Could no longer resist the model 69

[Thunderball]

I just bought it today. I hope it works out. Here are some photos. I have not cleaned it yet. The one things that got my attention in the pictures was the crown. The lands look to have rolled edges. Maybe I can clean that up.



The ball detent is over halfway so it is pushing the crane closed.

 

[jdh]

They came so close to making one of my wish list items get checked off. Perhaps I should stop holding my breath and find a taurus 415 somewhere.

 

[Thunderball]

Innards

 

[shawn mccarver]

Innards

What happened to the hammer block?

 

[Paul105]

Let me start off by saying I think you will really like this revolver.

I just checked my M69s (I have two) and both have crowns like yours to one degree or another. I ran a fingernail over the exposed lands at the muzzle and could feel a little ridge on both guns (a bit more so on one). You might want to shoot the gun before you start hunting for problems that most likely don't exist. Personally, I wouldn't mess with the crown. Cameras are great magnifiers. Of course, it's your gun, and you are certainly welcome to do with it as you like, but you might want to shoot it first. We all stress over stuff that a lot of times turn out to be non-issues.

Interesting quote from David Bradshaw (probably only a handful of folks alive today that know as much about long range shooting and handgun accuracy).

"Virginians Boyd Carpenter with Bob and Josie Engle at top championship. Race engine builder Carpenter showed up with XP he built, with barrel an 1/8- over 15" limit. He sawed it off, went to the line and shot 80x80. So much for the precious crown!"

Very first post on this thread.

David Bradshaw Photos - Vol. XXXVIII | Single-Actions

I wouldn't stress over the crown's appearance until I was sure it was causing problems.

Hope you like your gun as much as I like mine!

Paul

 

[brucev]

Thank you for this post. Wonderful pictures. As to the crown... possibly could benefit from a touch up. Shoot it first and see. Lockwork looks very nice. Just thinking out loud... but do wonder if standard trigger could be installed? Also wonder if a standard hammer could be modified and then installed? The MIM parts are not a problem. Have them on my 21-4. Just like the pretty color cased hammers and triggers that were once the norm. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[Thunderball]

What happened to the hammer block?

It is still there, I took it out for the picture.

 

[Thunderball]

................
I wouldn't stress over the crown's appearance until I was sure it was causing problems.
..............

Paul

I agree. Most likely my marksmanship is the limiting factor.

 

[rbmac52]

"Could no longer resist the model 69"

Boy I'm glad I don't have THAT problem...

 

[jaymoore]

They came so close to making one of my wish list items get checked off. Perhaps I should stop holding my breath and find a taurus 415 somewhere.

Only if you like swapping off disappointing firearms. Have yet to have a Taurus that met expectations. Sad, really. Conceptually close, but always something that's unsatisafactory and not ecomonically rectifiable.

On the other hand, I purchased a model 69 for no particular reason and have been surprised at how well it's done. Never expected to like it so much!

 

[Rafsob]

Just picked up one of this unique firearms. Should be interesting firing a .44 mag cartridge in this gun. But it looks like a great woods gun in either .44 special or magnum. I will try to hit the range on monday.

 

[Czbilly]

Shot mine yesterday for the first time. Specials are great and very accurate. Factory mags were FUN. Big boom. Big flame big fun. Not really a full accuracy test just a chance to shoot and get a feel. I did switch to the old style hogue grips since they fit me better. Looking forward to doing more testing once I load up some more specials

 

[Thunderball]

I shot a little over 100 rounds today. Everything seems to work just fine. The 7.5 gr of Unique behind a 240 gr bullet is sufficient. The full magnums are uncomfortable (to me). The 200 gr cowboy loads are hardly noticeable.

I seem to be shooting a little left and down with all 3 loads. It is probably the shooter not the gun.

 

[vonn]

Really like .44 mags ! Hope you fellows give us some range reports with accuracy info. Have fun !

 

[BTM60]

I like my model 69 a lot, but the factory grip is way too small. I finally found some Pachmayr Grippers for the K/L frame, but the mainspring is in the way. Anyone else having any luck finding grips?

 

[Paul105]

I like my model 69 a lot, but the factory grip is way too small. I finally found some Pachmayr Grippers for the K/L frame, but the mainspring is in the way. Anyone else having any luck finding grips?

Try these -- they completely cover the backstrap.

Product: Model 500 Impact Absorbing Hogue Square Butt Conversion Grips

To the best of my knowledge, these grips are only offered thru the S&W store (Hogue's website doesn't list them, or at least I couldn't find them there).

Here's a picture of my M69 with the Hogue 500 grips ref in above link. The 69 is shown with a 4x Leup, which I using to do some accy testing.

Paul

 

[malph]

Paul, how does it shoot? I too am interested in this gun. It looks like it would make a great "woods" gun. The crown does look funky though which is why I'm curious what kind of accuracy you are getting out of it.

 

[TAROMAN]

I like my model 69 a lot, but the factory grip is way too small. I finally found some Pachmayr Grippers for the K/L frame, but the mainspring is in the way. Anyone else having any luck finding grips?

Agree the factory k-sized grip is too small for comfort.
For my hands the Hogue products are a poor fit.
My answer was the Uncle Mike's round to square grip S&W (sold) for about $15 in their store.

 

[Paul105]

MALPH:

First day I got the gun with OPEN SIGHTS as received from the factory.

I was in a hurry, hands were cold, light going fast, and the wind was blowing, so I didn't get to do as much testing as I wanted to. Will get to it soon.

The loads were:

240gr SWC Lasercast (.431)seated to 1.500" OAL and crimped lightly over the front drive band. Multi-x Starline cases and Winchester WLP primers.

5.6gr of HP 38 (Vel: 739 fps)
10.6gr of HS6 (Vel: 1,035 fps)
9.4 gr of Longshot (Vel: 1,078 fps)

265gr SWCGC (429244) (.429) seated deep and crimped over the front drive band. Multi-x Starline cases and WLPs.

16.9gr A2400 (Vel: 1,142 fps)

When seated deep (as was done here), this load will run right at 1,200 fps from a 6" barrel.

Federal Factory 240gr JHP (No. 44A) Vel: 1,217 fps
(We chroned this load at 1,375 fps from a 7 1/2" Bisley Hunter.

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Mounted a 4x Leupold on the M69 to do some load development. It was windy, and even though I had a good rest, it was not perfectly stable.

Loads are marked on the targets. The 265 SWCGC crimped over the front drive band chronoed 1,142 fps and the 310gr Lee FPGC chronoed 1,141 fps (not a typo) seated and crimped in the top grove (short OAL). Both at 50 - 60 deg F and 5 long paces from the muzzle.

The 240gr/6.5gr HP38 is seated deep (1.502 OAL) and runs 883 fps on the chrono.

As most know and the targets show, it pays to test various loads to determine best potential accuracy.
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Tested POI vs POA with various bullet weights and velocities. This was done with the rear sight BOTTOMED OUT. Different shooters will get different results.
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Paul

 

[malph]

Thanks Paul for the in depth response. Seems like a neat gun and excellent packing pistol. It must be a hoot to shoot with magnums.