I`ve developed a very accurate load for my 696 no dash and was wanting some opinions on it. The bullet i`m using is a 180 FP - .429 dia. that`s a hard cast. My question is: will this hard cast bullet at a .429 dia. do any harm to my forcing cone ?
696 no dash load
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I`ve developed a very accurate load for my 696 no dash and was wanting some opinions on it. The bullet i`m using is a 180 FP - .429 dia. that`s a hard cast. My question is: will this hard cast bullet at a .429 dia. do any harm to my forcing cone ?
Beans
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I have a 696-1 and it is my understanding that velocity plays a BIG part in the forcing cone issue with these guns.
I carry Blazer GDHP as my SD round and I am loading 4.0 grs of Clays behind a water quenched, 200 Gr RNFP cast of WW, sized at .430 for a fun load. It is soft shooting and IIRC my velocity is around 750-800 FPS
This load in my gun shoots to the same POA as the Blazer SD rds.
I carry Blazer GDHP as my SD round and I am loading 4.0 grs of Clays behind a water quenched, 200 Gr RNFP cast of WW, sized at .430 for a fun load. It is soft shooting and IIRC my velocity is around 750-800 FPS
This load in my gun shoots to the same POA as the Blazer SD rds.
Yep. Lightweight bullets 200 gr or less driven at high velocity are hard on that thin forcing cone. I use a 200 gr bullet and drive it at 850 to 900 fps, which is plenty. Don't try to gain anything with high velocity loads in this gun as you will just wear it out quicker and parts are no longer available from S&W. Some people learned the hard way when these guns were first introduced that the forcing cone is the weak link on the 696.You might do better with a .430 dia bullet. Another good bullet for this gun is the 215 gr SWC cast that the cowboy action guys use. The 200 gr Gold Dot JHP is the best bet for carry use. Unique is a great powder for .44 Spl.
I`m using H-Universal and load data for a 185 gr. bullet. The data calls it 823fps with a 5.7 charge. I`m using the 180gr bullet with a 5.6 charge. I think i`m o.k. with velocities. I was more concerned with using a hard cast bullet.
I'd be very careful in loading the 696. As others are telling you the forcing cone is the weakest link on that model.
If you want it to last stay away from light fast bullets and don't try to push the velocity very far.
At one point I wanted one of these. After I opened the cylinder and saw that thin forcing cone I went for the 686 instead.
If you want it to last stay away from light fast bullets and don't try to push the velocity very far.
At one point I wanted one of these. After I opened the cylinder and saw that thin forcing cone I went for the 686 instead.
So how Many 696 forcing cones have given out ? Is this a problem with reloads only ? Or http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#44spl
I have not seen a total number of failures but I can remember back in 96 when these first came out that some poeople were trying to turn it into a .44 Mag with Elmer Keith loads and cracked the cones. There must have been a significant number because the last time I checked S&W has no more replacement barrels for the 696. If not fed abusive loads it will last as long as any other S&W. I've shot thousands of cast bullet handloads through mine since 96 and it is still as new. Just avoid light weight(180 gr.) bullets and don't try to get more than 900 to 950 FPS. It is after all an L frame, not an N.
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