N frame for carry ?

In addition to the 3" Model 657 seen above, I'll carry a 4" 629-4 .44 Magnum or a 27-3 .357 Magnum on occasion. N Frames fit my hand well, I shoot them pretty well, and I just plain like them. If you can conceal an N-Frame, why would you not carry one?

BTW - I don't understand why dla dislikes the .44 magnum cartridge. It is extremely versatile, and is a very effective self defense round. Short of a rifle, the .44 does a credible job.

Yes, when it is loaded to it's potential it is quite the round. But when it is downloaded it is no more than a bulky, heavy .357mag or 45acp.

I like the 44mag and I shoot it a lot. But I have other carry weapons that are far superior to a 6 shot N-Frame.
 
Yes, when it is loaded to it's potential it is quite the round. But when it is downloaded it is no more than a bulky, heavy .357mag or 45acp.

I like the 44mag and I shoot it a lot. But I have other carry weapons that are far superior to a 6 shot N-Frame.

I don't want to argue but 44 Spl. in a 44 Mag. are like shooting 38's in a 357. This potential BS I've heard before. It's shot placement. There's no magic bullet. It's just like real estate, location, location, location. I was trained at Glynco, (FLETC) to shoot 2 to the center mass and one to the head. I've ALWAYS qualified expert master. My last in service I shot 300/300. You shoot a man twice in the chest with a 44 and one to the head he won't care what he was killed with. I like the option of carrying 44 Spl. for quicker follow up shots. If I need a Mag round all I have to do is load it up. I'm not carrying it for bear or Bambi. If you haven't looked around lately things are getting worse in our society and they are NOT going to get better. If you feel safe carrying a 22 or 9mm and can hit with it that's fine. Massad said to carry the largest caliber you can hit with. I've carried 9mm to 44 Mag.. I don't trust a 9mm, but that my opinion. Fear the man that has only one handgun. He'll be good with it.

This is good reading for anyone wanting knowledge on ammo. Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo
 
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I don't want to argue but 44 Spl. in a 44 Mag. are like shooting 38's in a 357. This potential BS I've heard before. It's shot placement. There's no magic bullet. It's just like real estate, location, location, location. I was trained at Glynco, (FLETC) to shoot 2 to the center mass and one to the head. I've ALWAYS qualified expert master. My last in service I shot 300/300. You shoot a man twice in the chest with a 44 and one to the head he won't care what he was killed with. I like the option of carrying 44 Spl. for quicker follow up shots. If I need a Mag round all I have to do is load it up. I'm not carrying it for bear or Bambi. If you haven't looked around lately things are getting worse in our society and they are NOT going to get better. If you feel safe carrying a 22 or 9mm and can hit with it that's fine. Massad said to carry the largest caliber you can hit with. I've carried 9mm to 44 Mag.. I don't trust a 9mm, but that my opinion. Fear the man that has only one handgun. He'll be good with it.

This is good reading for anyone wanting knowledge on ammo. Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

Yes, as has been said for as long as men have been slinging projectiles at each other, placement is the key (ask Goliath about that!). Additionally, handguns are notoriously ineffective for immediately stopping a fight. I was always trained to use my sidearm to fight my way to a rifle or shotgun.
 
Back in 1964 there just weren't too many options for a CC-piece.

Here are a couple pictures showing the physical size difference between an ideal CC weapon (Kimber Pro Carry) and a 4" N-Frame 44mag. BTW, a fully loaded S&W329pd weighs the same as the fully loaded Pro Carry. But most folks here have been talking about 29's and 629's which weigh close to 50oz loaded. Anyways, hope this helps some noob keep from being duped into thinking a steel 44mag is a great concealed carry weapon.

BTW#2 - most of the 44Wimpy loads advocated on this board are the same energy as the 45acp.

sxs_rear.JPG

sxs_top.JPG
 
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M-325 Night Guard (45ACP) works for me.
The XS Big Dot Tritium front and Cylinder and Slide rear are a bonus for a well placed first shot.
 
First I carried a ruger redhawk in 44mag with a 7 1/2" barrel at night on my motorcycle in the cold temps. During the summertime I carried the redhawk with a 5 1/2" barrel. I buy the big and tall longer shirts to cover the longer shoulder holsters. I have a shoulder holster for my ruger super Blackhawk in 44mag with the 10 1/2" barrel too. I also carry a s&w m58 w/4" barrel in 41mag in nickel finish(CCW). I have a lined shoulder holster so I can CCW carry the 5" thru 6 1/2" s&w n frames too. We don't want the finish hurt. Just make sure the holster is soft or lined.
 
dla,

You are entitled to your opinion as are we, but statements like "an ideal CC weapon (Kimber Pro Carry)" are just opinion. After carrying one model or other of Colt 1911 for all of my LEO career, and for over 15 years after I retired, I find the arthritis in my hands (swollen knuckles) makes it impossible for me to practice and shoot them any morel. So a revolver now works better for me and a Kimber Pro Carry...not so much.

Dave
 
dla,

You are entitled to your opinion as are we, but statements like "an ideal CC weapon (Kimber Pro Carry)" are just opinion. After carrying one model or other of Colt 1911 for all of my LEO career, and for over 15 years after I retired, I find the arthritis in my hands (swollen knuckles) makes it impossible for me to practice and shoot them any morel. So a revolver now works better for me and a Kimber Pro Carry...not so much.

Dave

Dave you are dead on. Arthritis is one of the hardest things I deal with daily. I too carried 1911's or later P-220's in 45acp. I'm selling my Ed Brown Korba Carry due to the sight radius being too much for my aging eyes. Whomever said that these were our golden years had bad vision and mistook rust for gold.

Thank you for your service.
 
My hands (and wrists, and arms) are fine, and I can shoot everything up to 454 Casull (from a 7.5" FA) without pain.

But my eyes are becoming a problem.

I can focus on the rear sight, the front sight, or the target -- but only one of the three at a time.

I think I'm going to look for a gun that I can put a scope on, and try that.

Dave
 
I have a 3" 629, which rides comfortably in an OWB pancake holster. If concealment is an issue, then I have a Sparks VM2, which is also reasonably comfortable. A .44M is probably not ideal for EDC, but recommended for hiking in the Pacific Northwest.

The cylinder tends to ride on top of your hipbone, so your beltline doesn't sag as much as with a pistol.
 

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IMO an N frame is not a ideal carry gun but it can be done it requires a very good holster & belt.
24-3 3in. Elpaso holster.

 
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S&W governor daily carry here. It's all in what you want. Me, I like variety and the Gov happens to shoot as good as my old 325PD, and can shoot a few more rounds.
 
my 625-9 45 colt mountain gun is my edc in a simply rugged pancake just wear an untucked t shirt works great . i like the fact that with my carry gun i can hit something from 0-100 yds which makes me feel better even if it may never matter.
 
Yes sir I know what you mean. I've got a pancake for a 3" 629 on my desk right now. I just don't have anything to put in it yet.
 
I've never been swayed by the know-it-all enthusiasm of Glock fanboys, Kimber fanboys, 1911 fanboys, or any other semi-auto fanboys. I shoot revolvers almost exclusively, and I shoot them well. If given the choice between a .45 ACP (1911 or otherwise) or N-frame for CCW, I'll go with the N every time, without question. Doesn't matter to me .44 Special or Magnum, .45 ACP or LC, I prefer revolvers to semis, especially in larger calibers. And I won't ever be presumptuous enough to tell someone what the BEST carry handgun is ... that kind of thing is amateur hour foolishness. Sell whatever you want, but sell it across the street from me.
 
Whomever said that these were our golden years had bad vision and mistook rust for gold.

zig, I'd LOL if it wasn't so true! Thanks for putting a smile on my face this morning while I wait for the prescriptions to take hold.

And thanks for your service as well, brother!

Dave
 
My normal urban carry is a five inch 1911 and a spare magazine. For rural areas, I often switch to a Glock G20 SF 10mm and two spare magazines. I often conceal carry a four inch 29-2 .44 magnum and two speed loaders when I am in remote rural or wooded areas where cougar or black bear encounters are possible. When I was working in areas where brown bear or moose encounters were possible, I conceal carried a five inch 460V X-Frame. I have also conceal carried my Desert Eagle 50 AE and two spare magazines to win a bet with a LEO friend who said it couldn't be done. People can conceal and carry much more than they think. Ya gotta wanna!
 
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