Model 69 Test Drive

[twodog max]

I got my hands on a friends Model 69 today. I put about 40 rounds through it. I really liked it. Only 10 rounds of these were full house magnum level reloads. The recoil of these was fairly sharp but not unpleasant. However it is not something you would want to shoot all day. The rest were 1000fps reloads with 240 grain cast bullets. These were a pure pleasure to shoot and no problem at all handling the recoil. All the shooting was at 15 yards offhand. Everything we put through it seemed to be more than acceptably accurate.

Bottom line for me is now I have got to have one of my own. Now I have to see what goes on the trading block.

 

[PatriotX]

While the stock rubber grips perform remarkably well, the Hogue X-frame (500 or 460) grips make it that much better.

I can't say enough nice things about this gun. S&W got it right with this combination.

 

[CajunBass]

It seems just about everyone who tries one, wants one sooner or later.

 

[Collo Rosso]

Still waiting on the 3".

 

[686-380]

I love mine!

 

[Capttjk1]

It's a great weapon. I have only put about 400 rounds of .44spl through mine so far. Very accurate gun.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Had mine little over a month now and it is a keeper!

 

[Hopper]

After I got my NM 66, my younger brother got the 69 twin. It's an absolute hoot with 44 Specials, and not terrible at all with mags. Both are keepers!

 

[joe44va]

I've had mine for about 6 months now. Put the 500 grips on it and carry it river fishing (2 bird shot, 3- 200JHP), we have some water mocs around you see. It's now one of my favorite weapons. Probably have 300 rounds thru it and will keep it forever.

 

[DFrame]

Still waiting on the 3".

Me too! Assuming S&W ever produces one.

 

[CajunBass]

I had mine back to the range today, shooting 44 Specials and just confirmed what I had found out last time.

Man, what a fun gun to shoot. I just have a hard time stopping my wife from shooting up all my ammo.

 

[Roy P]

I let the wife shoot my 69 our last trip out.she got 2 rounds out before she handed it back to me.

 

[twodog max]

If she was shooting full house loads I can certainly understand why and even if not the recoil is sharper so some understandably will not like it. At the same time I was trying the 69 my buddy got out his 329 and we shot it too. It was not bad at all with the low powered cast loads but when I tried it with 240 jacketed full house loads two shots and I was done. I have only been shooting 44 magnums for over 40 years so I am not a newb when it comes to 44 recoil. FYI I feel the same way about 454 Casull and 460 S&W I have tried. Great for those that like them but not me.

I still want a 69 and at some point one will show up here. Just a question of when.

 

[at_liberty]

It's a great weapon. I have only put about 400 rounds of .44spl through mine so far. Very accurate gun.

Glad you are happy with it, but I think everyone labeling it a "great weapon" will depend upon shooting 44 Magnum as well. The gun has my attention, because its scale makes it something I could carry, as I have with a 4" 686 and similar Rossi 971VRC. That would be colder weather though. Even then I am not likely to carry full power ammo. Somewhere near the starting load works best for me, and I shoot really well with it. I don't know how I would manage without reloading my own.

 

[Capttjk1]

Glad you are happy with it, but I think everyone labeling it a "great weapon" will depend upon shooting 44 Magnum as well. The gun has my attention, because its scale makes it something I could carry, as I have with a 4" 686 and similar Rossi 971VRC. That would be colder weather though. Even then I am not likely to carry full power ammo. Somewhere near the starting load works best for me, and I shoot really well with it. I don't know how I would manage without reloading my own.

True. I do need to get out and put some magnums thru it soon!

 

[Fortyone]

smith 69 44 mag

Since Simth & Wesson came out with the 44mag on the
L frame with a 5 shot cylinder , I can't wait for them to
come out with a 2.5" and a 4" in .41 magnum!
I think this caliber and frame size is ideal. Recoil less than the 44 , but twice the power of the 357 and in a compact size for easy carry in the shorter barrel size.

 

[Shark Bait]

Still waiting on the 3".

Me too. It would be an awesome carry gun. Are you listening S&W?

 

[Fox4Alpha]

I got mine last Christmas and pretty much agree with the positive comments. It's a hoot to shoot. My wife also shoots it, but like the rest of us (including me) she finds it a hand full with full power loads. We practice with 44 spl and 44 mag reloads. It has been my experience that when the situation arises that you need to stop a varmint (whether 2 legged or 4) you won't feel the recoil. To the OP, ya gotta get one of them.

 

[GB]

I have had mine for about 10 or 11 months. Doesn't have much of a round count yet. Changed the grips to the larger 500 grips and while I liked the feel of the factory grips better, I like the shooting of the larger, softer 500s better. I also agree that while shooting the full house magnum loads gets over being fun a lot faster than shooting specials, the magnum loads are manageable. Put me down as a future owner of the same platform if they ever come out with a 41..

 

[twodog max]

I got mine last Christmas and pretty much agree with the positive comments. It's a hoot to shoot. My wife also shoots it, but like the rest of us (including me) she finds it a hand full with full power loads. We practice with 44 spl and 44 mag reloads. It has been my experience that when the situation arises that you need to stop a varmint (whether 2 legged or 4) you won't feel the recoil. To the OP, ya gotta get one of them.

Exactly what I am thinking. I have already put a seldom used gun on gunbroker to start the process