My wish list-.44 mag on an L frame

[swmod29]

A few years ago I owned a stainless ,3 inch,5 shot .44 spl built on the L frame(can't remember the model #).I got to thinking,what if I had the cylinder reamed out to .44 mag.?I could work-up my own handloads(carefully) and have a really handy carry gun.I called S&W to inquire if the heat treatment on the .44 spl.cylinder was the same as that used on the .357 cylinder used on the mod. 686.After some conversation,it turned out S&W had already tried what I proposed!They found,however,that due to the thin forcing cone required by the .44 caliber when used on an L frame,it would crack eventually due to magnum pressures,i.e.-poor longevity.The idea was scrapped.Surely,with today's metalurgy(ex:scandium J frame ..357s,the mod. 329)they could do it.I bet it would sell very well.

 

[Tom Servo]

The .44 Special L-Frame was the 696. IIRC, the forcing cone wasn't the only impediment to chambering to a .44 Magnum chambering. The cylinder walls become pretty thin when you bore them out to .423".

Though most modern .44 Special factory loadings are on the tame side (we can thank the Charter Bulldog for that), I wouldn't run anything hot or heavy through the 696.

Back when Grunge music was big, S&W came out with an L-Frame chambered in .40 S&W. I asked a company rep if they had any plans to chamber one in 10mm, but he claimed they'd done some testing, and the pressure levels were just a bit high for the thickness of the cylinder walls.

 

[borntoraisehogs]

I like your idea a lot . Sort of a model 19 concept ? . I often have similar thoughts and hate it when experts actually in the industry tell us there are good reasons , our ideas haven't already been put into production .
Just once I would like them to tell me that , and later have it become known I really was the first one to think of one of these good ideas that actually did go into production . It would be my shootin+bee essing partners worst nightmare .

 

[P&R Fan]

I have a 696 and a 296 (Aluminum frame titanium cylinder) and really like them. I think the cylinder strength would cause problems with a .44 magnum. However an idea I've had for a long time is an L-frame .41 magnum. That seems doable and I think it would make a great carry gun.

 

[redhawk444]

The 696 will come apart before 44 Mg. pressures are reached.

I have one and the cylinder wall thickness is only about .055", so anything over 25K pressure wise is pretty much walking the line with that gun. In addition to that the forcing cone is pretty thin and would probably crack with heavy loads.

 

[Torakan]

...and have a really handy carry gun. /QUOTE]

The 696 was a really handy carry gun without needing to be a 44 mag.

 

[Chriss]

I, too, would be VERY interested in an L-frame .44, either special or magnum. I might even consider a .41, but I would want a magnum in that caliber. (And have you noticed that there are a lot of people that really, REALLY like their L-frames?)

 

[Tom Servo]

The 696 was a really handy carry gun without needing to be a 44 mag.

It was, but nobody seemed to warm to it at the time. The same month S&W dropped it from the lineup, I read a magazine article singing its praises. Almost overnight, value shot up, and they're going for ~$1000 now.

I used to have one, and it was a good shooter, but it did seem to be picky about ammo. 200gr bullets grouped well, but it didn't care for heavier weights.

 

[rburg]

...and have a really handy carry gun. /QUOTE]

The 696 was a really handy carry gun without needing to be a 44 mag.

Actually.....the 696 was a fairly handy carry gun. The 396 was a really handy carry gun (still is.) But then the 329 is a really handy carry gun, as is the 357 if you prefer .41. Just remember, none of the 3xx guns are really good shooting guns. The handiness comes from the "3" in the 3xx. The poor enjoyment comes from the same factor that makes it handy. Gawd it can hurt after a few gun loads. But if you need it and are carrying it, you won't even feel the recoil. Or it won't hurt you nearly as much as the guy on the delivery end of things.

 

[balldboy]

Great minds...think alike.
I have a 696 but I like the balance and sight radius of my 4" 686.
I have a 4" 686 barrel enroute that will get bored to 44 and installed on the 696.

I realize this will be costly to do and not have much chance of recouping my investment but I gotta give it a try.

Pete

 

[RidgwayCO]

I recently had David Clements convert a M681-3 from a 6-shot .357 Magnum to 5-shot .44 Special. It turned out very nice, and I really like the balance of the 4" barrel. This will be getting a set of Crimson Trace "Hog Hunter" laser grips soon.

 

[Chriss]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Perfect.

 

[dla]

Actually.....the 696 was a fairly handy carry gun. The 396 was a really handy carry gun (still is.) But then the 329 is a really handy carry gun, as is the 357 if you prefer .41. Just remember, none of the 3xx guns are really good shooting guns. The handiness comes from the "3" in the 3xx. The poor enjoyment comes from the same factor that makes it handy. Gawd it can hurt after a few gun loads. But if you need it and are carrying it, you won't even feel the recoil. Or it won't hurt you nearly as much as the guy on the delivery end of things.

Very true. An N-Frame, like the 329, is just large. Although it is very lightweight, it is still literally a handful.

I considered a Taurus tracker, (34oz 5shot 44 mag), and liked it precisely because it was overall a much smaller package. So I can see the facination with the smaller frame size.

But I would go autoloader before I would go 44spl revolver - just too many advantages. I still believe the revolver plays a viable role only in chambering cartridges not offered in autoloaders.



S&W329pd information

 

[drhenzler]

If you read much about the model 19's you'll find that they have a cracking problem with the 357 Mag loads when fired a lot. To me the max loads should only be used for protection purposes. Therefore if you fired 100 of them in a lifetime that would likely represent 20 or more deceased bad guys. How many cops have had to fire that many rounds from their service revolvers at criminals in a career?

I carry an American Derringer 45 Colt. I've fired 6 full loads through it. I carry it knowing I can hit my foe at 10 yards and put them down.

One reporters opinion !

D