696 or Other 44?

[xfarfuldog]

Several years ago I was introduced to the 696 by a friend. I found one for sale at a gun show. Both his and mine were the no dash models. Both of us foolishly sold them. I'm considering buying another and realize how costly they are.

It would be a HD or range toy. The 696 is just too heavy to carry. But I am wondering if I should consider a 624, 69 or another capable of firing a 44. I would not plan on shooting any magnum rounds. Will the 696 hold up to normal 44 special usage? I have even considered getting a 45 acp revolver but do not want to use moon clips. ???

 

[Jim Watson]

I assume it would hold up, but a 3" five shooter has no attraction for me.
I'd look for a 624.

What I HAVE is a M25 .45 because I shoot IDPA and need the clips. If I didn't, I could always load Auto Rims.

 

[shocker]

Model 69 all day.

 

[ladder13]

696 barrels are unobtanium for the most part. If the thin forcing cone is damaged you have a paperweight.
I have both a 696 and a 624 4”. For shooting the 624, for future resale value the 696.
The 69 has a strong following.

 

[WCCPHD]

If you just want a .44 carry gun (and one you don't shoot much) then the Model 296 might fit the bill. That said, it may be more scarce than the 696.

The 296 is a great carry gun, but brutal to shoot more than a few rounds at a time.

Here's mine with Ahrends Retro Banana grips.

 

[Hondo44]

The 696 L frame has turned out to be like a diamond to find and buy! Very cool gun and as you found out, very sought after. Especially the no dash that still has color case hardened hammer and trigger.

Yes, they're very durable, don't worry about that.

To answer your question, my preference is to use a gun sized for the caliber, which was S&W's original concept.

The 44 Spl is my favorite cartridge. It was hard to find 44 Spl specific guns back in the day. Neither S&W or Ruger made them because they felt it was niche market in their opinions, which was true. That's why the 696 wasn't made for long, nor the 296. And only in the last 16 or so years has Ruger offered 44S and not on a regular basis. We often hear: buy a 44 Mag and you can shoot both. But way too heavy for a 44 Spl., especially to carry.

And now we see S&W offering the 44 Mag in the L frame, the Model 69 which does make a good 44 Spl/44 Mag size gun.

So I recommend you not go to a 44 Mag N frame to shoot 44 Spl unless you're recoil sensitive. A 44 Spl on the Smith L frame is not uncomfortable to shoot with standard loads. And if you want hot loads, sure use the N frame or a 44 Mag.

Hope that helps,

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Mod 69 or maybe a Rossi M720

 

[Grayfox]

The .44 Special is one of my favorite cartridges.
Love my 696 No-dash. One of my favorite woods walking guns. With a proper holster and belt, its easy to carry.
Honestly, I've never worried about durability. But I don't hot rod my .44 Special loads either.

But then, for range shooting I have plenty of N-frame options.

 

[Bob Ellis]

I have to agree with Greyfox, get a good belt and holster and you shouldn’t have a carry issue. Been doing it for 40 years now.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Mod 69 or maybe a Rossi M720

Yep. The Rossi is a sleeper. A bit smaller than the 696 but still a 5 shot 44 spl. . I kept a round count on mine when I bought to see when it would fail. At 800 rds I quit counting. Still tight and shoots good.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Since the OP has not posted since the original, I don't know if Jim Watson's reply slid right by him.....45 Auto Rim. In the alternative you could use .45 ACP with the RIMZ poly clips - no special tools needed.

Or, in addition to the 696 under consideration, or the suggested 296, there are two other 5-shot, .44 Spl alternatives: The 396 Mountain Lite and the 396 Night Guard.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[lppd4]

I recently acquired a 696 and I like it alot. Shoots great with mild .44 specials and packs enough punch with Hornady critical defense loads to handle most anything while still being very manageable in the amount of recoil. And big bore snubbies are just cool.

 

[doublesharp]

Often you can get a good price on the 24-3 performance center heritage model. 6.5" barrel round butt, gold dot patridge sight very good shooter with no lock.

I've got one and love it but like many commemoratives they didn't sell well. Also have a 696 and a 296. Had the featherweight 396 but it got wings $$$ and flew away.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

44 snubbies

I think the M69 snubbie is hard to bet for all around versatility but if you're not going to be shooting ammo stronger than 44 Special then the L-frame 44s will be fine if you don't hotrod it too much.

The 396NG is another good L-frame alternative at 24oz.

If you go with a 45ACP it'll be in the larger N-frame, of course.

.



.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I love .44sp. I had and sold a 3" 24-3 as well as a 4" and wish that I had kept both of them. I also had a 696-0 with box, papers and all that I traded a .357 Mtn gun for. I had it for many years and just this year, a friend traded me a NIB 5" 27-2 for it. I really liked it but I would rather have a 3" 24-3.

 

[Exchipy]

 

[Shark Bait]

I know it's not pre-lock and has a two piece barrel, but I have to say that I really like my 2.75" model 69. I was a cop long before Tupperware made guns, so I don't find it to be heavy at all.

 

[upcountry]

Model 69.
I have a 2.75" 69 and I like it as a .44 spl handgun.
I've described it as a ".44 sp, handgun capable of shooting magnum".
A few rounds of .44 magnum gets your attention real quick.

 

[DevilDog72]

I carry and shoot my 624-3 LH on occasion. A good quality holster and belt makes all the difference.





both holsters are Desantis and I use Comtac and Tucker and Bird belts

 

[Exchipy]

This S&W 696 is a capable shooter: