Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W N Frames - favorite caliber/favorite configuration?

I'm a long time N Frame fan, and recently got to thinking about which of them I liked the best. Started thinking about what my "perfect N Frame" would be too, in case I don't own it already.

I love shooting .357, 44 Special and 45 Colt out of N Frames.
I like shooting 44 Magnum from the longer, heavy barreled ones, but not 4" or less.

Came to the conclusion that if I had to boil it down to one, I'd have to go find a Mountain Gun in 45 Colt.

And I thought that I'd like to hear back from you all about what you've come to appreciate the most as well, so please post about it here.

Thanks all!

M29 4"

Ditto ^^^^^
Though I shoot lighter loads in mine. Akin to a warm 44 special.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/HUgNPv4.jpg?2[/img]

I have a few N-frame M29s. I also have a M57 in 41 mag and they go together like peas and carrots

I searched many years for a .45 Colt Mountain Gun. Now that I finally have on, it is my hands down favorite

The perfect one started at the start; the 44 Special.

In an N frame it basically can be treated with 41 Magnum loads with 44 Magnum bullets, if needed.
The Magnum is too much of a good thing and the 45 Colt Smiths just never seem to have enough front sight to suit me.

I will say the 38-44 is also vastly underrated. Of the 4 I've been around they all shoot great.

29 Classic DX 5" was a long search. This year I found it.

I've always thought a 4" model 58 would be the ultimate do all go to get it done with style friend on the belt pard someone could have.

I don't have one, so my 4" 29-3 rides the river with me.

The pre-lock S&W Mountain Gun, in 45 acp. Got a lotta ammo to shoot in 45 acp and use heavier cast bullets in 45 auto rim.

Wish I also had a Mountain Gun in 45 Colt, but I dallied too long to get one and they're a bit too pricey for me now.

Jerry

4" 29.

The 5" barrel on an N Frame is perfection.

Long enough to take advantage of the sight radius, with better recoil absorbing recoil properties than the 4". After shooting literally thousands of rounds through both 4" and 5" I can definitely tell the difference in terms of recoil between the two shooting the same loads BTW.

Plus the 5" barrel is short enough that you can still wear it in a strong side, belt portable holster and have it be comfortable and practical.

The caliber can be .44 or .45. Most my experience is in .44s, and they have been fantastic.






This is RJM52's 5" Model 27 that he had converted to a 5" .41 Magnum and it is an extremely sweet chunk of iron.





Note the skinny barrel:



As far as I am concerned the 5" N Frame is the ultimate barrel length. I could be happy with either a .44 or .45, as long as it is properly set up, though .45 Colts often need some work to make sure the chambers are all identical. But once that is done, and you have a real shooter, you are all set.

BTW,

I have yet to see a .44 Classic/Classic DX that was not an absolute tack driver.

Another vote for a 4" 29 or even 629

627 8 shot .357 is my current N frame

Had 629 mountain gun

Sold it during the Obama recession

Made the house payment though

629 Classic Hunter 6"

Model 29, six inch.

I've only had one N-frame that I shot especially well, a 6" M-28. It was my first S&W, and I shot it really, really well. I've had other N-frames, a 25-2, 24-3, a couple of M27s that didn't thrill me, and a new M27 4" that I bought last winter. It's only "okay". N-frames don't seem to fit my paws very well, I shoot a lot better with L or K frames.

I'd LOVE to have my first old M28 6" gun back, though, it was a really nice shooting gun.

Mine still has to be the 657. I had a six inch for a while but sold it after buying the 4 inch MG.

Got one of those, myself. Very cool gun.

My mistake to leave out the .41 and 45 ACP!

Had a .41 that was a really good shooter but traded it for a Pedersoli rolling block that turned out to be a gem too.

Also, though I've never handled a 5" N Frame I have admired them for a long time, imagining that it would be the best length for 44 Special & 45 Colt.


Keep 'em coming guys!

30 years ago, when I had a little less disposable income, I bought a 4" 629. I loved that gun and put several thousand rounds downrange with it.. however, the barrel was 1" too short to be legal in Ohio for deer hunting, which bugged me.

I often thought ideally I should have a 4" 329 for packing a lot/ shooting a little, and a 5" 629 for shooting a lot and carrying a little. So last year, I sold my old 4" one and bought those two. Cheating I know, but problem solved.