Best balanced N frame ????????

[roaddog28]

For me its the 4". I have small hands and small in stature. I have a model 28-2 4" and love it!

roaddog28

 

[garandman]

So there you have it boys and girls....so far it looks like the 4 inch barrel is the winner for the "best balanced" N frame S&W revolver. Old Elmer keith would be proud. However, I bet the 5" would be number one if they were more common.

 

[user]

PC 627-5; 5.5" barrel, .357 mag.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

gun 4 fun, If I am not mistaken, the barrels S&W are making now for current model 24-6 are cut to fit magnum cylinders. This would make a custom 29 with tapered barrel more affordable to achieve. I am not shure they are rated for magnum pressures though. But I would bet they aren't changing their manufacturing process between the 24-6 barrels and the barrels of 29-8 mountain guns that came out a while back. Heck if you could live with the lock, you could just get a current production 24-6 and and get a 29 cylinder fitted to it.

I could, except that I want one with the old style of rifling. The new EDM rifling isn't quite as accurate generally as the cut style with cast bullets.

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

The 6 or 6 1/2 inch barrels balance equally well for me.

 

[Grayfox]

A 5" works for me. A tapered 5" is even better.

 

[n4zov]

I like to feel of the 6 and 6.5" guns and especially when lining up on the target. To me the feel is more than just holding it in your hand but how it feels getting the right sight picture and squeezing a round off.

 

[SuperMan]

For me, with an N-Frame, it depends on the butt (round or square) and the barrel (tapered, Magnum or full underlug) combination...

#1 would be the Mountain Guns...Round Butt with a Tapered Barrel.

#2 would be that standard 4" barrel with Square Butt

#3 would be the Square butt with 5" tapered barrel like the M27.

Change any of the above, like a M28, slim Mountain Barrel with a square butt, and it no longer balances for me...

The only full underlug barrel that ever balanced for me was the 625 4" .45 ACP...none of the other calibers or barrel lengths did.

Bob

 

[j38]

This one would have to be at, or near the top of my list - a 4" post-war HD.

Regards,

Jerry

 

[Engine49guy]

For me, with an N-Frame, it depends on the butt (round or square) and the barrel (tapered, Magnum or full underlug) combination...Bob

My favorite N frame is a Lew Hortin 24-3 with 3" barrel and RB combat grips .
It just feals the most balanced and comfortable.

Compared was,
Model 24-3 round butt 3" barrel with combat grips.
Model 29-3 round butt 3" barrel with combat grips.
Model 28, Square butt 4" barrel with target grips.
Model 27, Square butt 3.5" barrel with Magnas.
Model 29-3 Square butt 6" barrel with target grips.

 

[jcelect]

Long barrels

This is very subjective. IMO, it depends on the stocks. With large, target style grips, I believe a longer barrel feels better JMO

+1

By balance do you mean steady to hold for long shots with less muzzle jump from recoil with hot loads. Not to mention, a real deer slayer!

jcelect SWCA#723

 

[Lefkiguy]

My pick...

Having gotten used to 6.5" and 4" Smiths, when I picked up a 27-3 with the 5" barrel, I felt it had the best balance for me.

 

[Joe Kent]

Put down my vote for the 4in. HD's or 3.5in. 27's.

 

[akjaeger]

I always felt that mountain guns had the best balance for me.
But I just bought a NIB 26-1 and now I think I have to shoot it.
The 26-1 is a .45 Colt with a 5" tapered barrel, basically a 5" mountain gun with a square butt. I think only 800 were made in 1988.
The thing handles like a dream, I just wonder how much that first shot will set me back?
As soon as I have enough time to do it justice, it's going out back to the range.

 

[David LaPell]

As much as I though the best balance was my 5-inch Model 27

I really think the best balanced N-frame revolver were the older Triple Lock revolvers with their 6 1/2 inch barrel. I also remember my old 6 1/2 inch Heavy Duty was the same as well.

 

[minuteman]

4 in Model 28, magna grips.

 

[Brian41]

Model 27 in 5 inch for me. Second choice in all around handling, carry and balanced shooting is 629 3 inch.

 

[Sgt Neutron]

For me it's this one here:

629 Classic with 5" barrel.

 

[4inch357]

27 with a pencil barrel, anywhere from 3.5" -6.5". Like them all about the same.

 

[stevieboy]

I'm very partial to my 4" 27-3.