Mountain Gun 2.0 Update

[rickhem]

I like the way you think 5shot!!!!!

[Ernie]

I am definitely interested in the 357.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Nice Smith 5shot. I will be awaiting your recoil report with some big boomers

They are 6 shot N-frames(the 629).........I have one from the first run many years ago.

[BigAl52]

Nice Smith 5shot. I will be awaiting your recoil report with some big boomers

They are 6 shot N-frames(the 629).........I have one from the first run many years ago.

Yes thanks Im well aware of that model being a 629 6 shot. Its also lighter than the standard 4 inch N frame which like 5shot mentioned was not fun shooting with full house 44 mag loads. My comment was meant in fun at 5shot. Because of his recoil comment in another post

[5shot]

Confession time. I've hunted for years with .44's, .454's and the .475 Linebaugh in my avatar but this .44 magnum Mountain gun with full power loads is a little too much. I shot a few cast gas checked Lyman 255's over a full serving of 2400 and bloodied the knuckle on my signaling finger. It seems a shame to pull these beautiful Bobby Tyler "Bear Hug" grips but there will be a Houge "Tamer" grip going on here.

But all is well because according to Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore the 255 gr. at 1000 fps will penetrate to the other side of most any critter. And....it's still fun to shoot at that level.

Maybe with the "Tamer" grip on I can rethink where the "Happy Place" is but I doubt if it will be 1300 fps.

[BigAl52]

Confession time. I've hunted for years with .44's, .454's and the .475 Linebaugh in my avatar but this .44 magnum Mountain gun with full power loads is a little too much. I shot a few cast gas checked Lyman 255's over a full serving of 2400 and bloodied the knuckle on my signaling finger. It seems a shame to pull these beautiful Bobby Tyler "Bear Hug" grips but there will be a Houge "Tamer" grip going on here.

But all is well because according to Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore the 255 gr. at 1000 fps will penetrate to the other side of most any critter. And....it's still fun to shoot at that level.

Maybe with the "Tamer" grip on I can rethink where the "Happy Place" is but I doubt if it will be 1300 fps.

.

Am I ok saying I got a good chuckle out of your confession post. Did the vocabulary take a turn for the worse afterwards.

[daytime dave]

Thanks for the honesty. I somewhat enjoy the recoil of a .357 magnum with good grips. I tolerate the recoil of a .44 magnum with good grips. I have no experience with any of the Mountain guns Smith has made. They are a nice carrying gun I've heard.
Your comments and discussion are very much appreciated.

[5shot]

Confession time. I've hunted for years with .44's, .454's and the .475 Linebaugh in my avatar but this .44 magnum Mountain gun with full power loads is a little too much. I shot a few cast gas checked Lyman 255's over a full serving of 2400 and bloodied the knuckle on my signaling finger. It seems a shame to pull these beautiful Bobby Tyler "Bear Hug" grips but there will be a Houge "Tamer" grip going on here.

But all is well because according to Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore the 255 gr. at 1000 fps will penetrate to the other side of most any critter. And....it's still fun to shoot at that level.

Maybe with the "Tamer" grip on I can rethink where the "Happy Place" is but I doubt if it will be 1300 fps.

.

Am I ok saying I got a good chuckle out of your confession post. Did the vocabulary take a turn for the worse afterwards.

I may have mentioned the unedited version of son-of-a-gun. When I bought it I had no intentions of running this thing at full throttle but just like a kid doing a test drive I had to "Put the pedal to the metal and see what she's got"

[5shot]

I've removed the pretty but painful grips wood grips from the 629 and replaced them with an ugly but comfortable Pachmayr. I've settled on a load of an RCBS powder coated 245 SWC which drop from my mold at 253 grains. At 1050 fps that should be enough horsepower to get out of any trouble I'll encounter in Wisconsin and it's accurate and pleasant to shoot.

After reconciling with the .44 the LGS called that a .357 Mountain gun 686+ just came in.... I couldn't help myself....it seemed only right that the little sibling should join the family. The trigger seemed a little heavy at the shop but after shooting it a bit I realized it needed some attention. I have a buddy that's a machinist but could have been a watchmaker. We replaced the 18lb. trigger rebound spring with a Wolff 14 lb. and he spotted a burr just below the trigger/sear engagement surfaces. The man wears a jewelers loupe when he tinkers. I doubt I would have spotted that but it was enough to cause a little bit of creep. A few swipes with an extra fine stone solved the issue without messing with the critical sear engagement shelf. Trigger pull went from 5 1/2 lbs with some creep to a crisp and consistent 3 lbs.10oz pull which rivals the Smith triggers from the days of old.

I haven't settled on a woods load yet but she's sighted in right now with a full power 158gr XTP over H110. Took the pretty grips off and went with a Hogue. I've done a little shaping on the Hogue with a little more to come.

Mountain Guns.jpg

[DsGrouse]

Nice. I was hoping they would bring one out in 45 colt..

[North Country Gal]

Being a revolver shooter and a S&W revolver shooter, I have been enjoying this thread. Thank-you. As a lifelong 44 mag shooter, myself, yeah, I do understand the recoil issues.

As another Wisconsin cheesehead I've also moved down to the 357 as my serious woods carry gun, just in case one of our local black bears turn aggressive. Not at all likely, but if and when, there's not a bear in our area that could not be taken with a 357 shooing 180 gran hard cast, such as the Buffalo Bore load.

Right now, the only 357 I have is my old Ruger Security Six with a 6" barrel. Not exactly a mountain gun, but the old timer is very reliable. Oh, and I also have a 357 mag Marlin lever gun with an 18 1/2" barrel. Now that is some serious bear medicine if I ever needed it.

[5shot]

Nice. I was hoping they would bring one out in 45 colt..

I'm not sure about .45 Colt. I had a blued MG about 15 years ago and the cylinder throat diameter was so far off it was difficult to get accuracy. I don't remember the numbers now for sure but I think it was .456". I suspect they would have addressed that issue by now though.

I've heard rumors about both .45 Colt AND .41 Mag. If the .41 becomes available my self control would crumble like a cookie.

[5shot]

Geeing a revolver shooter and a S&W revolver shooter, I have been enjoying this thread. Thank-you. As a lifelong 44 mag shooter, myself, yeah, I do understand the recoil issues.

As another Wisconsin cheesehead I've also moved down to the 357 as my serious woods carry gun, just in case one of our local black bears turn aggressive. Not at all likely, but if and when, there's not a bear in our area that could not be taken with a 357 shooing 180 gran hard cast, such as the Buffalo Bore load.

Right now, the only 357 I have is my old Ruger Security Six with a 6" barrel. Not exactly a mountain gun, but the old timer is very reliable. Oh, and I also have a 357 mag Marlin lever gun with an 18 1/2" barrel. Now that is some serious bear medicine if I ever needed it.

NCG. In regard to a subject you referenced in another thread I too have been visited by the "Itus" family. I can still handle toned down .44's and full power .357 and agree that .357 is very capable. Here's the BUT...The bear in my avatar was a 9 1/2 year old 285 lb. sow with no cubs that was shot over bait at 32 yards. She took a 330 gr. flat nose .475 Linebaugh bullet through both lungs, the top of her heart and offside front leg and still traveled 80 yards incredibly fast. When I walked up on her she was in heavy cover and facing her backtrack dead fortunately. I don't want to derail this and turn it into a bear protection thread but they can be mighty tough. Although Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore thought a .357 with the bullet you referred to was a good thing to have even in grizzly country.

I have a 4" Security Six I bought new when they first were introduced probably 50 years ago. There have been thousands of rounds run through that thing and many were pretty hot and it's still tight and accurate....and not for sale!

[North Country Gal]

Yeah, bears are amazing animals. Black bears are so adaptable, too.

I really wish those Ruger Six Series revolvers were more common around, here. I see very, very few of them and when one comes up for sale, they disappear fast. I always keep an eye open for one at gun shows or gun shops, but slim pickings.

Ruger Six DAs don't have the fit and finish or fine lock work of a Smith or Colt, but Ruger Six series DA revolvers are just so simple and reliable, shot after shot, no matter what you feed them that you can't help but trust them. I put the usual ugly Pachy grips on mine and it makes it a sweetheart to shoot.

[5shot]

I picked up a Bianchi model 111 crossdraw that fits the 686 perfectly. It was in barely used condition in the bargain bin at the LGS for $25. The Galco DAO is either crossdraw or hip holster and is a great fit for the 629. Hope to spend some quality woods time with both of these guns.

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[North Country Gal]

Nice rigs. Should serve you, well.