Model 69 Test Drive

The 69 is a great blend of power and portability and it would have to be my choice for a one gun battery. Favorite load for this weapon is a 240 gr cast backed by 15 gr of AA#7. Gives me that hand stinging 44 mag experience but I can still be very accurate with it.
There are verified black bear sightings in my area so there is actually an excuse to carry this thing when traipsing through the woods.
 
I carried a 44 Mag on duty as a Trooper in the 70's great for dispatching horses deer etc at AA's (scared the hell out of the rubber neck-ers when it went Kaboom) but one day it dawned on me that if I touched it off inside a building or vehicle I'd be deaf for 12 hrs which could be a big deficit in a continuing gun battle especially in no or low light conditions where your hearing was needed.....I went back to .357
 
trooper2899 said:
[...] one day it dawned on me that if I touched it off inside a building or vehicle I'd be deaf for 12 hrs
[...]
...I went back to .357
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I've thought about that some, myself. In a car, my 4-1/4" .44mag WOULD really hurt. But I imagine a .357 would be pretty bad also. And my 10mm 1911 would be pretty awful too. I think I'm just not going to worry about it ... nothing I want to shoot would be nice inside a car. I can't ever get past the thought of a 250 lb drugged-out bad guy closing on me, and I'm asked "what caliber would you like to shoot now?" ... I KNOW my answer at that instant would always be, "I want to shoot the most powerful cartridge I can have."
 
I have purchased 2 Model 69s and still have one. I love both of them, sold one to an old cop buddy of mine when he couldn't find one for his daughter who was moving to Alaska.

Both of them great shooters and I have 5-600 rounds through mine at hot 44 Special loads and about 100 Magnum rounds. The old N Frame 44s sit home and this is the one that is now my constant woods gun.
 
I really like my old Model 29 4 inch and it is not to much to carry in my Alaskan Guide Holster but I sure don't want to put any more wear on it because literally they don't make them like that anymore. After trying the 69 it feels just like my 686SSR in the holster and I carry it a lot. I think when I get the 69 it will be with me all the time because I really like the 44's.
 
I have been lusting for the 69 ever since I became aware of them. I made the plunge yesterday at my favorite dealer trading in a never shot pistol. Now the 10 day wait will seem like a year but I can't wait to put some rounds through it.
 
Well I sold my gun on Gunbroker so I am in the running for a 69 soon. Just as quick as I get the money and all settled I will start shopping.:D
 
I purchased a 69 two weeks ago and shot a 100 rounds of 44 special on Friday. Shoots tight groups out to 25 yards.

The revolver appears to have a slightly canted barrel/shroud. I had to adjust the rear sight as far as it would move to the right to get the groups centered and the ball/detent doesn't lock up. I felt so good about finding one for sale locally, I purchased it without a thorough enough examination.

I spoke to Smith and Wesson Customer service a few minutes before closing time on Friday, and they sent me a return shipping label.

I'm hoping any problems will be corrected within the next few weeks. The 69 fits my small hands better and groups tighter than my 629 Mountain Gun.

I need to pay more attention in the future before I open my wallet.
 
Jcmiller said:
Cali****ingornia thats which one.
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Sorry. Do you live in one of the more rural counties where you have a chance of getting a CCW? Ironically, California CCW (IF you can get one) doesn't exclude K-12 schools, like Colorado does ... in all other respects, Colorado's CCW laws are better than most other states, although the libs here are trying hard to change that ... thank goodness for the previous Republican administrations, before Colorado went blue.
 
I live in Northern California, the REAL northern Ca, north of Lake Tahoe. My wife and I both need to get our CCW but there is still a 10 day waiting period. I believe the only exception is for LE. No instant background in this effed up state.
 
So I picked up a new 69 today, and the shroud is so loose it will rotate a good 1/8 or 3/16ths from side to side. Anyone else had this issue (my search fu is poor evidently)? It's clearly a return, but it was too late to call CS this afternoon. My first Smith that's been bad from the factory.
 
Sounds like their quality control and pre-shipping inspections have really gotten poor. Something is definitely wrong there. Thank goodness their customer service is good, and their emphasis on standing behind their products is still apparently intact.
 
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1. Smith & Wesson should not be shipping guns in this condition.

2. Customers should not be taking delivery of guns in this condition.

3. If Number 2 is not followed, just call S&W. No need to post ANOTHER "my crappy new gun" post. We're all tired of reading them.

4. I'm going to go take a Midol. Ugh.
 
Photoman44 said:
1. Smith & Wesson should not be shipping guns in this condition.

2. Customers should not be taking delivery of guns in this condition.

3. If Number 2 is not followed, just call S&W. No need to post ANOTHER "my crappy new gun" post. We're all tired of reading them.

4. I'm going to go take a Midol. Ugh.
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I actually wasn't posting a "my crappy new gun". One, I've worked in manufacturing, so I know @#$# happens. Two, I know Smith will replace this gun no problem.Three, I own a bunch of S&W's and the ones I've bought new have all been perfect out of the box, including the newer ones (and I'd buy another today, no problem). So I was surprised is all and I thought maybe I'd ask the forum if this was common now. And this was partially my bad: I didn't do a proper pre-purchase inspection. I'm just shocked it made it through inspection/test firing. I will say, with the cylinder locked, the problem wasn't as immediately noticeable, I didn't notice until I was going through my box of speedloaders looking for one that fit. The only thing I'm bummed about is the this looks like a frame replacement to me (the tab is really deformed) and so I'll have to wait 40 something days to pick up the new one if they replace it (Ca., one handgun every 30 days, plus 11 day wait).
 
Mike_Fontenot said:
I'm not tired of reading them. I think it's valuable information. Something is seriously wrong at S&W, and I hope they clean up their act soon.
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Come back when you have 4000+ posts and you'll see what I mean.

When a company makes thousands of revolvers every year, there will be some bad ones. Nobody is perfect. Unfortunately, it's the one in a thousand that brings home the bad one, signs up for the Forum and spends the next 20 posts complaining. It gets old...

Now, in order to respect the original post, I will drop the subject.
 
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