696 Happy?

[Kinman]

I've been offered a 696 in a trade, I've been down the road of 629 .44 magnum and traded into a 24-3 Lew Horton Special and am much happier with the result. I've owned .44 specials in five round configuration before, namely the Charter Arms Bulldog and am thinking that the 696 L frame must be similar with the added benefit of being stainless.
If you would like to give your opinion it will help me in my final decision next Monday. I'm trading a 2" 15-3 that I rarely shoot since I tend to lean towards .44 or .45 caliber handguns, the guy is an old friend and straight up trade.

 

[WCCPHD]

I love mine. As a law enforcement officer, in the past I qualified with mine and carried it. Its heavy enough that even 200 grain Gold Dot JHP ammo is tamed and has little recoil. It is a favorite woods gun. I only step up to .44 mag during deer season. The deal you have described is heavily in your favor as the 696 is scarce enough to have much more value than a Model 15.

 

[CobiaS&W]

I would make that trade in a heart beat. An L frame 3" in 44 special would be a terrific addition.

 

[CH4]

Both are very desirable, but since I have a couple 2" 15s I'd make the deal. Make sure you really inspect the forcing cone for cracks, that's the 696's Achilles heel.

 

[75Vette]

What they said. Love mine and is as close to being a perfect self defense gun as you can get. Mine's a dash 1.

 

[LEO918]

Great trade - Here's mine.

 

[Papabear1324]

I would absolutely make the trade. You are getting the better end of the deal by a long shot. I own a 696 no dash and a 696-2 and would not trade either of them.

 

[Hondo44]

Make the trade!

My favorite is the first version; 696 no dash #.

 

[huthike]

Great gun - you'll love it!

 

[rogerwnuss]

I've been offered a 696 in a trade, I've been down the road of 629 .44 magnum and traded into a 24-3 Lew Horton Special and am much happier with the result. I've owned .44 specials in five round configuration before, namely the Charter Arms Bulldog and am thinking that the 696 L frame must be similar with the added benefit of being stainless.
If you would like to give your opinion it will help me in my final decision next Monday. I'm trading a 2" 15-3 that I rarely shoot since I tend to lean towards .44 or .45 caliber handguns, the guy is an old friend and straight up trade.

Do it ! I could have bought one at a local shop 20 years or so ago for like 350 and didn't, and haven't seen one since. Jump on it.....

 

[dsf]

I've been offered a 696 in a trade, I've been down the road of 629 .44 magnum and traded into a 24-3 Lew Horton Special and am much happier with the result. I've owned .44 specials in five round configuration before, namely the Charter Arms Bulldog and am thinking that the 696 L frame must be similar with the added benefit of being stainless.
If you would like to give your opinion it will help me in my final decision next Monday. I'm trading a 2" 15-3 that I rarely shoot since I tend to lean towards .44 or .45 caliber handguns, the guy is an old friend and straight up trade.

I have a 696 "no dash" and an early Bulldog. Kind of a "night & day" proposition.

The Bulldog (which to be honest I kind of like better than the 696) is very light and great for CCW. I'd be careful with the heavy loads though. A 240 grain SWC at 800 fps is about as much as I'd go and even then, just a few.

The 696 is typical S&W, much sturdier and heavier. If the 696 is being used as an all around shooter, I'd say get one. Or for carrying in the woods. But if it's "carry often …" I think I'd get something else.

But still buy the 696 anyway because it's a great gun.

 

[pantannojack]

Iv'e wanted a 696 for 30 years. I have never found one with out sloppy yoke lock up they designed in to them.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Mine(no-) along with a Rossi mdl 720 .44 spl.. Bought the Rossi a year or so before the 696 came out. It's still a fine 5 shot .44 spl too.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Yes - Great Trade.
Wish I could have traded for mine!

 

[Kinman]

Gents, Thanks for the opinions...I appreciate it. I will admit to being just a bit of a pre-numbers snob guy and broke down when offered the 15-3 in a trade, I don't own very many late model numbered Smiths and have only tried one stainless model in the 629. I don't care for my firearms to be bright and shiney, but as you all have mentioned I am not loosing anything in this trade, although it is a very nice 15-3. I will probably go ahead with the trade and worse comes to worse it will be relegated to the same place the 15-3 was, I do like the idea of it being a .44...my favorite caliber. In nearly all of my shooting in .44 I use 200gr. bullets, the only time I use heavier slugs is with the magnum with full intent of purpose.

 

[flintsghost]

You aren't loosing in value. The problem with the 696 is that the barrel extension in front of the cylinder is thinner than S&W normally does. They are known to crack so check that out thoroughly before you take possession. I have had a couple of no dash models and didn't care for them. I like the 629's and 624's. But I never could like the 696 and got rid of mine.

 

[BC38]

I'd make that trade, toot sweet!

FWIW, other than caliber and round count, that 696 has little in common with a CA Bulldog.

I love my Bulldog, but I seriously doubt it will hold up to tens of thousands of hot rounds like that 696 will.

On the other hand, it probably weighs less than 2/3 as much as the 696 which is an advantage for carry, and a disadvantage for shooting (more recoil).

 

[357larry]

I have a question for CH4 in post #4. You make it sound like it is common for the 696 to have a cracked forcing cone. I have NEVER heard of a 696 with a cracked forcing cone. If you have some first hand information about that happening I would love to hear about it, better yet I'd love to see pictures of it.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I traded a .357 Mtn Gun for my 696 no dash with box etc. I was never going to sell it because I love the .44 Special. I was offered a trade for a 5" 27-2 NIB so I did the trade. Wish I had it back!

 

[Kingspoke]

A pair of S&W 696s - 44 Special 5 shot beauties!

I love these 696 (no dash), compact 44 Specials! Sold one on left to my friend, & kept the one on the right displaying the beautiful Culina (cocobolo) combats. It has the original box, papers, & Goodyears.

 

[zeke]

I have a question for CH4 in post #4. You make it sound like it is common for the 696 to have a cracked forcing cone. I have NEVER heard of a 696 with a cracked forcing cone. If you have some first hand information about that happening I would love to hear about it, better yet I'd love to see pictures of it.

On this forum years ago a gentleman from Alaska commented on his plan to use Keith 44 special loads in his newly acquired 696. He was warned, but proceeded anyway. He reported he cracked his forcing cone. Not a common occurrence, but the 696's forcing cone is not up to those type of heavy loads. Not a common experience imo.

More recently (am old could have been a decade ago) a gunwriter for handloader wrote up a comprehensive article for handloading 44 special. He put the 696 into the heavy load capable category due to some pressure testing. He later revised that,dropping the 696 from the heavy load capable category, after consultation with S&W. Pressure testing is not equivalent to force testing.

The 696 is a great revolver, which puts 45 acp power into a compact revolver. Use mine with 200 gn loads at moderate velocity's. Like 900 fps for 200 gd, 1050 fps with 180 jhp and 800 fps with 200 lrnfp. It likely can withstand a little more, but am not pushing it. Bought 3 of them before they got popular for about $350 apiece. Have 2 left.

Yes you can now get a 44 mag in a L-frame, and it has a considerably strengthened forcing cone.

 

[The Norseman]

Heavy Metal

I am a big fan of 44S&W Special. Several years ago I
had an opportunity to buy the S&W Mdl 696-1 44Spl.
I have.

Use to my "N" frame revolvers, upon inspection of this
"L" frame I was impressed by its size, heft, and big bore.

Also found out that it was a "Safe Queen", only factory
3 chambers fired, and all the Accruements in a S&W blue
plastic box. That got me, and bought for just under $700.

I only shoot 240gr Round Nose Flat Point lead bullets,
standard pressure reloads going about 760fps.

I must warn you that it is a Heavy revolver. If I could
Trade mine straight up for a nice 41Rem Mag Mountain
Gun it would be gone.

The Best to you and your Endeavors next Monday.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Does this answer your question about how I feel about 5-shot .44 Specials?

I also have both a Pug and a Target Charter Arms.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[tug700]

Make the deal. A fair value is established when neither buyer nor seller are under duress, and the parties agree with the deal.

 

[dwh]

I'd do that deal in a minute. Here's one of my favorite combos. A trapper 94 in 44 mag and a no dash 696.

 

[CH4]

Does this answer your question about how I feel about 5-shot .44 Specials?

I also have both a Pug and a Target Charter Arms.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Nice collection!

I just traded my 296 to my buddy for his Ruger #1 30-30 package, without ever shooting it. Oh well, I know where it's at if I ever get the urge.

 

[Kinman]

I love these 696 (no dash), compact 44 Specials! Sold one on left to my friend, & kept the one on the right displaying the beautiful Culina (cocobolo) combats. It has the original box, papers, & Goodyears.

Its about time I had a another pleasant conversation with the Culinas, thanks for the pics of your excellent stocks.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I traded a .357 Mtn Gun for my 696 no dash with box etc. I was never going to sell it because I love the .44 Special. I was offered a trade for a 5" 27-2 NIB so I did the trade. Wish I had it back!

NEVER TRADE!.......Just buy! I have all 3 of the guns you mention. You'll always regret getting rid of a "good un". Go hungry. Work overtime. Sell something else. But never let go of a good S&W.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Make sure you really inspect the forcing cone for cracks, that's the 696's Achilles heel.

I have NEVER heard of a 696 with a cracked forcing cone. If you have some first hand information about that...

More recently (am old could have been a decade ago) a gunwriter for handloader wrote up a comprehensive article for handloading 44 special. He put the 696 into the heavy load capable category due to some pressure testing. He later revised that,dropping the 696 from the heavy load capable category, after consultation with S&W.

.

The 696 revolver family had the same forcing cone issue that the original M19/66 revolvers had. It's common knowledge.

Handloader Magazine/Brian Pearce is who zeke is referring to.

In Handloader #236 (Aug/Sep-2005) article "Handloading the 44 Special" Brian tested 44 Special loads & put them in three different pressure categories: 1)- up to 15,500 psi, 2)- up to 22,000 psi, & 3)- up to 25,000 psi.

He placed the L-frame M696 in Category #3, along with several other strong revolvers, & stated that he tested it with loads up to 27,000 psi.

However, ten years later in Handloader #293 (Dec/Jan-2015) article "From the Hip" be basically amended that & said additional testing found the cylinder was plenty strong enough but the barrel's breech (forcing cone) was too thin for repeated heavy loads.

He suggested that they be limited to 18,000 psi loads or lower for this reason.

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Handloader #293 article
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M296/396/696 thin forcing cone
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M69 with redesigned & robust forcing cone
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[zeke]

Another concern with the 696's owned is the length of cylinder chamber cut. If using shorter 44 mag brass (like starline was), and shorter jacketed bullets (like Hdy 180 xtp's), you could chamber a 44 mag round into a 696.

If you go back far enough in time on this board, you may find a poster politely pointing out the difficulty with putting the 696 into the third pressure category, precisely because of the difference between pressure testing and the force exerted into the forcing cone. Way before the writer changed.