I have always been a strong believer that there is no such thing as a bad dog......just bad owners. Rotties, Pits and the like are born into this world to be just as wonderful as any other. Owners abuse, poorly train, miss handle them and consequently 'create' mean and agressive dogs.

The same can be said of some gun owners. Smith and other companys design weapons for a specific purpose and when they are used as designed, they function exceptionally well. However, there is a tendancy of some to 'magnumize' a non-magnum. We see it in rifles as well....get that extra couple hundred feet per second and it will shoot flatter, reach out longer, and knock down better. In rifles, the cost of such is fried barrels, poor accuracy, and blown actions. In handguns, it equates to lose actions, end shake, and....split forcing cones.

The solution.....if you want more performance in your rifle than designed, sell your 308 and get a 458. In handguns, specifically the 44 Special, if you want more performance, get a 44 Magnum. Simple concept.

And, I have never ever heard, read, seen, or even dreamed that Smith ceased the manufacture of the 696 because of a 'thin' forcing cone. As with most company decisions, sales and profit dictate.