Score! 3-inch N-frame

[BillCa]

I worked a deal with a friend of mine to get a revolver that I missed buying in the '86 time frame.

This will fit into my collection of big bore handguns quite nicely.

S&W Model 657, 3" Barrel, .41 Magnum

 

[BillCa]

I worked a deal with a friend of mine to get a revolver that I missed buying in the '86 time frame.

This will fit into my collection of big bore handguns quite nicely.

S&W Model 657, 3" Barrel, .41 Magnum

 

[bellevance]

Gorgeous pistol, Bill. I love those stocks. Congratulations.

 

[ANGST]

Very nice, would that be a 657 ?

 

[RLingo]

Great find. Those grips really set it off!

 

[ishootblanks]

Score indeed. Nice gun.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

If that was a car it would be a 1960's muscle car...maybe a 427 Vet or such! Beautiful.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Congrats on a Really Nice 657!! Kinda resembles mine. I know the combat grips look cool and are worth big bucks but for me they suck. Have a Hohue monogrip on mine and makes a HUGE difference in the comfort level and actually fit my smaller hands well. Mine is extremely accurate to boot. It is now my winter time carry gun and with 210 gr.Speer Gold Dot hollowpoints is a force to be reckoned with.

 

[Raider]

(almost) Everybody loves 3" N frames. Great revolver.

 

[BADSBSNF811]

When the first 3" 44 magnum reviews were being written, one of the writers said something like "it gives the illusion of concealabilty". I thought that was a pretty good way to describe them.

 

[G-ManBart]

Nice find!

I've never owned a .41Mag, but have always kind of wanted one. I nearly grabbed a really clean one (4" barrel) back in around 92 and still think about that gun from time to time. Love the look with that 3" tube...sweet!

 

[rburg]

Nice guns. I like 'em!

 

[smousefam5]

ALL 3" barreled Smith's are fantastic. They are my favorite barrel length though I only own 2 of them...a 629 and a 31.

 

[Denver Dick]

Outstanding! I'm a sucker for a lovely 3" N frame revovler.

 

[tom turner]

There's just something about those big, chunky old S&W N frames with 3" tubes.

The heft, the power, the handling . . . perfection!

Beautiful find!

T.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Originally posted by BADSBSNF811:
When the first 3" 44 magnum reviews were being written, one of the writers said something like "it gives the illusion of concealabilty". I thought that was a pretty good way to describe them.

I don't. My 3" 629 is easily concealable. With IWB (Summer Special), even a 4" will conceal. Of course, you can't use the same pants you wear for OWB.

 

[RGS]

I favor a 4" barrel but the 3" works about as well. I don't notice much difference in recoil between the two.

Red front sights bother me, so that may be another reason I like the Mountain Gun a little better. There is not much difference in weight between the two.

It is probably sacrilegious but I think about bobbing the hammer and adding night sites and maybe a grooved combat trigger to the 3" 657 once in a while. I might actually carry the thing if I did that. It would be a shame to cobble up a rare gun thou. Maybe someday...

 

[big50_1]

Very nice gun.

 

[mr-k]

BILLCA:

Yep, that is a beautiful Model 657 for sure! Now, when are ya gonna shoot that cannon?

 

[Poohgyrr]

Congrats!

 

[armadillo66]

175gr Sierra jhp over 15gr IMR4227

accurate, easy recoil, low flash
I like the 41 Mag in the "41 Special" power level

 

[wgp]

I had one years ago, sold it. I read that it was a gun for people who want "to make a hole big enough to throw a cat through." I was shooting it at a range one day during the office lunch break so I had on a necktie, and a couple of young local police officers saw the gun and approached me to ask if I was DEA or FBI. I told them no, I was just me. Guess I should have kept it if it had that effect on other people.

 

[David Sinko]

I carry 3" or 4" 625s concealed year 'round, including the 100 degree summers. All you need is the right holster.

Dave Sinko

 

[BillCa]

I'm looking for a reliable supplier of 210g LSWC rated between 850 and 950 fps. I've heard mixed reviews of Miwall ammo. The folks at Ammunition to Go use DPS reloads. Anyone have any experience with them?

Or can anyone recommend a supplier for lower powered .41 Mag ammo?


Now, to comments on your posts...

Yes, it's a Model 657. It is one of the 1986 Lew Horton special models. Grips are original. I may have to find some different ones, but I'll know that after firing it.

Geronimo - 427 vette? Please! If this were a muscle car, it'd be a 426 Cobra!

BADSBSNF811 - It can be concealed, albeit not easily. My neighbor wanted to see it and our townhome garages are close together. I stuffed it into a Don Mernickle N3 holster and covered with a sweatshirt. Neighbor's dad is somewhat anti-gun and he never noticed it during the 30 minute chat we had while his son changed a fan belt for him.

Sportsterguy - The Speer 210 is a heavy hunting load. I prefer the lighter 175g Silvertip as a defensive load with 609 ft-lbs at the muzzle.

G-ManBart - the .41 is not for everyone. Unless you have lots of disposable income for ammo, it's best to reload the .41 instead of buying factory. A mild 210g cast at 950fps will bounce a bowling pin off the table at 15 yds without breaking the bank.

RGS - The red front sight is something I got used to on duty weapons in the 70's. And at my age today, I need all the help I can get to find that front sight!

Mr-K - Yes!

Armadillo +1. The Winchester Super-X 175g Silvertip at 1250fps is fairly mild in my 4" M57. I still prefer the old LSWC "Police" load - 210g LSWC at ~1050 fps from a 6" barrel.

wgp - I had a similar thing happen. I was in a pair of slacks & polo shirt when I was shooting this Springfield 1911 with custom grips. They asked if I was FBI or DEA.

I said "Neither. NSA." That got me left alone.

David Sinko - What N-Frame holster are you using for summer carry?

Thanks for all the nice comments folks. Hopefully I'll have a range report and some photos soon.

 

[wgp]

BillCa -- I wanted to use the old line, "I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you", but since they were armed cops I thought better of it.