M696

[Daimler1989]

Hi,

owning two S&W I strongly encouraged my wife to shoot them both - she will start the course for her hunting license here in Germany and probably will have some gun permits next year. She never shot a handgun before, but with my 17-4 she put 30 rounds at distances between 10 and 20 meters on a paper target on a postcard-sized spot. With five 38 spl round in my 27-3 she hit the black center of the target as well. Now she is in revolvers , very talented girl.

Today, I had the chance to reserve a no-dash 696 for her - my preferred gunsmith found one through a former german S&W distributor, unfired, in a blue S&W plastic box with two sets of stocks. It wil stay there for about 10 months before she can get her permit to buy and registrate it. I thought it might be a good idea to get hands on it before someone else does. How are your experiences with the 696? Any input welcome

best regards
Ulrich

 

[diamonback68]

Ulrich, good luck on your wife's new 696.
I have a 696-1 and would never part with it.
I mentioned in the New Member section: "Willkommen und miene frau ist aus Osnabruck".
Enjoy!

 

[bronco45]

I have owned two of the 696s. Loved them both. The forcing cone is thin but when reasonable ammo is used it should last longer than you or I. I used a 200 gr bullet at or about 900fps and both of 696s shot very well.

They are an excellent product and really shine if one has the ability to reload. My favorite lead bullet load in that gun is a 215 SWCL over 7grains of Unique.

They are good guns: enjoy yours.

 

[Daimler1989]

Hi,

@foodfuzz: A nice looking 696. The one I reserved has quite interesting features: A green-yellow HIVIZ front sight, and a finger groove combat grip made by Nill, Germany (feels very good, but probably a bit too thick for my wife's hands). I think about getting a Ahrends Retro Banana for it, which I think is slimmer - I have a Ahrends square butt smooth combat for my 17-4 and find it a very very good revolver grip.

best regards
Ulrich

 

[Stainz]

Here, for comparison, is my 4" 629 sporting Ahrends Retro Targets and my 696-1 sporting Ahrends Square Conversion, non-finger grooved, grips. Both are cocobolo. I have the Retro Targets on my 4" 617, too, and they are the same size and feel externally, just milled internally for the K/L vs N frames. The Retro Targets are thinner - but a bit wider - and with a flat heel. The Square Conversions are thicker, a little less width, and have an upturned heel. I loved them until I discovered the Retro Targets. I need more of them - the ones on the 629 were borrowed from my 627 Pro!

The 696 is a fun revolver - but I really don't know what it's function should be. I bought mine new ($439 + s/t Jan/03) - and tried to wear it out shooting 240gr LSWC homebrews in both .44 Russian and Special cases from 692-780 fps for five years. It's an easy, all-day shooter. Too nice to be a bedside gun - too low powered for woods protection. The 4" 629 is a lot more utilitarian for me - and only six ounces heavier.

Stainz

 

[NE450No2]

I have a friend in Alaska, he is a bear guide.

he has the 5 shot S&W 44 Special and carries it for a backu.

He loads the 44 Special with 300+grain bullets to 44 Mag levels.

He said "The cylinder of the 5 shot 44 Special is thicker in every dimension vs the 44 Mags."

The gun is smaller, and handier than a 44 Mag Mountain Revolver.

He has shot it a little bit with his loads, and said, it did not blow up, so it should work when I shoot the next five[ meaning at an attacking bear].

He does practice with lighter loads.

His revolver looked OK, to me, was tight in all the right places.

I checked his "cylinder theory" against the 44 Mag Mountain Gun I was carrying, and must admit the 44 Special cylinder did have more steel all round.

I just wonder about the actual heat treatment between them???

 

[Daimler1989]

He loads the 44 Special with 300+grain bullets to 44 Mag levels.

I checked his "cylinder theory" against the 44 Mag Mountain Gun I was carrying, and must admit the 44 Special cylinder did have more steel all round.

Hi,

that's quite interesting. My gunsmith advised me to select bullet weight carefully - better with lighter bullets because of the thin forcing cone. 200 grs. should be okay, he said. I'm a reloader, so there might be only a smaller problem to make light and easy shootable plinking loads with 200 grs. lead bullets. How about recoil of the 696 with loads at a range from 650 t0 800 fps?

regards
Ulrich

 

[diamonback68]

He loads the 44 Special with 300+grain bullets to 44 Mag levels.

He has shot it a little bit with his loads, and said, it did not blow up, so it should work when I shoot the next five[ meaning at an attacking bear].

He does practice with lighter loads.

The operative words here are "shot it a little bit with his loads". I would not like to be around when he trys the second, third or fourth cylinder full of these in a thin forcing cone L-frame gun like the 696. If that gun could take 300+GR .44MAG levels, I am sure Smith would have made them long ago. Tell your friend to wear good hand and eye protection. JMNSHO

 

[Stainz]

I have shot ~100 200gr Speer Gold Dots, a few in Al case, most my reloads or GA Arms (836 fps). Add some 215gr LSWC... and literally thousands of 240gr LRNFP & LSWC rounds from 692-743 fps from Starline .44 Russian brass and up to 743 fps from mixed .44 Special brass. Some leading on the fc and in both the barrel and chamber (With the short cased Russians.) was noted - easily removed with a Lewis Lead Remover. No damage has been noted in any way - it is still tight as a drum. My loads, admittedly, are all day plinkers - even with wood grips.

I did note poor accuracy, 5 rounds made a 4 ft circle at 100yd, in some 240gr LSWC loads with bullets from Magnus. Pulled 50 - they were, like the rest I tested, .426-.427 in - apparently sized for .44-40, not the listed .430". I mic new bullets now!

Like I said, a 4" - better yet, a 3" Trail Boss - 629 makes more sense as a Keith level .44 S&W Special launcher than the 696 - if you expect a long life. Still, it's fun. Look down the barrel, with the cylinder swung out, for a ring where the barrel touches the frame front. Some were overtightened. Also, check that forcing cone!

Stainz

 

[jag312]

I have a 696 and I love it. Very accurate with moderate recoil. I shoot 200 grain lead bullets for practice; either .44 Special or .44 Russian. It isn't a .44 Magnum, and I don't load my cartridges to .44 Magnum levels. If I wanted a .44 Magnum, I would have bought a 29 or 629. It is my primary carry gun, and I know that if I ever need it in a serious situation, the .44 Special will get the job done.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I have a 696 and I love it. Very accurate with moderate recoil. I shoot 200 grain lead bullets for practice; either .44 Special or .44 Russian. It isn't a .44 Magnum, and I don't load my cartridges to .44 Magnum levels. If I wanted a .44 Magnum, I would have bought a 29 or 629. It is my primary carry gun, and I know that if I ever need it in a serious situation, the .44 Special will get the job done.

+1

 

[M29since14]

I have a 696, too. I am not a fan of magnaported barrels, and happened to buy it not realizing it was one of those...

I shot it a little and liked it, except for the magnasnorting, so had it rebarrelled. It turned out to be a good choice. It's a great little gun! (I also dislike round-butt frames on guns like this, but a set of conversion stocks takes care of that.)

My 696 is very accurate up close, but have to admit I have never shot it at longer range. I would hope it would do better than 4-ft. at 100 yards.

I shot Winchester 246 gr. LRN to test the gun initially, which shot VERY well, and have been using mild handloads with 250 gr. cast Keith type bullets. It is a handy little gun, but having had a look at that barrel shank, I wouldn't even consider anything beyond about 800-850 FPS.

 

[Spotteddog]

The only thing I've ever been able to determine was wrong with a 696, is that they quit making them!
No Dash since 98', and a happy camper. So happy in fact, that the 696 waits on my side of the night stand for things that go bump in the night. That's how good a gun and a load I think of it as being.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

The only thing I've ever been able to determine was wrong with a 696, is that they quit making them!
No Dash since 98', and a happy camper. So happy in fact, that the 696 waits on my side of the night stand for things that go bump in the night. That's how good a gun and a load I think of it as being.

+1

 

[NE450No2]

I did advise him that I would back the loads down a bit. He did have a very strong crimp on his loads.

 

[Daimler1989]

handloads

Hi,

thanks for the input about handloads and bullet weight on the .44 spl. Of course I don't want to make a Magnum of a 696, otherwise I would have advised my wife to buy one. The fact is: I think the 696 is more suitable for her than a 357 mag because of recoil. I guess I will stick with 180/200 grs bullets for the .44 spl loads. In my long gone M29 I shot a lot of 245 grs LSWC with 5 grs N320 - it was a pleasure to shoot (very mild) and deadly accurate (won me a german national championship back in 1988). Probably I will try my first loads with that type of powder, with a charge somewhere between 4,5 and 5 grs and a leab bullet of H&N 200grs Flatpoint HP.

Still there is a ten month wait

regards
Ulrich

 

[Sportsterguy]

Ulrich
Hello again. I have included a picture of my 696-1. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine.
Bob

Beautiful Smith! It's next on my "Must Have List"! Wife has me on probation for a year as I've exceeded my limit on S&W's.

You'll love that 696. Great all around Smith and the perfect size "L" frame for handling and shooting. It'll also be a great investment.

 

[Allen-frame]

696 no dash

Ulrich , welcome indeed. I could not imagine waiting anything like 10 months for a revolver.

But here are some good old sayings to maybe help.

"Good things come to those who wait."
"patience is a virtue."

I have a 696 no dash like yours. It can be a handful with 240 gr. l.s.w.c.s loaded to factory levels. Rubber grips help aid control and felt recoil.

the K-L round butt gives a wide range of grip choices.

Regards ,,,AllenFrame

 

[Spotteddog]

Hey Allen!
Would you like to rent out those Bianchi "Bodyguard's" so we all could try them? I've always envisioned the 696 or it's ilk as being the type of gun they were designed for?

 

[TSQUARED]

Ulrich,
I enjoy shooting my S&W 696 with mild loads using Trail Boss and the 240 gr. LSWC at ca 650 to 700 fps.
Tony