Info please on 624, 696 and 657

[sonny]

I am looking at a NIB 624 with 3" barrel. The cylinder is kind of short, as the barrel rear sticks further through the frame compared to the 29. What is the length of this 624 cylinder, and what is the max load I can shoot thru it? I was hoping for 240gr cast @ 1000-1100 fps, even though I'll shoot 800 fps target loads most of the time.
Several of my options are the 696 (5-shot) and the 657 3" or 4" .41 Mag, al guns in 3" or 4" barrel length.
Your advice is appreciated.
Sonny

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Sonny,

All the 24/624's have the shorter cylinder that was standard on the earlier .38/44's . You can actually run loads (in .44 special cases) that are equal to near the top of the list for .44 magnum loads. The steels are exactly the same. The frames are too. The only diference between the two are, as you pointed out, the cylinder length, and the fact that the barrel sticks into the cylinder window farther on the 24/624 due to the shorter cylinder.

I am not advising you to use .44 magnum data.

I am simply pointing out that the two models are very similar, except for cylinder length. Elmer Keith developed the foundation for the .44 magnum using .44 special cases in the stronger revolvers available to him at the time.

In the .44 special, a load of 7.5-8 grains of Unique with a 250 grain cast bullet will run around 950-1000 fps from a 4-6" barrel, while 17 grains of 2400 with the same bullet will get you right at 1200fps. Both loads are with standard primers, an are easy enough to locate in reliable sources.

 

[Dale53]

I have a Model 24, and two 624's as well as the new Ruger .44 Lipsey Special. The "Skeeter load" of 7.5 grs of Unique is a DANDY. Quite powerful and yet the recoil is within tolerable limits.

The Keith load of 16.5-17.0 grs of 2400 giving 1200 fps in a 6½" barrel is about all I want in the way of recoil in that rather light revolver. However, it will take any deer in the country if you do your part.

Another beautiful thing about a .44 Special, is if you use the same bullet, it will hit at the same point of impact regardless of velocity clear out to and including 100 yards (I regularly shoot a light target load, the medium load, and heavy load) and as long as I use the same bullet {in my case it is either the Lyman 429421 Keith or the H&G #503 Keith} any of the three loads will hit the same point of impact. That is a VERY useful characteristic for a field pistol. Your gun is always sighted in regardless of the load... That will NOT happen with your .44 magnum or .45 Colt.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Jimmymac46]

Dale53 makes a good point. Varying loads in the same revolver that shoot at the same point of aim without sight adjustment is a blessing. One of the finest rounds every devised, the 357 magnum, is perhaps the worse when it comes to consistant point of aim with mixed ammunition. A 125 grain 357 at 1200-1300 fps, will print extremely low if the gun is sighted with even 158 grain bullets, regardless of velocity. Basic law of physics.... the bullet is gone before the barrel has time to rise from recoil. That is the primary reason I have for years found one good load for my 357's and stuck with it for all my guns.

The larger bore revolvers seem to handle different weight bullets without dramatic changes in point of aim. The 44 special is a great example, with one of the reasons being less of a range in velocity compared to the lighter and faster 357. I also believe barrel length is factor in elevation changes.

One final note. I have said this in other threads, the 696 is not a gun to loaded with 'magnum' 44 special rounds. It was designed for compact carry, with modest Skelton type rounds, 7.5 grains of unique with a 429421. This is about the best and max round in this gun, IMO. It is also more that sufficient for personal defense. Want hotter, stick with an 'N' frame 24/624 or better yet, a 29/629.