Making a S&W 596

[MMA10mm]

I've been beating myself silly hunting all the little gunshops for a reasonably priced 696, to no avail... (I must not have the luck that many here have described, running across these for $500-$600...)

But, I've got this nice pre-MIM, pre-lock 586 that I bought cheap with a bunch of other guns last fall. It's in fairly nice shape, except for the left grip, which the prior owner whittled on for speedloader clearance...

It looks like I can get this converted to 44 Spl. for a total cost in it about $50-$200 less than what 696es have been listed on Gunbroker. (Around $800 total in the gun.) BUT, it would be a two-tone with a 696 cylinder from S&W used.

On the other hand, I have another custom gunsmith who will make a line-bored, 5-shot carbon steel cylinder. This will wind up in a more expensive conversion (haven't gotten a final idea of price yet), but it will be all blue. (Probably nicer blue than it came with...)

Assuming price is more, but not outrageous for the custom cylinder, which conversion would you guys prefer?


(This will stay a 4" barrel - I just like it for a little more velocity and muzzle weight. Besides it will balance more like my 4" 686, and use the same holsters, and I don't find that much benefit for packing on a 3" bbl vs. a 4" on an L-frame.)

 

[Stainz]

If you have the money and just want something you'll never recoup your investment from, do it. If you are more pracitical - and want a fantastic .44 Special that will take Keith loads, recalling that the dimunitive forcing cone on a 696 - or any L-frame conversion to .44 Special - limits you to at most normal .44 Specials, get a decent shaped 4" 29. Make sure it's not loose-as-a-goose, and you'll have a better and more useful revolver. It'll have a larger hammer & trigger, as well as another inch of sight radius. The extra round comes in handy - as does the ability to take Keith loads - and even Magnums, when you clean those chambers. All this comes with just an additional six ounces of mass. Get a RB version, and you can fit those recoil-absorbing .500 Magnum grips to it for the hotter Specials and Magnums.

I had a 629MG when I bought both a 296 & 696, both new, on the same day nearly 6.5 years ago. Ultimately, I replaced the 629MG with a regular 4" 629, which I like a lot better. Now given a choice of keeping one, I'd say good-bye first to the 696, as the 296 is about a 40% EDC these days. The 296 would also go before the 4" 629 - it's just a great revolver. l don't have to - so I'll take the 696 - and take it to the range to shoot some .44 Russian 'poppers' with a 240gr LSWC @ 692 fps - or some mild Specials. Those hyper mild poppers make major power factor, of course - even if they are really mild with the non-fg square conversion Ahrends grips I like on my 696. The 4" 629 is even more fun - and accurate. I assume a 29 would be similarly more fun. Besides, if you are unhappy with the 586, there is a good demand for them. Just some random thoughts - good luck.

Stainz

 

[twomoons]

I've been beating myself silly hunting all the little gunshops for a reasonably priced 696, to no avail... (I must not have the luck that many here have described, running across these for $500-$600...)

But, I've got this nice pre-MIM, pre-lock 586 that I bought cheap with a bunch of other guns last fall. It's in fairly nice shape, except for the left grip, which the prior owner whittled on for speedloader clearance...

It looks like I can get this converted to 44 Spl. for a total cost in it about $50-$200 less than what 696es have been listed on Gunbroker. (Around $800 total in the gun.) BUT, it would be a two-tone with a 696 cylinder from S&W used.

On the other hand, I have another custom gunsmith who will make a line-bored, 5-shot carbon steel cylinder. This will wind up in a more expensive conversion (haven't gotten a final idea of price yet), but it will be all blue. (Probably nicer blue than it came with...)

Assuming price is more, but not outrageous for the custom cylinder, which conversion would you guys prefer?


(This will stay a 4" barrel - I just like it for a little more velocity and muzzle weight. Besides it will balance more like my 4" 686, and use the same holsters, and I don't find that much benefit for packing on a 3" bbl vs. a 4" on an L-frame.)

mm, i have a like new 696 coming in, factory fired only 3 inch no dash. if your interested let me know
steve

 

[twomoons]

696 3 inch no dash factory fired incoming

mm,
sorry for the double post.
i have a like new factory fired 3 inch 696 no dash coming in. gun is out of a collection
let me know if interested

 

[Airedale]

MMA,
I sent a PM with a possible alternative.
Dave

 

[M29since14]

It looks like I can get this converted to 44 Spl. for a total cost in it about $50-$200 less than what 696es have been listed on Gunbroker. (Around $800 total in the gun.) BUT, it would be a two-tone with a 696 cylinder from S&W used.

There are finishes you could use to turn the SS cylinder and barrel black and it would probably make a fairly nice looking gun, if you are not "too" picky.

Hamilton Bowen has taken .357 Mountain Gun barrels and rebored them to .44 caliber. This makes a really tidy field gun, since you have the one-inch longer barrel than the original 696 barrel, probably for less weight, and the cost is not prohibitive.

If you can't find a 696, I would just assemble the gun on a 686 frame and keep it stainless all over, but an all black gun would be nice too.

 

[MMA10mm]

Thanks guys. I've replied to both of the offers listed above.

As far as getting a 4" 629, I had one. I had one of the Mountain Guns from the second run. I really liked it, but I want a dedicated 44 Special. I'm not going to shoot any Keith loads through it. I'll probably load some +P 44 Spls., but nothing in the realm of Elmer's loads. A 265gr SWC or Devastator HP at about 850-950fps is the max I'd load to. I'm looking at the convenience of carry somewhat, but I'm really looking at weight, balanced with the recoil, to make a good big-bore, double-action shooter. This is also the nice thing about customizing the barrel and cylinder - the throats and barrel will match up dimensionally and there will be no frame pinch...

My only real interest in coverting this particular 586 is that I came into it at a really good price. So good, that by the time I pay a good gunsmith to re-bore the barrel and install a new cylinder, I'll still have at least $100 less in it than what 696es are going for... Now, if someone really wants a blued 586, I'd consider working out a trade for a pre-MIM, pre-LOCK 686 x 4". That would solve the finish problem, if we use the cheaper "spare-part" 696 cylinder... As far as the Mountain Gun barrel goes, I was wondering about the height of the front sight on the 357 bbl, not being high enough. That's another concern that the MG bbl. would solve, but I really don't care for the MG barrel profile that much... Maybe just go with a 629 bbl? (I believe I remember reading somewhere that N-Frame bbls. fit L-frames...?)

No, I probably wouldn't get all the value back of the money I put into it, but it would be a darn fine shooting gun.

 

[M29since14]

As far as the Mountain Gun barrel goes, I was wondering about the height of the front sight on the 357 bbl, not being high enough. That's another concern that the MG bbl. would solve, but I really don't care for the MG barrel profile that much... Maybe just go with a 629 bbl? (I believe I remember reading somewhere that N-Frame bbls. fit L-frames...?)

You will need a taller front sight. If you don't like the MG barrel profile, don't do it. The barrels are hard to come by and shouldn't be wasted. You can't use a 629 barrel. Any good pistolsmith can mill off the blade on your 586 barrel and slot the ramp for a pinned-in blade. When that is done, you can put any type of front sight you want in it, and have no problems with sight regulation.

If you're going to re-use your existing barrel, the cheap and logical thing to do is just have the replacement cylinder turned black, and you should have a fairly nice looking finished product.

 

[Duke426]

You say you are only thinking of doing this because you came into the 586 cheaply enough.

My advice, FWIW, is to sell the 586 and put the money toward a 696. They are out there at reasonable prices if you just have a little patience.

You are going to have a ton of money into a gun that may have limited resale value no matter who does the work and no matter the quality. Don't ask how I found that out the hard way.

If you go through with it, another option for the finish is Robar's Roguard black finish. Of course that adds another $400 when the work and shipping is done.

 

[diamonback68]

M10m, we recently had a 696 no dash in the classifieds for sale at around $750 and it unbelievably sat there for about a week with no sale. I would have bought it but I already have one. So, they are out there and probably cheaper than what you will have in the 586 that you will have to keep for life.

 

[M29since14]

You guys are right about the money, of course, and everyone knows a custom gun is a money-hole you can rarely dig yourself from, but the OP indicates the man wants a 4-inch gun, for whatever reason. He can put one of those together for fewer bucks with his el cheapo 586 than he can buying a 696 and putting another barrel on it - probably.

You can never be sure about these things until you have the gun and the bills in your hand!

 

[MMA10mm]

Well, I dunno now fellows. You've given me some things to think about, which is why I needed your input.

Kinda makes sense selling the 586 to someone who'd appreciate a blued, pre-lock & pre-MIM 357... Then, I could invest the proceeds in a factory original 696.

Guess, I'll be researching what a really nice 586 is worth on gunbroker and doing some calculating...