I just posted this on another thread earlier but once again.

The 696 is a nice gun. Stick with standard .44 Spl loads and it will last you forever, try to mimic Elmer Keith and you can kiss it goodbye.

The problem is the forcing cone is thin. There's a reason S&W quit making these.

When the 696 came out I looked at them but went for the 686+ instead.

I don't own a 696 and probably never will at the prices they are going for. I do however own a Taurus 445 which is about the same size. It also has a thin forcing cone. It was made to shoot .44 Spl at standard velocity and that's all I shoot in it.

I have a few N frame .44 Spls, I have no regrets about shooting hotter loads in any of these but they are just built better.