New L Frame 44 mag!

[Paul105]

In response to the last two posts:

629 Mtn Gun weighs 39 oz
M69 L Frame weighs 37 oz

Frame window - height: 1.600"
Frame window - width: 1.820"

Cylinder - outside diameter: 1.560"
Cylinder - length: 1.670"
Cylinder - wall at narrowest: .600" (this was really hard to measure so it is definitely plus/minus)

I haven't checked throats or grove diams.

My range is doing some upgrades so I haven't been able to get on for the last two days -- its driving me crazey - and it looks like it will be closed for one more day.

Paul

 

[sw282]

5 shots in a Chiefs Special is aplenty. 5 shots in an X frame 500 is definitely enough.. Model 69 is the best thing to happen to 44Mag in quite a few moons

 

[jframejoey]

Imagine how awesome this thing would be if it were housed in a full lug 686-4 or earlier version.

 

[Jaymo]

Like a J or K frame will choke on .357 Magnums?
I bet an L frame can handle it, and I guarantee there's a market for it.


The nice thing is, if you do have trouble, S&W's Lifetime Warranty will take care of you.

Until they stop working on that model.

The good news is, that would be after most of our lifetimes.
I hope it would, anyway.

I'd just load it with Buffalo Bore's .44 Spl LSWCHP +P load.

 

[mc5aw]

For a trail gun, that M69 looks to be ideal with Specials or less-than-maximum-load home grown mags. I'm not sure how a 4" barrel conceals for most CCW folks, but anything in a medium frame that has a big bore is a winning combo. S&W must be listening, because the M69 is a nice supplement to the 696 and the various discontinued Night Guards.

For those of us who would appreciate a 2-1/2" - 3" steel L-frame .45 ACP, hope that the M69 sells well. We may get another medium sized big bore revolver sooner than later.

 

[ladder13]

I'd like to see an L frame 45 Colt with a 2.5 or 3 inch barrel.

 

[zeke]

Just a short update. I took possession of a 69 today. OD of barrel shank is right at .620". The cylinder is 1.670 inches and isn't recessed for cartridge rims -- a 1.712" handload fits, but is right at the face of the cylinder. Lymans No 49 edition shows OAL w their 425421 Keith Bullet is 1.710".

Here are some pictures:
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M69 Barrel Shank/Forcing Cone area:
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M696 Barrel Shank/Forcing Cone Area:
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629 Mtn Gun Barrel Shank/Forcing Cone area:
.

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Family Portrait - 629 Mtn Gun, M696, New M69:
.

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Sorry about the "so-so" pictures -- light wasn't the best and I'm not the best photographer.

Headed to the range with about 25 Lbs of .44 ammo (Mild to wild) and the chrono. Naturally, the range was closed, so I'll do it another day and open a new thread to post results.

What a neat little package.

FWIW,

Paul

Hereby nominated as most useful response of the year, it be appreciated

 

[DFrame]

Thanks for the pix. The stressed areas look to be robust. I like it, except for the stocks. NOT crazy about those!

 

[DGNY]

This development of a smaller package .44 Magnum is the answer to many hopes and speculative musings. After a test cruise and any shakedown fixes, with the 4" barrel, I think it could well engender shorter and longer barreled examples. Hopefully the grips from S&W are similar in material to the absorbent X-frame grips.

With CNC and modern materials, we could be on the cusp of the mid 50s once again, with a new expression of what is to me the most useful large caliber [esp for the non-reloader] since the .357 twenty years earlier.

I admire and own the Redhawk, SBHs and N-frames - all b-i-g pieces of metal. My favorite frames are smaller. This L-.44 could prove ideal and the start of something most useful.

Regards,

Dyson

 

[DR505]

Here are more links for those interested:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/355681-smith-wesson-model-69-a.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/355499-model-69-questions.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/355301-m69-barrel.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/354545-m69-gb.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/354679-model-69-questions-doc44.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/352134-new-model-69-a.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/353619-model-69-a.html

 

[BigBill]

I`d buy a .41 Mag in a New York minuet!

Meee tooo count me in fir a 44mag, 41mag, 357mag. Too.

 

[fungunnin]

Meee tooo count me in fir a 44mag, 41mag, 357mag. Too.

I believe the L frame 357 is called the 686 and 586. I think they even make it with fixed sites in the 681 and 581.

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

 

[Boxhead]

Surprised their is only a two ounce difference in weight between it and the MG, assuming same grip material? Trade that for one less round?

 

[jag312]

Will it ever come to California? Maybe I'll have to wait until I'm in Nevada to see one.

 

[BigBill]

I would like to see a revolver with five shots in 44 special/Russian offer it in pink too for my misses.

 

[jrod]

Will it ever come to California? Maybe I'll have to wait until I'm in Nevada to see one.

Jag312, If you're a Peace Officer in Ca. You can order one.

 

[Thunderball]

Paul 105,

Could you please turn the gun upside down and take a picture from the bottom. I want to see how the ball detent locks into the frame.

 

[ptgarcia]

In CA you can also remove the DA sear and then it becomes a SA revolver and will be exempt from the roster. You just need to find an FFL that knows this and will do it for you. The guys at Calguns.net can usually help with finding an FFL in your area that will do the transfer.

Paul

 

[rwsmith]

Comparable

Is .44 in L frame something like .357 in a K frame?

 

[jjbrewst1]

In CA you can also remove the DA sear and then it becomes a SA revolver and will be exempt from the roster. You just need to find an FFL that knows this and will do it for you. The guys at Calguns.net can usually help with finding an FFL in your area that will do the transfer.

Paul

I believe that is not the case, it needs to be made a Single Shot not Single Action...Therefore you have to do other Modifications so the Cylinder will not Turn...