I looked for a 696 for a while until I finally found one here on the forum, a ND for $800 seemed fair to me at the time. I think for $650 you should buy it and then decide how you like it. I'm past my magnum days pretty much as well (.357 & .41 excetions) and absolutely love a 44 special and the 45 colt. Only having 5 rounds never bothered me with a J frame, certainly not a problem with 5 44's at the ready.