Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present
o

Notices

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


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #51  
Old 02-07-2014, 08:03 PM
41 fan 41 fan is offline
Member
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Loganville, Ga.
Posts: 354
Likes: 171
Liked 133 Times in 75 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by STCM(SW) View Post
Well, Taurus must have Superior engineering and metallurgy then S&W as there Tracker 5 shot revolver is made in .44 Magnum. It is a medum frame close enough to a S&W "L" frame.
So much for it can’t be done.

BTW, you are stating that a S&W revolver chambered in a cartrage that they developed over 100 years ago is unsafe with a load that has been around about 70 years.(7.5 Unique with a KSWC 250 gr.)
Amazing............
Chief,
Isn't the new model 69 an L frame in .44 mag?
The loads you recommended would probably cause excessive wear but would be very uncomfortable to fire as well. The load I shoot in my 696 is a 200 gr RNFP bullet at 825 fps, the same velocity as the Speer 200 gr GD. The recoil is not bad and the load shoot well for me. Dean
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old 02-07-2014, 08:58 PM
STCM(SW)'s Avatar
STCM(SW) STCM(SW) is offline
US Veteran
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: E. Washington State
Posts: 5,475
Likes: 1,321
Liked 10,568 Times in 3,212 Posts
Default

"Chief,
Isn't the new model 69 an L frame in .44 mag?
The loads you recommended would probably cause excessive wear but would be very uncomfortable to fire as well. The load I shoot in my 696 is a 200 gr RNFP bullet at 825 fps, the same velocity as the Speer 200 gr GD. The recoil is not bad and the load shoot well for me. Dean "

This is what S&W has to say of there new revolver

First L-Frame in .44 MagnumŽ
• Full Top Strap and Barrel Serration
• Ball-Detent Lock-Up
• 2-Piece Barrel

Smith & Wesson L-Frame revolvers are built to suit the demands of the most serious firearms enthusiast. The L-Frame has a strong, durable frame and barrel built for continuous MagnumŽ usage. As police officers and hunters will attest, this firearm is made to withstand heavy use.

ALL BACKED BY OUR SMITH & WESSON LIFETIME SERVICE POLICY.


Looks like I was right.
The only difference between a .44Spl brass & a .44 Magnum is .125.
__________________
Only difference Fool/Mule-ears
Reply With Quote
  #53  
Old 02-08-2014, 01:01 AM
41 fan 41 fan is offline
Member
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Loganville, Ga.
Posts: 354
Likes: 171
Liked 133 Times in 75 Posts
Default

Chief,
You are right about the difference in the case length, but that is not the only difference between the two guns. Many feel the weak link of the 696 is the portion of the barrel that threads through the frame is very thin. I have looked at a model 69 at my lgs, and that portion of the barrel is much thicker than the same area of my 696. The model 69 probably has a longer cylinder. They cylinder in my 696 is too short to be chambered for .44 magnum and use all common cartridge lengths in that caliber. I don't know for sure, but there could be a difference in the heat treatment of the two guns. Dean
Reply With Quote
  #54  
Old 02-08-2014, 02:23 PM
Marshal tom Marshal tom is offline
Member
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cedaredge Co.
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 11
Liked 2,729 Times in 969 Posts
Default

I traded my like new .357 Mtn Gun for a no dash a few months ago when it turned up in a LGS. Hated to sell my Mtn Gun but wanted the 696. I have only fired it once.
Reply With Quote
  #55  
Old 02-09-2014, 04:55 AM
Kilibreaux Kilibreaux is offline
Banned
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kalifornia
Posts: 501
Likes: 21
Liked 274 Times in 137 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Avery11 View Post
Thank you Fred. It sounds like I had better stick to my .41 for the woods or find a 4" or shorter .44 magnum.

Is the .44spl a cult chambering only? Is it at all desireable? I'm in no way having remorse, but it sounds like you are saying that the .44spl doesn't really do anything that the other more popular chamberings can't do just as well.
The introduction of the .357 Magnum way back in 1935 kind of eased the door closed on the .44 Special. Not so long ago the shooting world was down to just one "factory" .44 chambering in the Charter Arms Bulldog, along with a host of out of production S&W's. With modern metallurgy the .44Spl was a good fit into a smallish frame, 5 shot CC piece, and tosses a factory standar 246 grain LRN which certainly set it ahead of the .38 Spl snubbies. With the rise of the "big bore" craze came a resurgence of interest in the .44 Spl and special runs started appearing, but most people had moved on to the .44 Magnum as their "staple .44" and there wasn't much need or interest in a seperate, "special only" chambering. S&W started bringing out lighter versions of the Magnum which helped to stiffle handloaders from getting creative with the .44 Spl as has been the case with .44 Magnum "reduced loads," and with the .45 ACP and .45 Colt.

Even now, no sooner did S&W build an L frame, 5 shot, compact .44 Spl, they turn around and chamber the .44 Mag into the exact same size gun! Well, if the choice is a 300-ish lb-ft .44 Spl load in an L-frame, or an 800-ish lb-ft .44 Mag load which will MOST people grab? Sure there are a tiny number of improved performance loads for the Spl...barely, but considering that most handloaders will load down from full house magnum loads to something still more potent than the .44 Spl, their isn't much fervor to develop hotter loads that bring the Spl up to meet the Magnum.

The Bulldog's success was stuffing a thick-bodied round into a compact revolver (and CA hasn't strayed from that successful formula) which basically competes in the .38 Spl arena which creates the perception of it being "powerful," yet when the .44 Spl moves into the world of .45ACP/.45Colt chambered revolvers built heavy enough to accept "warmish" loads that double the .44 Spl's power, and of course lightweight M29's such as the Mountain gun that can handle much heavier loads that any warmed up .44 Spl, you see the old .44 Spl has simply become "irrelevant" to all but the dedicated firearms enthusiast/collector, someone who wants something "different" to play with, or...novices who don't know where the .44 Spl really lies within the convoluted spectrum of handgun cartridge "power." Having said that, Underwood builds a 255grain, Keith style LSWC load rated at 1,000 fps/566lb-ft which ain't too bad for urban defense...well ahead of any .38 Spl, on par with and snubbie fired .357 Mag yet delivering with a much heavier slug, and a tad more potent than factory +P.45ACP which means it's a worthwhile choice for those so inclined. As for proof against bear attack...well, anything is possible, but I would not expect to make a good showing against a large, dangerous animal with any handgun cartridge that doesn't provide at least 700lb-ft KE with a heavy, non-expanding bullet for caliber, and I personally feel 1,000lb-ft is the minimum.

Just my "buck-2-98" worth.
Reply With Quote
  #56  
Old 02-09-2014, 09:42 AM
bananaman's Avatar
bananaman bananaman is offline
Member
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hillsdale, Mi.
Posts: 7,474
Likes: 6,987
Liked 7,017 Times in 2,928 Posts
Default

Yes, I have wanted a Smith .44 Special for quite a while. Not really interested in a Magnum. (would not turn 1 down!) My closest solution, was a 625 JM. Love this gun! Soooo I will keep looking. Bob
Reply With Quote
  #57  
Old 04-24-2017, 06:00 PM
Berserker's Avatar
Berserker Berserker is offline
Member
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: WI
Posts: 447
Likes: 8
Liked 74 Times in 45 Posts
Default

Old thread. But wanted to add, I too think 8.5 grains of unique is a bad idea. Skeeter and Elmer were shooting 7.5. Manuals list 6.5 as max. But many think that is for old guns.


I have been curious about the thin forcing cone concerns The 69 is a lot thicker. But it is rated for 44 magnum.

I think the 69 would be a great gun with hot 44 specials. I have been tossing and turning on it for a long time. Is the extra inch worth it?
__________________
Beware the man with one gun.
Reply With Quote
  #58  
Old 04-24-2017, 07:10 PM
StakeOut's Avatar
StakeOut StakeOut is offline
US Veteran
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: NW of Austin Texas
Posts: 3,090
Likes: 1,351
Liked 4,938 Times in 1,730 Posts
Default

I just got a 696 no dash last week with original box and papers for a bit more than your 696-1.You'll like shooting the 696 and reloading for it.

Sellers on GB are asking $1000+.

Buying all my components cost me about $5.60 a box of 50 to reload.

I load a 240gr hard cast SWC over 4.0gr of Trail Boss and an S&B LP primer.

I also have a nickle 21-4.
__________________
NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN
Reply With Quote
  #59  
Old 04-24-2017, 07:29 PM
Berserker's Avatar
Berserker Berserker is offline
Member
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: WI
Posts: 447
Likes: 8
Liked 74 Times in 45 Posts
Default

I have been reloading 6.2-7 of unique. Going to do a big batch, probably all 6.5. They do need some speed to prevent key holing. I did some with 2400 too. But I am saving that for 357 and 44 magnums. I got a but of unique to use up.

I carry it with buffalo bore.

Got a Simply Rugged pancake for carrying it.
__________________
Beware the man with one gun.
Reply With Quote
  #60  
Old 04-24-2017, 09:21 PM
Snapping Twig's Avatar
Snapping Twig Snapping Twig is offline
Member
JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl JUST bought this 696-1 3 inch .44 spl  
Join Date: May 2007
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 527
Liked 3,813 Times in 1,243 Posts
Default

My 696 load is the same one I use in my N frames - 6.5g W231 under a 250g swc.

I figure it to be @ 850fps, got to chrono it one day.

It can easily take the Skeeter load of 7.5g Unique with the same bullet.

Loading a 250g 44Spl 850 to 900fps equals the 45 Colt exactly, which in my research exceeds a 45acp and makes it able to do 90% of whatever you need a handgun to do in the field.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
Reply

Tags
327, 44 magnum, 45acp, 629, 651, 686, 696, cartridge, colt, k frame, l frame, model 24, model 29, primer, rosewood, saa, silhouette, skeeter, skelton, smith & wesson, smith and wesson, smith-wessonforum.com, taurus

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
M31-1 32 4 Inch Bought Today DocB S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 7 02-10-2017 07:18 PM
Bought a Model 27-2 3 1/2 inch with box boykinlp S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 19 11-11-2013 07:00 PM
Just bought 686 4 inch Barrel 1bdvet S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 3 10-14-2012 10:54 AM
Just bought a 66-2 three inch Brian894x4 S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 20 09-22-2009 05:30 PM
Bought a 2 1/2 inch 19-4 today TWalker S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 26 10-17-2008 05:00 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:09 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)