Cylinder throat size on current production M 69?

[fortyshooter]

From you folks that have the Model 69 have you measured this and what are they running?

While awaiting the return of my revolver I am looking at ordering some coated 240 gr. bullets.

Yes I should wait until my revolver returns and measure but just wanted an idea of what size the throats are.

Thanks!

 

[Paul105]

I've measured 4 guns (2ea 4 1/4" 2014 vintage, and 2ea 2 3/4" one early 2017 and the latest within the last two months).

.429 plug gage go, .430 no go with first three.
.428 pug gage go, .429 no go -- most recent 2 3/4"

FWIW,

Paul

 

[Brad Cayton]

My 4" throats are .429

 

[dogdoc]

Mine are .429 per my plug gauge

 

[HamHands]

629-6... 2017' production.
All 6 chamber holes average between .429 and .4295 with my best digital caliper... This is my 2nd most accurate big bore I own behind my Model 29-3...

ETA: I must have read past your model 69 and saw 629... However, I cannot see S&W having a different set of cylinder throat sizes between the two different models in the same caliber(s), .44Special & .44Magnum. I could be wrong though it wouldn't be the first time! YMMV...

 

[shocker]

Throats on my 4.25 were .430, slugged and mic'd. I didn't bother to slug the 2.75, just continued with the same 430 cast bullets which seem to work fine.

 

[fortyshooter]

Thanks for your input!

 

[Dieseltech56]

Mine are tight also. .429 all around.

 

[fortyshooter]

Well I just checked my three .44's which are as follows...

S&W 629-2E .431

Ruger SBH .431

Charter Arms BD .431

My .431 pin slips right in with no need to push so it could be as much as .4315

I will call S&W and asked them to measure while it's there cause
.431 is what my M69 needs to be!

 

[HamHands]

OP, were you having accuracy problems? How was the timing of each charging hole to the forcing cone/barrel?

Everything I've shot thru my 629 and 29, both 3" barreled has been very accurate. I've shot the following
PPU 300grain LFP
PPU 240grain JHP's
PMC 240grain TC's
Underwood 255grain Keith HC's in both .44Special and Magnum
Fiocchi 240grain LFP's
Fiocchi 240grain JHP's
Federal 240grain SJHP's
Federal 180grain LHP's in .44Special
Federal 240grain Fusion
Blazer 240grain SJHP's
American Eagle 240grain SJHP's
PMC 180grain SJHP's in .44Specials
and about 5 or 6 others... I've ran the gamut and bought 12 different loadings to see what my new favorite handguns/calibers liked from Sportsmans Guide Warehouse. To my absolute delight, everything has been stellar. I'll consider myself blessed that both my Smiths, the vintage M29 and the new M629-6 have shot so well. I shoot them from 10 yards out to 50 on paper and steel every chance I get.

Smith will get you taken care of though OP.

 

[Fishinfool]

Well I just checked my three .44's which are as follows...

S&W 629-2E .431

Ruger SBH .431

Charter Arms BD .431

My .431 pin slips right in with no need to push so it could be as much as .4315

I will call S&W and asked them to measure while it's there cause
.431 is what my M69 needs to be!

Based on the above, I would assume you are loading your other .44's with .431/.432 lead bullets? I am going to go out on a limb, and guess your model 69 will come back with similar .429 throats as others have found.

I would by all means attempt to find a load using the same bullets you all ready do. Most revolvers will shoot lead bullets .002/.003 over throat very well, and its a much better scenario than having them be .002/.003 under throat.

I have several .44 mag revolvers with wide throats, and load .432/.433 lead bullets in them with excellent results, even though barrels on a couple of them measure out at a tighter .429. I use these same "oversized" bullets in a recent 629-6 that has tight .429 throats with no issues.

Larry

 

[fortyshooter]

Well I didn't get to shoot the new 69 that much due to a lot of blast coming out the sides of the cylinder. Gap was .015 and main reason it went back the next day.
I shoot .430 sized bullets in all the other revolvers with no problems.
Would rather the new one be the same at .430-.431.

I just called SW and asked them to check the throat size while there.

 

[jaymoore]

Most of the current S&W .44s seem to run 0.4295" to 0.4302" that I've checked with a calibrated bore gage that reads in 0.0001" increments.
My own 69 is at the lower end of that narrow range.

Given that most of the current jacketed .44 projectiles run in the same dimensional range with Hornadys being generally the biggest, I think it's a big improvement! Easier to find ~0.430" diameter cast bullets than the usual 0.431"-0.433" sizes needed for the older S&Ws as well.