J Frame on Steroids? Model 696 brought home! !! ! !! ! !

[pred]

This is the one I saw over the weekend,
I really could not make up my mind weather to get it or pass the info along since I dont have too much liquid cash at this time,,,
I went to work knowing that the Shop where I saw it for $450 would open at 10am,,,,
I had to call a supplier and the first 3 digits after the Prefix was 696,,,,
,,,,, Then I am drilling a hole in the side of a house and I look at the drill and the serial # started with 0696,,,,,, Well I called them since I had enough taunting for the day about this gun and asked them to put it aside.
I went and picked it up offering the $450 OTD if I paid with cash.
They said "Thats the way to do it"
So I now have this J frame on Steroids at home.
It will be a couple weeks till I can shoot it since I did some accidental crushing of my right hand last week, (Nothing broken) Just painful!
Now I am aware that it is a "L" frame and is a 5 shot 44 special and that this one is a -1 with frame mounted firing pin and some MIM parts, And that they were made for a couple of years,,, Mine is a Pre Lock gun which I am happy about, Most likely would have left it there and posted here if anyone was interested.
So, What dont I know is what I would like to know!
How many made?
Are they all 3" ers?
And how long will it take me to put Wood grips on it?
I am Happy and feel that I got it at a good price....
Please any comments welcome!

Sorry about the bad pic, It's after dark and I dont have a good light box.
Oh yes, One more thing
Are there any other 5 shot Smith revolvers that are not a J frame???
Peter.

 

[SLT223]

X frame guns are 5 shot...but they are slightly larger.

 

[Duke426]

You got a great gun at a great price.

Don't try to turn it into what it is not - a magnum.

Factory level 44 Special loads and you will be a happy camper and so will your gun.

 

[Nygma]

Are there any other 5 shot Smith revolvers that are not a J frame???
Peter.

The 296 and the 396. Both are 44 Specials.

396

 

[manny25]

nice gun good deal

 

[murphydog]

Currently, S & W makes no other 5-shot revolvers besides the ones mentioned previously. They had made several (mostly in .38 S & W) the past on the I frame, which was the J's immediate ancestor, and in top-break revolvers.

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

They are great guns! I have the 296, 396 and the 696. Just fell in like with the L frame 5 shooters. The 296 is of course the Centennial on steriods, and makes a really nice carry gun as does the 396. I find the 696 just slightly too weighty to carry every day concealed.
There are some fine loads for the .44 Special, from the hotties from Buffalo Bore to factory "cowboy" loads that just loaf along out of the muzzle. Even those last loads will substantially ruin someones' day if the slug is placed properly, to say nothing of 5 of them placed properly.
I just received a load from Buffalo Bore of their "standard" .44 Special HPs, and they will really put out some eneregy.
Congratulations on a fine and "priced right" purchase.

 

[ab4ka]

very nice! I love the 3" L frame guns...I need a 686 to go with my 6" 686

 

[flat top]

Congratulations!!! Treat it with respect and it will reward you when it comes time to sell................(little does he know that once he shoots it he will be hooked.....LOL!!!!)

 

[rkrcpa]

Nice...you'll really enjoy that one.

I have a no dash that I'm very happy with. I don't know about wood grips, I went with Pachmayr Compac Pro's

 

[deuterij]

Wow that is a nice gun at a great price. I saw one for around $700 on this forum's classifieds. Congrats.

 

[sonny]

My no-dash pushed $900 by the time I got it home.
Nice gun; great price.
Sonny

 

[ladder13]

Great score Peter, congrats.

 

[DCWilson]

Excellent price on a great gun. Congratulations! I paid way more than that for my no-dash, but it came with factory combats as part of the deal.

I also have a 296 that I put a big dot front sight on and equipped with a 696 cylinder to add a couple of ounces to the gun.

I'm thinking about a 396 NG, but have some other things to pick up first.

L-frame .44s are just the cat's meow. Love 'em!

 

[epj]

I fired one of these belonging to another member at the range a few months ago. Very impressed with the way it shot. We were shooting at a steel plate at a bit over 100 yards, and hitting it pretty consistantly. The only thing I can think of I'd like better is a .41 Special L frame with a 6 shot cylinder. I know I can get one made out of a 686 or GP100 for around $600, but it would be a lot nicer if Smith would do it.

 

[Charles]

It will be a couple weeks till I can shoot it since I did some accidental crushing of my right hand last week, (Nothing broken) Just painful!

Sounds like a perfect opportunity for some weak-hand practice to me!

Great score, man. Jealous!

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Congrats on the 696 Peter!! NICE SCORE!!
That sure is a Big 5 shooter..
I'll bet that the 44spl in the L frame is very manageable with the full lug 3" barrel..
Do You Have a White Cat??
Gary/Hk

 

[pred]

And the 2 legged one has hair past her waist.
And yes I have a real nice drain snake as well.
Peter

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

I could see the white hair in your pic..
Great looking Little/BIG Snubby..
HEY I still have that box of K/L SB Grips..
I'll email you.. Thanks!!
Gary/Hk

 

[sonny]

Tim Sundles states that his ammo can be fired in any .44 Special other than the Charter Arms Bulldog. 255gr @ 984 fps from your gun. Should be about all you need for the woods.
Unique 7.5 240gr hard-cast 914-945 avg 938 fps mild, easy recoil. Safe in my gun. Be careful.
This is what I have used in mine. I really enjoy this gun.
Sonny