s&w N- frame for ccw?

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gibson_es

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Anyone carry one? Im really wanting the 325 for carry instead of my g30sf. Im thinking it couldnt be bigger then a g30 bit is it any smaller?

What about the width and length of the grip compared to each other?

I understand im giving up 5 round of 45acp but i feel more comfortable with revolvers. Im not getting rid of any of my 45 semi autos. But i wanna carry a revolver. I choose this gun because i wanna stay with 45 acp and i like s&w's over all others i have handles and shot.
 
Practice a lot, get to where you can deploy, fire 6, reload, fire 6 more... in your sleep. Then reconsider actually doing it.

I love six-shooters but in these times, even my G19 seems barely enough. When TSHTF it's never, ever, like you imagine it will be. All you can do is be proficient, vigilant and well-equipped.

After seeing the elephant, your worldview changes a lot.

Ron in Texas
 
gibson_es said:
Anyone carry one? Im really wanting the 325 for carry instead of my g30sf. Im thinking it couldnt be bigger then a g30 bit is it any smaller?

What about the width and length of the grip compared to each other?

I understand im giving up 5 round of 45acp but i feel more comfortable with revolvers. Im not getting rid of any of my 45 semi autos. But i wanna carry a revolver. I choose this gun because i wanna stay with 45 acp and i like s&w's over all others i have handles and shot.
Click to expand...
Ok, I will not ask why, but using comfortable round butt grips on 325 would make the grip about 0.5 to 0.75 inch shorter then grip of Glock 21. I hope that helps.
 
I alternate my S&W 325NG, with a couple of other revolvers. It's no more difficult to carry than my Model 65 (3" barrel).

As with any revolver, practice - practice - practice. Loading and reloading is easier than any other revolver. The full-moon clips are very handy.

The stock grips (mine are Pachmayr) are not very comfortable. I finally switched them out for a set of Ahrends RB Combat stocks.

The recoil is just a bit more than a comparable .38 Special, and very easily managed. My defense load is a 250gr LSWC RN.

Here's a photo with the Ahrend's stocks. I carry it in a Don Hume J.I.T holster, and it's very easy to carry all day.
AhrendsOn325NGLFT.gif
 
I'll carry a 4" Redhawk at times. IWB is doable with a Simply Rugged Pancake holster, but it's not something I carry every day. A 2" SP101 or 5" 1911 is much more comfortable. I can't comment about the grip of the Glock, never having owned that model.
 
pendennis and I think the same way. I carry mine in a custom Adams IWB that Eric made for me last year. Have to check to make sure it's there sometimes as the holster could not be more comfortable.

IMG_0931.jpg


IMG_0985.jpg


IMG_0988.jpg
 
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I carry an N-frame almost every day. I had a 325TR and I wish I'd never sold it. These days it is a 629. Toothy creatures are a real threat were I live.
+1 on Simply Rugged leather.
 
I carry a 44 mag 3" 629 every day on the farm with a OWB Simply Rugged holster and it does not hinder my movements. If I had the money I might get a 329NG but this rig works for me.
 
My normal CCW is a .32 ACP pistol however occasionally I feel the need to carry something a "bit" larger. So for those days, I have a pancake holster for my 625 Mountain Gun. Between that and my Ahrends Retro Banana grips, it's no worse than a full size 1911. My other option is a shoulder holster for it, depending on weather & clothing. The carriers for the two speedloaders of .45 Colt are bigger pain than the revolver at that point.
 
A 4" N frame with the right grips isn't going to be a big deal to carry IWB with a very good holster and belt combo.

As with most guns under 6"... the grip is going to be the hardest part to conceal. Fat blocky grips will be tricky.. slimmer rounded ones... not so much.

IMO, when barrel length gets over 6 inches, things can get a little tricky, but under that is not difficult at all.
 
N frame EDC

I have carried N frames concealed since the 70's, my normal carry is a S&W M-58 4" 41 mag with the hammer spur trimmed off, a M-29 4" with a despurred hammer or a Lew Horton S&W M-24 RB 44 spl with the spur removed. Carry them IWB in CABO leather or OWB in a high ride pancake with no thumb break. I have carried them wearing shorts and T-shirts or polo's, with the right holster, belt and clothing they are concealable. All my N carry guns have Houge synthetic grips with finger grooves.
 
I guess if weight does not bother you then a good N snub ought to do it.

attachment.php


The 'N' frame at the top is my 625-3 .45 ACP, followed by my 66-3, and then at the bottom my old 640 in .38 Spl (my first carry gun under Texas CHL.)

Deaf
 
I carried a 4" Model 58 .41 Mag in the 1980s, on the clock in a duty rig, and off the clock in various IWB and OWB rigs. I gave up carrying N-frames because, really, they are too big for my hands to shoot well in DA mode, with a proper grip. Concealment and comfort while carrying were not problems.

As for anxiety about having only six rounds available, well, I believe most gunfights are decided with the first few rounds, so while higher capacity is a good thing to have, it is not the most important factor in staying alive. I tend to shoot medium and medium-large DA
sixguns well, under stress, which I find comforting.

I do see my threat profile as being a bit higher than normal, so I mitigate the limited
capacity of revolvers by carrying second guns. The second gun may be an auto or revolver; I am not prejudiced in that regard. One of the two is almost always a revolver, and it does not matter which one is "primary."
 
Oh yeah!! Carry it!! I just hedge my bet with a J-Frame in the off-side pocket with a speed strip in the strong side pocket.

I even occasionally carry all fifty+ ounces of a Ruger Alaskan in the appendix position. I prefer my Model 24.

N-Frame + J-Frame = good to go!

Alaskan-800x600-muzzle.jpg

photo-22-4.jpg
 
Hey Tomrkba, do you mind if I ask where those Kydex Speed Strip holders are from? Looks interesting. I don't believe I have seen those before. Thanks.
 
I build those speed strip holders myself. They have very little tension--the strip stays in it so long as it is in the pocket. You can buy all the stuff from knifekits.com. I use .06" thick kydex.
 
Are you going to try to make one? Thread has a list of tools and general guidelines. The holder is much easier than a holster (not that making a holster is difficult).

Pictoral Guide to Making a Kydex Holster

http: //rugerforum.net/projects/49884-pictoral-guide-making-kydex-holster.html

^ remove the space
 
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Just go buy a bunch of Guayabera style shirts. People will compliment you on your classiness. The High Road will compliment you on your N-Frame.

Go OWB.

Give Lobogunleather a shot for a really nice leather holster.
 
I was thinking about it Tom. I figured start simple to learn the necessary skills. By the way, your link only opened to the general website for me. I would be interested if you have the link.

In line at Lobo. Can't wait. :D
 
Try pasting the link in post #22 into your browser minus the space character. It didn't work for me either for some reason.
 
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