by flat nosed
LSWC bullets in 210, 215, 225 or 230 grains. Have also carried my
M58 while trout fishing in the spring.

Mostly shoot reloads in a mix of brass including StarLine, Winchester,
Federal and Winchester. Easy to reload and bullets are available from
a lot of on-line bullet makers.

 

[horsemen61]

What did you pay if you don't mind me asking please

 

[MDMarauder]

Congrats, Nice looking MG.

 

[Murph12]

What did you pay if you don't mind me asking please

$400 + transfer for the whole package. He has a few other S&Ws I might go back for.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I gave $500.00 for my S&W 657-4 MG in 2008. It was used but unfired.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

2) In your opinion is this a good hunting caliber?

I think it's an ideal cartridge for deer size game.

IINM the .41 Mag was developed in the early '60's to be the ultimate cartridge for Law Enforcement.

 

[Murph12]

I lucked into two many years ago...would be my last Smith if it ever came to that.



Just got these Herrett S&W Classic Round To Square grips the other day... Just have a better feel....

The white set are round to square Eagle Hammer....used to have a set of black laminated Miculek grips on the other one...



As some posters have indicated...you could not have done better if you tried...


Bob

Those grips look great. Where did you get them at?

Does anyone have a holster recommendation? I'm not sure if I want to go shoulder or belt carry. Could those of you that posted pictures of your mountain guns let me know what you use?

 

[DR505]

Murph,

Great revolver at a phenomenal price. I have a couple of .41's and reload. What a great cartridge. I carry mine as a back-up for elk hunting. Very versatile when you hand load your own ammunition. I was looking for a .45 Colt MG a bit back and a friend was keeping an eye out...he came across a .41 MG for $750.00 and never bothered to call me to see if I'd take it. I still curse him every time I see him!

Model 657 with 3" Barrel

Model 657-2 Classic Hunter with 6½" barrel

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have six 4" barrel N frames. The Bianci 111 Cyclone is a cross draw design that works fine for these heavy guns, along with a sturdy belt.

I also have a variety of shoulder holsters by Bianchi, Safariland, and Triple K that I use for these guns. This is a Bianchi X-2100.

This is a Don Hume holster, I do not have it handy to check the model number.

 

[Murph12]

I have six 4" barrel N frames. The Bianci 111 Cyclone is a cross draw design that works fine for these heavy guns, along with a sturdy belt.

I really like this one. Do you ever carry yours on the strongside? These are actually available on amazon and the description says it can be used either cross draw or strongside. How high does the holster ride on your belt?