This morning while visiting the only LGS that’s open on Sunday, I spotted this 296, a gun that was definitely not on my radar - strictly an impulse buy, as are all my gun purchases. It’ll fit in nicely with my 329 and 342PDs. Wish it was black, to my eye silver looks cheap. It’s definitely not the sexiest Smith, in fact it’s so ugly, it’s kinda cute. I have a 100 ct box of Speer 200 gr Gold Dot bullets that now have a purpose.

Who has one, experiences?

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FBINA 213

I've had mine for several years and have posted it before. I got it in a trade at a gun show and thought it would be a great winter carry gun.

I put the Ahrends Retro Banana grips on it for looks and forgot to replace them with the rubber grips for LEOSA qualification. I was shooting 200 grain GDHP ammo for the qualification course of fire. Thirty rounds of daylight and 30 dim light. For some reason I did not "choke up" on the grip on the first station of fire. It broke the skin on the web of my right hand, but I was not going to stop. The range master asked me if I wanted to stop shooting when he noticed blood dripping from the bottom of my hand. When I go home I had to remove the grips to clean the blood off the frame (under the grips). It was totally my fault, for one not swapping out the grips and two for not holding the gun correctly. It was also the last time I ever qualified with the gun.

Like the 642ti that I carried as a backup/off duty gun for years, 364 days of pleasure and one day of pure agony.

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Bill

I have a 242TI which is a sister gun of yours in 38 sp +P.

It's a 7 shot.

Actually, I have two of them.

I think families with two 242's are a small demographic group.

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I can’t believe I never noticed the 296 or 242 before since I have a 342 and 329. I am just learning about all the night guards. Besides being silver instead of black, what are the differences between the 3XX guns? Scandium v. aluminum?

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FBINA 213

Yes, not the sexiest looking S&W ever but useful none the less. Has a surprisingly good DAO trigger. This one also came from a gun show, some guy walking around who didn't want it any more. Carried it on the ranch with snake loads until I got a Governor.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

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That’s brutal!

Lucky NV LEOSA qualification doesn’t require me to qualify with every gun I want to carry - 30 rds from one gun and done. This allows me to carry any auto or revolver.

I am thinking about putting factory bananas or Ahrends maple retro combats on her. I’ll leave the factory Uncle Mikes in the case and put the Eagle Secret Service grips on a 2.5” 19-4.

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FBINA 213

It’s so ugly it’s kind of cute

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In memory of Labworm

I had a girlfriend like that. The key was to focus on her figure, not her face.

Experience taught me at least one mod thinks "figure" is family friendly. Otherwise I'd have been more specific.

i pocket carry a 638 every day to work. I think the 296 is beautiful!

I always buy guns to use up orphaned ammo.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Me too. I have 6 rounds of 44 special that needed purpose. I also found 100 200 gr gold dot bullets that need attention.

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FBINA 213

I was recently reunited with a 296. Had sold my original some years ago and was lucky enough to get a second chance. I like em.

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I cant think of any uglier Smith than that Quaismodo

To my eye, the plastic Smith autos aren’t far behind.

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FBINA 213

Some years ago I handled an as new in box 296 priced $600 at a gun show on a Saturday. At the time it was a good but not great price. Using rare restraint and wisdom I decided to go home and fire some Skeeter Skelton .44 Special loads through my 696. My all steel gun recoiled enough. Shooting is supposed to be fun. I did not go back.

No uglier than any other "humpback" IMO.
But then the "humpbacks" are all a bit homely looking to me.
Definitely NOT S&W's most attractive design.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

But useful. I have a 296. I find it to be less unpleasant to shoot than a similar J frame .38, but I am not using real stout loads, either. The Skeeter load in this? No thanks. I have plenty of chest hair already. I use the 200 grain Gold Dot and find it reasonable to shoot.

It is my fanny pack gun, the one I carry when walking the dogs. It is chosen for that role because the odds of a dog attack are higher than those of any other problem requiring a gun, and in such a fracas a contact shot is vital to ensure I don't hurt my dog. Revolvers are better for that scenario.

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NHI, 10-8.

They were never supposed to be beauty queens thats for sure, Mine has some use and although it ain't pretty I trust it as much as mu 396 or 696. those I trust 17% (1 round) less than my 325s