S&W Thunder Ranch model 21

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Omigod, another fixed sight N-frame! :eek: Coming so soon on the heels of the 327, this is giving me hope that we may see one priced for ordinary mortals. :cool:
 
I had the opportunity to put 15 rounds thru one at TR last week during a revolver class. It was easy to handle and hit with from the 10 yard line. Recoil was manageable. Speedloading seemed easier than with my Model 19.

To paraphrase Clint Smith, this is a classic kind of weapon like a 69 Chevelle with a 396, red lined tires and chrome mag wheels. If you want the latest polymer whatever, fine. If you want a classic then this is a way to go.

Quoting Mr. Smith- "Wheelguns are real guns!"

P.S. The class, facility, instructors, cabins and giftshop were all top notch. I am glad I had the opportunity to train before the school moves to OR.
 
Details, please. I had a M21 5" back in 1965 that I did not properly appreciate; let it go in a moment of insanity.

Wish S&W would get back to making really useful solid guns like these and ashcan some of their wierder products. They have dropped more good guns than they have introduced in the last 40 years...
 
The class, facility, instructors, cabins and giftshop were all top notch. I am glad I had the opportunity to train before the school moves to OR.
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yes they are. I attended TR for a week a while back myself. Had I known ealier about the move, I have likely gone again since my in-laws now live in TX. A trip to OR isn't totally out of the question but with LFI just a few hrs away...
 
Model 24s are .44 Specials...


What caliber is a model 21?
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Model 21's are fixed-sight .44 Specials while Model 24's are adjustable sight models, kinda like Model 57/58, Model 22/25, and Model 20/23.
 
That's what I guessed (fixed sight vs. adjustable sight).

So then...

What's a model 20/23? I'm going to guess that that's a .38/44 Heavy Duty, but I wouldn't bet money on it.

Was there a fixed sight N-Frame in .45 Colt/.45ACP? What model number did this get? (26 maybe?)
 
Was there a fixed sight N-Frame in .45 Colt/.45ACP? What model number did this get? (26 maybe?)
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Model 23

The Model 26 was the adjustable sight, tapered barrel .45.

Models 20-23 were fixed sight. Models 24-29 were adjustable.

Model 20 = .38 Special
Model 21 = .44 Special
Model 22 = .45 ACP
Model 23 = .38 SPecial
Model 24 = .44 Special
Model 25 = .45 ACP Heavy Barrel (some in .45 Colt)
Model 26 = .45 ACP Tapered Barrel (26-1 Commemorative in .45 Colt)
Model 27 = .357 Magnum
Model 28 = .357 Magnum
Model 29 = .44 Magnum
 
The Model 29 is a blued N-Frame .44 Mag. The Model 629 is a stainless steel N-Frame .44 Mag.

The Model 27 is a blued N-Frame .357. The Model 627 is a stainless N-Frame .357 Magnum.

The Model 10 is a K-Frame .38. The Model 610 is a stainless...N-Frame in 10mm...:scrutiny:

And then there's the occasional oddball, like Tamara's Texas Commemorative N-Frame in .44-40...

Lovely confusion!
 
I didn't know were talking about the sainless 600 series.
Or the obscure 500 series.

The 544 is rather uncommon. :evil:
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But it's a lot of fun to shoot.
I only wish all blued N-frames were readily available with a 5" barrel.
 

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Yeah but then NC had to bring up stainless N-frames and even had to toss in the odd K frame.
Just as long as he didn't try to confuse the issue with the adjustable sight Model 57 or the fixed sight Model 58.

And hopefully no one will bring up the completely confusing, elusive fixed sight 629 snub. :neener:



Regarding the 544, thankfully SASS is popular around here. I found Winchester Cowboy loads in .44/40 for $18/50. And I just won some new Magtech brass on eBay for $8/100. Add to that the 4 boxes of Remington & Winchester 200gr SP ammo that one local dealer was very eager to get off his shelf and I am set for ammo & brass for a while.
 
I could do without the gold, but I love the revolver. Where did you get in the intel on this?
 
Looks like ALL of them will have the Thunder Ranch logo on the sideplate.

But good news for the folks in Kaleefornya, they are submitting them for approval.

To me the really big news is the Black Hills 250gr Keith .44 Special ammo @ about 800fps, that the 24-4 is regulated for. It sounds like a natural for my 3" 29!
 
Just read the thread over at S&W Forum on it with pictures. Looks like I will have to get one of those...

Walked away from a 4" Triple Lock almost 40 years ago and have regretted it ever since. This will suffice. I have a 4 cavity Hensley & Gibbs mold for the 250 grain Keith SWC so ammo will not be a problem.
 
Ack! What an ugly barrel!
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Oh my gawd, I feel like I just caught my buddy JShirley drinking from the finger bowl. :uhoh:

That is not an "ugly" barrel, that is a graceful and classic tapered barrel, from back before S&W decided to turn a cost cutting measure into a sales feature. ("Heavy barrels" take a lot fewer machining steps than ol'-fashioned tapered ones.)
 
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