696 and 624

[Raspy]

I recently got a beautiful 696 no dash and am wondering what the difference is between that and the 624? Both 5 shot, L frame, 44 spl in stainless as far as I know. I think the 624s were made in the mid '80s only and the 696s from '96 to '01, is that right? Pictures of a 624 would be great.

Thanks.

John

 

[murphydog]

Hi, no photos, but the 624 is a six-shot stainless N frame.

 

[GLL]

John:

The 624 is a 6 shot N frame !

Jerry

4" 624

 

[Raspy]

Oh, Thanks.


Nice picture!

 

[RdrBill]

Raspy.
A 696 can look like this: Recoil with cowboy loads was nasty. Never shot again with these grips.

A 3 inch 624 can look like this: This configuration of grips was terrible, with a grip adaptor added I felt like I was squeezing an ice cream cone. I buried this junker in the bottom of the .44 bucket.

A 4 inch 624 can look like this: This shoots and carries best with target stocks.

None have factory grips in the photo. They are put together to suit my taste that day. Grips can change and grip adaptors can be added. What ever it takes to fill your hand.
The 696 is a somewhat delicate thing suited for ladies as a purse gun.
The 624 3 inch round butt annoys me when I shoot it.
The 624 with target stocks or magna and a grip adaptor is a mans gun.
Bill@Yuma

 

[ArgMauser]

You're just teasing, right? Bill, if that Mod 624, 3-inch, annoys you too much, just let me know. BTW, nice pics.

 

[sheriffoconee]

My "purse" gun

A 696 can look like this too...I have three sets of stocks...
These are quite pleasant with cowboy loads...

 

[Dale53]

Here's my two 624's (a 4" and a 6½" with grips made for shooting, not looking):

These are a couple of near wonderful revolvers. My most used field load is the Skeeter load (7.5 grs of Unique behind a 250 gr Keith bullet).

Dale53

 

[RdrBill]

Here's my two 624's (a 4" and a 6½" with grips made for shooting, not looking):
Dale53

Sir.
You are correct. They may not be pretty grips, but they do work well.
Bill@Yuma

 

[MMA10mm]

Raspy, another interesting point of difference is that the 696 has a heavy barrel (straight or nearly straight taper from frame to muzzle) with a full underlug; whereas the 624, of any length, has a lighter-weight tapered barrel which starts off as thick as the heavy barrel at it's junction with the frame, but then quickly tapers to a thinner profile which extends on out to the muzzle. Hard to really compare apples-to-apples as far as the difference this makes, because the frame size difference plays into the overall weight issue as well... But, it is a visual cue (along with counting the flutes and their locations on the cylinder, as the five-shot and six-shot cylinders have the flutes line up very differently) that can quickly discern a 624 from a 696.

 

[GLL]

Dale:

I use the exact same Pachmayr grips on all of my N-frames when they go to the range !

The wood is for the BBQ !

Jerry

Jerry

 

[Smile]

A 3 inch model 24 with its tapered barrel is very appealing to me, especially with nice classic grips.
Not an easy item to find over there. Neither the gun nor the bones or horn made classic grips.
However, wood grips such as those from NILL can fit hard kicking real shooters.
Don't think material matters. Design is the real concern don't you think?
Nonetheless, don't you think classic grips,made of wood, bones or horn, can feel right in the hand. As long as we do not shoot a light speed fast 300 grain shell from a 2 inch titanium J frame ... Hihihi!

 

[Dale53]

Actually, I cannot shoot anything with more recoil than a .38 Special with wood grips of ANY design. It may just be my own hand design, but the base of my thumb has NEVER been able to handle recoil with anything other than a good rubber grip. Pachmayrs fit me better than Hogue's, in general, but a couple of particular Hogue's have been acceptable for me.

I should have bought shares in Pachmayr with all of their grips I have and use regularly.

I am a bit like "Forest Gump" - "Pretty is as pretty does". For me that makes Pachmayr grips BEAUTIFUL!!

So THERE!! >))

Dale53

 

[TSQUARED]

I shoot some older blued S&W 44 specials in addition to a 624 and 696. I use mild loads of Trail Boss and the 245 gr. LSWC in all my 44's. When shooting my 44's I equip them with either Pachmayr or Hogue rubber grips. The 696 is surprisingly accurate for a short barreled revolver.

 

[DCWilson]

Just my opinion, but a 696 equipped with factory combats will shoot any load I have tried painlessly.

Dale 53, I also have a base-of-thumb problem, but it is tied to narrowness of grip rather than caliber. A wider wood grip seems to reposition my grasp just enough to protect the sensitive part of my hand from the major rearward push.

 

[JNewell]

Raspy.
A 696 can look like this: Recoil with cowboy loads was nasty. Never shot again with these grips.
None have factory grips in the photo. They are put together to suit my taste that day. Grips can change and grip adaptors can be added. What ever it takes to fill your hand.
The 696 is a somewhat delicate thing suited for ladies as a purse gun.
The 624 3 inch round butt annoys me when I shoot it.
The 624 with target stocks or magna and a grip adaptor is a mans gun.
Bill@Yuma

Wood grips would not be my first choice, but with the load I usually shoot in my 696 and 396 (200 gr Gold Dot factory loads), I would not say recoil is nasty - even in the 396 that weighs half what the 696 weighs.