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

[ABPOS]

Much less shot one. I hear people talk about them not fitting their hands and now I really want to find out for myself. I have medium sized hands. I'm not a tall guy but I've seen bigger guys then me have stubbier fingers. I don't struggle with the trigger on an M9, although if it was much bigger I might.

I do find my model 19 to be a very good dimension.

I only care cuz I've got an expensive rifle up for sale and I said I'd consider partial trades. But the only thing I'm interested in are Smith and Wesson Revolvers. And I got to thinking about what I would like. And of course an M1917 comes to mind or a 38/44.

I also want another J or K frame so there's that. Anyways.....

I've been hanging around here for a while. I only own a Model 19 and a 442. And a detective Special. But I would love to own several Smith revolvers. I don't have a lot of money so even though I'm kind of obsessed with these beautiful guns, I have way less experience than I'd like to. Plus, honestly, in all my range trips, there has not been a lot of people that I run into that shoot Smith Revolvers. The last time I did, a guy had a lot of them but no N frames that I recall.

We don't have many pawn shops around here and I don't think I've ever seen a N frame at my LGS. I guess I need to remedy this situation. LOL. You know, I need to double check my LGS. They have a range there where they rent guns and they carry Smith revolvers. I wonder if they have a 325 or 625 or something to rent. I think they might now that I'm thinking of it.

Can you feel my pain? LOL.

 

[H Richard]

If you have "normal" size hands you should have no problem with an N Frame. I have 38/44's with magna size grips and I actually want them a little bigger, and my 25-2 with Target grips is just fine. I wear a size M glove and the fingers might be a little long in some makes.

 

[KalamazooKid]

I think you need an M28! Semi affordable (if you hurry) and just pure fun to shoot even with 357 mag. Go git you one!

 

[BC38]

I think you need an M28! Semi affordable (if you hurry) and just pure fun to shoot even with 357 mag. Go git you one!

I'll second this. Using an N-frame shooting even the hottest 357 magnum loads is comfortable. Totally different experience than shooting a 357 K-frame

 

[Bosquebass]

I'll second this. Using an N-frame shooting even the hottest 357 magnum loads is comfortable. Totally different experience than shooting a 357 K-frame

I'll agree too. I much prefer shooting full house loads from my m28 than I do from my 586 or m19. A frame that weighs more equals less felt recoil, at least for me.
When you pick up an N frame you know you've picked up a real handgun.

 

[andy52]

I suppose a persons hand size might make shooting a n frame difficult but you would have to have pretty small hands. Personally I wear XL gloves and a size 13 ring and even a n frame with magnas is to small for me to shoot comfortably, service style stocks are just down right painful for me.

 

[moosedog]

You just entered a new dimension.

 

[steelslaver]

The actual grip size difference really isn't that much. Every now and then you will see a picture here of an N frame some one stuck a set of K frame grips on. The grips fit pretty well just the top of the grips don't quite go all the way back on the frame from just below the step in the frame up. Maybe 1/10" The N frames are also about 1/8" longer at the bottom of the frameThe N frame guns are noticeably heftier in the hand, especially the 357s because the smaller chambers and bore leave a bit more steel that the 44s and 45s. But, they do soak up recoil.

Here is a couple threads showing N and K frame grip differences

K Frame Grips on N Frame for Small Hands

Are these K frame or N frame grips? (pics)

 

[Bosquebass]

Here is a set of K/L magna grips on a model 28. It's easy to see the difference in this pic and it's not much.

 

[ABPOS]

I think the big dimension would be from the back of the frame to the trigger. If it's much longer. and also if the standard grips are much wider on an N over K. Although my K with the target grips (which are pretty wide) are just fine.

I would like a 27/28 38/44. But I also have 700 rounds of .45 just sitting there. I think I would enjoy .38 special plus p better though. Normal .38 loads feel like .22's in my 6" model 19. But it's 39 ounces.

You guys are giving me hope though. I don't think I'll have time today or tomorrow, but maybe one time this week I can get in there and see. I should rent one and shoot it. If they have an N frame there.

 

[andy52]

The actual grip size difference really isn't that much. Every now and then you will see a picture here of an N frame some one stuck a set of K frame grips on. The grips fit pretty well just the top of the grips don't quite go all the way back on the frame from just below the step in the frame up. Maybe 1/10" The N frames are also about 1/8" longer at the bottom of the frameThe N frame guns are noticeably heftier in the hand, especially the 357s because the smaller chambers and bore leave a bit more steel that the 44s and 45s. But, they do soak up recoil.

Here is a couple threads showing N and K frame grip differences

K Frame Grips on N Frame for Small Hands

Are these K frame or N frame grips? (pics)

Your absolutely correct about the fit N vs K. Here's a 1950 target that I bought last year that came that way. The price was right and I knew they were the wrong stocks so it didn't matter but you can clearly see they don't quite fit.

 

[Andy Lowry]

I can't get good finger placement on the trigger if the N-frame's grips cover the backstrap. Hogue Monogrips solved that for me. I never thought I had small hands (I can play a tenth on a piano) but I guess they must at least be mediumish.

 

[Bronco89]

Well then. You must. But save your money, cause your going to want one.

 

[CScott]

Well then. You must. But save your money, cause your going to want one.

And then another. And another. And . . .

Ask me how I know this.

Scott

 

[ISCS Yoda]

When you pick up an N frame you know you've picked up a real handgun.

I like that except I'd say you picked up a real BIG handgun! They do soak up full house recoil, that's for sure, but if I had to pick just one "style" frame I'd probably take the L frame - they soak up recoil pretty well, too.

I'm basically a little guy (well, short and fat but the fat part doesn't affect my glove size!) and the stocks on N frames feel just fine. I like to add Tyler Ts to Magnas, anyway, but the jazzy elk on the Model 25 is thicker than standard magnas and is excellent - the .45 has more felt recoil to me than the .357 - maybe that's weird but it is what it is.

 

[gmborkovic]

WHAT! Where have you been. Never held an N frame. You have deprived yourself of a great shooting experience. Go buy a HP and shoot it.

 

[one eye joe]

I think you need an M28! Semi affordable (if you hurry) and just pure fun to shoot even with 357 mag. Go git you one!

THE M28 IS AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE REDUCTION IN FELT RECOIL, WHEN SHOOTING .357 MAGNUM OUT OF AN N FRAME, VS A K/L FRAME, IMHO......

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN, KK.......

 

[misswired]

Don't feel like the 'Lone Virgin' @ABPOS, shot my first L Frame last weekend....Drilled and tapped my best friends m29 waaay back in the Dirty Harry days, thinking back I'm completely puzzled over never shooting it. He still has that 29....I'm gonna have him bring it over sometime and experience the awakening.

ETA: Believe I've misspoken again about the L frame....picked up a 686 a few months ago.

 

[ABPOS]

I've shot a Super Redhawk before. LOL. Now that's a big gun. I've even shot a Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum. Which was easy to handle. But I've never shot an N frame.

I can't recall if anyone has ever offered and I declined or not..... I'm not a big .44 magnum junkie like some people. I find it irritating when dudes give a .44 Magnum to some girl or teenager and laugh when they just about lose it. Or knock their heads. I'm like, that's just not a good way to introduce new shooters. Or get them to like shooting. So I may have shied away from someone like that. I can almost for certain say I've never even seen an M1917 in real life. And .44 special is an anomaly. Not many Hand Ejectors floating around at my range.

You know how it is, a lot of people are all about the Glocks and be like, you're gonna die if you don't learn how to run a Glock and carry a G19 all the time. Blaaaaaa. I'm not saying Glocks are bad guns, I'm just saying revolvers work better for me and my lifestyle. But I digress.....

 

[Trooper224]

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

The mind boggles. How is this even possible?

Be careful, you may never want anything else.

 

[dr. mordo]

IMO the N frame is the ultimate S&W revolver platform. I've been shooting for 30 years, and finally just got a M29 a couple of years back.

My only regret is not getting one sooner.

I've since bought three more N frames, and I will certainly buy more. I'm actually starting to consider selling off my K and L frames to finance more Ns.

 

[Rio Laxas]

Let me save you some time (but not money). It took me longer than it should have to come to this conclusion, but the N frame is at its very best in .44 Special. I collected N frames for almost 10 years before I finally saw the light.

 

[steelslaver]

Plus, the N frames are the land of the big bores. A 44 special, a 45 acp or a factory 45 colt in a N frame doesn't recoil much more than a 158 gr 357 in a K frame. Maybe a "heavier" recoil, but not as "sharp" as a 357 in a lighter gun. A 357 is painful in my J frame magnum and a ***** cat in my N frames. A 41 or 44 mag or warmed up 45 colt in a short barreled N frame can be snappy. But, like all guns, revolvers, shotguns and rifles a bunch of it is about the stock type and fit. My light 325 snub was painful with wood combats and 455acp +p. With the right rubber grips not painful at all.

 

[hkcavalier]

Here's a pic of my 10 year old daughter shooting my 629 with Ahrends round-to-square combats. Sure, she shoots my Kit Gun much better, but she was hitting what she was aiming at. Mild .44 Specials, I'm not trying to hurt anyone.

Grip size seems to be more of an issue with those with large hands trying to make do with J frames and the like.

 

[Iggy]

Don't listen to these people, they are sucking you into an addiction you don't need.

Besides, we don't need another guy grabbing all the good ones before we can snatch them up.

 

[D Brown]

Model 28

You might as well get a Model 28. We all end up there eventually. They're really fantastic guns!

My "pretty" Model 28-2.

My "homely" Model 28-2.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Another vote for the Model 28 or 29/629. Head to the next gun show and pick up a Model 28 HP. Make sure it's tight and mechanically sound, then go have fun. I have "normal" hands and wear Mechanix Fast-Fit medium-size gloves when shooting handguns and rifles. Never had a problem handling N frames with factory wood and Ahrends retro-target stocks, and Hogue rubber. My 629-2 Mountain Revolver round-butt wears Hogue X-frame rubber.

 

[buzz754]

My first handgun was a 6" model 19 bought new in 1976. I didn't know much about shooting or guns then, only that i wanted one. As I learned more about shooting and firearms, I began to think that I missed out on acquiring a "real gun" by not buying a model 27. That became moot after I shot so much factory .357 ammo through that thing that as you might guess, I shot that thing to hell, cracked the cone, it became loose as a goose. Nobody told me they weren't up to it. I lost confidence in revolvers and dumped it for a colt 1911. Over the years I became interested in revolvers again, bought a new colt ds in the early 90's then a new model 10 in the early 2000's. Love them both, and more careful with them. About 5 years ago I came across a sweet 6" model 28-2 at a gun show, bought it, when I got it out to the range and shot it, it finally hit me, this is too damn big and heavy, no wonder they came up with the model 19. I find it hard to imagine back in the day an leo carrying an n frame.

 

[daddio202]

Yep sure sounds like the OP needs a 28 or 2. I do not have particularly big hands and do prefer the feel of K frames but... you got to have some N frames to go with!! Both the magnas and the target grips feel just fine in my dainty hands.

 

[dr. mordo]

I find it hard to imagine back in the day an leo carrying an n frame.

This makes me smile as my primary CCW is a 4" M29. I carry it everyday.