Smith and Wesson 3" Trailboss .44 mag.

[Master Blaster]

Hi all I wanted to see if any one owns the firearm in the title, and if you do how do you like it?????

The shop near me has one in the case, unfluted cylinder etc. I find myself strangely drawn to it, I have always wanted a .44 mag snubbie. Two things are keeping me from buying it, the lock on the side plate, although I have two revolvers with it including the 642 I carry just about everyday, and the price $752.

Please dont suggest a ruger I already have a redhawk and a superblackhawk in .44 mag. This time I want a smith.

I did a search on gunbroker and the price is not out of line although it seems like a lot to me.

I keep telling myself that I should hold out for a 4" or a 5" pinned and recessed 29 instead. the problem is that in the last year I have only seen 1 beat up 6" 29 and the shop wanted $450 for it.

So is this new 3" smith a good gun??????

 

[popeye]

I had a Trail Boss about 3 yrs. ago. Bought it used LNIB for $600. Loudest gun I've ever owned. The Dynaporting seemed to add a bit to controlability. I sold it and got a 29 6". The Trail Boss may fill a niche, along with some of the other stainless 3" 44 mag. Smith's. As in it may be a fine short barreled powerhouse for an outdoorsman. The only Trail I take is to work or the grocery store, since I'm a city dweller and don't hunt anywhere where I need a 44 mag along with. Others will proclaim the virtues of a 3" 44 mag. but I can't afford to collect guns I won't shoot much anymore.

 

[rick_reno]

That's a nice gun. If I'd seen it before I bought my Ruger Alaskan, I might have bought one. What are the specs on it (length, weight)?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I have no idea whether it's called a "Trail Boss," but one of my more frequently carried guns is a pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 629 with a three-inch barrel.

I've had it quadruple-ported, bead blasted, and the hammer and trigger jewelled by the good folks at http://www.magnaport.com. The stocks are Nill's, currently available from: http://mactec-militaryarms.com/nill-grips.html

I sent the cylinder to Michael Gouse: http://www.mtart.com/index.htm for a standing wolf.

It's a very accurate, very handy, and decidedly loud gun.

Ooops! I forgot to mention: I threw away the Smith & Wesson rear sight after taking the snap shot, and replaced it with a much better sight from the good folks at: http://millettsights.com

 

[Sawdust]

Very nice...

Sawdust

 

[forquidder]

Trail Boss

Blaster,

I've seen and handled the gun you speak of. About 3 years ago I picked up a new Performance Center V Comp for $780. It's basically the 3" Trail Boss with a removeable ported compensator and the trigger and action slicked up by their gunsmiths. Excellent gun. About 1 week after I picked up this gun, I found a used Trail Boss for around $500-550. I thought I had wasted my money on the V Comp until I picked up and handled the Trail Boss. The quality of the V-comps action was much tighter and smoother.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you like the gun, get it, but for me that price is a bit high and I'm speaking from the experience of buying guns in Alaska where you can add another hundred dollars to the price of any gun sold in most any other state. The trail boss should be priced comparably to a regular model 629 or slightly higher. If 629s are going for $750 in your area, by all means, get it.