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

For $450 I would not put it back in the case the first time. Good Job! Enjoy
 
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

Just send them to another in need or Grip Karma them if you so desire.
I forgot about them till you mentioned it.
Peter
 
The 696's are round butt L-frames - they'll take any K/L frame round butt grip. I like my 696-1, bought new 1/03 for $439 + s/t, some days as shown below - others, wearing a finger groove version of the same Ahrends cocobolo square conversion stocks. My 296 was bought the same day as the 696 as new closeout for $349. Both are keepers. The 296 was miserable in those wood service boots - quickly reverted back to it's OEM Goodyears (Uncle Mikes Boots) for CC.

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The Uncle Mike's combats that come on the 696 are rounded - the squared version, usually found on the later longer model K-frames (10, 64, 65, 66, 67), are even better than the originals as far as recoil is concerned. Realistically, at my .44 Russian and Special homebrew's level, the wood is perfect.

The Georgia Arms version of the Speer 200gr Gold Dot chrono's the same as the Al-cased CCI Blazer, yet includes a Starline brass case... and is cheaper! After thousands of many different caliber Blazers, I finally had one split it's case - and it was a 200gr GD - in my 696! No more, thank you. If you don't reload, save the brass - you eventually will reload. I never thought I would, either - I started reloading seven years ago...

Speaking of ammo - check small makers for .44 Special 'cowboy ammo'. It'll be lead - and about the least expensive ammo you'll find. I like .44 Russians, too - just make sure they are not loaded with blackpowder - it's a chore to clean up after!

Enjoy your 696 - it's a fun .44 Special.

Stainz
 
Peter,sorry to hear about the hand. Damn! I hate when that happens.

Welcome to the 696 crowd, there's no turning back ,these are consummately cool guns. I may have a deal cooked on a 2nd one ,but one of my 1911s'will have to go for it.
You know when a 45 goes in the trade , I've got Smithitis really bad.

By all means ,shoot the lightest loads you can out of it. The forcing cone is quite thin ,and the gun is really not heavy enough to handle anything hot.
My biggest handload is a 240gr. S.W.C. over 7 gr. Unique. I shoot this out of all my 44 caliber revolvers.

Congrats ,,Allen F.

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Top; Tylers tru-fit, butterscotch micarta. Bottom, Bianchi Lightning for the K-L round butt.

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I bought some "service stye" grips from S&W for my 329 NG, and was really impressed w. them -- nice grain, better fit than any of the after market ones I've had (aside from ones made for the gun) and nice grain. No pics, unfortunately, as their off being a template for some custom ones.
 
Allen-frame
Beautiful grips up above.
I actually have set of the Bodyguard grips from another purchase....
ALSO
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I wont be trying to make a magnum out of it, I already have a 629 and a 624.
624 in front and 629 in rear.
The 696 just needed to come home to play.
 
It looks like you are all set. One last item - my ultimate 'poof' load! I load a 240gr LRNFP/LSWC over 3.5 gr Titegroup in Federal-primed Starline .44 Russian brass. Use it at your own peril... it may make you yawn between shots. Seriously, it only makes 692 fps from that 3" barrel. Great for SPC competition... knocks those steel plates pretty well. Of course, if you face five plates and a sixth 'tiebreaker' plate, it's a bit slow on that last shot... As a range-friend's wife said, "That's a cute little bullet!".

Oh yeah, it makes 'major' power factor, too, with that poof load - hard to believe. Anyone can shoot it - and all day long. To me, the 696 is just one fun platform. Load it with those Georgia Arms 200gr Gold Dots, and it's great protection, too.

Stainz
 
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