I saw my first L frame model 696 the other day.Any thoughts about this model,It looks like a pretty thin barrel root .But I like the size and the caliber.

.44 SPL is a low pressure round. I think the L frame is more than adequate.

The 696 is one of the most sought after S&W revolves out there. I wish I had never sold mine.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Hi,

my wife owns a 696 for some months now. After she got accustomed to the hiviz front sight, she groups 5 rounds at 25 meters on a square not much larger than a postcard (with mild handloads). Keith-level handloads are quite stout in this gun, but don't consider it a snubby - this is a 2 pound handgun, large and accurate enough to even do bullseye shooting.

regards
Ulrich

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Life is too short to own a bad gun

I want one real bad, but want a full lugged 3" 657 more.

That 696 is one great revolver. Would love that L frame.

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V/R
Roger / SG

One thing I like about the .44 SPL is that it doesn't have to go fast to do the job. I carry mild (180gr over 7.5gr Unique) loads in a Charter Bulldog (~ K-frame) and feel well armed.

Just snagged one of the last discontinued 396-NG this past week. But I'm certainly still jonesin' a 696!

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GDubya
جنوب كافر فخور

There seems to be lots of second-hand anecdotal info on the interwebs about 696s suffering split forcing cones. Anyone have FHE with this?

I picked one up off this forum a few months ago. I put a bobbed hammer on it and it makes a nice size package. Loaded a few Sheeter Skelton 44 spls last night - 7.5g Unique behind a 250g cast SWC. I shot some factory Cowboy loads and some Blazers loaded with 200g Gold dots, and it shot well.

I love it.


Charlie

CT.
I consider myself more of a shooter than collector. From that perspective.
I had one and sold it within a month. I have a serious dislike for the gun.
It is a poorly thought out engineering disaster.
It has one positive quality and that is, it shoots the .44 Special. Plus 1
It has a thin walled L frame barrel bored out to .44 caliber. Minus 1
It has a reduced capacity L Frame cylinder bored out to .44 caliber. Minus 2
It has a round butt K frame grip on it. Minus 2
It has an over inflated price on it. Minus 1
If you add up the plus and the minus count, it is not a good gun for a shooter.
When that gun came out , stores could not sell them to shooters. They quit making them because no one was buying them. They were a marketing Dud. Now that they are scarce, Collectors have started a price war over them, but only for their collectors value.
As a shooting gun, it is funny. It starts out with a big hole in the muzzle and as you move to the rear the gun keeps getting smaller. You end up with grips that are more appropriate on a 38 snubbie.
It is factory Bubbatized Frankengun.
You can buy a 4 inch 624 for 60-75% of the price of 696. A 624 is N frame from the front to the rear. Wonderful engineering.
There are many folks that like them. That is good. I am one of a few that does not. This is AMERICA, I get a choice.
I consider the 696 to be a good ladies purse gun, if it is not loaded with hot ammo.
Bill@Yuma

I have a 696. I made up a SS collar for an interference fit over the O.D. of the forcing cone.

I'm pushing a 205 gr cast bullet at approx 1000 fps.

No problems yet, but then again I haven't shot it that much.

If you could provide a link or reference that would be much appreciated. I've never heard this about this particular gun... I would be very interested in this information...

Once upon a time, my better half saw me looking at a gun mag that had a picture of a 696 on the cover. I mumbled something like, "That looks cool!" or whatever.

Lo and behold she really shocked me that Christmas with a brand new 696, no dash, first year of production! (too bad I wasn't looking at a CS-1)

A friend of mine and I put 600 roundnose cartridges through it, then I put it away.

My friend was a .44 geek at the time and loaded up three different loads which we both fired from a sand bag. We agreed on the best load for my gun and he loaded 500 rounds for me. (Some of them are still in the safe; 246 gr. SWC the rest of the data is on the boxes!)

That 44. L-frame is a tack-driving fool and is still "cool." I'll probably shoot it again this month because I'm thinking about it now. I maybe have 750 rounds through it, including some 165gr. Cor-bons and some 200gr. Silvertips. There is no evidence of forcing cone damage, or any other issues.

Sometimes I wish it was a 3-inch 686 though! BUT, I'll probably never sell it because, well, you know the reason!

I like the n-frames, but my hands are small plus with stubby fingers. So my grip on them is hard to maintain. I have never seen or handled a 696.

IkenI,

At 6' 3" and 220 lbs you could be an NFL tight end or quarterback!!

I do understand your point. I agree that if one has the body type and the right gear he/she can conceal a M696 pretty well. I have heard here of a few posters who CCW with N-Frames and short barrels!

But I suspect most folks might go for something not quite so large in CCW.

I really like my M696, but I don't carry concealed. If I did I would probably carry a S&W .38 Special hammerless J-Frame.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

As an old retired CIC/Fed that's my NY reload. I think it was Teddy that said walk softly, carry a big stick, and a pistol, or two. Maybe wasn't him...

I have one of the *very, very rare* (to use a potential Gunbroker description) 686-2 models with the IL. It is a great revolver even if it does have the lock.

I carried mine often as a woods walking and outdoors gun where it was just the right combination of power, weight and ease of carry. My standard woods load is a Speer 240 lswc at 1000fps. It is superbly accurate. The most dangerous critter, besides meth heads, I'm likely to encounter around here is a black bear and, although on the light side, it should work. The gun is a lot stronger than many give it credit for being. Pearce indicated in Handloader #236 that factory torture tests demonstrated the 696 easily endured pressures well beyond his published Level 3 loads at 25kpsi. If I need more than my standard load I can easily drive a Speer 200gr Gold Dot to around 1150fps at less than 22kpsi. With it's gaping deep hollow point cavity that would be a devastating SD load.


Even though there have been some concerns expressed about the thin forcing cone, I haven't seen any problems, but it is my belief that the barrel face is slightly thicker on the -2 models, at least by visual comparison of my gun to 2 of the earlier models. Maybe it is a different contour. Whether that it is significant or not could only be determined by actual measurements and I didn't have the means to do so at the time.

As much as I like my 696, I find myself carrying a Ruger Lipseys 44SP more often now. I don't know if it is that much lighter, and load levels are similar, but I just like the SA. No doubt about it, there is a certain cachet to the 696 that has driven prices to really high levels lately. Not that the IL model is going to ever be one of the more desireable. Eventhough it is the rarest! ;^)

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" I said, good DAY! "

I use a mild handload with the 245 gr. LSWC and Trail Boss powder in both my 696 and older Model 1950 Target. Surprisingly I can shoot the 696 about as accurately as the larger N-framed gun at 50 ft.

VAdoublegunner,

I too have a Ruger New Vaquero Lipsey's .44 Special in the stainless "Sheriff's" model.

What a great gun!! I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but with a 240 grain lead slug at about 900 fps it's got to be a great all around sixgun.

The balance and "feel" is superb, as well as the action.

I too was comparing it with my M696 the other day and realized that the Ruger will win over as the "woods" gun versus the M696.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

I suggest a six ounce heavier answer - with another round capacity, an inch more barrel, larger hammer & trigger, BIG fc, and real Keith load capability - a 4" 629!



I bought my 696-1 new eight years ago - after watching the price tag ($439) fade for a year. I bought it - and added a new closeout-priced 296 for $349, less than half it's MSRP, plus s/t (5% then). It was to be a CCW. The 696 was to be - and remains to be - pure fun. It's especially fun with my wimpy 240gr LSWC over 3.5 gr Titegroup in a .44 Russian case - makes 692 fps - all day shooter - and makes major power factor! Ahrends square conversion grips are fine - for normal loads. The 'real' .44 Special, the one labelled '629' & '.44 Magnum, is fine with the Ahrends retro targets... plus, they look good! When I need serious .44 Specials, the 4" 629 is the grab. They are always in production... it's been a while since S&W plopped out a 624!

The 296 is a bit larger than my 642, which, in a Mika pocket holster fits all of my britches front pockets. The 296 in it's Mika holster fits ~3 of 4 of my pants front pockets.



I keep the AirWeight Ti stoked with the Speer 200gr Gold Dots loaded in new Starline brass by GA Arms - a better value at the same (or less) price as the Blazers. It's a woods carry, too - with a 240gr LSWC first, despite the 200gr Max caution due to bullet creep. Bit of a hand slapper.

Stainz

semperfi71,
If you don't have it already definately buy, borrow, beg or steal a copy of Handloader #260, June 2009, for Pearce's article on loading the 44SP in the new Blackhawk. Great info there. I have tested several of the loads and they are right on the money.

It really is a handy field gun. You've picked a good load for it. My favorite pet load is the Speer240 lswc, 8.0gr WSF and a WLP primer for about 1050fps (it does not seem particularly primer brand sensitive). Shooting offhand it will tear out the black center of a B8 target at 50 yards. What more can you ask for from a plinking/general purpose load? Yep, it is a gun that gets carried often. I may have to look for a SS one, both of mine are blued.

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" I said, good DAY! "

Me too! but I haven't carried it yet. The only holster I have for it is a nylon one with a safety strap that I have attached to the inside of my kayak. I've only shot it a little but it does feel great!. In the kayak it has a couple of snake shot backed up by GDHP.

Nothing wrong with an N frame. I carried a 629 Mtn Gun for many years when I lived in Colorado. I have since moved on to .45 ACP in my N frames. They are a favorite.

Now that 296 I didn't like! It wouldn't fit in any pants pocket I had and it hurt my old arthritic hands worse than my little pocket rocket with .357 midloads. Got rid of it quick! Didn't care much for the cylinder either. I do have a NG (with stainless cylinder) that I carry and shoot lots. It doesn't hurt me near as bad as that 296 did.

As you can see.....I like .44 Specials.

I have a 696 and like it very much

I'll have to start looking for one of those.

tipoc

Me too.............

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S&W Accumulator

What are the 696 no dash guns going for these days?This is a like new gun with box and paperwork.Thanks!

New 696 no dash NIB will go for $1000.00+

i think i would have by anyones judgement a pretty aedequate collection of smith pistols, among others. In fact i just picked up another 57.
having said that the 696 is probably at the top of the list in terms of being fun to shoot, accurate, and it isn't a wimp round pushing with a handload a 250grain bullet or so at 1000fps.
I do understand the five round limitation which could be an issue in some situations, but if so one more ain't gonna do it.
I am a pretty big guy at 6ft2 and i aint gonna give the weight. Love the 696 and wouldn't give it up. I sometimes carry it loaded with golddots.
I haven't felt undergunned with it other than the exception of being in parts of the arizona desert these days which calls for hi cap magazines and the same with a rifle.

JNewell thanks for posting the pictures, which do you like shooting more? I am in the process of buying a 696 and thought hard about the 396.

Well, you could guess...even with "just" .44 Special loads, the 396 has pretty sharp, spike-like recoil. The 696 is easier shooting, the 396 is easier carrying. Pretty much the same as my M60/M342 pairs.

I traded my 696 for a Colt Commander. I made sure I had more than one before I did that however. Jim

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That's just somebody talkin.

Alot of people love the "N" frame, same amount love the "K/L" frame, Then the little "J" has just as many loving it. That is why they build 4 frame sizes. Myself if it is bigger than a "L" Frame I have no use for it, you take a model 27 and a 686 - the 27 weight is 2X that of the 686. Now to the meat of this mile long "BS" is that the 696 is a great gun and will be around for a long time, I have two 696-0 one is the Queen and the other is for the woods. The 696 is like a model 19 - not made for hot loads. You eather love them or hate them.

All the above and few pics, what's wrong with us?



As to the "five-shot-only" concerns...........here's one of the guns which "Won the west." It was-and-is carried as a "five-shooter".

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

If five rounds of .44 Special isn't enough to do the job, it's time to drop the revolver and find a rifle.

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I'm with the banned ...

OK, I'll play.

This came to me with the combats on it, but I have the original grips in the box.



I don't shoot this as much as I ought to.

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David Wilson

Count me in and I love the goodyears.

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Sure you did

I'm thinking I might go back to the "Goodyears".

Today I shot 105 rounds from the bench with my M696 utilizing the stocks pictured with it. Darn thing bit me in the web of my thumb!

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

As a 696 owner I have to agree with Bills opinion. When S&W came out with these they were a poor seller and it seemed like they couldn't give them away. At the time, as Bill points out, there were many valid reasons for it's lack of popularity.
Look at the lowly Charter Arms Bulldog 44 Special, when it appeared it was hugely popular though nowhere near the quality of the 696. But that Charter Bulldog is to this day still selling well. It's a 5 shot, very small and very concealable option for those who like the calibre.
The 696, with it's short production run is now a very collectable revolver and it has a "cool to own" factor. I enjoy shooting my no dash from time to time and had I known what they'd be going for years later I would have bought several of them for an investment.

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Several years ago I traded a friend a 686 Mtn Gun for a 696 no dash with box. I had it for many years and never shot it. Another friend wanted it, he thought and traded me a NIB 5" 27-2 that I thought I really wanted.He has been bugging me ever since to trade him back. I didn't like the fact that his a27-2 was NIB. I like hight condition shooters. We traded back and this time I am shooting the 696. I really like .44sp.

I know I have plenty of options, but still wanted one of these so badly I paid a premium for it. Now the issue is since I bought a nib example should I buy a used one, and keep the other a safe queen lol

I love my 696 no dash. It is a very accurate gun.

I'm an "N" and "J" frame nut... I'm kicking myself for not picking up a 696 when I had the chance. I instead opted for a vintage Lew Horton 3" M29... Of which has become my favorite handgun/revolver because well... it's pretty great & I love the .44Special round. I carry hot Keith Hard Casts running 950+ out of that 3" barrel for my woods load. I don't think that's too hot for a 696 though. 1050fps is pushing it for sure. The 696 just might be the perfect sized revolver. I'm happy with my 3" M29 and M629 but I'm going to start looking for a 696 especially now since I'm into hand loading I can tailor a hard cast .44Special that will still put the big hurt on anything in Appalachia all the while with the comfort of an "L" frame...

Hmmm. 6 year old thread.

So true!

That said, the 696 is worth resurrecting a thread over.

I sure do like mine! Drove 4+ hours each way to get it from a guy in LA, he met me in Bakersfield, and as you know, here in California, you have to do FTF, then come back in 10 days, so I drove it twice.

Since just about any of the 24-3 series and 624 series "N" framed 44 revolvers sell very well besides not being made for quite a few years now. I've always wondered why they never made any more 44 specials on the "N" frame??. Limited market? or too busy with their line of ar style rifles they have been making and selling for sometime?. My 624 with the 6.5" barrel shooting some winchester 200 grain silvertips has the recoil of about a 38 special. The 3" and 4" bbld 24-3 that I have also do not recoil all that much. My Ruger Redhawk in 44 magnum has been quietly reposing in the safe since I got those three 44 specials. And this from a shooter who shot 50-100 rounds out of the Redhawk at more than just a few range sessions. Frank

Thread resurrection.

My New In Box Factory Fired S&W Model 696-1
44Spl 3"Bbl. Bought a few months ago.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

Isn't the Model 69 an "improved" version of the 696? Same size but can handle .44 Special and Magnum?
When I say improved I mean a stronger platform for Magnum loads.

Had one. Sold it. I consider my 66-1 snubby to be better in every way.

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'Merica!

I'm happy with my 696 no-dash. Bought it when they first came out over 20 years ago. Not interested in the 69 after checking it out. One revolver in 44 Mag (a 629-1) is all I need. Can't get enough 44 Specials. Own 5 of them with another one on they way.

I can't decide. I thoroughly enjoy my 696 no dash and would never consider selling it but I wonder about the forcing cone. I would like to feel I could use "Keith" loads in my 696 if need be and it seems the 69 resolves that. I would probably never shoot full magnum loads in a 69.

Maybe someday I will run in to someone at the range and get a chance to try one.