Favorite "N" frame. - Page 4

Deaf Smith · February 12, 2013, 10:29 PM

Favorite N frames...

629-2 'Mountain Gun' and 625-3 .45 ACP snub.

These definitely are my two!

But in the woods I tend to use my 4 inch 629-3 (plain jane.) .44 Magnum with a 240gr SWC at 1000 fps.

Deaf

**Tom Servo** · February 12, 2013, 10:52 PM

I have to choose a favorite? That implies that some of my N-Frames are somehow deficient in comparison to the others.

...and that's just quitter talk, son!

Model 28

Model 27

nate45 · February 13, 2013, 02:37 AM

That Highway Patrolman is nice, but the 3.5 inch Model 27/Model of 1950 is one of the meanest/scariest looking handguns ever. The barrel profile combined with frame size and cylinder wall thickness, just give it that je ne sais quoi.

I took this pic with my lap top cam back in 2008 for a thread about what the scariest/most intimidating handgun was. Its my nickel 3.5" S&W Model of 1950 .357 Magnum. If it doesn't intimidate ones adversary, its got six .357 Magnums ready to do its talking for it.

Look how thick those cylinder walls are, no worries about shooting the most powerful loads in there.

edfrompa · February 13, 2013, 07:00 PM

Your never too old to learn. What is the difference between the L and N frame. Not to get off topic. Just curious.

tomrkba · February 13, 2013, 08:05 PM

L-Frame: "Medium" sized. Example models are the 586 and 686.
N-Frame: "Large" sized. Examples are in this thread.

mj246 · February 13, 2013, 09:00 PM

I personally prefer J and K frames over N frames because of my smallish hands, but I do love my 1917. I have never seen anything made within the past 20 years with the fit, finish, and class of this 90+ year old warhorse.

kcub · February 13, 2013, 09:02 PM

Isn't an L frame a K frame with an underlug?

Sevens · February 14, 2013, 04:58 AM

I know there are a dozen guys active in this thread that can answer better than I can... (but that won't stop me!

)

The K-frame's were the original .38 Special guns. They made -millions- of them. When the .357 Magnum arrived, it came in the BIG frame guns...the N-frames.

Bill Jordan and others urged, begged & pleaded with Smith & Wesson to chamber the rip-snortin' .357 Magnum in the .38-sized K-frame. As uniformed police officers, the idea was to practice with .38's, but carry heavy .357 Magnum loads on duty.

The K-frame magnums were much easier for a duty cop to wear on his belt day in, day out, all day long. But when folks started shooting a LOT of full-bore .357 Magnum ammo through them, the guns took a lot of abuse. And when higher velocity and lighter bullet .357 Magnum performance ammo arrived on the scene, these lighter bullet loads really started tearing up the K-frame guns. The bulk of the propellant flame was blasting at it's peak as the shorter bullet was leaving the cylinder, and the full force of that flame was eating at forcing cones and top straps like a plasma cutting torch.

In 1980, the L-frame was released. The areas that faced the most stress from full-bore .357 Magnum rounds were all beefed up. But they designed the gun to use the grip frame of the very familiar and much loved K-frame.

So the L-frame revolver is "medium" sized, between the K and N frame, but the grip is the familiar K-frame. Many of us feel that the L-frame is just exactly right. And yes, the L-frames do have full under lug barrels. But a few K-frames and some of the N-frames have those also.

When you've only worked with a bunch of K-frames and an L-frame or two... every N-frame feels massive in comparison.

mj246 · February 14, 2013, 05:02 AM

I'm no expert by any means, but I believe that the L frame is a "beefed up" K frame in all respects except for grips. While they do have full underlugs, I think they are slightly longer and wider in the frame (forward of the grip area) and cylinder to add extra thickness to the frame, forcing cone, and cylinder walls.

Somebody please correct me if I am wrong or missing another difference.

February 12, 2013, 10:29 PM	#76
Deaf Smith Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2000 Location: Texican! Posts: 4,453	Favorite N frames... 629-2 'Mountain Gun' and 625-3 .45 ACP snub. These definitely are my two! But in the woods I tend to use my 4 inch 629-3 (plain jane.) .44 Magnum with a 240gr SWC at 1000 fps. Deaf __________________ “To you who call yourselves ‘men of peace,’ I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side” Thucydides

February 12, 2013, 10:52 PM	#77
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	I have to choose a favorite? That implies that some of my N-Frames are somehow deficient in comparison to the others. ...and that's just quitter talk, son! Model 28 Model 27 __________________ Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change. --Randall Munroe

February 13, 2013, 02:37 AM	#78
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	Tom Servo That Highway Patrolman is nice, but the 3.5 inch Model 27/Model of 1950 is one of the meanest/scariest looking handguns ever. The barrel profile combined with frame size and cylinder wall thickness, just give it that je ne sais quoi. I took this pic with my lap top cam back in 2008 for a thread about what the scariest/most intimidating handgun was. Its my nickel 3.5" S&W Model of 1950 .357 Magnum. If it doesn't intimidate ones adversary, its got six .357 Magnums ready to do its talking for it. Look how thick those cylinder walls are, no worries about shooting the most powerful loads in there. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

February 14, 2013, 04:58 AM	#83
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I know there are a dozen guys active in this thread that can answer better than I can... (but that won't stop me! ) The K-frame's were the original .38 Special guns. They made -millions- of them. When the .357 Magnum arrived, it came in the BIG frame guns...the N-frames. Bill Jordan and others urged, begged & pleaded with Smith & Wesson to chamber the rip-snortin' .357 Magnum in the .38-sized K-frame. As uniformed police officers, the idea was to practice with .38's, but carry heavy .357 Magnum loads on duty. The K-frame magnums were much easier for a duty cop to wear on his belt day in, day out, all day long. But when folks started shooting a LOT of full-bore .357 Magnum ammo through them, the guns took a lot of abuse. And when higher velocity and lighter bullet .357 Magnum performance ammo arrived on the scene, these lighter bullet loads really started tearing up the K-frame guns. The bulk of the propellant flame was blasting at it's peak as the shorter bullet was leaving the cylinder, and the full force of that flame was eating at forcing cones and top straps like a plasma cutting torch. In 1980, the L-frame was released. The areas that faced the most stress from full-bore .357 Magnum rounds were all beefed up. But they designed the gun to use the grip frame of the very familiar and much loved K-frame. So the L-frame revolver is "medium" sized, between the K and N frame, but the grip is the familiar K-frame. Many of us feel that the L-frame is just exactly right. And yes, the L-frames do have full under lug barrels. But a few K-frames and some of the N-frames have those also. When you've only worked with a bunch of K-frames and an L-frame or two... every N-frame feels massive in comparison. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 13, 2013, 07:00 PM	#79
edfrompa Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 1999 Posts: 335	Your never too old to learn. What is the difference between the L and N frame. Not to get off topic. Just curious.

February 13, 2013, 08:05 PM	#80
tomrkba Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2011 Posts: 751	L-Frame: "Medium" sized. Example models are the 586 and 686. N-Frame: "Large" sized. Examples are in this thread.

February 13, 2013, 09:00 PM	#81
mj246 Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2010 Location: PA Posts: 282	I personally prefer J and K frames over N frames because of my smallish hands, but I do love my 1917. I have never seen anything made within the past 20 years with the fit, finish, and class of this 90+ year old warhorse.

February 13, 2013, 09:02 PM	#82
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	Isn't an L frame a K frame with an underlug?

February 14, 2013, 05:02 AM	#84
mj246 Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2010 Location: PA Posts: 282	I'm no expert by any means, but I believe that the L frame is a "beefed up" K frame in all respects except for grips. While they do have full underlugs, I think they are slightly longer and wider in the frame (forward of the grip area) and cylinder to add extra thickness to the frame, forcing cone, and cylinder walls. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong or missing another difference.