The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: SJPrice on June 21, 2009, 06:44:56 PM
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I am interested to hear comments regarding a choice between these two fine revolvers for my next purchase. I want a short barreled light weight big bore. I would really prefer one in 45 colt, but the night guard is not available in that caliber.
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SJ,
In another post you say you already have a 396. If you like it why not get a 'twin'?
Also the 396 is magnum while the 329 is not. Don't want to mix gun and ammo with your current gun. (grab 329 and mag ammo and yer screwed)
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Model 625 Mountain Gun is available in .45 Colt. or ACP, and a can of whoop ass it will unleash... Big bore and lightweight, can have its pros and cons.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/SW625I-1.jpg)
Just my .02 cents. There are many available. Green Mountain Gringo's .44 review post is another option.
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I am trying to decide on a twin for the 396 or a 329 to have a similar platform but be able to handle heavier magnum loads. I like the 44 Special in the 396, but I am thinking a 329 would be a better woods tromping gun. I am a little concerned about the problem of grabbing the wrong ammo, but I then I have that same problem now with my Colt SA and my FA 97 in 45 Colt. I carry heavier loads for the FA that the Colt will not handle and I keep them apart just fine. I am really interested in any experience anyone has with the 329 and especially anyone who has handled, carried and fired them both. Hope that clarifies my curiosity.
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TW, nice looking mountain gun.
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Are you hung up on a Smith? Its fine if you are,because they're great guns, but I'd also suggest you look at the SP 101s in .357 and the Alaskan by Ruger. I admit I was skeptical of the latter till I saw Gringo's post. However, in the .454 Casull, you can shoot .45 colt, and the .454 if you really want to send a message.
FQ13 who obviously likes Ruger wheel guns
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I had an Alaskan when they were first introduced, in 454. It shot great and handled great as well. I modified and added tritium sights to it as well. I did not care for the weight or the size of the gun. As a 454 it is great, but it was as big and heavy as my 4 3/4 inch FA 83 in 475 and as a 45 Colt it was overkill in the weight and size department.
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You can get the standard Redhawk with a 4 inch barrel in 44 mag or 45 Colt.
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I love .45 ACP, but hands down. I really like what Green Mountain Gringo has shown in the .44 Magnum. Want something to kill bear and bambi with and .44 mag would be the choice. All points covered.
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The night guard series has a 10mm .40S&W now and I cant find one. The 45acp would be my next choice. :D
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Nice looking Mountain Gun! How much of a premium was it for the commeritive?
Richard
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Sweet Mountain Gun TW.
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Go the 329 route in my opion. It gives you another caliber for more performance. I'm lookiing at the 357 Night Guard in .41 Mag as that's my favorite cartridge when I return to the states.
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from Combat Diver:
I'm lookiing at the 357 Night Guard in .41 Mag as that's my favorite cartridge when I return to the states.
Good to see the rumblings of the .41 getting louder. It's a top shelf SD caliber.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/G160230.jpg)
S&W still makes one of the best...IMHO.
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I like 41mag better than 44mag, plus the recoil is tammer which makes practice a breeze.
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I like 41mag better than 44mag, plus the recoil is tammer which makes practice a breeze.
If it were not for the ammo price it would be my house gun/woods gun choice. Its kind of like the 16 gauge. The perfect gun, but just not popular enough. :-\
FQ13
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If it were not for the ammo price it would be my house gun/woods gun choice. Its kind of like the 16 gauge. The perfect gun, but just not popular enough. :-\
FQ13
It never was. 41 Mag is like 10mm, there has always been enough interest to keep it alive, but never enough for it to become "mainstream".
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Finally, a question in my area of expertise! The answer is, "I don't know..."
I've fiddled around with this subject a long time. I even once had Hamilton Bowen build a .44 Special "Mountain Gun" to fill this niche, so I love .44 Specials. I nearly passed out with joy when I saw the Nightguard 396...except that I didn't rush out and buy one. I now have a 629 3-inch .44 Magnum from Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision that was purpose-built for the function you guys are talking about, the ultimate woods gun. My rationale for .44 Magnum over my beloved .44 Special was ammo versatility — especially factory ammo versatility — and ammo availability. The 629 replaced my 296 ultralightium .44 Special (which I still carry on occasions because of the cool chest holster from Survival Sheath Systems.
When it's grumpy bear season, I typically carry penetrators in my woods gun...Keith loads with heavy hard-cast bullets designed to punch deep into big, dangerous game. Most of the year I default to 200-grain .44 Special personal protection ammo, either Winchester SilverTips or Cor-Bon DPX.
If the .454 Alaskan weighed a tad less, I'd go with it for the same reason — ammo availability and ammo versatility. Cowboy-level .45 Colt is abundant and easy to shoot in the big gun, and, conversely, Cor-Bon .454 hunting ammo would stop a velociraptor in its tracks. If that didn't work, you could hand the dino the gun and suggest that it shoot you, since the recoil would then knock it stone cold dead.
I had high hopes for the S&W ultralight 329, but mine has proven to be a huge disappointment. The Rube Goldberg internal locking system repeatedly jams the gun up under DA fire, even with 240-grain JHP Magnums. One of these days I'll take it apart and toss the whole worthless lock system, then we'll see what the gun will do.
Because my present competition of choice is cowboy action shooting, I find myself leaning toward single actions, usually Rugers, as woods guns. On USFS land, where open carry is allowed, I've been carrying "Thumper," an ancient Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum I overhauled years ago. The barrel's been shortened, fitted a Belt Mountain basepin for Magnum loads, changed out the steel "Dragoon" gripframe for a lighter and smaller aluminum gripframe, cool Colorado elk grips, etc. I carry it in a plain old boring Tom Threeperson's holster.
Michael B
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Michael-
For someone who claims "I dont know", that was a pretty long and informative post.