I have a couple of M69 4 1/4 inchers and one 2 3/4". The the 4 1/4" guns have seen 2,800 and 5,800 respectively. The 2,800 rounder went back to S&W at 2,300 apprx for binding -- the fixed the crane/yoke (all on their dime) and all has been good since.

The 2 3/4" gun has a little over 400 rnds thru it with without a problem. Here's my recent experience with the newly introduced 2 ¾” S&W M69 (5 shot L Frame .44 Magnum).

Single action trigger broke at a bit over 4 lbs on my RCBS trigger scale. Throats are between .429 & .430 (.429 plug gage go, .430 no go). Didn’t measure bbl/cyl gap because I could find my feeler gages. Gun weighs 35 oz with Hogue 500 grips.

Shot a fairly wide range of ammo ranging from 200 Saeco full wadcutters to 325gr WLNGCs and 22.0gr of H110. Don’t remember the 200gr WC load, but performance on paper was terrible. The best groups at both 25 and 50 yds were shot with a MBW 260gr WFNGC, 23.0gr H100, Fed Mag Primer and new Top Brass. This load shot a bit over 2” at 50 yds. Thought this was a fluke so to verify I shot 5 more with similar results.

The little gun is an absolute delight to shoot with both .44 special equivalent and full mag loads. The lighter loads are obviously more fun for extended shooting sessions.

I have both 4 ¼” and the new 2.75” M69s. My impression is that the 2.75” gun shoots “softer” recoil wise than the 4 ¼” version. I’ve chronographed both with the same loads and the short barrel runs about 100 fps slower than it’s longer brother – this moderates recoil. Of course, you get a bit of muzzle flash with H110 loads. Both of mine are equipped with the S&W 500 X Frame Hogue grips.

Here are some chronograph results:

Chronoed these from the 2.75” M69. Three rounds at 5 Long paces from muzzle and 68 deg F. Larger sample could change the results a bit. Largest ES was 42 fps.

260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,125 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,126 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,125 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (Deep Seat) 1,119 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,104 fps

For comparison purposes these were shot a while back from my 4 ¼” M69: Same temp, distance from the muzzle.

260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,224 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,230 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,220 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (deep seat) 1,140 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,182

Here's one of the 50 yd targets



Crummy pic with a couple of holsters made for my 396.



FWIW,

Paul