Anybody Switch from N Frame to L Frame?

[HamHands]

Glad we're all different in likes and dislikes, or it'd be a boring place.
For me, don't have and never intend to jump on the 'big snubbie' bandwagon. Have never seen a use for those that appealed to me.
Large (N) frames seem at their best in the 4" and above range.

If I desire a snub for carrying, it'll be a J or K frame something, not a grapefruit sized revolver with a short barrel.
To fill the niche of smallish .45, I will carry an Officer's Model LW M1911 3". Flat, compact, easy to carry.

So, my eschewing these big shorty's leaves all the more for you guys that love'em!

Thanks for leaving the big shorties to us OC, ahaha! I like a big 3" N frame because it's just damn easy to carry with a decent belt and holster; even better with a great belt and holster. And the difference in velocity between a 3" and a 4-5" barrel is at best about 25-40fps and never enough for me to worry about slinging .44 anything. And the 3" just pulls/presents so well is the other attraction over anything longer.

That said, I like pretty much all "N" frames!

 

[Mrnurse]

Since the N Frame was built for the .44 magnum, is it overkill for a .357?
Your joking right?.... The little extra weight of my 28 is perfect for balance, I have large hands but find the NON Target Stock grips perfect...simply...in my book ... there is NO better wheel gun. Boeing designed the 707 airliner in the late 1950's...they added extra structural support for their new jet aircraft...over built...the AF is still flying KC 135's that DOM 1962.... overbuilt is a good quality.

 

[HamHands]

Since the N Frame was built for the .44 magnum, is it overkill for a .357?
Your joking right?.... The little extra weight of my 28 is perfect for balance, I have large hands but find the NON Target Stock grips perfect...simply...in my book ... there is NO better wheel gun. Boeing designed the 707 airliner in the late 1950's...they added extra structural support for their new jet aircraft...over built...the AF is still flying KC 135's that DOM 1962.... overbuilt is a good quality.

Awesome! I like/love overbuilt too as long as it's NOT, over complicated; Example, I hate working on Jap cars. Taking 5 things off the motor to get to one is F-ing stupid! I made my wife sell her 4Runner for something American. She chose a 4 door 15' Jeep Rubicon on 35's. I can crawl around under the hood in that baby. Overbuilt? Absolutly! The Dana 44's front and back with air lockers a beefy 241 transfer case and chromolly drive shafts... it's hard to break! The same goes for the N frame in .357!

 

[steelslaver]

357 J frame, kinda harsh recoil, K frame is snappy, but OK, no L frame 357. N frame 357s are like a Lincoln Continental, big and comfortable. I got big hands and love N frames, but, with the right grips, except for J frames there isn't that much difference in operating the trigger.

 

[bananaman]

I have 2 L frame revolvers. Have 5 N frames. Depending on what you are doing with them , use & loads, N's are my thing. I primarily just use them at the range. Bob

 

[ladder13]

You may have mistyped your description of the .44 special. The .44 Special is the same diameter but is not loaded hotter than the Magnum. The .44 Magnum can be loaded considerable hotter than the older .44 Special.

Same diameter, but the Magnum case is longer by 1/8 inch or so.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I don't consider the caliber to relevant - caliber shouldn't have any influence on ergonomics. I would get an N frame .22 if it existed.

How many .22 LR chambers do you think S&W could bore in an N-frame cylinder? [emoji848]

 

[ABPOS]

Thanks for leaving the big shorties to us OC, ahaha! I like a big 3" N frame because it's just damn easy to carry with a decent belt and holster; even better with a great belt and holster. And the difference in velocity between a 3" and a 4-5" barrel is at best about 25-40fps and never enough for me to worry about slinging .44 anything. And the 3" just pulls/presents so well is the other attraction over anything longer.

That said, I like pretty much all "N" frames!

Besides being easier to carry on your person, drawing is the other endearing quality of a shorter barreled gun. Drawing a 6" gun is like.... well just a lot longer process than a 2".

I do agree that a short barreled N frame is not really a great carry gun for concealing though. But for the woods a 3" may still be a really good choice. It would be legal for small game in my state. Not Deer though.

 

[chiefbob81]

I switch back and forth every time I go to the range.

 

[RoyM52]

But for the woods a 3" may still be a really good choice. It would be legal for small game in my state. Not Deer though.[/QUOTE]

this could also be considered an advantage. I live in the north where lots of other animals must be considered as you unload any hunting gun because of legal hunting hours. You have yet to leave the woods completely. However a non hunting gun of a decent caliber that is sized to be considered as a self defense Conceal carry can still be loaded {food for thought on carrying a non legal hunting length} The same goes for bow hunting.

 

[Rock185]

I've had several 4" L frames, and and 4" and 5" N frame .357s. Still have one L and one N frame. I could happily go from now on with either, but do prefer the muzzle heavy feel of the L frames. Just go with whichever feels right to you.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

N frame 1908;they weren't called ''N''then.The letter designation came much later.So the N frame wasn't made for the .357 Mag(1935)but designed as an appropriate vehicle for it since it had previously been tested in 38-44 disguise.Altough the later was halfway between the .38 spl and the new kid on the block .357 Mag(which then was loaded ''hot as a train depot stove''as per Skeeter Skelton)S&W saw that the big frame had plenty of meat to handle the steroid boosted .38 spl.
As for OP opinion,I'd say that I know what you mean.I have some Ks,one L and some N frames.The K is kinda light for full house .357(recovery time takes longer than I like).L frame not much lighter than N but so sweet to cycle.But the all forward weight makes for me a gun that doesn't balance well;I like to feel the gun mostly in my master hand;not my support hand.
The N,with the right grip and I put the emphasis on right grip is a joy to behold.While the slightly heavier cylinder needs a little more energy to get arolling,once it starts going around the thing is pure joy.
So all this to say the right grip might just make you really appreciate your 28 like I do mine.

 

[CarmelHP]

You’re right. I looked it up. It’s like 46758 or something with an 8.25” barrel. And a quarter million is low for it. The again, anyone who can turn down a quarter million isn’t gonna sweat at such a low number (to them).
.

According to Smith/Wesson records, the Director's Registered .357 Magnum, is described as: Serial 45768 Reg. No. 1, shipped from the Smith factory and delivered to J. Edgar Hoover in April, 1935. Records reveal it was shipped with 8.75 inch barrel, equipped with a 1/10 inch Patridge front sight, blue finish, checkered walnut grips, with grip adapter attached.

 

[Bacon]

For my purposes, each frame size has it's own purpose.
N-frame is for shooting 44's or 357's all day at the range. My first revolver was a 27-3 but all the rest of my N-frames are in 44.
L-frame is for carrying 44 and 357. I only have a 696 no dash.
K-frame is for 38 in any mode.
J-frame is for carrying 38.
Outside of shooting 357's and 44's in my N-frames I don't see much cross-over.

 

[Dan Christopher]

I have shot and handloaded 44 Magnums for twenty plus years, but lately feel an urge to buy a 357. I am going with either a 19 Classic or 27 Classic. Since it will strictly be a range toy, I am leaning more toward the 27. I may wind up saving my lunch money and buying both! My grandfather had a Model 19, so there's a sentimental attachment to that as well.

 

[daddy bear]

When my agency switched to L frames, late in the revolver era, I did not participate. I kept my S frame 28-2 and had enough rank to get by with it. My excuse, let the troops have the new ones....it worked.

Jack

 

[Black Knight]

Way back in the early 1980s I switched from a 6 inch Colt Python to a 4" S&W 28-2 for my duty weapon as an armed security officer. A few years later I switched from the 28-2 to a 686-1. All 3 were great duty weapons and I still have each. The 686-1 was well balanced and the weight being up front seemed to help tremendously on the range and in the field. Did that weight slow me down any? Not one bit. One night I had to make an arrest at gunpoint and my draw was so fast and forceful my elbow ached 3 days later. The 686 is a great all around revolver on par with just about anything else out there from any manufacturer.