Mountian Gun!

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If1HitU

If1HitU

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Probably a dumb question,I have a Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum 4" revolver,a S&W 69 .44 Magnum 4" revolver,what's the difference between those two and a S&W .44 Magnum Mountian gun revolver? I know it's got to be something,I just don't know what that something is,they are all .44 magnums anybody no the answer?.
 
I'm open to correction, but I think the Mountain Gun was sold as a lighter weight N frame, for people spending time in the mountains where a heavy gun was a disadvantage.

The Model 69 is a couple ounces lighter, I think, but is an L frame which holds 5 instead of 6 shots, if that matters to you.

The 329, FWIW, is an N frame that weighs a lot less than the 69 or mountain gun, which means it's a joy to carry but ugly to shoot.

I know even less about Rugers than S&Ws but I think they tend to be heavier and stouter.

If I wanted a carry-much shoot-a-little backwoods 44 I'd go either for the 69, because the smaller size is nice, or the 329 if weight was paramount. Of course, I'm focusing on weight here. That matters if you're walking a lot. If you're on a horse or only walking a mile from the car to fish, weight might not matter to you.
 
The first "Mountain Gun" was called the Mountain Revolver and 5000 were manufactured in 1989. They used the 629-2 frame and put the 4" 44 Special tapered barrel on them. They also beveled the forward edges of the cylinder to lighten them some more. I believe it is about 3 oz heavier than a 69. They and the Mountain guns that they have made since are all 6 shot revolvers. S&W has also made them in 357 Mag., 41 Mag. and 45 Colt. This one is a 1989 original wearing a Spegal Boot Grip. Most of the time now it wears a Crimson Trace laser grip.
DSC04618

DSC04618

 
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Yup, it's an N frame 29 (or 28,57 or 25) with the thinner profile M-24-style barrel profile, and a bit of a cylinder shape bevel.

Mine is a 629 MG in stainless. It's a good bit lighter than my 629 Powerport 6.5", primarily due to the powerport wearing a full lug barrel. (I had the 5" 629 as well, sold that about ten yrs ago). Recoil is a bit sharper, but it is handier to pack about in a good belt rig.
 
The Redhawk is slightly larger than the 629 N-frame, but both are full size, 6 shot 44magnum class revolvers. The 69, however, is built on the L frame, and is only a 5 shot 44mag - notably smaller than either of the others.
 
From a post on the S&W Forum:
nyway, here are some photos, dimensions, loads, and personal observations. The long/thin barrel shank/forcing cone of the 696 .44 Special is evident in the picture below.

S&W Model 69 (L Frame) 4 ¼”, Round Butt grip frame.

629 Mtn Gun weighs 39 oz
M69 L Frame weighs 37 oz

629 Mtn Gun Cylinder Diameter: 1.70”
M69 L Frame Cylinder Diameter: 1.56”

629 Mtn Gun Cylinder Length: 1.705”
M69 L Frame Cylinder Length: 1.670”

(Note: The M69 cylinder is 1.670 inches and isn't recessed for cartridge rims -- a 1.712" hand load fits, but is right at the face of the cylinder. Lymans No 49 edition shows OAL w their 425421 Keith Bullet is 1.710". A .429 minus plug gauge will enter all throats a .430 plug will not.)

629 Mtn Gun Frame Window - Height: 1.735“
M69 L Frame - Frame Window Height: 1.600“

629 Mtn Gun Frame Window – Width: 1.880“
M69 L Frame - Frame Window Width: 1.820“

629 Mtn Gun Cylinder Wall at Narrowest Point: .095” -- (.0900” between chambers)
M69 L Frame Cylinder Wall at Narrowest Point: .060 “ -- ( .130 “ between chambers)
(629 Cyl Bolt Cuts are over the chamber while M69 bolt cuts are between chambers)

629 Mtn Gun Frame Top Strap – Width: .665“
M69 L Frame - Frame Top Strap Width: .665“

629 Mtn Gun Frame Top Strap – Height: .220“ to top of frame (includes sight mortiss)
M69 L Frame - Frame Top Strap Height: .210“ to top of frame (includes sight mortiss)

629 Mtn Gun Barrel Shank OD: .630“
M69 L Frame - Barrel Shank OD: .620“

629 Mtn Gun Frame Over Barrel OD: .900“
M69 L Frame - Frame Over Barrel OD: .880“

629 Mtn Gun Trigger Reach: 3.10“ (same grips for both 629 & M69)
M69 L Frame - Trigger Reach: 3.00 “
 
They also made at least a few as a light barrelled 625 chambered in .45 acp.
 
CraigC said:
As noted above, the 629MG is just a standard 629 with a tapered 624 barrel. Might not be much on paper but in the hands, it is noticeable. Not to mention much more attractive than the bull barrel of the 29/629.

View attachment 765410
Click to expand...

Beautiful. I need to change the stocks (or grips, not sure of the correct nomenclature) for my .45 Colt Mountain Gun. The OEM grips look beautiful, but do not fit my hand well (too long and thin).
 
Mine is a 625 Mountain Gun chambered in .45 Colt. It is the most accurate revolver I own...period.

It will shoot one-hole groups. I replaced the factory front sight with a tritium night sight.
 
They're among the nicest S&W 29-models around. Here's the late model grip on mine, looks great but it's a real pain to shoot, especially with heavy loads.

SW29Mountain.jpg
 
Here's my MG, a 29-8 that I picked up a few years ago from a consignment case at the LGS. Paid $299 for it and it came with a box of bullets with 6 missing.

After shooting it with magnum loads I understood why they got rid of it, it's brutal on the hand. Took me a few grips but the S&W walnut presentation grips tamed it.

The odd thing about it is that it is a 4 screw. Must have been made from a special run.



UKdQAeF.png
 
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021_zps2003dade_1.jpg Damn Photobucket this is the best I could take of the cloud storage I pay for. My 1989 Mountain Revolver which is favorite bear country gun these last 25 years. It is not bad with these grips and 240 grain soft points , the 300 grain loads shoot well but not for range fun. These guns are exceptionally well made for some odd reason
 
Funny that I thought the recoil was brutal with mag loads on these guns for the weight savings. I actually shoot a load between the .44 spl and mag in all my .44's that gives a velocity of about 1050 fps. The grip that came on mine left my hand sore for the day, even with my somewhat mild load. I tried a set of wood Hogues and they were better but still not good. Wasn't till I went to the S&W site and found a pair of the Presentation grips that convert a round butt to square that I found comfort.

With the S&W grips I can fire mag loads but still prefer my less powerful load. These are nice guns.

I also tried a 625 in .45 Colt but sold it, it just didn't have any accuracy. Try as I might it was a shotgun.
 
The Ahrends grips on mine above seem to work well distributing it to whole hand and keeping the recoils pretty level. 300 grain loads are heavy smack tho, Nothing like the brutal scandium 329s tho, those are nasty.
 
8FAE16B1-273E-4812-9E4C-C57F30D0D6AC.jpeg The S&W Mountain Gun will have “Mountain Gun” etched on the right side of the barrel...

I purchased this 629-5 version new around 1999-2000.

Edmo
 
If1HitU said:
Those are two nice looking MG ,you two have Joed & hq,thanks for sharing them.:cool:
Click to expand...
Thanks, that was my first S&W with a lock. It has been a really nice gun and never a hiccup, very accurate. And I picked that gun up for $299.
 
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