DannyB1954
New member
I wish more manufacturers made a 44 special. It would not have to be build so heavy as as 44 Mag. Yes you can shoot 44 Spl in a Mag gun, but then your back to big and heavy.
What is the best current production .44 Magnum Revolver for concealed carry?
- Thread starter ATN082268
- Start date
A 629, especially a 6", is not a good measure of what can be concealed. I don't carry my 5" 629 concealed except crossdraw with winter clothing, and then only because I can, carrying a number of guns in rotation.
One difference from many younger shooters is that I dress to conceal, regardless of season.
Unlicensed Dremel
Moderator
You got that straight - big "IF", though.
I carry a S&W 329PD (one of my three CCW guns listed on my permit in California). 4" barrel I carry it in a Uncle Mike shoulder holster that I once carried a S&W 629 6-1/2" barrel. This carry is only in Winter when I have a overcoat on. In the Spring and Fall I use a cross draw holster
http://www.haugenhandgunleather.com/view-details-item.asp?ID=48
with a light jacket, or sweater.
I also on occasion use a belly band. It all depends upon what I am wearing and what the destination is.
An N Frame is not as easy to carry as a J Frame. To be reasonably comfortable I carry the light weight S&W 329, but then I carry Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 Special ammunition in it, not .44 magnum ammunition.
http://www.haugenhandgunleather.com/view-details-item.asp?ID=48
with a light jacket, or sweater.
I also on occasion use a belly band. It all depends upon what I am wearing and what the destination is.
An N Frame is not as easy to carry as a J Frame. To be reasonably comfortable I carry the light weight S&W 329, but then I carry Buffalo Bore Heavy .44 Special ammunition in it, not .44 magnum ammunition.
2ndsojourn
New member
^^^ Maybe to look good at the family BBQ.
Probably be helpful to know what part of the country you live in and what threat you need to defend against (makes a big diff ammo wise).
FWIW, here’s my personal experience.
I’m retired and live in Montana and am outdoors 360 plus days a year. We have bears (griz and black), wolves, moose, and other wildlife, in addition to the ubiquitous two legged vermin. Wolves and grizzlies are on the increase and every year someone is mauled by a griz. While attack from any of the above is highly unlikely, I feel much more comfortable with a large caliber revolver than a hi cap small caliber pistol. I have no delusions about being able to defend myself in all circumstances, just want to give myself a chance if the situation allows. You have to assess your own individual circumstances and go from there --- YMMV.
I’ve carried a .44 Mag as primary concealed carry gun for the last 10 years or so. Started out with a 4” 629 Mtn Gun, then went to a 4” 329 PD and most recently the New L Frame S&W M69 4 ¼”. I feel comfortable with any of the 3 but currently rotate the 329PD and the M69. If you haven’t shot one, don’t choose the 329PD as your first .44 Mag
The M69 is a bit more compact than the N Fames, feels better in my hands and I shoot it a bit better than the 329 or the Mtn Gun. The .44s are loaded with 260gr WFNGCs at a little over 1,200 fps from 4” guns. The M69 is a five shooter if that matters to you. My extra ammo is a second gun (Kahr CW45 w/255gr Buffalo Bore +Ps) in my left front pocket in a pocket holster.
I’ve used Milt Sparks IWB holsters - a Summer Special, and a Versa Max II. OWB rigs include a Bianchi Cyclone and an old Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake. The Summer Special conceals an N Frame S&W quite well. Unfortunately, the IWB rigs don’t work for me while sitting, so they remain in the “Holster Box”. The Simply Rugged is my go to holster – it sits over my right rear pocket and never comes off my pants belt - I just slip a .44 in it when I leave the house. If my pants are on, the Kahr is in my pocket.
I have a problem with the bone at the base of my thumb (recoil hammers it unmercifully) so my S&Ws all wear Hogue 500 X Frame grips. This is not a problem for me, but might cause some a problem with printing, access, or clothing interference (they are a bit tacky).
I’m 5’8”, 165 lbs, and I dress “comfortably” (the wife calls it sloppy) and have no problem covering up with a shirt tail. Carhart jeans w/slash pockets and an untucked shirt works for me. In Montana, a concealed gun that “shows” isn’t a legal problem and I doubt anyone would notice and if they did, would likely ignore it. There are some around here who open carry everywhere including Walmart – they never get a second look.
As mentioned above, full house .44 Mags can be a handful in a short gun -- .44 specials are easily managed. I’m lucky and get to shoot 3 or 4 times a week, year around, and practice double action with the .44 (265gr SWCs at 1,140 fps) most every time out, so I’m reasonably proficient for my intended use.
One last note, the five shot Charter Arms .44 speed loader made by HKS is too small to work reliably with the M69. So, M69 reloads will have to be done with a speed strip or individual rounds, at least for the immediate future.
Hope you find something that works for you. You’ll probably find that what works for some won’t necessarily work for you.
FWIW,
Paul
FWIW, here’s my personal experience.
I’m retired and live in Montana and am outdoors 360 plus days a year. We have bears (griz and black), wolves, moose, and other wildlife, in addition to the ubiquitous two legged vermin. Wolves and grizzlies are on the increase and every year someone is mauled by a griz. While attack from any of the above is highly unlikely, I feel much more comfortable with a large caliber revolver than a hi cap small caliber pistol. I have no delusions about being able to defend myself in all circumstances, just want to give myself a chance if the situation allows. You have to assess your own individual circumstances and go from there --- YMMV.
I’ve carried a .44 Mag as primary concealed carry gun for the last 10 years or so. Started out with a 4” 629 Mtn Gun, then went to a 4” 329 PD and most recently the New L Frame S&W M69 4 ¼”. I feel comfortable with any of the 3 but currently rotate the 329PD and the M69. If you haven’t shot one, don’t choose the 329PD as your first .44 Mag
The M69 is a bit more compact than the N Fames, feels better in my hands and I shoot it a bit better than the 329 or the Mtn Gun. The .44s are loaded with 260gr WFNGCs at a little over 1,200 fps from 4” guns. The M69 is a five shooter if that matters to you. My extra ammo is a second gun (Kahr CW45 w/255gr Buffalo Bore +Ps) in my left front pocket in a pocket holster.
I’ve used Milt Sparks IWB holsters - a Summer Special, and a Versa Max II. OWB rigs include a Bianchi Cyclone and an old Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake. The Summer Special conceals an N Frame S&W quite well. Unfortunately, the IWB rigs don’t work for me while sitting, so they remain in the “Holster Box”. The Simply Rugged is my go to holster – it sits over my right rear pocket and never comes off my pants belt - I just slip a .44 in it when I leave the house. If my pants are on, the Kahr is in my pocket.
I have a problem with the bone at the base of my thumb (recoil hammers it unmercifully) so my S&Ws all wear Hogue 500 X Frame grips. This is not a problem for me, but might cause some a problem with printing, access, or clothing interference (they are a bit tacky).
I’m 5’8”, 165 lbs, and I dress “comfortably” (the wife calls it sloppy) and have no problem covering up with a shirt tail. Carhart jeans w/slash pockets and an untucked shirt works for me. In Montana, a concealed gun that “shows” isn’t a legal problem and I doubt anyone would notice and if they did, would likely ignore it. There are some around here who open carry everywhere including Walmart – they never get a second look.
As mentioned above, full house .44 Mags can be a handful in a short gun -- .44 specials are easily managed. I’m lucky and get to shoot 3 or 4 times a week, year around, and practice double action with the .44 (265gr SWCs at 1,140 fps) most every time out, so I’m reasonably proficient for my intended use.
One last note, the five shot Charter Arms .44 speed loader made by HKS is too small to work reliably with the M69. So, M69 reloads will have to be done with a speed strip or individual rounds, at least for the immediate future.
Hope you find something that works for you. You’ll probably find that what works for some won’t necessarily work for you.
FWIW,
Paul
Mike_Fontenot
New member
I've got a S&W69 (5-shot L-Frame 4-1/4" all-steel stainless .44mag), and I've been carrying it in a homemade under-the-shirt vertical shoulder ... same way I conceal-carry my 10mm full-size all-steel 1911. The M69 has a longer grip, which produces about an inch more bulge in my shirt just beyond the edge of my left pocket ... but I am able to hide that adequately with the even bigger bulge produced by all the stuff I carry in my shirt pocket ... probably something only a nerdy engineer like me would be willing to do ... I carried all that stuff in my pocket long before I ever conceal-carried a gun under my shirt.
Mike_Fontenot
New member
I've used them a bit, and I can make them work well enough to be better than speed strips or manual, I think. The problem with them is that, when pointed downward, they allow all the cartridges to slope inward (toward the axis of the cylinder), and that causes the bullets to not line up with the cylinder holes. I've been able to mitigate that problem by holding the gun and speedloader approximately horizontal, until the bullets have found the holes, and then turn it vertical before I release the rounds, so that gravity will then pull them down into the chambers. It would obviously be better, though, if the speedloader kept all the cartridges closer to parallel, so that you could hit the holes with everything held vertically from the beginning.
Mike,
My HKS CA44 is pretty old -- newer ones may be more forgiving. The problem I have is that the M69 cylinder hole circumference is greater that the circum of the CA44 loader holes. When you try to load, the cartridges flare out and bind in the loader holes and will not release when you turn the knob. This could be a real problem under pressure.
At the very least, anyone contemplating using the HKS CA44 speed loader with their M69 should test for absolute reliability under duress.
JMHO,
Paul
My HKS CA44 is pretty old -- newer ones may be more forgiving. The problem I have is that the M69 cylinder hole circumference is greater that the circum of the CA44 loader holes. When you try to load, the cartridges flare out and bind in the loader holes and will not release when you turn the knob. This could be a real problem under pressure.
At the very least, anyone contemplating using the HKS CA44 speed loader with their M69 should test for absolute reliability under duress.
JMHO,
Paul
kilimanjaro
New member
I like my S&W Model 21 in .44 Special. Haven't found a Magnum with grips I like, yet.
If I do find one, I'll run .44 Special in it. The Magnum is not good for second shots, for me at least.
If I do find one, I'll run .44 Special in it. The Magnum is not good for second shots, for me at least.
Mike_Fontenot
New member
Arguably, if you can hit with that first .44mag shot, you won't need any more shots.
seeker_two
New member
Seen it. Love it. Want one as an 8-shot .357Mag.