S & W 62 or 624?

[Potsy]

I found a pistol earlier today that they guy behind the counter said was a Smith Model 62. It's a 4" .44 special, stainless, adj. sighted. It seemed to have a thin, light, barrel on it (think mountain gun). They want $650 out the door (in TN, figure $570 before tax and background check).
I called a buddy with a blue book, he couldn't find a model 62, I thought it may have been a 624 but I'm not sure. I'm no Smith expert, I just know I'd like to have a big bore double action and REALLY like the way this pistol felt.
Anybody know what it is? Any opinions on the gun? Any opinions on the price?

[dubber123]

It's a 624. I would make sure the box is with the gun, or plan on calling S&W. Do a Google search on this model, as there was a recall on some with incorrectly heat treated parts. If it has been sent back and checked, the box will have a red mark on it, a circle "C" I believe.

$650 I think is a good bit over book. I just finished paying off a 6.5" 624, (the longer barrel has a slight premium on price), and with the box and paperwork, I paid under $500. Nice guns though.

[Dframe]

It's almost certainly a 624. Thats just a stainless version of the model 24, which of course is the big N frame chambered in 44 special. Around here $650 is a good price.

[Ed K]

Since this is the cast boolit forum I will tip you off that it almost certainly has 0.434" cylinder throats - maybe even 0.435"

[GLL]

Potsy:

S&W did issue the Model 62 number but it was for an experimental gun that was never put into production.

I feel the $570 base price is a good one for a 4" 624! I own several and my experience is the opposite of dubber's ! I have found the 3" and 4" guns bring the premium over the 6.5". His observation about the red "C" on the box is an important consideration !

The 624's are great shooters and the 4" is my favorite to haul around the desert.

This one had a base price of $550 here in California about two years ago (with the original target grips).

Jerry

4" S&W 624
http://www.fototime.com/A8E2E3838D8E39C/orig.jpg

[dubber123]

Jerry, the premium was mentioned in the Blue book. It was only like $15. In the real world, the shorter tubes may be more in demand. They may have made slighlty more of the shorter ones, and the Blue book just assigned the premium based on production #'s.

[Glen]

Beautiful picture Jerry! In contrast to dubber's experience, my 624s have throats that run right about .431". They are among my favorite guns of all time!

[GLL]

Glen:

I forgot to mention to Ed K that all of my 624's have 0.431" throats.

dubber:

I have a couple 6.5" guns. They are extremely accurate and great target revolvers ! They love the .44DEWC bullets from the Group Buy I ran.
The $500 price tag on yours was a great deal !

Jerry

.44DEWC
http://www.fototime.com/6F673E35F2050F0/standard.jpg

[462]

GLL,

The onset of my casting hobby would have been less frustrating if my 24 and 624 Lew Horton's had "small" .431" throats.

Spiffy boolit, by the way.

[GLL]

462:

Your post got me wondering ! I have not shot any of my Model 24-3s in a long time so went and checked the throat measurements in my black book. I also rechecked them just now with pin gauges. They are also all 0.431". I must be one of the lucky owners !

I agree with Glen that the 624 is a favorite "modern" revolver !
It is one N-frame that I can shoot with magna grips. The .44Special is a great choice !

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/C2327F6F5598F67/orig.jpg

[Dale53]

I am quite fond of my Model 24 (6.5"), and both of my 624's (a 4" and a 6.5"). Here is a picture of the 6.5":

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-0204.jpg

They are truly fine revolvers and remind me of Skeeter every time I shoot them.
They are also among the most practical side arms there are. And they work so well, that they tend to make a better shooter of me:

Standing at 25 yards:
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/img030.jpg

Dale53

[dubber123]

Sheesh! attributing that Ed K guys words to me! Sheesh! (need the little chain yanking icon). Actually I did mic the throats on the one I bought, and they are in the .433" range. My 80's vintage 629 was the same, so I measured them before I bought it, and wasn't surprised. I have some "fat" moulds, so I wasn't too put off. .431" sure would have been nice though.

[stubshaft]

GLL,

The onset of my casting hobby would have been less frustrating if my 24 and 624 Lew Horton's had "small" .431" throats.

Spiffy boolit, by the way.


I guess I have been blessed because I have a 3" Horton 624 with .431" throats.

It is an absolute joy to carry and a blast to shoot.

[Ed K]

Hmm... I thought all of the 624 series suffered from greatly oversized throats. Guess that's not true and good to know. I'm not a S&W whizz but would I be correct in assuming these all were from a production time span of about 10 years: middle/late 70's through 80's?

[dubber123]

Ed, I just read an article that stated S&W made a run totaling 7,500 of the 24 and 624 models in 1983-1984. 10,000 of the Lew Horton models were made at a later date.

[Dframe]

I'm fortunate enough to have One of the early 80's guns and a Lew Horton, love them both. Hey GLL whats the weight on that boolit? I Love wadcutters and would like to have one like it. I think I came along too late to have been in on that GB. Any interest out there in a re-run?

[GLL]

Dframe:

I ran the .44DEWC 6-cavity Group Buy [designed by 45 2.1] back in 1970. Although I ordered five extra moulds they sold immediately when members saw the bullet.

They drop at about 200 grains depending on alloy and 0.433".

I will not deal with LEE again but you might contact NOE or BRP and see if they would consider making them.

Jerry

[Dale53]

Jerry;
1970?:kidding:

Dale53

[Lloyd Smale]

swing the cylinder open and look at the crane. the model no. and serial number will be stamped there.

[Potsy]

Went by the gunshop yesterday, it's still there but they were busy.
If I'm in town tomorrow I'll see if I can get to it, get the serial #, and call Smith & Wesson.
The guy did tell me he did NOT have the box.
If the factory tell me it was under the recall, I'll probably let it pass, if it wasn't, well......

[dubber123]

Potsy, my understanding is that you can give them the serial # and they can tell you if it fell in the range that had potential problems, and also if it had been returned and checked out as OK. The one I just bought was in the range of "bad" guns, but had passed inspection when returned to Smith.

[Dframe]

Dframe:

I ran the .44DEWC 6-cavity Group Buy [designed by 45 2.1] back in 1970. Although I ordered five extra moulds they sold immediately when members saw the bullet.

They drop at about 200 grains depending on alloy and 0.433".

I will not deal with LEE again but you might contact NOE or BRP and see if they would consider making them.

Jerry
Thanks for the information GLL. I've sent a PM to Swede to ask about the chances of an NOE mould in this configuration.

[462]

Potsy,

Search here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum.php

It's been a long time since I last visited, but there had been a lengthy discussion about the problem. Had to do with the quality of the steel used for the cylinders -- both blue and stainless. With the serial number, S&W's customer service can get you up to speed. I'm not positive, but I think the guns that passed were stamped, somewhere, perhaps on the back of the cylinder.

[GLL]

Dale:

How about 1997 ? :) :)

Jerry

[Dale53]

Dale:

How about 1997 ? :) :)

Jerry

I dunno? I got mine a year or so ago. I DO agree it's a great mould, tho'. I keep a supply cast up for my various .44's.

Nice photos...You do GOOD work!

Dale53

[GLL]

Dale:

Actually it was started in early 2007 but LEE did not deliver until the end of the year !

Jerry

[Franklin Zeman]

The Lee 200 grain full wadcutter does very well in my 624. Light load of 3.5 Bull is easy on me and the gun and hits where it is aimed. I lube all the grooves with 50/50. Cast straight wheel weights.

[Potsy]

Well, the pistol is still sitting at the pawn shop. I've tried to contact Smith & Wesson about the recall. Apparently, there are about two people in the whole company who know anything about the recall, and I can't catch them (left messages, haven't heard back), I emailed them and my email wouldn't go through.
From what I've read over on the S & W Forum, I feel pretty comfortable that this gun is O.K.
If I buy it (trying..to..resist..ugh) I'll probably work up a wadcutter load, and then a 429421 @ 925-975 fps. I don't really want to torque it up (that is why there are Ruger Bisley .45 Colts), just stop whatever it gets shot at. I figure my wife should be able to handle anything in that range as well.

[Dale53]

I essentially shoot two loads in my .44 Specials. The target wadcutter load (200 gr Group Buy) gets 4.0 grs of Bullseye.

My field load is the old Skeeter load of 7.5 grs of Unique behind the MiHec H&G #503 Keith 258 gr SWC (works extremely well with the Lyman 429421, also) or the recently received MiHec H&G #503 with the pentagonal hollow point (weighs 242 grs with 50/50 WW's/lead +2% tin). This is a formidable self defense load and the recoil is well within the limits (in a normal, full size revolver) that will allow quick double taps, when necessary.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/MiHecCramerStyleBulletMould-3207-1.jpg

What's NOT to like!!:mrgreen:

[Potsy]

Well...I bought it.

My email to Smith & Wesson went through and they replied this morning. The only detail I've gotten so far is that it was made in '85 and to send it in to be checked.

Went to a friend's Saturday after I bought it, he had some .44 Spec handloads of his laying around, the box said 180 grn. over 4.0 grn. Clays. Light load under a hard commercial cast boolit.

At 20 yards it put 4 in an 1-1/2" offhand, I managed to pull 2 (practice, practice). We spent the rest of the time shooting turnips left over in his patch (excellent reactive target). Single action pull is VERY light with no creep and some overtravel. Double action pull is light and smooth. Overall, thus far, I'm pretty tickled.

A few things do concern me about this gun.
There is a burr all the way around outside of the breech end of the barrel. Don't know why it's there, but me or somebody needs to take it off.
There is also some burring/galling at the tops of the bolt notches, opposite the leads. Once again, don't know why it's there, but I do want someone to look at it because I don't want it getting worse over time.
Any ideas on these issues?

The gun is also stamped "MOD 62" on the frame (obviously a collectors item worth thousands of dollars).

Any and all input is greatly appreciated!!!