How about it Smith, a 5 shot compact just like the Bulldog in the best cartridge in existance, the 44 special. 
Compact 44 special
- Thread starter ladder13
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I would sure think about buying a compact Smith in .44 spec. I have the Bulldog and it is the perfect size to carry. I think a Smith along these lines would sell.
Compact 44 Special ?
Would this not be along the lines of the 396NG ?
I am sure glad I got one before they quit making them again !!!
It always seems to me that no one wants 3" guns or 44 Specials
until poor Smith & Wesson discontinues them !!!
Would this not be along the lines of the 396NG ?
I am sure glad I got one before they quit making them again !!!
It always seems to me that no one wants 3" guns or 44 Specials
until poor Smith & Wesson discontinues them !!!
OP
I was thinking more of a J+ to K frame size.
DFrame
Member
Already been done. The 696 was a superb, relatively compact 44 five shooter. It was an L frame. Didn't sell well and now discontinued. I can't imagine a J frame 44. Seems to be nowhere near enough frame for the big calibre.
There's also a payback in terms of recoil. Ask anyone who owns the Charter gun.
There's also a payback in terms of recoil. Ask anyone who owns the Charter gun.
OP
An L frame is not a compact, I have a 696. The Charter is for defensive purposes, not target shooting.
696= 37 OZ
Bulldog= 21 OZ
696= 37 OZ
Bulldog= 21 OZ
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DFrame
Member
You are correct the 696 is an L frame. But it's more than compact enough for most people, and the J frame is still too small to support anything much bigger than 36 calibre.
KLYDE
Member
Ladder,
Put me in line for it. Bought the 696. Then stumbled upon the fixed sight M431 Taurus. Being a life long .44 Mag shooter I always snubbed my nose at the 44 Spl. After owning dedicated 44 Spl guns I have really grown to love and appreciate this round. IMO possibly the best revolver round in existance. .38 Spl ranks up there in my book also.
Put me in line for it. Bought the 696. Then stumbled upon the fixed sight M431 Taurus. Being a life long .44 Mag shooter I always snubbed my nose at the 44 Spl. After owning dedicated 44 Spl guns I have really grown to love and appreciate this round. IMO possibly the best revolver round in existance. .38 Spl ranks up there in my book also.
revolvergeek
Member
I'd be happy with a rerun of the 696 with no lock, or a fixed sight version of it maybe.
I bought a M696 when they first came out in about 1997. It's one of my favorite revolvers.
Then they announced the M296 "Centennial" a short time later. I ordered one from my local dealer, thinking I was going to love it. I gotta admit, it is UGLY.
Plus, at 18 ounces, it ain't fun to shoot. I've still got it, but it never gets taken out of the box. My M696, and 4" M624 get used quite a bit though.
Jim
Then they announced the M296 "Centennial" a short time later. I ordered one from my local dealer, thinking I was going to love it. I gotta admit, it is UGLY.
Plus, at 18 ounces, it ain't fun to shoot. I've still got it, but it never gets taken out of the box. My M696, and 4" M624 get used quite a bit though.Jim
KLYDE
Member
P&R,
I've been contemplating going on the hunt for a 296. Being an owner of a 342Ti there is just something about the light weight guns that don't set quite right with me. I'll have to say they are absolutely the best for pocket carry. Just feel much better knowing a revolver is made of all steel. We'll keep wishing I guess.
I've been contemplating going on the hunt for a 296. Being an owner of a 342Ti there is just something about the light weight guns that don't set quite right with me. I'll have to say they are absolutely the best for pocket carry. Just feel much better knowing a revolver is made of all steel. We'll keep wishing I guess.
jwk
Member
696 no lock with an AO Big Dot tritium front sight with an appropriate rear sight. Barrel length is whatever is needed to get a full length stroke on the ejector rod. Matte finish.
The M296 is pretty scarce. I don't think they made very many of them, and they get snapped up fast when advertised for sale. It is very unpleasant to shoot with any powerful load. I thought, when I saw it written up in a magazine, that I was going to love it, but I never warmed up to it. I know a carry gun shouldn't be too heavy, but there's just something about it that never tripped my trigger.
Now, my pocket gun is a M340PD. That's a 12 ounce .357 Magnum. It is PAINFUL to shoot with full power Magnums, which is what I carry it loaded with....in my left side pocket. I'm right handed. Every range trip I shoot a cylinder full left handed only, with full power loads.
I figure if I ever need it for real, I'll never notice the recoil. I carry it because it's so small, and easy to carry. The M296, being an L-Frame, needs a holster. If I need a holster I might as well carry something powerful that is easier to shoot.
I hope you get a chance to find a M296. ANY .44 Special is just that...Special.
Jim
Again I have to say I just do not get it.
Almost every post here describes the Model 396 Night guard.
Other then the lock, which is what it is, I believe it be about the perfect 44 Special defence gun.
It has great sights, a modern long lasting, matte finish, yet it was second one in the Night guard line to be discontinued.
Hey, I am guilty of it too.But few of us seem to want these offbeat guns until they are discontinued, then they are all the rage !!!
The 696 is the best example there is, if they sold like Shields, does anyone really believe they would have been discontinued?
Well, I am glad I have a 696, in fact I had two but traded one for a New Sako 270 and I have a 396 and I also have , I know its heresy but I have a Tauri Model 431 3" fixed sight 44 Special and it is a very fine gun.
Pretty much a blue version of a 696 with fixed sights.
It is old enough to even sort of look like a Smith.
Long live the 44 Special !!! Over a hundred years old ? I believe anyway and going strong !!
Almost every post here describes the Model 396 Night guard.
Other then the lock, which is what it is, I believe it be about the perfect 44 Special defence gun.
It has great sights, a modern long lasting, matte finish, yet it was second one in the Night guard line to be discontinued.
Hey, I am guilty of it too.But few of us seem to want these offbeat guns until they are discontinued, then they are all the rage !!!
The 696 is the best example there is, if they sold like Shields, does anyone really believe they would have been discontinued?
Well, I am glad I have a 696, in fact I had two but traded one for a New Sako 270 and I have a 396 and I also have , I know its heresy but I have a Tauri Model 431 3" fixed sight 44 Special and it is a very fine gun.
Pretty much a blue version of a 696 with fixed sights.
It is old enough to even sort of look like a Smith.
Long live the 44 Special !!! Over a hundred years old ? I believe anyway and going strong !!
KLYDE
Member
PATTON,
As you know the Taurus M431 is probably just about same frame size as the M696. However, to me, the fixed sight does give it a much smaller in hand feel. Maybe just the mind playing games. At the very least I'm with REVOLVERGEEK in the introduction of a fixed sight M696.
Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel maybe an all stainless M296 could be a realistic option. I would hop on one of those in a heartbeat.
I have a holster on order from Bell Charter for the 431. Wish I could find some magna style panels for it. Absolutely nothing available. I'm going to carry the 431 while hoping for a wish list surprise from S&W.
As you know the Taurus M431 is probably just about same frame size as the M696. However, to me, the fixed sight does give it a much smaller in hand feel. Maybe just the mind playing games. At the very least I'm with REVOLVERGEEK in the introduction of a fixed sight M696.
Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel maybe an all stainless M296 could be a realistic option. I would hop on one of those in a heartbeat.
I have a holster on order from Bell Charter for the 431. Wish I could find some magna style panels for it. Absolutely nothing available. I'm going to carry the 431 while hoping for a wish list surprise from S&W.
KLYDE
Member
How about it Smith, a 5 shot compact just like the Bulldog in the best cartridge in existance, the 44 special.
LADDER, I was at the LGS today. New Charter Arms Bulldog laying on the shelf. I toss my LTC down and ask to check it out. The size is PERFECT for concealed carry. The gun itself was the biggest piece of junk one could imagine. Spanking new and it had timing issues. Opened and closed the cylinder and the latch stuck. Just terrible. I have heard the Bridgeport guns were much better in quality. I guess we keep wishing.
Regards Mike
OP
Thanks for the info, I haven't seen one in awhile. How does it compare in size to your Taurus, any idea?
KLYDE
Member
Very much smaller in size. I don't know how they stuff the .44 Spl into that size gun. The M431 Taurus is just about identical in size to the 696 except for the gall darn SB. The fixed sight makes it feel smaller. After giving this issue some thought I think the best compromise might be a 296 in all stainless steel. Wouldn't be a pocket gun but the size would be more agreeable and the bodyguard profile would make for snag free drawing.
OP
The SIZE is the reason I started this thread,I'd like a small 44 pocket gun not a belt gun. Still wish Smith made one that small, and all steel, and I believe it weighs about 23 oz's. Lord knows how they do it.
The 296 is difficult to find at best, but a good choice. Thanks again.
mc5aw
Member
The older vintage Charters are considerably better than the new ones. The current CAs are VERY hit or miss, and often more miss re: QC. There's also the Rossi 720 to think about, which isn't a bad revolver if you can find one.
I've mentioned my experience with a lightweight .44 Special before, but I'll share it again. Some years back, I came across a used 396 Mountain Lite (with IL) at the LGS. 19oz of pure mean. It was an intriguing revolver as I had not owned a .44 Special, so I decided to test fire it at the shop's designated "fire in the hole" testing tube. It had a LOT of recoil with the open back strap grip, but I took it home anyway. At my first real range date, I ran a cylinder of factory Specials through it ... after the fifth, my arm was hanging by my side. The 19oz directed recoil into my palm, through my forearm, and up into my shoulder. Five and out ... it was the nastiest recoiling revolver I'd ever shot or owned. I soon purchased a 500 Mag grip, and was able to fire 25-30 rounds without much problem, but the big grip took away from the ML's concealability, so it would remain a woods gun at best. I ended up selling the 396 because it just wasn't fun to shoot, and I soon came across a NIB 624 snub, so I stayed in the .44 Special game. I eventually lucked into a 696, which is probably the most perfect concept for a revolver S&W has come up with. Yes the cylinder walls are thin, as is the forcing cone, but them's the limitations of the 696.
Maybe if we asked real nice, S&W would make up a special batch for us 696 fans.
I've mentioned my experience with a lightweight .44 Special before, but I'll share it again. Some years back, I came across a used 396 Mountain Lite (with IL) at the LGS. 19oz of pure mean. It was an intriguing revolver as I had not owned a .44 Special, so I decided to test fire it at the shop's designated "fire in the hole" testing tube. It had a LOT of recoil with the open back strap grip, but I took it home anyway. At my first real range date, I ran a cylinder of factory Specials through it ... after the fifth, my arm was hanging by my side. The 19oz directed recoil into my palm, through my forearm, and up into my shoulder. Five and out ... it was the nastiest recoiling revolver I'd ever shot or owned. I soon purchased a 500 Mag grip, and was able to fire 25-30 rounds without much problem, but the big grip took away from the ML's concealability, so it would remain a woods gun at best. I ended up selling the 396 because it just wasn't fun to shoot, and I soon came across a NIB 624 snub, so I stayed in the .44 Special game. I eventually lucked into a 696, which is probably the most perfect concept for a revolver S&W has come up with. Yes the cylinder walls are thin, as is the forcing cone, but them's the limitations of the 696.
Maybe if we asked real nice, S&W would make up a special batch for us 696 fans.
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