Every day new guns appear, we all love looking at those new and latest ideas. Then I look over at my 696 and still feel confident in my choice of protection. Solid, weighty, some would say, Perfection. My choice, my lifestyle. Pinker, yes. Cost of enjoyment, I never even consider it an issue.

I load 200 grain semi wadcuuters for my 696. great fun to shoot with that load

Whats the load you are running w the WC? And the velocity if you have it?

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Romans5:8

Underwood Hardcast wadcutters, 200gr. Advertised at 950fps. Great for all day shooting, ripping nasty holes in tight rolled old coats and perfect holes on paper targets

Sounds like perfection to me. I just might carry those in my 624!

It was around the year 2005 that I found it very difficult to find 44 special ammo for my 696.

Back story, like so many others back in the 80's I was lured in by the Model 29 with 8-3/8ths inch bbl. I carried it for years in a Bianchi x-15 shoulder holster. It was concealable only under a sport jacket, as Eastwood did in his film, so did I.

When a man showed me the 696 at the range one day, 2001, I thought it was perfection. I had come to believe, right or wrong you tell me, that the extra powder of the 44 Mag needs more barrel in order to burn but a 44 spl. with a three-inch barrel was perfect. I bought mine off Auction Arms, now Gunauction.com, for $325.

It was great! Ricky Evans did the trigger work, and it shoots Silvertips like it knows where I want 'em to go. But around 2005 I stopped seeing ammo in stores. You could find 44 Mag and 45 ACP but never 44 spl. I was told then that the caliber was obsolete. I needed to go to the 45 ACP. So, I did. I got the S&W Model 457, which was recommended by Mas Ayoob in Combat Handguns. Been very happy with it, and I shoot it very well, if I do say so meself, (ahem, ahem) and now I have a nice collection of 3rd Gens.

We have had several ammo crisis situations since then. We are no longer surprised by it anymore. The next years, while carrying that 457, I continued to buy 44 spl ammo whenever I saw it. I have plenty now, (no never enough!) and every store always has a few boxes in stock, so, I roll my eyes now when somebody says a caliber is "gonna be obsolete." I have a Lee loader and some primed sized brass for it, etc. I will never sell my 696. I will carry it tomorrow in your honor, Ghost Pete! With that gun I can shoot the wing off a gnat...in flight...and with the gnat flying too!

Kind Regards!
BrianD

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My go to load for many years in .44 Special is a 200gr. RNFP Cowboy bullet over 7.5gr. of Unique, I shoot this in .44 Magnum cases in my 4" M/629. It is a pleasant load to shoot, accurate as well, the old Skeeter Skelton load updated with the Cowboy bullet.

I’m cooking some coated skeeter’s for the 624 as we speak. My first attempt at PC. Turned out pretty good.

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I got me a 214gr HBWC mold from Miltech. Got 100 stuffed and waiting for decent weather to touch of a few in 24-3, and 50 loaded up in magnum cases to try in 29-2s. You can switch core pins and pour solids.

The .44 Special is by far my all-time favorite cartridge and has been for years. For awhile now I carry my 4 inch M624 100% everywhere I go. A Simply Rugged pancake worn IWB is actually very comfortable for this gun.

Always 200gr Speer Gold Dots.

I'd like to try the Underwood ammo. Will have to order some.