Jump to content
SASS Wire Forum

Recommended Posts

Posted

About 4 yrs ago I found this 624 in a Gander Mt store. Used, rear sightsnapped in half, some rust, K frame grips on it and...a low price. Always wanted one so I bought it, cleaned it up and replaced the rear sight. Carry it some. Was shooting Sunday and wanted to check it's point of aim...forgot the 44 special ammo. I had some cowboy hand loads for 44mag I use in my Vaqueros.  'Let's see if these will chamber' I sez to myself.

(Since I bought it I had been toying with the idea of polishing out the interior rim so I could use my abundance of 44 mag brass)

...they chambered!  Fired fine and checked my aim, all good.  It looks like a previous owner did what I had decided not to do, and reamed it out.

I got home and tried some factory 44 mag ..no joy.  Why?  I decided it might be the crimp. I re-crimped the factory loads and they now chamber.  (Not a roll crimp)

5 of the chambers take 44mag easily one does not.  I ran all my factory ammo through the crimper and they chamber now.  However, I have ZERO desire to shoot mags with this gun. I just like being ABLE to.  Pics will show three rounds in the same 3 chambers before and after I re-crimoed them if you are interested. I know there was a recall on some of the cylinders. I will contact S&W to see if my gun was done before any heavy loads are fired...and I will never shoot any heavy loads anyway.

IMG_20241217_212509841.jpg

IMG_20241217_212516522.jpg

IMG_20241217_212532657.jpg

IMG_20241217_200105263.jpg

IMG_20241217_200030253.jpg

IMG_20241217_200024808.jpg

IMG_20241217_195737817.jpg

  • Like 5
Posted

Pre lock Smiths sure are good lookin revolvers! Yours doesn't disappoint. The 624 is one of my favorite Smiths. I'm happy with .44 Specials in my Smith 69 although it IS a 44 magnum. I'd stick with Specials in a 624, as Smith intended.

  • Like 2
Posted

I am pretty sure that if it was reworked by Smith & Wesson there would be an “M” stamped inside the yoke area on the frame near the serial number. 
 

Nice revolver, by the way. :)

  • Like 1
Posted
On 12/18/2024 at 7:38 AM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

OP, you need to buy some Lottery tickets ;)

I took you as a prophet and bought 2 tickets (you used the plural). I dont usually play but...if I win I owe you and yours a good steak dinner! 😉

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Posted
On 12/18/2024 at 7:38 AM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

OP, you need to buy some Lottery tickets ;)

Well...I checked my tickets and I did not win. I am afraid you and yours will need to buy your own steaks. Maybe next time.

  • Haha 1
Posted (edited)

Hey Doc,

So I just happen to have some 44's around. Checked'em. No, none of the 624's took .44M rounds. All went in the chamber and stopped just short, as depicted in your photos. Right about the length of the magnum case over the special. Imagine that.

 

Back before I had my own shop, just a kid fresh out of the Army, I bought a S&W N frame that started out as something else and had been rechambered to 45 Colt. I took it to a local guy that I trusted with the work. Good shooter. Over the years I've seen a number of N frames originally in 455 or something else rechambered for 45 Colt. Note that 45 colt is substantially more powerful IE; pressure than 455...etc.

 

S&W has chambered both J, K, N frames in a wide variety of calibers. I can tell you from personal experience that it is "safe" to shoot +P 38 in a Pre-90's J frame but the gun will wear faster and requite retiming, etc. My original backup M60 I retimed twice, stretching the crane once. put 25 years of service on that cute little sweetie now retired to the special shelf in my safe.

 

I can also tell you that shooting magnum in a K frame likewise shortens it's service life compared to a diet of specials. One of the reasons S&W brought out the L frame was this precise issue. I can also tell you that the stainless models wore faster than the blued models.

(But I LOVE my K's anyway.)

 

N Frame. Diff'rnt critter but not by much. LOoK at the history; started as 357M, then hay, lets makee fortyfo's !!!LOL

And they did.

SO this frame size has spanned how many years? In how many calibers? Safely for all of them?

 

I've included a link to the SAAMI 2022 specs, what you're looking for is on page 18. Take note of the pressure listed for the 44 Special and the mag. Big difference, huh?

I didn't find a reference for differing alloys used in the different models in any of my S&W books, doesn't mean they didn't, I'd only be guessing what they used. I've no idea, but it wouldn't surprise me if they used identical steel/treatments.

 

Yes you could ask them, they'll ask you why and you'll know what they'll say. I have a better idea if you still have the caliber change bug; there are several custom shops out there specializing in revolvers/caliber changes. Seek one of them out, ask away. Probably better than S&W IMO.

 

SAAMI Z299.3-2022 - CFP&R Ammunition

 

You prolly already know that the dimensions for Frame window/cylinder length/girth between a 24/27/29/624/629 is purty much near the same. Zactly, near as I can figger. Only difference is the depths of the chamber.

 

Nice little shooter ya got there!

 

 

Edited by Dubious Don #56333
spelling
  • Like 2
Posted
48 minutes ago, Dubious Don #56333 said:

LOoK at the history; started as 357M, then hay, lets makee fortyfo's !!!LOL

You might want to rethink that.

 

The N frame Smith & Wesson appeared in 1900. They called it the New Century, and it was chambered in the brand new cartridge 44 Smith & Wesson Special.

 

This gun went on to be nicknamed the triple lock.

 

35 years later they invented the 357 Magnum, and they chambered the N frame in 357. But long before they started making 357s that gun came in 44 special, 44/40, 38/40, 38 Special (that was the 38/44 heavy duty - the precursor to the 357), 455 Webley (made for England during World War I), 45 Colt, and we can't forget 45 Automatic Colt Pistol (that would be the 1917, used by us during World War I).

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, Dubious Don #56333 said:

Hey Doc,

So I just happen to have some 44's around. Checked'em. No, none of the 624's took .44M rounds. All went in the chamber and stopped just short, as depicted in your photos. Right about the length of the magnum case over the special. Imagine that.

 

Back before I had my own shop, just a kid fresh out of the Army, I bought a S&W N frame that started out as something else and had been rechambered to 45 Colt. I took it to a local guy that I trusted with the work. Good shooter. Over the years I've seen a number of N frames originally in 455 or something else rechambered for 45 Colt. Note that 45 colt is substantially more powerful IE; pressure than 455...etc.

 

S&W has chambered both J, K, N frames in a wide variety of calibers. I can tell you from personal experience that it is "safe" to shoot +P 38 in a Pre-90's J frame but the gun will wear faster and requite retiming, etc. My original backup M60 I retimed twice, stretching the crane once. put 25 years of service on that cute little sweetie now retired to the special shelf in my safe.

 

I can also tell you that shooting magnum in a K frame likewise shortens it's service life compared to a diet of specials. One of the reasons S&W brought out the L frame was this precise issue. I can also tell you that the stainless models wore faster than the blued models.

(But I LOVE my K's anyway.)

 

N Frame. Diff'rnt critter but not by much. LOoK at the history; started as 357M, then hay, lets makee fortyfo's !!!LOL

And they did.

SO this frame size has spanned how many years? In how many calibers? Safely for all of them?

 

I've included a link to the SAAMI 2022 specs, what you're looking for is on page 18. Take note of the pressure listed for the 44 Special and the mag. Big difference, huh?

I didn't find a reference for differing alloys used in the different models in any of my S&W books, doesn't mean they didn't, I'd only be guessing what they used. I've no idea, but it wouldn't surprise me if they used identical steel/treatments.

 

Yes you could ask them, they'll ask you why and you'll know what they'll say. I have a better idea if you still have the caliber change bug; there are several custom shops out there specializing in revolvers/caliber changes. Seek one of them out, ask away. Probably better than S&W IMO.

 

SAAMI Z299.3-2022 - CFP&R Ammunition

 

You prolly already know that the dimensions for Frame window/cylinder length/girth between a 24/27/29/624/629 is purty much near the same. Zactly, near as I can figger. Only difference is the depths of the chamber.

 

Nice little shooter ya got there!

 

 

I am just glad to be able to use my cowboy loads in the 624. They r 44 special loads in mag brass. I use the mag brass in my Vaqueros and 73 because I don't want to deal with the carbon line in the chambers that sometimes happens when using specials in mag chambers.

 

Speaking of differences, the 624 uses a shorter cylinder than the 629. 624 is the same size as a model 27 with a longer forcing cone. If the 'ledge' that stops the 44mag from chambering was removed the 624 cylinder is long enough for traditional 44 loads. I think a really heavy bullet might stick out and keep the gun from functioning but regular loads would chamber. 

Of course if there is a zombie apocalypse, and that's the gun I have, I now know I can use any 44 ammo I can find. ;)

Edited by Doc Moses
  • Like 2
Posted
16 hours ago, Alpo said:

You might want to rethink that.

 

The N frame Smith & Wesson appeared in 1900. They called it the New Century, and it was chambered in the brand new cartridge 44 Smith & Wesson Special.

 

This gun went on to be nicknamed the triple lock.

 

35 years later they invented the 357 Magnum, and they chambered the N frame in 357. But long before they started making 357s that gun came in 44 special, 44/40, 38/40, 38 Special (that was the 38/44 heavy duty - the precursor to the 357), 455 Webley (made for England during World War I), 45 Colt, and we can't forget 45 Automatic Colt Pistol (that would be the 1917, used by us during World War I).

I didn't forget the Triple Lock. I was speaking specifically to the N frame in 357 magnum that was introduced as the Model 27 in 1935. That the 29 is based on the same frame and in theory, handles the 44M pressures quite nicely? So it should, in theory, alloy of steel used notwithstanding, should, in theory, a model 24 should be able to handle 44M. In theory. That one should or shouldn't was not addressed in my post. Which is why I recommended consulting gunsmiths that DO this custom work and would know better than myself or those perhaps...here. 

  • Like 1
Posted

Agreed on the ability of the model 24/624 to handle 44mag pressures. It was those early 44 special S&W guns that were used to develop the 44mag. I am not a developer or hunter so it should not matter. If I felt the need for a bear gun in 44mag I could use my 624 but I have 2 44 Vaqueros that I might be just as likely to carry. I live in a small city in East Texas so not many grizzlies in my area!

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.