[Karate]

I want a snub nose 44spl/45 for carry...I do not want a charter arms....I would prefer a S&W...but I have never seen one....I would even settle for a 45LC or acp...I am not opposed to Taurus but they are not my favorites...If you happen to know model numbers please post.

Thanks

[sgt127]

Possibly the niftiest mid sized carry gun in .44 Spec. is the 696. L frame 3". Out of production for awhile now, fairly easy to find one clean and used if you look around a bit.

[Stainz]

I love my 696... but it's lite weight, enclosed hammer, and fixed sight sibling, my 296, is a better CCW. Additionally, the longer-out-of- production 296 is still available new - CDNN Investments still listed them in their latest catalog at $370, less than half the original $789 list price. A five shot 2.5" barrel Al/Ti .44 Special, it's dimunitive boot grip makes it a handful even if it only weighs ~21oz with the PD Blazer 200gr GDJHP's loaded.

I got to shoot a current production lite weight Sc/Al/Ti big bore belonging to a friend earlier this week - the 325PD. It has ~2.7" barrel and carries six moonclipped .45 ACP's, just like the SS version I have. Mine, also an N-frame, sports a 4" barrel - and hardly fills the bill for CC, as it weighs in at over twice the 21 oz weight of the new one. It was easier to shoot than the 296, most likely due to it's larger grips. He paid ~$700, inc S/T, for his locally.

Another choice, albeit larger still (N-frame), would be either the 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt or the 629 Mountain Gun in .44 Magnum. I have both and highly reccomend them. They both weigh-in at 2.5#, have 4" tapered tubes, partial lug, chamfered cylinders (Easy to pull from pack or coat...), adjustable sights, and bright SS. The 629MG is a great .44 Special launch platform - those aforementioned 200gr Blazers are great PD rounds for it. These revolvers were available new last year - check your dealer for current stock. Bangers, a distributor, still had the 625 MG in .45 Colt with Ahrends wood grips at a good price several months ago, for example (One still sits in my local dealer's case...).

Stainz

[HSMITH]

Good post Stainz! Thanks.

[BigG]

What Stainz said. 296 :cool:

[Brian Williams]

Mountain Guns have also come out in blue steel last year and this; a mod 29 44 mag Mt gun and a mod 25 45 colt Mt gun respectively. They are Stocking Dealer specials, so if you want one you must go to a stocking dealer to order it.

I would love to have a mod 25 45 colt. version. I wish that S&W would make a version of the Mt Gun in a K frame. 3" or 4" pencil barrel round butt in 357......

[Majic]

M24-3 (N-frame .44sp)
http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/149412/0.jpg

M696 (L-frame .44sp)
http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/149415/0.jpg

M625-3 (N-frame .45acp)
http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/149413/0.jpg

[BigG]

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=801036 :D

[OGR]

That 269 is very tempting, especially at the price cdnn is offering them for. My only hangup is the 44spl vs .45acp debate. If you assume they are similar balistically (and i have, i may be wrong) the difference comes down to the physical characteristics of the round. .45acp will use moonclips. My initial feeling towards them are that they're just one more thing to mess with but after some consideration, reloading a wheel gun that uses moon clips is the quickest way I can think of. And given that the .45acp isn't a true straight walled case it should lend itself to easier loading w/ the moonclips than say a .40s&w. Taking these things into consideration would you still recommend the S&w 269 in .44spl?

TIA,

Keith

[BluesBear]

...would you still recommend the S&w 269 in .44spl?
For a small pocket defense revolver?

Heck Yes!

I'll take a .44 special in a pocket revolver over a .45acp, in a like sized revolver, anyday.
Here's what I carry quite often when I don't feel like strapping on my Colt Government or my 3" 629.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=831479

Now if Taurus ever makes their new shorter framed revolver in .45acp I might reconsider.