I just realized I've never even held a N frame.....

keith44spl said:
I started this life with a Colt SAA 44 Special, went to a S&W model 27 357.

Later converted the 357 to 44 Spl. Next came the S&W model 66 357.
Followed be a gaggle of model 19s in various barrel lengths.

Now I'm back, full circle to the N frame in 44s & 45s.

The size and lit'l extra weight (read that as balance) comforts me.

I once built myself a 3 1/2" 45 LC / 45 ACP that carried and shot like a house on fire.......

Looking for pic now,

Found it....

S-W-45-Long-Colt-007.jpg

S-W-45-LC-ACP.jpg


This'n was a handy lit'l three inch 44 Spl.
S-W-38-44-44spl-3-inch-002.jpg


.
Click to expand...


I started out with a 28-2 4" in my duty rig. I can't say that I noticed the weight much as a 21 year old rookie. However, after a couple of years of hearing about the 19s and 66s, and starting to see a few of them around, I had to try them out. Carried them all the way up to when we transitioned to S&W 645s. I never carried an L frame for duty use.

Now, in my old retirement age, I'm getting back into my N frames. I've had several 28s over the years, but somehow let them all go. My current N-frames consist of three in .45 ACP and a 4" 8 shot 627 Pro series. Getting my old 629 4" back next week from a partner who bought it from me a while back. Now, I've got to start my search for another 28-2. I'm thinking I might have to start redirecting my collecting to more N-frames. If I can scrounge up the parts and find a good, old donor gun, I'd like to cobble together a 4" .44 special like Dave does so well. Thanks for the inspiration, Dave.
 
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My wife and I love to shoot our pre-model HP. She has smaller hands than me and it fits both our hands. Loaded with .38 spc, there is hardly any recoil. Kinda like shooting a .22. It handles hot .357 loads very well.
 
"Other than from a collectors perspective I personally don't see the point in a .357 N frame. I find my L frame .357s plenty mild enough even with hot loads."

Well, the N frame .357s were around for 45 years before the L frames appeared. The weight is about the same between the two. The biggest advantage of the L frame is the grip size is the same as the K frame. I personally prefer the N frame .357s. I don't care for the full lug barrels. The only FL barrel I like is the M16-4. I had a 6" M16-4 that shot like a laser.
 
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I won't be snapping up N frames. No worry of that. Money is never a left over deal around here. Maybe once the kids are out of the house.

I don't shoot .357's in my 19. I plan to get some of the old FBI load for home defense. .38 plus P 158 grain SWCHP.

I don't like recoil much at all and I'm not sure I could handle .44 special or .45.... But I sure would like a 1917. Or at least shoot one. But in the end I pretty much plan to just shoot .38 and .38 plus p from here on out. So an N frame might be lost on me. But man I love the way them 38/44's look.
 
ABPOS said:
. . . I don't like recoil much at all and I'm not sure I could handle .44 special or .45.... But I sure would like a 1917. Or at least shoot one . . .
Click to expand...

Reloading gives one the opportunity to load as stiff or as mild as you like, but standard 45 Colt rounds out of an N frame is nothing to worry about. Bigger gun, more weight equals less felt recoil.

If you ever vacation in NE Wisconsin, I am right across the border and you can shoot my N frames all day long if you like.
 
You in da UP?


So I took my first step of remedying the problem. I stopped by my LGS. I was right in the fact that they had an N frame Rental gun. It wasn't a 625 though. It was a 6" 629. Newer model.

This is what I noticed:

It balanced better than my 6" Model 19. Felt less front heavy. This is one of those weird things like some rifles, particularly AR's. Sometimes it's hard to tell how much they weigh because a lot of it has to do about where the weight is.

My guess is the heavier frame makes the 6" barrel not feel as front heavy. Because my 6" 19 feels front heavy and I'm not particularly crazy about the balance.

However, my Model 19's trigger was way better. Despite this one looked to be very very well used. One thing that may have contributed was I was not as crazy about the frame dimension because it had factory rubber grips on it that covered the backstrap. I would like to feel a N frame with grips that don't cover the back strap. But I still think the trigger was heavier. It was interesting because every 686 I ever fondled in there had every bit as good of a trigger as my Model 19's. Even if they were new.

I bet a 4" tapered barrel N frame is one nice balancing handgun.

It also had a wider trigger than my 19's and that may contribute to a heavier feel of the pull. Possibly???? My 19 is kind of weird. Cuz it has a target hammer but my trigger is a thinner, standard type, I think. It's serrated though. I prefer it smooth, like on my 442, but I prefer the thinner trigger, like the 2 I have. Opposed to the thicker one I just tried.



I've seen people say "HP" some on here and I'm not sure what that is. Highway Patrolman? Model 28?
 
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buzz754 said:
I'm not saying that I don't believe that the n frame was carried, I am saying the model 19's becoming the standard for leo duty carry is easy to understand.
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The model 19 did become the de facto duty weapon that patrolmen graduated to for many years. I carried one before I went to a 1911.
There were some large framed individuals that carried M27s, M57s, and M29s, and a few M25s.
 
A brand new N-frame 27-3 was my first revolver. Still have it even though I became a 44 Special nut a long time ago. Although I'll probably never conceal carry an N-frame, they sure are fun at the range. Mine all have nice smooth, predictable triggers that seem easier to control. The sweetest revolver trigger I ever felt was a tuned N-frame. Every shooter should won one.
 
Bacon said:
A brand new N-frame 27-3 was my first revolver. Still have it even though I became a 44 Special nut a long time ago. Although I'll probably never conceal carry an N-frame, they sure are fun at the range. Mine all have nice smooth, predictable triggers that seem easier to control. The sweetest revolver trigger I ever felt was a tuned N-frame. Every shooter should won one.
Click to expand...

I would love to WIN one. :)
 
keith44spl - Who makes those grips in the first and last photos? They are quite nice.
 
Ok. I'll be the contrarian here. I've disliked the N frames I've shot, to the point where I sold my 629 long ago. I wear XL sized gloves but never found the square butt standard wood stock comfortable. I'm fairly recoil insensitive and find my Mod.69 or my X frames to be much more pleasant shooters.
 
I've only recently come to know, hold, shoot, and love the N-Frame S&W revolvers. For most of my life, my dad had a great little Model 10 that I loved to shoot but, this past July, my world expanded.

When I was gifted my grandfather's '41, as-retired (from law enforcement) condition 38-44 Outdoorsman. Besides being a thing of beauty, it shoots so nicely, it has become a range favorite. It even fits my daughter-in-law's small hands pretty well.

I did swap out Gramp's custom target stocks/grips for these Rosewood Combat stocks/grips. I didn't want to damage or deteriorate his old grips. After all, it is a family heirloom.

The K-frame looks a bit undersized, to me, now.

LgPi1Ns.jpg
 
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ABPOS said:
I just realized I've never even held a N frame.....
Click to expand...

I recall that time - far, far, away in a time long ago... But it was an easy remedy.:D Three numbers and a click on GB and this Highway Patrolman was on its way to the AZ.:cool:





... and that started a slippery slope that has resulted in the flight of many N-Frames to the AZ...:eek::eek::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
delcrossv said:
Ok. I'll be the contrarian here. I've disliked the N frames I've shot, to the point where I sold my 629 long ago. I wear XL sized gloves but never found the square butt standard wood stock comfortable. I'm fairly recoil insensitive and find my Mod.69 or my X frames to be much more pleasant shooters.
Click to expand...

That's OK. More N frames for the rest of us!:)
 
I must agree that the N frame is my favorite and the 629 is my very favorite for actual working ,shooting gun but am very partial to a 29 with deep polished blue and engraved as that is one of the top platforms for an artist to show off on .Any of the Ns make great working guns I just like the ease of stainless being out in the weather ect.
 
RKmesa said:
I recall that time - far, far, away in a time long ago... But it was an easy remedy.:D Three numbers and a click on GB and this Highway Patrolman was on its way to the AZ.:cool:





... and that started a slippery slope that has resulted in the flight of many N-Frames to the AZ...:eek::eek::rolleyes::rolleyes:
Click to expand...
If you really want to put the N frame hooks in and set them deep show em one of your engraved Ns .OK ya caught me I just like looking at them.
 
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