4.25" Model 69 on the way

[HeavyDuty Ken]

I have my first new revolver in a few years inbound - a Model 69. I plan on shooting mostly .44 Specials through it, but having the ability to use magnums is a plus. I haven't had a .44 since I sold my Super Blackhawk in the early 80s. Usage will be a general shooter and a woods gun for when I'm up north, I currently carry a Ruger 5152 (.45 ACP 3.75" single action) when I'm out in the sticks.

I suspect I'll make a few minor changes to it - grips (thinking Badgers) and a stainless thumbpiece and sideplate screws since I don't care for the "Panda" look. I'm toying with the idea of swapping out the sights for a Cylinder & Slide extreme duty rear and a gold bead front; I've never been a huge fan of S&W's adjustables.

Has anyone here tried the C&S Extreme Duty sights on their 69?

 

[S&W ucla]

I really like mine. About ideal balance of size, power, and materials. Look forward to a range report! I later put the Hogue bantam grips on mine to minimize size. Ok with occassional magnums, but great with 44spl+ loads (900-1000fps) Full house mag loads are a bit of a handful, lol. I like the factory sights, but put on scope just to test accuracy, then put iron sights back.

 

[Paul105]

Congrats. Big M69 fan. Might want to reconsider C&S fixed sights. You will probably spend a lot of time finding a load that shoots to the sights and it may not be one you want. Bowen makes a very nice, rugged adjustable rear S&W Rough Country Rear Sights : + Bowen Classic Arms +, Parts Store

Here's a little experiment I did with my 4 1/4" gun bought early in 2014. These early guns had rear sights that were too high (front too low) to adjust standard magnum ammo to point of aim. THAT HAS BEEN FIXED ON CURRENT PRODUCTION GUNS.

Anyway shot only 2 of each load to minimize target clutter and reduce recoil induced fatigue. Shot from a rest at 25 yds, center diamond aim point with all loads and rear sight bottomed out. This shows point of impact differences with different loads. For some reason all of my 69s shoot jacketed bullets several inches left of cast bullets.

Hope you enjoy your M69.

Paul

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

Paul, thanks for the lead on the Bowen sights, I wasn't aware of them - I like the look of his target rear even better than the C&S. I wasn't too worried about regulating the C&S sights since I was planning to regulate them for the Skeeter load and let magnums fall where they may. But, rugged adjustables are a better bet!

I have a set of Ahrends round butt finger groove stocks in moradillo on the way, too.

 

[BarryinIN]

For some reason all of my 69s shoot jacketed bullets several inches left of cast bullets.

I'll be darned. I see the same thing with mine. Very curious.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congrats!!

 

[Dennismn]

I have my first new revolver in a few years inbound - a Model 69. I plan on shooting mostly .44 Specials through it, but having the ability to use magnums is a plus. I haven't had a .44 since I sold my Super Blackhawk in the early 80s. Usage will be a general shooter and a woods gun for when I'm up north, I currently carry a Ruger 5152 (.45 ACP 3.75" single action) when I'm out in the sticks.

I suspect I'll make a few minor changes to it - grips (thinking Badgers) and a stainless thumbpiece and sideplate screws since I don't care for the "Panda" look. I'm toying with the idea of swapping out the sights for a Cylinder & Slide extreme duty rear and a gold bead front; I've never been a huge fan of S&W's adjustables.

Has anyone here tried the C&S Extreme Duty sights on their 69?

Nice buy, sounds like it's going to be a beauty when you are done.

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

Stainless beadblast finish yoke and sideplate screws, thumbpiece and thumbpiece nut are on the way now, too. Hopefully the gun arrives tomorrow - Bud's took 9 days to ship this time. I'm probably ordering a Lobo enhanced pancake in the next few days after I'm sure the gun is a keeper.

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

Has anyone seen good threads about loading for the 69? I'd like to work up a Skeeter-power .44 Special level load in .44 Magnum cases. I've searched a bit but am hoping someone remembers a good thread.

 

[stykshooter]

I have been shooting the poly coated bullets from Acme through my 69 with excellent results. A 240 grain SWC and the old stand by load of 10.0 grains of Unique is very accurate out of my revolver. Kind of a +P .44 special load.

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

I'll check that out - thanks!

 

[Paul105]

haven't spent a lot of time working up .44 special level loads but here are a few.

All use .44 Magnum Cases. All use Laser Cast 240gr CSWC. All bullets are deep seated and lightly crimped above front drive band (basically .44 spec OAL for that bullet).

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)

Same as above except 6.5gr of HP38 for 880 fps (lower right diamond on target)

240gr Zero JFP over 9.0gr of H Universal (crimped in crimp grove). Should be no problem to substitute CSWC. Don't know velocity.

The 9.0gr H Univ w/240-265gr CSWCs shows promise but have more work to do.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

My new 69 had her maiden voyage today - a very short one since I was pressed for time, only about 50 rounds. I was shooting factory loads since I'm not set up to do .44 yet, but .44 Specials were very comfortable and accurate - like shooting a big .38 Special. The .44 Magnums were just as accurate, but it felt good when I quit shooting them. Lol

 

[jban357]

Does the 4 inch barrel have the same locking system in the yoke as the short barrel,or is it the notch in the shroud?

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

Notch in the shroud.

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

Well, the Ahrends grips may be going back to Brownells - the fit isn't great and the shape is not working for my hand. I'll throw a set of rubber Hogues on there for now while I decide what to do - the idea of a set of fancy wood grips is appealing. Maybe wood Hogues are the answer, i think they're the same contour as the rubber ones.

I also ordered a Bowen plain black target blade Rough Country rear and installed the stainless finish sideplate and crane screws and thumbpiece. I'm probably going to order a lock plug, too. A Lobo Enhanced Pancake is on the way, too.

Things are starting to come together!

 

[Paul105]

Here's another 44 special load for your consideration.

S&W 500 X Frame Hogues. .44 Special level load (deep seated in .44 mag brass) hits same POI at 25 yds as 260gr WFNGC w/23.0gr H110.

Paul

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

Thanks, Paul!

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

Question about lock hole plugs - which one? I sent an email to one manufacturer three weeks ago with no reply, another won't take PayPal, and a third doesn't offer a bead blast finish model.

 

[HeavyDuty Ken]

I found the one that I didn't think took PayPal actually does, so he got my order. Sitill no reply from the first one after two emails, so my business won't be going to him.

I wasn't crazy with the fit of the full sized Hogue 19000s so I popped on a set of their rubber Bantams I had that were destined for my 64. I think these are the ones.