[DHart]

For years the thought of getting a .44 mag handgun would enter my head, then I'd think "no way do I want that much boom in a handgun or a gun that big." I, like many other people, just figured that a .44 mag would be too much gun for me to really "enjoy". Then when I entered the world of reloading and researched some factory offerings in .44 mag, I realized that I could shoot .44 mag for a lifetime and never even touch a full-house .44 mag hunting load. There are some tame factory loads you can buy for it and if you reload, you've just entered nirvana with the .44 mag... you can dial up almost anything you desire in the category of .44 magnum. Meek and mild .44 special loads on up to pain inducing loads (if anyone really enjoys that!)

I shoot all .44 mag cases in the gun (some folks shoot .44 special loads/cases in .44 mags), but my practice ammo is loaded down to warm .44 special recipies (200 gr. LRNFP cast moving at about 850 fps). And my defense loads are ProLoad .44 mag Tactical Lite 200 gr. Gold Dot moving at 1033 fps from the 3" tube. Very comfortable load to shoot and very potent as well.

I did run a couple of cylinders of full house .44 mag ammo through it just to get a good feeling for what that was all about. It was pretty stout indeed, but not as bad as I had expected. Still, I have little if any desire to shoot full house .44 mag ammo in this gun. But I'm very well served with "lite" loads found in the "starting load" category for .44 mag. They're comfy to shoot a lot of, easy on the gun, easy on the joints, and are quite effective indeed! So if you've been tempted to get into a .44 mag revolver, but weren't sure about it... let me reassure you... they're awesome. Main thing to take care of is get great grips that fit you well and choose ammo that you will enjoy.

I got two N-frames, actually, a 625 in .45 Colt and a 629 (.44 mag). Both of these guns are round butt N-frames with 3" barrels. The two Ahrends grips shown are interchangeable between the two guns. I LOVE these grips, they fit my hand like a glove.

Smith & Wesson Model 629-1 Lew Horton Special ~ .44 magnum ~ 3" barrel - Ahrends Rnd Grips
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M629_Left.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M629_Right.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M629_LF.jpg
---------------------------------------------------------------
Smith & Wesson Model 625-7 Lew Horton Special .45 Colt 3" barrel - Ahrends Rnd to Sq Grips
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M625_Left.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M625_Right.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M625_LF.jpg

[rWt]

Great photos of great guns-congrats!

[Cayoot]

Dang you DHart!!!! :cuss:

I was content...my life was (I thought) complete!

Now I gotta have one (or two) of those! :banghead:

Every time I hear that soft siren sound of a .44 mag calling me in the middle of the night, I have been able to ignore it. I keep telling myself that I have a .357, a .41 Mag and some .45 Colts, I don't need no stinking .44 mag.

Now you had to go and show me those!!!

I gotta have one! :fire:

Dang you!

[RCL]

Really nice looking stuff. Nothing like N frames. I need to get a few more, only have one at the moment. 629 Mountain Gun.

[Dees]

You just can't beat a big revolver, nothing is cooler than that. And to top it off, they've got 3 inch barrels; the perfect compromise. I don't see how you find all of these 3 inchers. And where can I get some of those grips?

[DHart]

Dees... the 3"ers are out there, you just have to beat the bushes! THe Ahrends grips are available from S&W directly and Brownells (tries) to stock them as well.

[roo_ster]

You.
Dirty.
Rat.

Post those mouth-watering pics of N-frames and then expect us not to drool all over our keyboards.

[BluesBear]

My 3" 29-3 is my all time favorite CCW.

[SnWnMe]

DHart, the unofficial photographer of gun porn does it again.

[bpisler]

There's nothing like fine 3" N frames,those 2 are outstanding.

[Standing Wolf]

I liked my shorty pre-agreement model 629 so much, I had the unfluted cylinder engraved. It's about the same size as a four-inch Python, not a great deal heavier, and surprisingly comfortable to carry.

Would someone please tell me why the @#$%^&! I have to wait for all the pictures to be reloaded before I can click on the "Manage Attachments" button? This site's software is exceedingly user-unfriendly! Software engineers should never be allowed within ten miles of user interfaces!

[Dees]

Standing Wolf, I need a set of those grips, where can I get some?

[P95Carry]

Don ........ congrats - beaut' pics of very handsome guns. I am glad to welcome you to the ''N'' Frame darkside!! :p :)

SW ... ideally, if your caching is set up adequately for pics, once they have come down they should reload quick from cache. Maybe change the internet settings to increase pic caching?

[DHart]

Wolf... quite the pocket rocket ya got there!

[Standing Wolf]

Standing Wolf, I need a set of those grips, where can I get some?

Those are stocks, not grips. Grips are made of rubber or plastic. Stocks are made of wood or ivory.

Those are Nills: http://www.nill-grips.com/Pages/homeGB/index.html

Nill is irredeemably disorganized. It's headquartered in Germany, and has been through quite an assortment of incompetent American distributors. The stocks are of truly excellent quality, and are surprisingly affordable; actually getting your hands on them, however, is rather a Herculean labor. From the Nill site:

Dear customers and friends,

for some time now, we have experienced problems with our US partners in marketing and delivering our products to our highly valued American customer base.

We have, therefore, decided to handle all inquiries and orders from our American friends directly from our home base. Our website shows all of our products and lists all related information, enabling you to order all grips via our Online-Shop System that is currently being established. Since grips do require a U.S. import licence, we are forming a central importation site from which all grips will be distributed to customers. We expect all systems to be in place by January 2005, and wish to assure you that all your inquiries and orders will be handled expeditiously so that our quality grips can be enjoyed by you without any undue delay.

[jdomin]

tell us how you accomplish those great photos. cmon give ,camera?
lighting? etc. how about a photo 101 course?thanks from all us hacks

[BluesBear]

There already is a thread doing just that.
It's a sticky posted at the top of Site Maintenance > Technical Support (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=57796).
Lots of good tips there and room for more to be posted.

[DHart]

jdomin... P95 has done an awesome and exhaustive job of covering the basics over in THR Image Matters... definitely spend some quality time there absorbing that info. Beautiful images result not from one or two things done well but the accumulation of a LOT of different elements all done well. I have a little bit of an advantage in that I've been earning a living with cameras for decades and additionally with digital editing for eight years (started in Photoshop at version 2).

I've posted a ton of pics on various forums over the last few years and my equipment, backgrounds, lighting techniques, etc. vary considerably from one image to another. My most recent images on the green felt were done on my gun workbench.

I started by thoroughly cleaning the background area and cleaning up the surfaces of the guns. The mainlight was provided by a torchiere floor lamp in the corner to camera left, illuminating the upper walls and ceiling and a desk lamp aimed at the ceiling behind and to the right of the guns.

Camera was a Canon 20D with 17-85 zoom lens. Tripod and electronic cable release. ISO 200. Beginning exposuresettings were determined by hand held light meter, but camera LCD was used to fine tune exposure. All settings (focus, shutter, aperture, and exposure) were done manually. That way you control everything - no surprises from the camera trying to out-think you! Exposures typically were f/11 at about 1 second or so.

Color balanced with a grey card, but sometimes customized off standard for effect. I also use various reflectors and flashlights from time to time to add catchlights, fill shadows, etc.

Finally, I tweak the images in Photoshop to adjust levels, color balance, and to clean up lint and other annoying distractions.

It pays to give great attention to every last detail! If you've got the willingness for such things. Good photography skills don't come easy. I spent many years studying, testing, experimenting, etc. All of that can't be condensed into a post on a forum... but it's a beginning to get you going. Best thing to do is read that section P95 put together, consider the technique I described here and start making images! And be sure to post them so we can see your guns! Remember, these forums are all about the GUNS, the photo quality is secondary (though nice quality photos do help "share" the guns better!).

Smith & Wesson Model 686 CS-1 .357 Magnum 3" barrel w/Ahrends
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M686CS1_0808.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M686CS1_0809.jpg

[Stainz]

As usual, great photgraphy. I may reconsider the 3" revolvers... my only two examples now being my beloved 696-1 and 65-3. My taste really runs to the partial lugs, like my .45 Colt 625 and 629 Mountain Guns. Those revolvers just 'look' and 'feel' right - especially with the square-conversion f-g stocks from Ahrends. Sadly, they are always on backorder from Brownell's, my last K/L frame set being so entitled since November. I guess S&W's use of his stocks (S&W & Ahrends both call them stocks...) on so many new & current models have set him back a bit...

Now, if I could just find a .45 ACP 625 MG... or a 3" version...

Stainz

[DHart]

Stainz... I like the partial lugs also (as on the 629 above) but I think the full lug looks great too... I like 'em both. And I'm with ya on Ahrends grips.... they are fantastic. I like the larger square butt style grips very much, but my favorites are the smaller round butt style. It's amazing how much pleasure and enjoyment can come from these little mechanical devices... the feel of a Smith with Ahrends in the hand is almost intoxicating in it's perfectly proportioned, smooth, and snug fitting contours.

[RABULL]

Great photos....Great guns. You got to love the N frame 3"s.....

[VonFatman]

DHart,
Nice. I have not "bit" into a stainless S&W yet. The key word being yet!

As always, I enjoy seeing your photos. I also reload for my .44(s) and have enjoyed the wide range of possibilities.

Take care.

Bob

[ka]

DHart, that's some beautiful photography.

To all you guys that like my grips, thanks.

Ahrends Grips can be purchased direct, call 515-532-3449. We can be reached by email at ahrends@goldfieldaccess.net. When calling, my wife Judy can assist you in your selection.

I see in another thread that DHart has refinished a set. Turning out production stocks we don't have the option of an oiled finish. For those of you that do like to work wood, we can supply unfinished stocks for you to finish.

Thanks again to those who support us.

Kim Ahrends

[BluesBear]

Welcome Aboard™ Mr. Ahrends

We welcome your extertise.

You have many fans here.

[DHart]

Kim... coming from an artist such as yourself I'm very flattered indeed at your appreciation of the images... of course, the magnificent grips you've created help make the images what they are.

As most of us here know, grips make or break the gun itself. If the grips don't feel as close to perfect as possible, shooting the gun sucks. I've tried a lot of grips, some considered among the finest made and as I've said elsewhere in this, and several other forums where I post, that for me, Ahrends grips provide the best feel in the hand that I've found. Perhaps my hands are quite close to the "model" you created, I don't know. Anyway, the geometry, groove placement, length, width, and contouring really work for me! Thank you. It's obvious why Smith & Wesson has chosen your designs as stock grips on some of their models. Here are a couple more pics of guns with your grips, just for fun...

Smith & Wesson Model 586 .357 Magnum 4" barrel Ahrends Exotic Cocobolo Grips
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M586left_0697.jpg

Smith & Wesson Model 19-5 .357 Magnum 2.5" barrel ~ Ahrends Modified Grips
http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M19left_1088b.jpg

http://www.legendportraits.com/Images/Guns/M19rf_1090e.jpg

[LHB1]

DHart,
Welcome to the wonderful world of N frames and .44's. They stand beside JMB's 1911 as my favorite pistols. I could be happy with just these two pistols (plus a Marvel Unit 1 conversion for the 1911). The S&W M629's and 629 Classics are great guns. Also extremely accurate. If you don't like full power loads, try handloads with 200-250 grain bullets in the 1000-1100 fps range. That is about midway between a .44 Special and .44 Mag full load.

VERY nice photography too. Gives me something to "shoot for" in my own pictures. Have been shooting 35mm K64 film slides for many years and just this week added a digital camera for quick one-off shots. Some different technology to deal with.

Good shooting and be safe. :)
LB

[Gunrunner]

DHart, Great pics of your guns. I especially like the M19 pics. I've been an N frame fan since the early '70s. When I finally started reloading about 11 years ago my 44's became so much more fun to shoot. Thanks for sharing.

[DHart]

Glad you guys appreciate the pics.

I recently made up a batch of 200 gr. LRNFP bullets sitting on top of 12.5 gr. of HS-6, giving me 1030 fps from the 3" 629. They're a little hot for doing a lot of plinking, but a close match for my carry ammo, ProLoad 200gr. Tactical Lite. Fairly comfortable to shoot. Three of four cylinders full and I'm fairly satisfied. I don't really enjoy shooting full-house .44 mag ammo, so I can't imagine having a .44 mag wheelgun and not reloading. This caliber offers so much versatility to the reloader.