4in 44 Mag, suitable for a CCW Weapon?

Its a great carry gun, provided that you can carry something so massive (big cylinder). What load?

Definitely .44 special is some type. The .44 magnum has too much penetration to safely use for CCW, and too much recoil (which affects follow-up shots). I'd take a look at one of the Cor-Bon .44 Special loads, some of which IIRC have +P velocities.

I'v got a 4 inch 329PD and while it can be done its not the best for concealed carry especially in a warm climate IMO. In cooler weather I'v carried it in a Milt Sparks PMK and a jacket or untucked,unbuttoned shirt over it. The PMK sucks it in well enough but in warm weather it prints pretty badly with even a baggy T shirt over it. Too bulky for IWB carry in my case. I do carry it in the winter and thats not a problem. It may work for you though and others here may have a better method. Buy it anyway and do as I did,pick up a J frame for summer carry!
I don't have over penetration fears,as some one stated on this forum(or maybe TFL) whens the last time you'v heard of a bullet doing a complete pass thru multiple layers of clothing,tissue,bone maybe and then more clothing and taking out a bystander? Even spitzer type rifle hunting bullets traveling at much faster POI velocities are quite often found not to have exited. Use a good rapid expanding type bullet and stay away from hardcast. Load it down if you reload,otherwise as stated try the hotter Special ammo.

I like the CCI Blazer 200gr Gold Dot JHP in .44 Special ($12.86/50 @ 'Academy' chain stores.), although I have had one Al case of this type split, making case extraction difficult in a SS cylinder (696). Chrono-ed at the same velocity, and using the same low-speed Speer #4427 bullet (Reliable opening at 800fps, reportedly.), the Georgia Arms version is loaded in new Starline .44 Special brass and runs ~$19/50. I now keep those in my 296, although I shot ~1,200 of the Blazers before the 'problem' (In fairness, I have shot many thousands of 9mm, .45 ACP, and even .45 Colt Blazers with absolutely no failures of any kind.).

For reloading, I use 5.7gr of Titegroup, midpoint from Speer's literature, to mirror those velocities. I got 870-880 fps from my 629MG with the Blazer/GA Arms ammo, a little slower with my homebrews. I use Ahrends rounded non f-g cocobolo stocks, a la the 329PD, on my 629MG - a great fast grab and efficient for any normal .44 Special/Russian use. For .44 Magnums, and the 629MG is a real .44 magnum, try the new .500 Magnum Hogue backstrap-enclosing X-frame grips from S&W - ~$35 (Fits K/L and N frames, too.). Enjoy your 629MG - a real treat. And... they are available again from S&W - for a little while!

Stainz

Take a look at CABO holsters. I've carried a five-inch Model 27 in one very comfortably (and very concealed) under a loosely tucked shirt.

I always liked the 210-grain Silvertip for general carry in the .44 Magnum

For the 4" n-frame, I like the Alessi Hideout IWB holster. Best carry load I found was Corbon's 165gr. .44 Magnum load. It's a little hard to find, but it rivaled the Winchester 210gr. STHP in terms of controllability and split times.

A word to the wise however, shooting a 4" barreled .44 Magnum, one handed, from a high retention position (i.e. right pectoral index) is not fun. If you're seriously considering a .44 Magnum as your primary carry gun, use .44 Specials instead. Your wrist and strong side ear will thank you. That is, if you ever have to shoot from retention.

That's probably a decent price but no, it is not a good CCW choice. It weighs over 40 ounces and is huge. Look at a .357 and consider a 3" barrel.

It's all about the holster

When you carry a large frame revolver like this the holster you choose is very important. It takes a good design to comfortably conceal a revolver this large and heavy along with the proper clothing. For me an IWB rig and a t-shirt doesn't do it.
The best thing I've found so far is a pancake style holster made by Rob at Simply Rugged Holsters. It holds the gun, especially the grip, in tight against the body, so it can be concealed under a loosely worn cotton shirt (heavier cotton, not t-shirt material). With this holster I have been able to conceal my 5 1/2" Ruger Redhawk .44 in public, and at 5-9 and 200 pounds I'm not a large person. A good heavy belt is important here also. (My brother didn't notice the gun when we went to the range).
I was impressed enough with this holster that I ordered another for my 629 Mountain Gun.
Just my opinion, FWIW.

http://www.simplyrugged.com/

I carry my three-inch pre-agreement model 629 once a week or so. I'd carry it more frequently, but lugging it around on one side of my waist isn't ideal for my back.

Can you imagine how startled a criminal would be to find himself looking up the business end of an N frame .44 magnum? Heck, you might even be able to save the high cost of a round of ammunition.

"Can you imagine how startled a criminal would be to find himself looking up the business end of an N frame .44 magnum? "

Seen it close up over the sights of my mountain gun just after it got back from the engraver. He did look funny and he politely asked me not to shoot him. He and some of his buddies had made a return burglary visit to my house but after that, they stopped coming.
http://milesfortis.sixshootercommunity.org/mcump/mc05.htm
I've carried it every day in a Kramer Thomas Perfectionist IWB Holster. Another good holster is the Kramer belt slide made especially for the Mountain gun and sold through Dillon.

Certainly if you can carry this weapon it would be perfectly suitable. However an n-frame loaded with .44specials seems like a whole lot of size and weight for what you get out of it. A .357 K-frame would be SIGNIFICANTLY easier to manage without sacrificing much effectiveness at all.

With that said, the answere to your question is "yes".

I always liked the 210-grain Silvertip for general carry in the .44 Magnum

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Bingo. I agree!

I have a Mountain Gun and think it's too big for effective CCW, myself. They sure are a nice handgun though. I would prefer a J or K frame.

I often carry a 3" Model 29. For over 10 years I carried either a 4" Model 58 or 4" 1917.

An N-Frame isn't really all that much bigger than a K frame.
The stocks are the same size. A 4" barrel is a 4" barrel. The cylinder is less than ¼" larger in diameter. The frame is the main difference and it's not really all that much bigger.

But of course many people who have never tried it will poo-poo the idea and say that an N-frame is too big and too heavy.
Those of you who know me in person know my opinion of that.
Buy it, try it and see. You'll never know unless you do.

.44 Special ammo whether it be the Gold Dot, the Silvertip, the Federal LSWC-HP or even a good hard cast lead SWC will get the job done just fine. Plus you have the option of real .44 magnum ammo if you ever really need it.
Even if you don't carry it day to day it'll make a great house gun or you could even use it for hunting.

That is a good price for a .44 Mt gun. I carry a M625 Mt gun, basically the same gun, but in .45 ACP. I also have a .44 Mt gun, but haven't carried it yet. When I do, it will be will either .44 Special Corbons or the .44 Magnum Silvertips.

With a good holster AND a good heavy belt, you shouldn't have any problems. A lot depends on how experienced you are at carrying concealed. If you have carried a 1911, the Mt gun will be very similar, as far as weight.

It's what I carry!

Some people can't abide an IWB holster but, if you can, the Kramer Thomas Perfectionist is a good choice. The holster is designed so that the cylinder bulge is above belt level.

Hey mec,

That is one sweet 44...

It is a gentle and unassuming thing that I wear all day every day. At one time, I had to have a smaller gun some of the time but now this one suits just fine. I wear it everywhere I am pretty sure I won't need a gun. When I think that I will need a gun, I stay home.

It is a gentle and unassuming thing that I wear all day every day.

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And yet it's stylish enough to wear in a fine belt holster to Barbeques and other formal events.

Holy smokin' BBQ gun!

I just hafta look at it again:


And its your daily carry?

WRT big revos & CCW, I packed a S&W686 4" for a time, as it was all I had.

BTW, the 629 Mtn Gun is 1/2 oz lighter than the 4" 686.

just got in off my bicycle and am wearing it right now- though I had to check to make sure. It will hide under an untucked shirt. I rarely carry anything else. At one time, I worked for an outfit that sent us out into very dangerous territory but of course, banned weapons. At that time I was more prone to carry a ruger gp100 either in an ankle rig or a jerry rigged Uncle mikes shoulder holster under my shirt. Still managed to carry the Mountain Gun pretty regular though.

Buy it and carry it in a Kramer Perfectionist or a Hoffner's Miurage. Get a good stiff belt a couple of inches bigger than waist size and that is a vital element to making the system work. Can't over emphasize a good belt. 11/2 to 1 3/4 ", nothing narrower.

Both of them keep the cylinder above the belt line. I carry 44 Spl 165 Cor Bons in my 696 L Frame 44 and in my Mtn Gun. They do 1163 out of my 696 and 1194 out of my Mtn Gun.

Recoil is very similar to a 158gr 357 in an N Frame. Expansion is more than adequate seeing that you start with a projectile that is .429 in diameter to start with. Very controllable and accurate.

Who made the Ammo Pouch in the photo with the Perfectionist?

The ammo pouch is by Kramer as is the belt that is not shown. Your are absolutely right about the belt being a key element. Mark Pixler at Dillon put me onto this rig and both he and the maker, Doug Kramer refused to predict whether or not I would like the way it wears. Some people can tollerate one holster and not another and a lot of people can't abide an IWB. The ideal position for me is a bit farther forward than might seem obvious- the cylinder is right on top my hip bone. It tends to suck in close and disappear under any moderately loose cover garment.

With the Corbon `165 special, I get just over 1200 fps and a few feet over 1300 with the magnum version. The only quibble I have is that I have to crank the rear sight pretty far up to sight them in. Lately, I've just dropped in an old-tech Lyman Keith .249 Hollow point as it will kill a hog, or a deer in the event I should want to do that.

The load is 9 grains of Unique for 1008fps when I averaged it a while back. I would be just as happy with most available .44 special loads.

MEC: Appreciate all the nice photos of that Mtn Gun. They truly are a joy to carry and shoot with the proper load.

I carry the 245 Keith Bullet over 9.5 grains of Universal and it has taken care of anything I have needed to shoot with it out in the field.

I carry my firearms strong side but behind the plane of the hip bone. Pretty much the old FBI carry. Would like a different carry mode for Jeepin as the gun gets pinned between the seat and the body. Been lookin at the Mernickle modified fishin holster (remake of a Tanker holster). That will probably end up being my Jeepin--four wheeler holster.

You won't regret buying the 44

Sometimes I carry a 629 with a short barrel. In the waist belt cross draw works
for me, but I need a coat for the grip print. Don't forget to get a marlin .44 lever to go with it.

Most of the time I carry a J in 38 or 357.