Model 24-6 "Classic" Questions

[75Vette]

Patience.....

 

[75Vette]

I think I'll bring my M24 into the LGS. I'll hand the gun to the owner and ask him to try to put a 44 Mag in it. I'm curious.

But even if it fits, I'll limit my loads to the lower side of 44 Spl +P.

I just tried last night and my 24-6 swallowed the 44 mag whole.

 

[GunarSailors]

I just tried last night and my 24-6 swallowed the 44 mag whole.

Interesting...

 

[CTI1USNRET]

I think I'll bring my M24 into the LGS. I'll hand the gun to the owner and ask him to try to put a 44 Mag in it. I'm curious.

But even if it fits, I'll limit my loads to the lower side of 44 Spl +P.

I just got back from the gun shop. The 44 Mags dropped right in.

So I called S&W about it. I asked whether I had a 29 mismarked as a 24.

He said no. He said the gun was marked and sold as a Model 24 44 Spl. That the chambers are wrong. He said that the legal department prevented him from saying whether or not it was safe to fire mags in it because the barrel is marked '.44 S&W Special CTG'.

But we did discuss the frame, cylinder, barrel, and forcing cone. They're the same in both models.

The only discrepancy is that the chambers do not match the cartridge marked on the side of the barrel.

I asked if there would be a product safety recall. He didn't think so.

I told him that I was going to stick to Specials. He said he shoots 38 Specials in his 357 Mag all the time.

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So he left it up to me.

I think I've got a 44 Mag. I'll stick with 44 Spl +P in it. Many 29 owners do the same thing.

 

[BigBill]

My lgs had the only NIB s&w n frame was a 6 1/2" m24 for $750 about two years+ ago. It was the last nickel n frame he had and I caved in. It's all about the nickel finish. The 44 special isn't a caliber I was looking for at the time.

The barrel isn't the same as my m29-10. The m29-10 is thicker material. The m24 barrel looks similar to a 357 mag barrel thickness wise.

 

[eTripper]

This is my only 3" bbl. S&W, an unfluted 610:

 

[BigBill]

That nickel finish is freaking awesome.

S&w puts the darker colored wood grips on the nickel revolvers. I just ordered some black walnut grips for mine.

 

[kilowatt3]

I just tried last night and my 24-6 swallowed the 44 mag whole.

Saw your new M24 on the other thread, Mark. Wow! Beautiful!

I fit-tested .44 Mags in mine over the weekend. They wouldn't quite let the cylinder close, although it was real close! So close that at first I thought that it was indeed cut for Magnums. I probably could have forced it, but wasn't about to try!

I don't believe my chambers are cut a full 1/8" shorter than a .44 Mag - more like 1/32" shorter or thereabouts.

I guess it's just possible that they really are Magnum-length, but got enough lead shavings from the box of Specials I put through it that it would no longer chamber a Magnum. I had not cleaned it in between shooting the Specials and trying to chamber the Mags. I'll have to clean it well and double-check that.

 

[75Vette]

Kilo, clean 'er out. The cylinder closes on mine easily.
Are you an electrician by trade?

 

[Engine49guy]

...The barrel isn't the same as my m29-10. The m29-10 is thicker material. The m24 barrel looks similar to a 357 mag barrel thickness wise.

While the .44 Magnum was introduced with a wide rib heavier barrel than the 44 special there are purpose built 4" tapered barrel .44 magnums known as "Mountain Guns".




Kinda figured the .44 specials built today were most likely the same frames as the .44 magnums as it just wouldnt make much sense to build small runs of weaker 44 special frames when the 44 mag line is up and running.

The biggest difference was the longer 44 mag cylinder with corresponding shorter forcing cone length and that the 44 mag/357 mag frames supposedly received some sort of additional heat treating making them stronger....

AS the factory confirmed the new 24 and 29 frames are the same its really a mismarked tapered barrel Model 29 IMO.

 

[75Vette]

Engine, I don't think it's mismarked, it's done intentionally by S&W to distinguish between the spl and the magnum. Everything else is the same. Another way to save a buck. The older 624's and 24-3's all had shorter cylinders that would only take the spl round.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I would say you got a dang nice revolver at a good price! I bought the 6 1/2 inch in nickel when they first came out, love the tapered barrel and dislike the new target grip, swapped out grips and all is well. The nickel on mine was a bit cloudy here and there but cleaned up nicely with a bit of Flitz. Mine is a great shooter with 250gr Keith's. Now about the whole .44 Mag chambering in this critter, I never thought about doing it but now I will have to check, wont shoot em out of it though.

 

[kilowatt3]

Kilo, clean 'er out. The cylinder closes on mine easily.
Are you an electrician by trade?

Ooops!

I just realized I'd failed to answer your question. I am an Electrical Engineer + ham radio operator, making me a "sparky" twice over, I guess.

On topic - The M24 is proving to be a really nice shooter! I haven't tried .44 Mags in it again, and probably won't. No real point in it, 'cause even if they fit, I wouldn't shoot them.

 

[chuckr]

What about the 24-9?

Just agreed to purchase one. Is it in the Classic Series? Bluing and wood look beautiful.

Sorry for inserting in this thread. Couldn't find a way to start a new thread.