Anybody Switch from N Frame to L Frame?

[kbm6893]

I really like the 28-2 I just got. Looks basically new. I owned a 686 a few years ago but haven’t handled one in a while. Of course, I own K frames so the grip size is same as L frame but certainly not the feel due to the added weight of the L Frame.

I handled a 4” 686 the other day. It did feel better in my hand than the N Frame does. Might have been the grips since the 686 was wearing rubber Hogue’s, but the overall balance and feel of the 686 was better for me. The 28 looks classy but it also looks and feels “more clunky” to me. Doesn’t feel bad to me, just more unwieldy.

Since the N Frame was built for the .44 magnum, is it overkill for a .357?

 

[OKFC05]

Everybody needs a 4" 686, IMHO.


The answer to your last question depends on whether you are shooting it or carrying it at the time.

 

[grinner]

Since the N Frame was built for the .44 magnum, is it overkill for a .357?

If it is only 6-shots, like the the model 28: yes.

But for an 8-shot .357 Magnum: No. you won’t get that in a k-frame or L-frame.

 

[1sailor]

Are you sure you got that right about the N frame being designed for the .44 Magnum. Wasn't the N frame introduced with the .357 Magnum years before they ever dreamed of the .44? I'm pretty sure the N frame was chosen for the .44 because it was robust enough but was originally for the .357.

 

[dr. mordo]

I went the opposite way. My 686 PC lives in the safe, my 3" M629 gets carried every day. IMO the N frame is the ultimate S&W revolver platform.

An L frame only weighs something like 4 oz less than a N, so there's not much actual benefit, and for some reason L frames seem to have unnaturally heavy triggers no matter what springs you run in them.

Also, if you manage to find a square butt N frame (unlike my 629) and equip it with magnas and a grip adapter (I use BK grips), they have the most comfortable grip of any revolver that I have found.

 

[kbm6893]

Are you sure you got that right about the N frame being designed for the .44 Magnum. Wasn't the N frame introduced with the .357 Magnum years before they ever dreamed of the .44? I'm pretty sure the N frame was chosen for the .44 because it was robust enough but was originally for the .357.

I thought the .44 came first.

 

[rct269]

Ah you youngsters-------all about the gun--nothing about the history---nothing on target anyway.

So, for any and all who care one way or the other, the N frame appeared in 1908---the .44 Hand Ejector First Model (also known as the Triple Lock----far and away the finest revolver ever made by S&W---or anybody else). And not surprisingly, it was preceded by other large frames; albeit of the "top break" variety.

Bottom Line: Large frames for large cartridges---more power calls for more strength---more strength comes from more iron.

Next Bottom Line: Should you ever be so fortunate as to get your grubby little paws on a Triple Lock, take it apart and sit and stare. It will be akin to a religious experience-----or maybe sex.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I switch from an N from to an L frame all the time. The one thing that gets me is the reach.
It's easier for me to DA (double action) an L frame than the N frame. As I have to have the webbing of my hand higher up closer to the hammer on an N frame. On the L its usually in the middle of the grip(round part of coke bottle).
I have large (size) hands and have had a firearm instructor watch me shooting an L, telling his class of 4 the way I had gripped my L WAS IN THE INCORRECT MANNER. I'll admit, I do grip the L's incorrectly. But after a few shots, he also told his class, " yeah, but he's hitting the target good so he could leave it alone...."
So, I guess I shoot all my N's in the correct manner. With the webbing higher up towards the hammer; but my preference lately has been an L.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[kbm6893]

Ah you youngsters-------all about the gun--nothing about the history---nothing on target anyway.

So, for any and all who care one way or the other, the N frame appeared in 1908---the .44 Hand Ejector First Model (also known as the Triple Lock----far and away the finest revolver ever made by S&W---or anybody else). And not surprisingly, it was preceded by other large frames; albeit of the "top break" variety.

Bottom Line: Large frames for large cartridges---more power calls for more strength---more strength comes from more iron.

Next Bottom Line: Should you ever be so fortunate as to get your grubby little paws on a Triple Lock, take it apart and sit and stare. It will be akin to a religious experience-----or maybe sex.

Ralph Tremaine

I thought so. I know that J Edgar Hoover requested S&W make a stronger round for his agents that were shooting mostly .38 with I guess some .45 ACP. He wanted something that could penetrate the solid car doors of depression era gangsters and supposedly would crack an engin block on their getaway cars. I seem to recall the very first registered magnum with serial number 00001 was presented to him. It has never been recovered. Wonder where that gem is? Would be worth a fortune.

 

[1sailor]

Huh, what year was the .44 Magnum introduced. The OP mentioned the N frame being designed for the .44 magnum (not .44 special or 44/40) which I thought came much later than the .357. Isn't that why the .357 is referred to as the "original" magnum? I thought the actual .44 Magnum didn't hit the market until the 50's.

 

[kbm6893]

Huh, what year was the .44 Magnum introduced. The OP mentioned the N frame being designed for the .44 magnum (not .44 special or 44/40) which I thought came much later than the .357. Isn't that why the .357 is referred to as the "original" magnum? I thought the actual .44 Magnum didn't hit the market until the 50's.

Someone will chime in. But what’s the difference in 44 special and magnum? I’m not the expert on this but if a 44 magnum is the same size as a 44 special but just loaded hotter, the size of the original N frame wouldn’t need to be changed, and if it was beefy enough to handle to magnum then no changes would have needed to be made.

I’m sure some minor changes took place, though.

I just checked. You’re right that technically the 44 mag came after the .357. But the 44 special was way earlier than the .357 mag. Elmer Keith experimented with his own hand loads of a .44 special and created it.

Still, I don’t think the N frame changed much to accommodate the magnum. So I think the .357 mag used the existing .44 frame to accommodate the new hot round.

 

[rct269]

NOPE!!

I thought so. I know that J Edgar Hoover requested S&W make a stronger round for his agents that were shooting mostly .38 with I guess some .45 ACP. He wanted something that could penetrate the solid car doors of depression era gangsters and supposedly would crack an engin block on their getaway cars. I seem to recall the very first registered magnum with serial number 00001 was presented to him. It has never been recovered. Wonder where that gem is? Would be worth a fortune.

I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I've been told by a source I trust as much as much as my own eyes that J. Edgar's Magnum is alive and well----and cherished. So what does that mean---cherished? It means the owners more or less recently declined an offer of $200,000 for the gun----and subsequently declined another offer from another source of $250,000. I guess that means it's NOT FOR SALE!!---at least not right now---nor anytime soon----so stop calling!!!

And as an aside, the REGISTRATION NUMBER (not the serial number) of the first Registered Magnum is 1----as in "REG 1". I don't know what the serial number is---I reckon it's in the book. I also reckon it's in the later 46000 neighborhood of the N frame series which it (the 357) shared with all its kinfolk.

Ralph Tremaine

And as an aside, the .38 S&W Specials that were proving to be ineffective against the bad guys' cars and vests was improved upon (by Elmer Keith and Remington), renamed the 38/44 S&W Special High Speed, given a nice new S&W N frame gun (commonly known as the 38/44 Heavy Duty)---and put paid to the problems. In accord with the time honored wisdom of "Some's good, more's better, and too much is just right.", S&W kept on keeping on----and VOILA!!---the .357 Magnum. For those of you in the numbers crowd, they go like this: Regular everyday .38 Special---870 fps, 288 ft. lbs., 38/44 Special High Speed---1,175 fps, 460 ft. lbs. Sounds just like Elmer, doesn't it??!!

 

[1sailor]

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.

 

[kbm6893]

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.

Yeah. I saw I had it reversed. Didn’t feel like going back and editing it at the moment.

 

[kbm6893]

I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I've been told by a source I trust as much as much as my own eyes that J. Edgar's Magnum is alive and well----and cherished. So what does that mean---cherished? It means the owners more or less recently declined an offer of $200,000 for the gun----and subsequently declined another offer from another source of $250,000.

And as an aside, the REGISTRATION NUMBER (not the serial number) of the first Registered Magnum is 1----as in "REG 1". I don't know what the serial number is---I reckon it's in the book. I also reckon it's in the later 46000 neighborhood of the N frame series which it (the 357) shared with all its kinfolk.

Ralph Tremaine

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).

I’m a member of the CMP forum. Elvis Presley’s issued M1 Garand is out there somewhere, they say. That would fetch big bucks too.

The local cop who was involved of the shooting of Dillinger, and supposedly just fired after the FBI agents already took him down, his family sold the revolver he used for big bucks.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I'd be hard pressed to choose one over the other till the end of time. They each have their niche's. Fortunately there is plenty of room in the safe and range bags to accommodate both.

 

[rct269]

TALK ABOUT A NIT PICKER!!!!

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).

I’m a member of the CMP forum. Elvis Presley’s issued M1 Garand is out there somewhere, they say. That would fetch big bucks too.

The local cop who was involved of the shooting of Dillinger, and supposedly just fired after the FBI agents already took him down, his family sold the revolver he used for big bucks.

J. Edgar's Magnum carries an 8 3/4" barrel-----not just one quarter----unless it shrunk some.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Warren Sear]

...(blah, blah, blah)... Bottom Line: Should you ever be so fortunate as to get your grubby little paws on a Triple Lock, take it apart and sit and stare. It will be akin to a religious experience-----or maybe sex.

Ralph Tremaine

Hahahaahahaha!!! Not even close!

 

[ABPOS]

I went the opposite way. My 686 PC lives in the safe, my 3" M629 gets carried every day. IMO the N frame is the ultimate S&W revolver platform.

An L frame only weighs something like 4 oz less than a N, so there's not much actual benefit, and for some reason L frames seem to have unnaturally heavy triggers no matter what springs you run in them.

Also, if you manage to find a square butt N frame (unlike my 629) and equip it with magnas and a grip adapter (I use BK grips), they have the most comfortable grip of any revolver that I have found.

I think it's all relative. I personally think 4 ounces with your arms pointed towards a target 90 degrees from your body means it feels like 4 pounds difference. I feel that way about long guns too.

My 6" model 19 doesn't balance anywhere near as nice as a 4"er.

And as far as L frame trigger, that comment made be go waaaaah? Every 686 I've fondled new in the store had a pretty darned good trigger. WAY better than J frames. Which I probably have the most experience with. I do not have really any experience with N frames though. So you may actually be correct. But comparing a J frame to 586/686, it's no contest. L frame wins all the way.

And to all who say everyone needs a 686, shouldn't it be AFTER you have a model 10? LOL.

 

[HamHands]

I've never swapped my beloved "N" frame for an "L" nor do I think I ever would. I love ALL SMITHS and certainly love the "L" frame as well. But my vintage/Lew Horton Special 3" barreled M29... it's the ****! When I absolutely cannot risk printing I'll swap the "N" for a pair of "J" frames, front pocket and rear pocket and have on several occasions. That said, I do find myself on the hunt for an M69 if I ever come across one that isn't astronomical in price!