Mountain Gun - defined

ISCS Yoda

ISCS Yoda

US Veteran
Bronze Supporter
Joined
Feb 26, 2013
Messages
8,937
Reaction score
14,567
Location
Dallas, Texas
I'm not sure I can define it. In another thread I said my MG would be my 2.5" 686+. But is that valid? Does a Mountain Gun have to have a longer barrel?

Just what defines a Mountain Gun?

By way of examples, and opening the door to the competition, would a 4" barreled Ruger Security Six or Service Six qualify?

Does my M27 Classic qualify due to the 4" barrel but my snubbie 686+ fails to make the standard at 2.5"?

What about caliber?

Opinions sought - and arguments, diatribes, and assorted haranguing around.

***GRJ***
 
Register to hide this ad
As far as I am concerned, Mountain Gun means a caliber beginning with a "4" and a 4" slim barrel. My 624 (with 4" barrel) would qualify by my definition (even tho' it is not a REAL Mountain Gun) but my 629 (4") with the heavier barrel would not.

As an example, a Model 19 with a 4" barrel meets the barrel standards but NOT the minimum caliber standard. It may well be a "Perfect Packing Pistol" but not a "Mountain Gun".

Understand that is just MY opinion...

FWIW
Dale53
 
a mountain gun is any gun you want to carry into the mountains, mine has been a 3inch 44 model 629 a 4inch 686, etc.. S&W dfines it as a 4 inch tapered barrel in a big caliber
 
  • Like
Reactions: CH4
Dale if your 624 qualifies does the Model 27 and Model 28 ?
Also S&W made a 686 Mountain gun in .357 Mag.
But the Model 19 wouldnt qualify as a MG because of its barrel profile.

1) Round butt frame.
2) Tapered 4" barrel with ejector rod shroud.
3) Target site with Blue Baughman FS blade.
4) Smooth .375 Combat Trigger / .400 Semi Target hammer.
5) Steel frame and cylinder (No airweights)

Optional
6) Chamfered cylinder. (except 686 MG)
7) Rubber grips (except 29-8 MG)
8) Caliber beginning in"4" (except 686 MG)
9) 6 shot N frame (except 686 MG)
10) SS finish (except 29-8 MG)
11) Magnum caliber (except 625 MG)
 
Last edited:
ISCS Yoda said:
I'm not sure I can define it. In another thread I said my MG would be my 2.5" 686+. But is that valid? Does a Mountain Gun have to have a longer barrel?

Just what defines a Mountain Gun?

By way of examples, and opening the door to the competition, would a 4" barreled Ruger Security Six or Service Six qualify?

Does my M27 Classic qualify due to the 4" barrel but my snubbie 686+ fails to make the standard at 2.5"?

What about caliber?

Opinions sought - and arguments, diatribes, and assorted haranguing around.

***GRJ***
Click to expand...

Anyone can call anything by whatever name they like. For example, people often refer to the wooden "handles" of S&W revolvers as grips, when the factory calls them "stocks." Thus, a "grip" is how you place your hand on your pistol, a "stock" is comprised of the wooden (or other material) panels that adorn your particular firearm.

Therefore, a "Mountain Gun" can be whatever anyone wants, but in factory terminology, it is a light barrel magnum caliber revolver with a 4 inch barrel and round butt. I think it sort of takes off from a well-known rifle manufacturer that introduced a "Mountain Rifle" many years ago. That rifle was a light version of the standard rifle, with a tapered barrel designed for more carrying in rugged terrain, while still having a powerful caliber. The "Mountain Guns" from S&W were sort of like that - tapered barrels for light weight and more carrying, yet still powerful in case the need should arise.

So, in the S&W terminology, the only Mountain Guns are the ones S&W makes that are named Mountain Gun.

Are there other revolvers that have some characteristics of an S&W Mountain Gun? Absolutely, but they are not now, nor have they ever been Mountain Guns.
 
All these things that make a mountain gun are just fine. The concept is a great idea. When smith came out with the 329, I bought the first one I saw. I've been lugging a 4" 629 for years and simply fell in love with the packing deluxe. A full size 4" 44 magnum at 26 oz, what's not to like. This is my mountain gun.:D
 
Calling your Ruger a Monutain Gun is as accurate as calling your 686+ an Alaskan

Muley Gil is pretty good, but Engine49guy really has it close with the exception of limiting the blue Mountain Guns/Mountain Revovler to the 8th engineering revision of the model 29.

The first blue Mountain Gun that I recall is the 6th engineering revision of the model 29 back in 1995. It was the SWCA's 25th Anniversarey revovler and it shipped with wood conversion grips.

swca.jpg


There have also been blue model 25 and model 57 Mountain Guns over the years.

25-625mg.jpg


57mgs.jpg
 
Sweet SWCA Anniversary edition that meets Mountain Gun criteria but would you call the the 629-2 "Mountain Revolver" a Mountain Gun?

Although it meets the criteria and is the grand daddy of the MG it is technically not a "Mountain Gun" .

Its those little rule changes by S&W that makes it frustrating,

I kinda agree with Shawn Mccarvers description except it isnt always "a light barrel magnum caliber revolver" considering they made them in 45acp and 45 Colt ,
Also while they are lighter than their SB wide rib contemporaries no Airweight Mountain gun frames have been produced suggesting that light weight is not the most important factor in a MG.
 
What happens if I carry 625 on a hill or in a deep valley? is it still a mountain gun?
 
Engine49guy said:
I kinda agree with Shawn Mccarvers description except it isnt always "a light barrel magnum caliber revolver" considering they made them in 45acp and 45 Colt.
Click to expand...

Oops. . . I completely forgot about the piddling little .45 ACP and .45 Colt cartridges. LOL

While those are not "magnums," in name, both are formidable. I should not have neglected them.

Sorry about that! :)
 
Dale53 said:
As far as I am concerned, Mountain Gun means a caliber beginning with a "4" and a 4" slim barrel. My 624 (with 4" barrel) would qualify by my definition (even tho' it is not a REAL Mountain Gun) but my 629 (4") with the heavier barrel would not.

As an example, a Model 19 with a 4" barrel meets the barrel standards but NOT the minimum caliber standard. It may well be a "Perfect Packing Pistol" but not a "Mountain Gun".

Understand that is just MY opinion...

FWIW
Dale53
Click to expand...

Agree with THIS^^
 
My 629-2 has ALL the features of a mountain gun, but no "mountain gun" etching on the barrel.......is it still a mountain gun ? 4" 44Magnum, round butt.

 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Lipsey's Mountain Guns??
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
Beju
B
A
New 686 Mountain gun
2 3
Replies
42
Views
2K
Harry Callihan
Harry Callihan
J
Which 357 revolver is next?
2 3
Replies
43
Views
2K
jackmoineau
J
D
Thinking about a 629... New Lipsey's MG or used pre-lock???
Replies
9
Views
653
TAROMAN
TAROMAN
G
4.25" 69 vs 4" 629 Mountain Gun
2
Replies
39
Views
3K
SFury79
S

Latest posts

Back
Top