Chief,
Isn't the new model 69 an L frame in .44 mag?
The loads you recommended would probably cause excessive wear but would be very uncomfortable to fire as well. The load I shoot in my 696 is a 200 gr RNFP bullet at 825 fps, the same velocity as the Speer 200 gr GD. The recoil is not bad and the load shoot well for me. Dean

"Chief,
Isn't the new model 69 an L frame in .44 mag?
The loads you recommended would probably cause excessive wear but would be very uncomfortable to fire as well. The load I shoot in my 696 is a 200 gr RNFP bullet at 825 fps, the same velocity as the Speer 200 gr GD. The recoil is not bad and the load shoot well for me. Dean "

This is what S&W has to say of there new revolver

First L-Frame in .44 Magnum®
• Full Top Strap and Barrel Serration
• Ball-Detent Lock-Up
• 2-Piece Barrel

Smith & Wesson L-Frame revolvers are built to suit the demands of the most serious firearms enthusiast. The L-Frame has a strong, durable frame and barrel built for continuous Magnum® usage. As police officers and hunters will attest, this firearm is made to withstand heavy use.

ALL BACKED BY OUR SMITH & WESSON LIFETIME SERVICE POLICY.


Looks like I was right.
The only difference between a .44Spl brass & a .44 Magnum is .125.

__________________
Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Chief,
You are right about the difference in the case length, but that is not the only difference between the two guns. Many feel the weak link of the 696 is the portion of the barrel that threads through the frame is very thin. I have looked at a model 69 at my lgs, and that portion of the barrel is much thicker than the same area of my 696. The model 69 probably has a longer cylinder. They cylinder in my 696 is too short to be chambered for .44 magnum and use all common cartridge lengths in that caliber. I don't know for sure, but there could be a difference in the heat treatment of the two guns. Dean

I traded my like new .357 Mtn Gun for a no dash a few months ago when it turned up in a LGS. Hated to sell my Mtn Gun but wanted the 696. I have only fired it once.

The introduction of the .357 Magnum way back in 1935 kind of eased the door closed on the .44 Special. Not so long ago the shooting world was down to just one "factory" .44 chambering in the Charter Arms Bulldog, along with a host of out of production S&W's. With modern metallurgy the .44Spl was a good fit into a smallish frame, 5 shot CC piece, and tosses a factory standar 246 grain LRN which certainly set it ahead of the .38 Spl snubbies. With the rise of the "big bore" craze came a resurgence of interest in the .44 Spl and special runs started appearing, but most people had moved on to the .44 Magnum as their "staple .44" and there wasn't much need or interest in a seperate, "special only" chambering. S&W started bringing out lighter versions of the Magnum which helped to stiffle handloaders from getting creative with the .44 Spl as has been the case with .44 Magnum "reduced loads," and with the .45 ACP and .45 Colt.

Even now, no sooner did S&W build an L frame, 5 shot, compact .44 Spl, they turn around and chamber the .44 Mag into the exact same size gun! Well, if the choice is a 300-ish lb-ft .44 Spl load in an L-frame, or an 800-ish lb-ft .44 Mag load which will MOST people grab? Sure there are a tiny number of improved performance loads for the Spl...barely, but considering that most handloaders will load down from full house magnum loads to something still more potent than the .44 Spl, their isn't much fervor to develop hotter loads that bring the Spl up to meet the Magnum.

The Bulldog's success was stuffing a thick-bodied round into a compact revolver (and CA hasn't strayed from that successful formula) which basically competes in the .38 Spl arena which creates the perception of it being "powerful," yet when the .44 Spl moves into the world of .45ACP/.45Colt chambered revolvers built heavy enough to accept "warmish" loads that double the .44 Spl's power, and of course lightweight M29's such as the Mountain gun that can handle much heavier loads that any warmed up .44 Spl, you see the old .44 Spl has simply become "irrelevant" to all but the dedicated firearms enthusiast/collector, someone who wants something "different" to play with, or...novices who don't know where the .44 Spl really lies within the convoluted spectrum of handgun cartridge "power." Having said that, Underwood builds a 255grain, Keith style LSWC load rated at 1,000 fps/566lb-ft which ain't too bad for urban defense...well ahead of any .38 Spl, on par with and snubbie fired .357 Mag yet delivering with a much heavier slug, and a tad more potent than factory +P.45ACP which means it's a worthwhile choice for those so inclined. As for proof against bear attack...well, anything is possible, but I would not expect to make a good showing against a large, dangerous animal with any handgun cartridge that doesn't provide at least 700lb-ft KE with a heavy, non-expanding bullet for caliber, and I personally feel 1,000lb-ft is the minimum.

Just my "buck-2-98" worth.

Yes, I have wanted a Smith .44 Special for quite a while. Not really interested in a Magnum. (would not turn 1 down!) My closest solution, was a 625 JM. Love this gun! Soooo I will keep looking. Bob

Old thread. But wanted to add, I too think 8.5 grains of unique is a bad idea. Skeeter and Elmer were shooting 7.5. Manuals list 6.5 as max. But many think that is for old guns.


I have been curious about the thin forcing cone concerns The 69 is a lot thicker. But it is rated for 44 magnum.

I think the 69 would be a great gun with hot 44 specials. I have been tossing and turning on it for a long time. Is the extra inch worth it?

__________________
Beware the man with one gun.

I just got a 696 no dash last week with original box and papers for a bit more than your 696-1.You'll like shooting the 696 and reloading for it.

Sellers on GB are asking $1000+.

Buying all my components cost me about $5.60 a box of 50 to reload.

I load a 240gr hard cast SWC over 4.0gr of Trail Boss and an S&B LP primer.

I also have a nickle 21-4.

__________________
NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

I have been reloading 6.2-7 of unique. Going to do a big batch, probably all 6.5. They do need some speed to prevent key holing. I did some with 2400 too. But I am saving that for 357 and 44 magnums. I got a but of unique to use up.

I carry it with buffalo bore.

Got a Simply Rugged pancake for carrying it.

__________________
Beware the man with one gun.

My 696 load is the same one I use in my N frames - 6.5g W231 under a 250g swc.

I figure it to be @ 850fps, got to chrono it one day.

It can easily take the Skeeter load of 7.5g Unique with the same bullet.

Loading a 250g 44Spl 850 to 900fps equals the 45 Colt exactly, which in my research exceeds a 45acp and makes it able to do 90% of whatever you need a handgun to do in the field.