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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 02-11-2012, 10:05 PM
B. Burris B. Burris is offline
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Default 696 cast bullet loads.

Ok folks, time to fess up! What is your favorite cast bullet load for your L-frame .44 special? The thin barrel walls in the forcing cone area are a concern, so what load have you settled on? Anybody ever split the forcing cone area? What load were you using? I think this info would be valuable to the newer handloaders out there. Maybe help avoid problems. Sincerely, Bill
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Old 02-12-2012, 10:07 AM
zeke zeke is offline
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am using 200 lrnfp's at 800 fps. Essentially same poi as the 200 gn gd's at 900 fps.
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Old 02-12-2012, 10:30 AM
Mike, SC Hunter Mike, SC Hunter is offline
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250 gr. cast SWC. Lyman or Saeco pushed by 7.5 grs. of Unique. All my specials live on this diet.
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Old 02-12-2012, 11:43 AM
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I use any lead bullit from 225 grn to 250 grn. For my 696, I keep my loads to the milder side, 5.4 grns of 231, & 6.5 grns Unique.
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Old 02-12-2012, 02:24 PM
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I don't use cast bullets. For practice I use 200 grain copper plated lead bullets from X-Treme Bullets with 4.5 grains 700-X. The average velocity is 775 ft/sec.
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Old 02-16-2012, 09:16 PM
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I've been shooting a couple of 696's since the late 1990's. Great little go along gun for me. I've not noticed any wear in forcing cone area after years of use w cast bullets. I have found a very comfortable load to practice with, especially double-action.

200 gr. cast RNFP from any good caster, .429 - .430 sized with 8.0 gr. of AA5. It has been an accurate load out to 30-40 yds.

A somewhat stouter load that I've had good luck with is

200 RNFP with 7.8 gr. Universal Clays.

I have shot 240 gr. cast SWC bullets using 6.8 - 7.0 gr. Universal Clays or Unique. Sometimes I get lucky w my hold and it will drop a black tailed jack out as far as 50 yds.

The Skeeter Skelton load is a bit tough in my hands, so I tend to load down a bit.
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Old 02-16-2012, 09:54 PM
Finn McCool Finn McCool is offline
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I use 240 gr LSWC and 6.0 gr. of Unique. I'm happy with the accuracy.
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Old 02-17-2012, 07:54 AM
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I get 730 fps from a 240gr LSWC over 4.5gr Titegroup from my 696-1. A real fun all-day load is that bullet over 3.5gr Titegroup in a .44 Russian case for 692 fps - still makes major power factor.

I got the same range - 835-840 fps - from CCI Blazers, GA Arms brass cased, or my homebrews (over 5.7gr Titegroup) with the Speer #4427 200 gr Gold Dot.

Stainz
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Old 02-17-2012, 08:31 AM
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VAdoublegunner VAdoublegunner is offline
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I don't baby the gun, but neither do I intend to make it into a magnum either. I feel comfortable using full level 44 Special loads, and perhaps even a little more if necessary based on articles Brian Pearce has published in Handloader about the 44 Special, and in particular the strength of the 696.

My favorite load is a Speer 240gr LSWC with 7.5gr WSF and a WLP. This is a decent handload giving just under 900fps. It will take care of most necessary tasks. A fun plinking load is 8.0gr WSF and a 200gr LSWC or LRN for just under 1000fps.

I do have a few field handloads using JHP bullets, specifically the Speer 200gr JHP designed for 44 Special with the cavernous hollow point or the Hornady 240 XTP, that are loaded a good bit hotter based on Pearce's articles in Handloader. However, I only use them sparingly and always make sure the barrel and forcing cone are completely clean and free of any lead residue before shooting them in it.
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Old 02-18-2012, 12:27 AM
B. Burris B. Burris is offline
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VAdoublegunner, which issue of Handloader had the Brian Pierce article on 696 strength, if you don't mind my asking. By your name I assume you like shotguns with barrels like this OO? :-)
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Old 02-19-2012, 01:15 AM
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arroyoshark arroyoshark is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B. Burris View Post
VAdoublegunner, which issue of Handloader had the Brian Pierce article on 696 strength, if you don't mind my asking. By your name I assume you like shotguns with barrels like this OO? :-)
Goin' out on a bit of limb here, but I have that issue stuck away somewhere. I recall it was in 2005, perhaps August or Sept.

The author did a similar interesting article on the .44 magnum in a later issue.
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Old 02-19-2012, 04:10 AM
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VAdoublegunner VAdoublegunner is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by B. Burris View Post
VAdoublegunner, which issue of Handloader had the Brian Pierce article on 696 strength,
Take a look at Handloader #236, August 2005. He presents a discussion of the categories of load levels for the 44 Special (15Kpsi, 22Kpsi, and 25Kpsi) based on type and generation of revolver, and mentions that "The S&W L-Frames feature five-shot cylinders with bolt notches located between chambers, resulting in strong chambers. The factory conducted some rather strenuous torture tests wherein the Model 696 easily endured pressures well beyond anything we will present here." That having been said, I tend to hold most of my loads in the lower level power range for most applications, but wouldn't necessarily feel too comfortable exceeding the upper level one either, not because of strength but because of possible long term usage damage due to thin forcing cone concerns.

I recall there may have been a discussion or two of higher than SAAMI pressure loads for the 44 Special in suitable guns (e.g. S&W N-frames) in his letter response columns as well. I feel very comfortable using loads in the 25Kpsi range in my 624 when the situation calls for it. Handloader #260 for example discusses loads for the Ruger mid-frame sized 44 Special Blackhawk at this power level.

And yes, absolutely right about the shotguns!
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Last edited by VAdoublegunner; 02-19-2012 at 04:20 AM. Reason: spelling/syntax
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  #13  
Old 02-20-2012, 11:37 PM
B. Burris B. Burris is offline
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VAdoublegunner, A bit off the subject, but I will tell you why I have the perfect wife. As a gunsmith, lots of tired old old Spanish and Belgium doubles have come my way. My wife used to watch me hour after hour lavishing attention on them to try to bring them back to usable condition. "Why do you spend so much time cussing and fiddling with those old shotguns?", she would ask. "Because they are basically decent guns, they are side by sides, and because on my meager Govt. retirement I can't afford a really high quality double gun." She walked away muttering. 3 months later, on Christmas morning 2009, There was a long box under the tree with my name on it. In the box was a brand new Merkel 20ga. 147EL. She had talked to a few of my bird hunting buddies, done the research, and ordered it for me with upgraded wood. I am not ashamed to admit that the tears flowed freely that Christmas morning. And yes, she has two sisters but neither care for firearms. And no, I wouldn't trade her for the entire Dallas cheerleading squad! Just thought you might like to hear about a woman that truly understands her mans heart. Bill
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Old 02-22-2012, 02:23 AM
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44_Triple Lock 44_Triple Lock is offline
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Default 696 cast bullet loads

Elmer Keith type (mould #429421)cast bullet 250 gr. with 7.3 grains of vihtavuori oy N-350 powder. My 696 just loves this combination, very accurate.
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44 magnum, 624, 696, gunsmith, hornady, ruger, russian, skeeter, skelton, universal

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