Compact 44 special

[Sebago Son]

A fixed sight 696, round butt would be a real huckleberry...

 

[Berserker]

I really loved my 696, until coming here. We you talk of limitation, how do you treat this gun different? I have reloaded some 200 grn, which I shoot must to 1000fps, which is what Silvertips are.

I also bought some Buffalo Bore 240grn at 1000 FPS. Haven't fired either loads yet. Should I be concerned?

I really like the way this gun aims, compared to my snubs, but it pulls my pants down more.

 

[44 Mag Fan]

I have a Taurus M445 brushed stainless with 2 inch barrel that replaced a Charter Arms Bulldog.This Taurus is everything the Charter Arms was not.It still has a loud bark,but not much bite.The size is of the Taurus is about the same as my 642.I have shot about 500 rounds thru the Taurus with no problem.It shoots point of aim from the 7 and 10 yard range.The more that I shoot it,the better it gets.While the Taurus is not in the catagory as my 29-10,it works for me. I will attempt to upload a picture.

 

[manyguns]

Reply to mc5aw. If you take a caliper & measure the cylinder wall thickness of a 696 it comes out better than the 629 due to having the bolt notch between the cylinders. Your hand will complain before the cylinder.

 

[saemetric]

PATTON,
As you know the Taurus M431 is probably just about same frame size as the M696. However, to me, the fixed sight does give it a much smaller in hand feel. Maybe just the mind playing games. At the very least I'm with REVOLVERGEEK in the introduction of a fixed sight M696.

Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel maybe an all stainless M296 could be a realistic option. I would hop on one of those in a heartbeat.

I have a holster on order from Bell Charter for the 431. Wish I could find some magna style panels for it. Absolutely nothing available. I'm going to carry the 431 while hoping for a wish list surprise from S&W.

I agree with the Taurus 431. Mine in blue has Hogue Checked Rosewood on it.

 

[KLYDE]

SAEMETRIC, I stumbled upon that 431 completely by accident about 2 months ago while visiting an out of town gun shop. Had never even held a Taurus before. They were banned from import here in MA about 15 years ago. Legislators passed ridiculous import regulations such as heavy trigger pull etc. Any manufacturer who wanted to import had to submit 5 guns of EACH model for "testing" that they wanted approved. Not to be returned. Most makers said "goodbye" and were band from the state. Any in state guns were grandfathered in.

While not a Smith the Taurus appears to be a solid gun. I have not had any FTF while at the range. Quality seems acceptable. FAR superior in quality to that Charter Arms I had checked out. I think yours looks a little better in blue. ONLY drawback is the SB. CANNOT get any type of magnas for it. I was looking at the Hogues but they seem somewhat long. It will suffice as a carry gun. If I ding it I won't be crying.

I really wish S&W would make a 296 in all stainless.

Mike

 

[GKC]

I think the main concerns with the Night Guard series was the expense. If I am going to pay around $800 (or more) for a .44 Special, I'd rather go ahead and get a M629, which would give me the option of shooting .44 Mag if I chose. I know the NG series is lighter, and therefore should be easier to carry...but if you aren't going to carry it, then that consideration is moot.

If they had priced the NG series at about $650 - $700, they'd be selling all they could make...although there probably wouldn't be as much demand for the .44 Special as there would be for the other calibers.

 

[BigBill]

Ditto a small frame 5 shot revolver in 44special that we can also shoot the 44 russian out if it too.

 

[gunfan]

Gentlemen: It is good to speak with you all again. I have a 1991-vintage Charter Arms Bulldog and love it. It is too bad that I can't pick up one of the S&W .44 Night Guard revolvers.

I have often wondered what the capabilities of the .44 S&W Russian are in the "self defense" arena.

Scott

 

[Warren Sear]

The 44 Special was a smokeless cartridge designed to be the equal of the earlier black powder 44 Russian.

Identical performance with the original factory loaded ammo.