Pros and Cons of a S&W 624 6.5"

[AlanF]

What are the pros and cons of a S&W Model 624 with 6.5" barrel? Read the throats are large. What is your experience?

[fivegunner]

Hi, use a bigger cast boolet .

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I have a 1983 24-3. Yes, my throats are .432" but I shoot powder coated .431" boolits. Accurate and no leading. I have tried .432" but don't see any difference. My SBH uses .431" so I just size them all to that. The 24-3 likes a 44 250 Keith boolit over 7 grains of Unique

[reddog81]

Are you asking about a collector grade gun or as a shooter? It's kind of a rare gun. Prices I'm seeing online are considerably higher than I expect to a 629 go for. It looks like a handful of the 624's sent out in 1985 had the incorrect steel used for the cylinder and needed to be sent back to the factory to be tested.

[Buzz Krumhunger]

Yes, and if the 624 you send in has a weak cylinder, you don’t get the gun back. You get a replacement from their current offerings. The only way to tell if your gun was sent in and checked is that S&W returned it in a serial numbered box with a red “C” stamped on the box.

Stupid of them.

[gnostic]

I own a 624 6.5'' that I purchased new in about 1995. It was sent back to S&W and was stamped C as was the box it came in. It's a delight to shoot with light handloads. I've had some lead in the barrel from the forcing cone to the muzzle when shooting .429 store bought bullets. .430-431 bullets don't lead and shoot better than I do....

[Mk42gunner]

Having owned a 6½" Model 25-2 and a 6" Model 28, plus I shot a buddies 6" Model 629 Classic Hunter a lot; here is my opinion.

Pros- It is a stainless .44 Special and probably a delightful gun to shoot at the range/ plink targets of opportunity.

Cons- In addition to the cylinder stuff alluded to above, it is a honking big N frame and can be a bear to carry unless you have a decent holster and the proper belt to support it.

I go through stages of wanting another N frame, then I remember they just don't fit my hands very well. I'm not sure quite why, I tried most of the easily available grips from the 1980's-early 2000's.

Good luck,
Robert

[downzero]

Having owned a 6½" Model 25-2 and a 6" Model 28, plus I shot a buddies 6" Model 629 Classic Hunter a lot; here is my opinion.

Pros- It is a stainless .44 Special and probably a delightful gun to shoot at the range/ plink targets of opportunity.

Cons- In addition to the cylinder stuff alluded to above, it is a honking big N frame and can be a bear to carry unless you have a decent holster and the proper belt to support it.

I go through stages of wanting another N frame, then I remember they just don't fit my hands very well. I'm not sure quite why, I tried most of the easily available grips from the 1980's-early 2000's.

Good luck,
Robert

Funny you mention this as I can't find a holster I like for my Model 28 anywhere. I use the one for my Redhawk and it works okay, but it'd be nice to have a proper holster someday.

[Buzz Krumhunger]

I own a 624 6.5'' that I purchased new in about 1995. It was sent back to S&W and was stamped C as was the box it came in. It's a delight to shoot with light handloads. I've had some lead in the barrel from the forcing cone to the muzzle when shooting .429 store bought bullets. .430-431 bullets don't lead and shoot better than I do....

Your revolver is stamped too? Where is it marked?

[gnostic]

Your revolver is stamped too? Where is it marked?

Mine is 624 no dash and it has 'F' on the cylinder. The box referred to having been tested at S&W... I got it out of my safe and looked at it. The 'F' is etched not stamped...

[Kosh75287]

I had the opportunity to run about 250 rounds through a 624 some years back. I shot loads ranging from 4.5/B'Eye/215-240 LSWC (light), to 6.7/Unique/240 gr. LSWC (factory-ish), 7.5/Unique/215-240 gr. LSWC (Keith-Skelton load), to 17.7/2400/240 gr. LSWC (STOUT!). It handled them all fine, nothing loosened up or showed signs of stress (except me, a coupla times).
It seems to me that this revolver liked the factory-equivalent & Keith-Skelton loads best. I shot better groups with those, than the light or stout loads, at all ranges (25, 50 & 75 yards). The "stout" loads might have been AS accurate, but I remember having a heck of a time battling "flinch" with the heavier stuff. From the bench, the 17.7/2400/215 gr. LSWC load shot better than the same load with the 240 gr. LSWC, and I DO NOT think that it was the result of "flinch".
The revolver was ALWAYS a joy to shoot, even if it wasn't always fun to carry on long hikes. Owners who want to shoot this revolver under time pressure will want to use LRNs rather than SWCs. The shoulders tend to hang on the cylinder mouth, especially with speed loaders.
This revolver was bought in 1993, if memory serves, but I have no idea if it was a hyphenated 624 or not.

[SweetMk]

The 624 is novel, but, if it is the same $$$,, why not get a 629?
The 629 will shoot the reduced loads, like the 624,, but, when you want to "step up" ,, the 629 can shoot magnum ammo.

When I am "Woods Walking", my 629 is loaded with magnum ammo,,

https://i.imgur.com/IpWm8gx.jpg

If you want a "Smaller Gun" get a smaller 629,,

https://i.imgur.com/kHphdPk.jpg

I have never given a 624 a second look,,,, but, of course, that is just me,,

[Dale53]

When Skeeter Skelton talked S&W into the issue of the 624, I immediately bought both a 4" and a 6.5". The 6.5" is one of the most accurate revolvers I own. I shoot nothing but my home cast bullets in both. The 4" shoots nearly as good (the sight radius is probably the reason I shot a bit better with the 6.5". The 4" met Taffin's characterization of "the Perfect Packing Pistol" and I carried it over many many miles woods walking, both when hunting and when "just" woods walking.

I shoot my "standard" alloy (WW's+2% tin) using mostly the Mihec version of the H&G #503 (250 gr Keith) ahead of 7.5 grs. of Unique. I size the bullets at .430". I seldom loaded the .44 Specials hot as I had .44 Magnums when deer hunting. The .44 Specials sure took their share of edible small game, however. Cotton tail rabbits, snow shoe rabbits and wounded and sitting grouse. You name it!

Those are amongst my all time favorite revolvers!

FWIW
Dale53

[samari46]

Same here with my 624, F on the back of the cylinder and red "C" on the box. Shooting it with Winchesters 200 grain Silvertip load is like a light loaded 38 special. And that revolver started the quest for the 24-3 with 3" barrel and combat stocks, and a 24-3 with the 4" barrel. They were purchased some years back and haven't been following the selling prices. I do know that the 24-3 4" was kinda a rare bird as they only made about 2500 of them. Fun revolvers to shoot. Frank

[Petrol & Powder]

I have always admired the 624.
The prices for a good 624 run close to the stratosphere on most days; on some days they are in low earth orbit.
Years ago I got out of the big bore game and when I returned to the big bores, the 44 Special guns had become rather exclusive.
DA 44 revolvers are particularly pricey and almost cult like. Despite the premium, I would lay down the cash for the right 624 without hesitation.

The 44 magnum put a huge dent in the attraction of the 44 Special, which is unfortunate because the 44 Special is an outstanding cartridge.
A slightly warm 44 Special will fill about 90% of what a 44 caliber is called upon to do.

[roysha]

S&W revolver = NO CONS, only PROS!!!

[downzero]

I have always admired the 624.
The prices for a good 624 run close to the stratosphere on most days; on some days they are in low earth orbit.
Years ago I got out of the big bore game and when I returned to the big bores, the 44 Special guns had become rather exclusive.
DA 44 revolvers are particularly pricey and almost cult like. Despite the premium, I would lay down the cash for the right 624 without hesitation.

The 44 magnum put a huge dent in the attraction of the 44 Special, which is unfortunate because the 44 Special is an outstanding cartridge.
A slightly warm 44 Special will fill about 90% of what a 44 caliber is called upon to do.

I guess I never understood the obsession with the .429 diameter. A 45 Colt will do everything a 44 Special can do. I'm honestly surprised that .44 Magnum is so popular when .454 Casull exists. It must just be because 44 Mag was invented so long before there was a true powerhouse 45 cartridge available.

[Jim22]

I have owned several handguns in .44 Magnum including a Model 29 with a 4" barrel. I shot it a lot. It was accurate. I always worried about it shooting loose. Elmer Keith loads were standard fare. Never shot heavy bullet loads from it like I did the Redhawk.

After shooting and carrying it for years I am of the opinion that many of the old timers were right. A 5" barrel would have been better. I carried it in a Milt Sparks custom holster but it always seemed top-heavy with the butt falling away from my waist. I think an inch more barrel would have helped. Sold it, though, when I left Alaska. Now the biggest revolver I own is a .357 Mag.

[Don Purcell]

Love my 4" Model 24-3. A 250 geain bullet with 7.5 of Unique is a great bummin' load and will take care of everything I'm bound to come across on the farm.

[Thumbcocker]

The 1980's run of 24's shoot pretty good with .431 boolits.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201202/8f82e2561ed55004a00b1872ebb059ee.jpg

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[Ed K]

I guess I never understood the obsession with the .429 diameter. A 45 Colt will do everything a 44 Special can do. I'm honestly surprised that .44 Magnum is so popular when .454 Casull exists. It must just be because 44 Mag was invented so long before there was a true powerhouse 45 cartridge available.

You raise a good point but you have to admit the various manufacturers have figuratively shot themselves in the foot with the erratic cylinder and bore dimensions produced over the past few decades when they could have been using the opportunity to one-up the 44.

[Dale53]

Here is my 6.5" Model 624:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/.highres/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-0204.jpg (https://app.photobucket.com/u/Dale53/p/1d83501b-b2f4-4f31-a985-7f400f4bbf59)

Here is my 4" Model 624:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/.highres/DalesPistolsRevolvers4Selects-0341.jpg (https://app.photobucket.com/u/Dale53/p/645ac9d5-9813-4661-88f4-ad1aa9d76bf3)

I was doing a demonstration in front of some Junior shooters and their parents. with my 624 with 6.5" barrel with the Skeeter load. I was shooting, standing, at 25 yards. It had been a while since I had shot this revolver and I couldn't remember where I had it sighted (either on point or six o'clock) so I held the first shot at the bottom of the ten ring. Seeing where it hit, I simply raised it for the remaining shots. It was a GOOD day! The idea was to shoot all tens(:>)).

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/.highres/img030.jpg (https://app.photobucket.com/u/Dale53/p/bfdd6149-8f8c-401a-9ed4-60eb829eeb93)

Now, THAT is an excellent reason to be delighted with the 624's! (:>))

Dale53

[Petrol & Powder]

I guess I never understood the obsession with the .429 diameter. A 45 Colt will do everything a 44 Special can do. I'm honestly surprised that .44 Magnum is so popular when .454 Casull exists. It must just be because 44 Mag was invented so long before there was a true powerhouse 45 cartridge available.

I think to understand the popularity of the 44 Special you must look beyond the bullet diameter.
When I was playing with both the 45 Colt and the 44 Special, I always found it easier to obtain better accuracy from the 44 Special. That's NOT saying the 45 Colt is inherently inaccurate, it was just easier to tune in a 44 Special.

The 44 Special also generally enjoyed stronger guns and although it was a low pressure cartridge, like the 45 Colt, there was generally a little more room to safely push the 44 Special.
And you're absolutely right about the 44 Magnum having a head start on the 454 Casull. It terms of history, the 44 mag has just been around longer. But there's another factor and that is double action verses single action, there was more availability of DA revolvers in 44 Special or 44 Magnum than 45 Colt.

There's no doubt the 44 Magnum and 454 Casull are powerful cartridges but the 44 magnum enjoyed a longer run in the top spot and there were more guns available in that chambering.*

I don't want to come across as disparaging the 45 Colt but I think the 44 Special enjoyed a reputation as a more modern cartridge that was typically available in more modern guns. When you say "45 Colt" the image that most people have in their head is a 1873 Single Action Army. When you say 44 Special, it's more likely people envision some type of S&W N-frame.

* The 454 was a wildcat cartridge for decades but didn't become a factory chambering until the late 1990's.

[tward]

Thumbcocker, I see you use the same expensive targets that I use. The paper plates allow the boolits to cut a nice clean hole. Works great with my Charter arms Bulldog. I gave up trying to get a full size 44 special and picked a Super Blackhawk on Gunbroker, it’s kind of heavy but it shoots well with its 4.6 in barrel. Got to love those 44’s!
Tim

[RJM52]

Those 24s and 624s will handle most any load you want to put in them...

Had a gun shop back in the 1980s and bought each one of the variations as they came out...3", 4" and 6.5" in stainless and blue. My favorite of all of them was the 3" blue which I carried on duty the last year I was with Dallas PD. Just perfect balance and had a great out of the box action.

Don't have my data here right now but the load I carried on duty was a 180 grain Hyrda-Shok bullet from the original Hydra-Shok Corp. before they were purchased by Federal. I was also a licensed ammunition manufacturer and could buy just the bullets directly from the company... Had them running well above 1000 fps with SR-4756 powder.

Target loads were 200 and 240 grain cast bullets from the Rucker Bullet Company with I believe 7.0 grains of Unique...

No cons to owning one of those great guns at all...

Bob

[rockrat]

Only Con I have on my 624 is that it feels light, compared to the 629 I had, but that can also be a Pro, as it is lighter on the hip.

[Thumbcocker]

When Mrs. Thumbcocker and I rook the concealed carry course we were the only ones with revolvers. I used the model 24 and she used her p&r model 19. Both loaded with wadcutters. We caught a lot of grief from the polymer fanclub in the class. Then they got real quiet.

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201203/3e6aef206bdde70810791707d0da46aa.jpg

[MT Gianni]

I had one for a while, I liked it but the 44 Redhawk always outshot it so it got sold.

[downzero]

I think to understand the popularity of the 44 Special you must look beyond the bullet diameter.
When I was playing with both the 45 Colt and the 44 Special, I always found it easier to obtain better accuracy from the 44 Special. That's NOT saying the 45 Colt is inherently inaccurate, it was just easier to tune in a 44 Special.

The 44 Special also generally enjoyed stronger guns and although it was a low pressure cartridge, like the 45 Colt, there was generally a little more room to safely push the 44 Special.
And you're absolutely right about the 44 Magnum having a head start on the 454 Casull. It terms of history, the 44 mag has just been around longer. But there's another factor and that is double action verses single action, there was more availability of DA revolvers in 44 Special or 44 Magnum than 45 Colt.

There's no doubt the 44 Magnum and 454 Casull are powerful cartridges but the 44 magnum enjoyed a longer run in the top spot and there were more guns available in that chambering.*

I don't want to come across as disparaging the 45 Colt but I think the 44 Special enjoyed a reputation as a more modern cartridge that was typically available in more modern guns. When you say "45 Colt" the image that most people have in their head is a 1873 Single Action Army. When you say 44 Special, it's more likely people envision some type of S&W N-frame.

* The 454 was a wildcat cartridge for decades but didn't become a factory chambering until the late 1990's.

I think you raise some good points. I love S&W revolvers and I even have some 1873 clones but 45 Colt is best enjoyed in guns that say "Ruger" on the side ... which actually make .454 Casull more of a luxury because Ruger Only 45 Colt is more power than I need.

I probably should have just bought a 44 a long time ago, but I already had 45 ACP, so I got a 45 Colt.

Love me some N-frames as well.

I guess variety is the spice of life.

[LAH]

Here is my 6.5" Model 624:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/.highres/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-0204.jpg (https://app.photobucket.com/u/Dale53/p/1d83501b-b2f4-4f31-a985-7f400f4bbf59)

Here is my 4" Model 624:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/.highres/DalesPistolsRevolvers4Selects-0341.jpg (https://app.photobucket.com/u/Dale53/p/645ac9d5-9813-4661-88f4-ad1aa9d76bf3)

I was doing a demonstration in front of some Junior shooters and their parents. with my 624 with 6.5" barrel with the Skeeter load. I was shooting, standing, at 25 yards. It had been a while since I had shot this revolver and I couldn't remember where I had it sighted (either on point or six o'clock) so I held the first shot at the bottom of the ten ring. Seeing where it hit, I simply raised it for the remaining shots. It was a GOOD day! The idea was to shoot all tens(:>)).

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/.highres/img030.jpg (https://app.photobucket.com/u/Dale53/p/bfdd6149-8f8c-401a-9ed4-60eb829eeb93)

Now, THAT is an excellent reason to be delighted with the 624's! (:>))

Dale53

That's some good stuff there.

[Lloyd Smale]

there great guns. Only thing that would appeal to me more is if it were a 4 inch 24. But thats just personal preference. Ive had 4 of them through the years and still have the first one I ever bought and its a shooter. Bullet it likes most is my go to 240 rcbs swcgc. If a 44 wont shoot that bullet bring it to the gun shop because it probably wont shoot anything well.

[AnthonyB]

I have posted in other threads about my 4 inch 624. Mine will chamber 44 Magnum brass. I think that, not faulty heat treating or incorrect steel in the cylinder, was the reason for the fix. There is a note in my firearm inventory log to never send that one back to Smith for any type of service.
Tony

[ddixie884]

SS or blue an N-frame S&W in .44spl is hard to beat. See below.........

I also believe the deep chambers was the reason for the recall.

[murf205]

Pros and cons of a 6.5" 624? I cannot answer that objectively because I am a S&W addict but I will tell you that N frame 44 spl's are accurate and don't beat you to death when you take them for a range session.272852272853
6.6 grs of Unique in the old 44 Hand Ejector and 7.5 grs in the new one. And a 429421 in both, of course. The old gun is a bit more accurate but it was made in the days of cut rifled barrels.
My 44 mag guns don't get loaded to full snort so I guess I could get buy with not having a 44 spl...but I am not going to!

[JoeJames]

there great guns. Only thing that would appeal to me more is if it were a 4 inch 24. But thats just personal preference. Ive had 4 of them through the years and still have the first one I ever bought and its a shooter. Bullet it likes most is my go to 240 rcbs swcgc. If a 44 wont shoot that bullet bring it to the gun shop because it probably wont shoot anything well.The S&W Model 624 4" is my personal grail gun. If I had to pick my favorite caliber 44 Special would be it. I got my first 44 about 6 years ago. Lipsey Ruger BH with a 4 1/2 inch barrel. Fired up on reloading for it, before it even came in after I saw that factory ammo was about $1 a caliber - $44 a box. Then discovered that my reloads were quite accurate enough for me.

272878

[rintinglen]

I had one for a while, I liked it but the 44 Redhawk always outshot it so it got sold.

That was my experience as well. I got one on sale for well under $300 new, but it never lived up to the hype that Skelton and Keith had printed about the cartridge. It was definitely less accurate than my Redhawk, shooting 2-3 inch 25 yards groups. I had a 4 inch model 24 that would outshoot it, so I ended up selling the 624, and then later, while unemployed, selling the 24 as well. I regret the 24, but you can't own them all.

[murf205]

Having owned a 6½" Model 25-2 and a 6" Model 28, plus I shot a buddies 6" Model 629 Classic Hunter a lot; here is my opinion.

Pros- It is a stainless .44 Special and probably a delightful gun to shoot at the range/ plink targets of opportunity.

Cons- In addition to the cylinder stuff alluded to above, it is a honking big N frame and can be a bear to carry unless you have a decent holster and the proper belt to support it.

I go through stages of wanting another N frame, then I remember they just don't fit my hands very well. I'm not sure quite why, I tried most of the easily available grips from the 1980's-early 2000's.

Good luck,
Robert

Robert is right. When you carry an N frame, you will definitely know it's there. As far as the cylinder dimensions go, you can cast to fit or have the cyl reamed if they are too small. It really depends on what you want to do with it. The triggers on S&W revolvers are a work of art in SA mode and they make a super range/plinking/hunting gun but if you are after the most accurate revolver of the bunch (that a redneck like me can afford) a Redhawk will usually be a touch more accurate. I suspect it is because of the way the cyl locks up in the frame. I have owned 2 Redhawks and 1 Super Redhawk and they are very accurate, but again, it's what YOU want in a 44, not what anybody else thinks.
Smith and Wesson made a terrible decision to discontinue the L frame 696 in 44 Spl, IMHO, and they have since followed with a model 69 in 44 Mag which will, of course, work with 44 spl ammo--or---lightly loaded rounds in 44 mag brass. Good luck with your decision.

[murf205]

What are the pros and cons of a S&W Model 624 with 6.5" barrel? Read the throats are large. What is your experience?

Alan, order some pin gages. You can get them in individual pins and use them to check the cylinder throats of a potential gun buy. They are very reasonable and I bought mine from Meyer gage co.

[Thumbcocker]

I used to take boolits of various sizes when looking at revolvers and try them in the throats from the front.

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[dogdoc]

No cons! I have 2! Size bullets close to throats. All Smith 44s from that era have about .432 throats including magnums. Some .433. They shoot fine

[murf205]

Smiths do indeed have bigger throats-MOST of the time. I bought the nickel one in the above pic in about 2011 and it was made in 2007. It had throats closer to .428 than .429. I bought a reamer and now they are .431. It stopped the leading immediately and the accuracy improved as well. Whether you do what I suggested or Thumbcocker does, either way you need to know the dimensions. If the price is right, buy it anyway. They are works of art IMHO.

[Petrol & Powder]

One of the advantages of buying a used Model 624 (or 24) over a 629 or 29 is the gun was more likely to have lived its life firing 44 Special loads. Yes, it is always possible that some idiot fired super hot, handloaded 44 Specials in it, but the odds are in your favor that it went through life with 44 Special factory loads.
SO, what you get is a N-frame revolver designed to handle 44 magnum loads but fitted with a cylinder chambered for 44 Special loads. There's no absolute guarantee the gun was never abused but the odds are considerably better that it never saw the high side of 20K psi.

I have several Ruger GP-100's and Service-Six's that are chambered for 38 Special. Those guns are way overbuilt for 38 Special, so there's an extra margin of strength there.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I got my 1983 vintage 24-3 off Gun Broker. Was a buy now listing from a pawn shop in Medford Oregon. About a 98% gun with no issues. Jumped out at me because it was priced well below the others. Should hold it's value well.

[dogdoc]

Smiths do indeed have bigger throats-MOST of the time. I bought the nickel one in the above pic in about 2011 and it was made in 2007. It had throats closer to .428 than .429. I bought a reamer and now they are .431. It stopped the leading immediately and the accuracy improved as well. Whether you do what I suggested or Thumbcocker does, either way you need to know the dimensions. If the price is right, buy it anyway. They are works of art IMHO.

Hello from Alabama as well! The smith 44s from the 1970s and 80s pretty much all have larger throats. I think in 89 or 90 when they started the endurance package on 44s, they tightened the throats to .429 . Some even .4285. I have a 29-5. Made in 1990 with 432 throats. Have another 29-5 made a little later with .429 throats. Have 5 or 6 Smith 44s made after that that all have tight throats. I too have opened a couple of them up with a reamer for cast bullets. The most accurate though is a mid 90s 629 classic with .429 throats with jacketed bullets. I have shot some incredible groups with that one. I will leave it alone!

Dogdoc

[murf205]

Hello from Alabama as well! The smith 44s from the 1970s and 80s pretty much all have larger throats. I think in 89 or 90 when they started the endurance package on 44s, they tightened the throats to .429 . Some even .4285. I have a 29-5. Made in 1990 with 432 throats. Have another 29-5 made a little later with .429 throats. Have 5 or 6 Smith 44s made after that that all have tight throats. I too have opened a couple of them up with a reamer for cast bullets. The most accurate though is a mid 90s 629 classic with .429 throats with jacketed bullets. I have shot some incredible groups with that one. I will leave it alone!

Dogdoc

Amen, if it aint broke, don't fix it.

[samari46]

I've already mentioned my having the 6.5" barreled 624 and both the 3" and 4" 24-3's. Now with that out of the way. My Stainless Ruger Redhawk in 44 magnum just sits in the safe glorwering at me.Probably have close to 1000 rounds through the Redhawkand never could get used to it. Frank

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I've already mentioned my having the 6.5" barreled 624 and both the 3" and 4" 24-3's. Now with that out of the way. My Stainless Ruger Redhawk in 44 magnum just sits in the safe glorwering at me.Probably have close to 1000 rounds through the Redhawkand never could get used to it. Frank

It is peculiar how some guns you bond with quickly and others you never do.

[35 Whelen]

I guess I never understood the obsession with the .429 diameter. A 45 Colt will do everything a 44 Special can do. I'm honestly surprised that .44 Magnum is so popular when .454 Casull exists. It must just be because 44 Mag was invented so long before there was a true powerhouse 45 cartridge available.

Truth is, those of us that really do hunt with our revolvers are highly unlikely to shoot anything over 250...maybe 300 lbs. in the case of an unusually large boar. And killing such game simply doesn't require a 300 gr. .45 caliber bullet run 1500 fps from a 3.5 lb. revolver. And again, truth be told, a 250-ish gr. .429" bullet at no more than 1000 fps will handle this sort of task, and the .44 Special can easily be loaded to that level in most any revolver so chambered.

I shoot more .44 Special and 45 Colt than any other caliber and my experience parallels another poster here; I find the .44 easier to find accurate loads with than the 45 Colt.

I get that some folks like more power than they really need. I see people hunting 125 lb. whitetails with .300 Magnums, and driving Ford F350 4x4's that will never tow anything heavier than a single axle lawnmower trailer. But hey, to each his own!

35W

[StrawHat]

Funny you mention this as I can't find a holster I like for my Model 28 anywhere. I use the one for my Redhawk and it works okay, but it'd be nice to have a proper holster someday.

There are many custom leathersmiths who will make exactly what you want, usually for less money than the big shops that produce their version of what you want.

Here are several variations on the same theme for my 4” N frame revolvers.

273773273774
Kevin

[onelight]

Straw Hat those are very nice !