Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Another 44 Spl for the pile... Smith 3" M24-3

Been accumulating 44spl's lately, a terrible affliction to have, I know...

This is a nice Smith & Wesson M24-3 with a 3" barrel made for Lew Horton distributors back in the mid-1980s. Grips are Hogue's marked with S&W's logo and I will soon be switching them out for a nice pair of Pachmayr Compac's, like those on my Model 66 2 1/2". Goin' shooting tomorrow morning, should be interesting to compare recoil with my standard 44spl load (16gr 2400, 240gr LSWC) between my 6 1/2" M624 and this stubby little 24.

Not many guns balance like a snub-nose N-frame, almost like holding a lead sap



Here it is with it's little brother, my M66 no dash 2 1/2". Side by side really shows the difference in the frame sizes.

Nice. I like the tapered barrel.

Lovely, just lovely.

I'll readily admit to being a fan of the 44 Special cartridge. Your 3" Model 24-3 is a fine revolver. I have a 4" 24-3 that is a favorite.

Been wanting one of those myself, nice catch. Someday I will run across one.

Both, very nice.

They're out there, I got this one for considerably below internet prices at a local shop.

they are certainly nice pistols, I have had a few N frames and always loved to shoot them. It was the carrying part that made me part with them.

OK. I'm jealous!

I always thought the .44 Special was cool. Always thought the .44 magnum version of that gun was just a joke (unless you bought it because all the speicals were gone and you intend to carry it with specials). In barrels shorter than 4 inch (and 4 inch is pretty darned borderline), the .44 Magnum as well as just about all the other magnum revolver rounds just aren't worth it. Recoil, muzzle blast, noise, and massive loss of velocity in the magnum just pretty much emasculates the big magnum.

The fast burning powders in the .44 Special mean minimal velocity loss with shorter barrels, and muzzle blast wont mimic a flame thrower.

Also, I thought the thin tapered barrel of the 24 was much better looking than the straight gauge magnum barrel.

Drop a set of boot style grips, or magna grips with a Tyler's T-Grip to replace the Hogue's on that gun and you're in business. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Hogue rubber grip fan, probably the only gun writer who will actually admit to that (because it's not "cool" to like rubber grips). But a one of 5,000 gun ought to have a nice handle on it. (IIRC the Lew Horton 3" guns were all runs of 5k).

With a nice OWB pancake style high ride holster, that ought to make for a very nice carry gun. I was working for a gun dealer in the '80's when those came out, they were Bangor Punta guns, so it was a flip of the coin on how the actions were. Some were good and some were rough, but the overall guns were always nice.

I've got a set of Pachmayr Compac grips coming, as the magna style grips on a round butt gun just look off to me, and because the Compac grips soak up recoil like a sponge which is why I have them on my 66 2 1/2"

The action on this one is pretty nice, better than my 624 no dash 6 1/2" which was also a limited run gun.

I have the exact same gun. It is awesome. I've had mine for about 5 years. With the tapered barrel, it's like a 3" mountain gun, but in a 44 special. My standard load is a 240g LSWC over 6.5g of Universal. Very accurate and you can shoot'em all day long. I also have a 696 which is the L frame 3" 5 shot 44 special. Another great big bore snubby. Enjoy.

I love 44 specials too...and especially N frame 3" 44 specials! Here are 4 N frame 3" 44 specials at 2:00, 3:00, 7:00, & 10:00; and one L frame 44 special in the middle (bottom).

Now we know why these are so hard to find: Ken458 has'em all! Awesome pic there!

Dude! You are addicted!

Sweet.

Yep, I am addicted. Note there are NO MIM parts or keyhole locks in the side...and the firing pin is on its FORGED hammer like it SHOULD BE.

My only problem with rubber grips on a daily carry gun is that it tends to trap moisture from sweat right up next to the steel. Of course that's only a problem with a blued steel gun.

Nice M24! Buddy has one but he would never part with it....



Travis