Anyone own a 624?

[aterry33]

Saw one of these at the range today. It looks a lot like a 629 chambered in 44 Special, I am wondering if there're other differences as well?

 

[pace40]

Or maybe a 629 is a 624 chambered in 44 magnum?

Both N frames, both will chamber 44 spl. 624 will not chamber 44 mag.

 

[BUFF]

The 624 is the stainless steel version of the .44 Special Target Model of 1950, which predated the .44 Magnum gun and cartridge by 6 years.

While both are built on the target sight, square butt N frame, the 624 has a tapered, slender barrel profile and a shorter cylinder, the cylinder not needing to be as long, as the Special cartridge is shorter than the Magnum.

The 624 is, basically, a lighter, handier, faster handling handgun that shoots a somewhat less powerful cartridge than the 629.

 

[Beaver]

I agree with Buff's last sentence to the word. I am fortunate to have a 4" and 6" 624 and the 6" is probably the sweetest handling N frame I own. I shoot 250 gr. Keith bullets at about 1000fps, (8gr. Unique) and this combo is the bomb. The gun is "lively", for want of a better word. Seems so easy to move/sight/fire. A perfect shooter.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I agree with the above. Another wrinkle is the 629 mtn gun. Unless you hold it side by side with my 624 you can't tell them apart.
24/624 both great guns and shooters.

 

[brokenprism]

With the short cylinder and tapered barrel, the 624 (and 24) mimics the lines of the 27 and 28, a configuration I like a lot. I always wished they had made a stainless 27 -- old style 27 -- and this is as close as I can get to that look in a forgiving finish.

 

[aterry33]

The 624 is the stainless steel version of the .44 Special Target Model of 1950, which predated the .44 Magnum gun and cartridge by 6 years.

While both are built on the target sight, square butt N frame, the 624 has a tapered, slender barrel profile and a shorter cylinder, the cylinder not needing to be as long, as the Special cartridge is shorter than the Magnum.

The 624 is, basically, a lighter, handier, faster handling handgun that shoots a somewhat less powerful cartridge than the 629.

Thanks that is basically what I was wondering. It does look awfully similar to the mountain gun, now that you think of it.

I suppose you could say that the 624 is a MG without the magnum cylinder.. but that is a backwards-looking way of saying it of course

 

[P&R Fan]

I think it was Skeeter Skelton who wrote an article saying that when S&W re-introduced they M24 in the early '80s for a short time they were quickly all sold out. It was supposed to be a limited production run, and many of the buyers were collectors. Seeing the popularity they announced they would make more, which upset some collectors who thought they were getting a limited edition revolver. So they came up with the idea of the 624 in stainless, which would fill the needs of shooters without upsetting the collectors of the M24. Ironically, now the 624 is just as sought after, as it too was a limited edition, and now today they are again making the M24 in the Classics line.
That's the history. I own a 4" I bought about ten years ago and love it. They are great revolvers, and any .44 Spl. is just plain COOL.

 

[bgrafsr]

I have a 624 that had the 4 inch barrel on it. I wanted a heavier barrel, so I bought a 6 inch Model 29 barrel and installed it on the 624 frame. I had to shorten the end of the barrel to get the barrel/cylinder gap I wanted, and then re-cut the forcing cone. It is very accurate and I really like shooting it.

 

[kennyb]

I think it was Skeeter Skelton who wrote an article saying that when S&W re-introduced they M24 in the early '80s for a short time they were quickly all sold out. It was supposed to be a limited production run, and many of the buyers were collectors. Seeing the popularity they announced they would make more, which upset some collectors who thought they were getting a limited edition revolver. So they came up with the idea of the 624 in stainless, which would fill the needs of shooters without upsetting the collectors of the M24. Ironically, now the 624 is just as sought after, as it too was a limited edition, and now today they are again making the M24 in the Classics line.
That's the history. I own a 4" I bought about ten years ago and love it. They are great revolvers, and any .44 Spl. is just plain COOL.

i have a 24-3 4"that shipped in oct.1983...it's so dang pretty i haven't shot it yet

 

[Joed49]

I own both, 2 624's and a 24-3. They have almost a cult following. Own one and you better be into reloading though, .44 Spl ammo isn't easy to come by anymore.

 

[Allen-frame]

I was fortunate to find a 6 1/2" 624 a couple of years ago.
Very cool gun ,light and quick even with the long barrel.

 

[Kevin G]

Posted this photo not too long ago.
Targets from a session w/the 24-3 grace my fridge door.

 

[BKDinTexas]

I have a 624 that had the 4 inch barrel on it. I wanted a heavier barrel, so I bought a 6 inch Model 29 barrel and installed it on the 624 frame. I had to shorten the end of the barrel to get the barrel/cylinder gap I wanted, and then re-cut the forcing cone. It is very accurate and I really like shooting it.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......................

 

[DON1937]

I have a 624 no dash with a 6"bbl.....seems so much lighter than my 629. I like the graceful lines of the tapered barrel.

 

[Dale53]

Here is a picture of my 624's:

6½" barrel:

Here is the 4" barreled one:

The .44 Special is a most practical round. I mostly shoot the Skeeter load (7.5 grs of Unique behind a Keith 250 gr cast bullet). It shoots extremely well and offers a very useful power range.

Dale53

 

[sw282]

si...............

 

[twistedracer]

I have a lew horton 624 like the one at the top center of Kevin G. picture. A real sweet shooter, a real keeper. My dad says if I ever sell it, it goes back home to him (he can keep on dreaming).

 

[inFALable]

I have a 624 4" and and 24 4". I bought them in 2000 and 2001 for $375 and $420. They are prized guns in my collection for sure. The 24 is especially accurate and loaded with 15.5 grains of 2400 with my 250 Keith and Veral's blue soft it truly produces no barrel fouling.

 

[Shooting4life]

Just purchased a 624 lewd horton in 3 inch. Love the gun, fells great in my hands

 

[Speedo2]

Something else to be aware of with 624's is that there was a recall on the earliest production models due to some non-spec bar stock that had been used on at least one(1) 624 cylinder. The recall was to verify the proper alloy, from which following a successful outcome they would be shipped back to the owner with a red circled "c" stamped on the original box. I don't know what happened to any that didn't pass the "sniff test"; from what I can recall there were not many (if any) that had been shipped that failed. There have been several threads posted here on this issue. As others have said, they are great guns nonetheless. -S2

 

[brokenprism]

"Very cool gun, light and quick even with the long barrel."

Can we talk about those long barrels? I bought a 6.5". Will probably have it by end of next week, so I'm really squirming until it gets here. Buying online reminds me of the two-week wait I haven't had to endure since leaving CA 24 years ago. I've owned two Lew Hortons and a 4" I never shot, but I'm really interested in what I can expect from a barrel almost 7" long with a heavy bullet moving at a 'normal' velocity. I'm going to take up handloading just for this gun.

Anyone have photos of targets they're proud of...?

 

[Kevin G]

I've got a 6.5" 24-3 and 2 x 6.5" 624's. I came accross the 2nd 624 at a very good price, a buddy had told me if I ever saw one..... He changed his mind so for the past few years I've been in the sad situation of having two. Haven't felt the need to downsize.
All are equally accurate which is another way of saying I'm the limitting factor.
Seriously, best targets I've shot were done w/these guns.
I load 7.0grs Unique under 240gr plated bullets.
Enjoy, Kevin

 

[Dale53]

brokenprism;

>>>Anyone have photos of targets they're proud of...?<<<

Here is one of mine, shot standing at 25 yards:

The load was a 250 gr Keith ahead of 7.5 grs of Unique (pretty much my standard .44 Special load). This was shot with my 6½" Model 624.

Dale53

 

[bgrafsr]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......................

I know. My passion now is for 4 inch guns, but I no longer have the 4 inch barrel. Perhaps if I find one, I will put the gun back to original. I am not sorry I did what I did though, as it is a tack driver.
Bill

 

[VonFatman]

I like mine...had another 3" but sold it a month or so back.

Bob

 

[brokenprism]

Here is one of mine, shot standing at 25 yards:


The load was a 250 gr Keith ahead of 7.5 grs of Unique (pretty much my standard .44 Special load). This was shot with my 6½" Model 624.

Dale53

That's awesome. 25 yds is a lot farther in reality than it seems to the mind. Most front sights would cover a bullseye that size.

I went to Bear Tooth bullets and saw some variations of the Keith bullet. Any real difference between one Keith bullet and the next, or do we use the term as shorthand for 'heavy semi-wadcutter'?

 

[smiffundvessen]

The Keith designs are specific, but much copied (for good reason). For a great read on the subject: The .44 Special is renowned for being the source of Elmer Keith's inspiration, for giving rise to the .44 Magnum

Many of us use machine cast .430" 240 gr SWCs successfully. I am fond of Midstates' version, but there are many vendors across the land. Generally, the Skeeter load using either a 240 or 250 gr hardcast SWC or Keith style will satisfy most sixgunning requirements.

 

[brokenprism]

Thanks for that link. It was a very interesting read.