New to me 696

[Bellzy]

So I get this 696. It had Hogue grips on it which I immediately take off and notice a little bit of rust underneath. So start with a good cleaning followed by a little bit of Mothers polish and much to my relief the rust is gone and not a blemish to be found. The next step was to put some Magnas on that I had laying around.

Fast forward to the range. So there I am, cylinder full of 240 gr cowboy loads, I slowly and evenly pull the trigger to the point of release and guess what happens next....

BANG!! Just like its suppose to. Four more pulls of the trigger confirms what I suspected and hoped for, another good buy.

Thanks for listening.

 

[TAROMAN]

Congratulations!

but...

If we can't see it, it didn't happen!

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

 

[Bellzy]

Boy oh Boy!! You guys are ruthless with the picture thing.

 

[youngda9]

Dang I want one of those. Nice 696.

 

[DCWilson]

Only a few people don't like the 696; almost everybody who likes the .44 Special round has a soft spot for these guns. I certainly do. I even bought a much lighter 296 because I liked the five-shot .44 configuration so much. With the scandium frame and titanium cylinder, the 296 is almost painful to shoot with anything other than cowboy loads, but it sure has style.

That's a fine specimen you have. I have found my 696 to be very accurate. Or perhaps I should say that nothing about the 696 detracts from the accuracy of which I am capable.

 

[tekarra]

That revolver is too beautiful to not post photos. Thanks for sharing.

 

[cochise]

Very nice does it have a round butt grip? It looks square in the pic,

 

[crsides]

They are all round butt, and now I gotta get me some RB magnas for mine. Those look great on it.


Charlie

 

[P&R Fan]

Now you GOTTA carry it.
I love to carry mine. I think Skeeter Skelton would approve.
Jim

 

[Bellzy]

Right-on on the carry! I have full intentions of carrying it. As with most Smiths the double action is nice and smooth all the way to the break, maybe a tad heavy but not unbearable. This is my first 44 special and all I can say is what a fabulous cartridge. I'm not sure why somebody thought this gun needed Hogues, but that's all changed now. I've mostly been a 357 man but something got into me and now I find myself shooting more and more big bore stuff.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Stainz]

They aren't too shabby sporting Ahrends cocobolo squuare conversion non-fg-ed stocks:

I also bought a new 296 on that same day, nearly nine years ago. It was on closeout at $359, the 696 was at their regular price of $439. They gave me another $10 off for buying two new guns at the same time. It was the most I had spent at one time on S&W products - boy has that changed! Here is that 296 as I carry it - with GA Arms 200gr Gold Dots in a R. Mika's pocket holster:

While I love my 696, I am a realist. I also have an N-frame .44 - that weighs <6 oz more, has another chamber, another inch of barrel, both larger hammer & trigger, and a full sized forcing cone. Additionally, it is current production - and available new for what some 696's sell for - or less. Of course, it's a 4" 629, SKU #163603. Just a thought, if you can't find a 696...

Stainz

 

[BobR1]

Stainz
You are sure right about prices going up. The price you paid nine years ago for the great 296, will not get a real great police trade in Model 64 today. But We Do Not Have Infaltion

The 696's sure look good. The 296 should make a great concelaed gun also. Just pick the right grips for it. What I have found is, If it does not rap me in the finger I can normally shoot it ok.

Bob

 

[johnsonl]

Durn. Now I have to buy another .44.

 

[Fishjager]

Most people like the 200 or 180 gr bullet in their 696's, due to rate of twist and barrel length. I know I liked the 200 myself. Just my .02
Congrats on a fine handgun, they are hard to find by the way. I have seen them go for around 900 on GunBroker.

WHY NOT? MINOT?

 

[Bellzy]

Fishjager,

The reason is it's freezin!

 

[Finn McCool]

I just found a 696 this summer after years of looking. My next big purchase was a reloading press. Gotta reload those forty fours as they cost a fortune. I too was a 357 guy. There is something about the recoil of a 44 special that is just a pleasure to shoot. I'm still waiting on a set of Spegels. Nice gun!!!

 

[mag318]

It's funny that when these 696s came out nobody seemed to want them and they were a poor seller. This prompted S&W to drop them from the line. But now everyone wants one and they command a hefty premium. The market is a funny thing, I only wish I would have bought 10 of these when I had the chance years ago. I think they are great revolvers in a great calibre.

 

[Jeroenw114]

I think it's the same with a lot of 'specials' from manufacturers, cars, watches guns....
When they are unhandy or otherwise poor sellers they turn into collector items.

Those magnas look great. I want those too!
I have my 696 about a year now and it is my favourite revolver. I use it for target shooting and I do better with the 696 as my 6" 686.

 

[weedfarmer]

made a pocket case for my 696 it fits good in right pocket (levi),of course I'am a big guy. love this pistol.

 

[weedfarmer]

FAT finger meant 686 for my pocket carry so sorry

 

[Dennis The B]

I bought mine earlier this year, and I love it. I now rotate it with a Model 65 for my daily carry.

Mine came with the Uncle Mike's stocks. They're extremely comfortable, and I have the same on the Model 65. I'm waiting on a set of Ahrends Combat Stocks now.

My favorite load is the Winchester 200gr STHP. I carry three spare speed loaders.

You'll enjoy, I'm sure.

 

[Bellzy]

Dennis The B,

I was sort of wondering what would be a good round for it. I had to crank the rear sight all the way down for the rounds to hit where I wanted with a six o'clock hold. The next purchase after the holster will be the dies to reload with. My plan was to try a 200gr jacked bullet pushed to about 900fps. Although the forcing cone is a little thin, it looks long (optical illusion? ) so I think the it should be able to handle it without a problem.

 

[TAROMAN]

I so want one of these. Just not willing to pay the stupid GB prices. Tried a Taurus 441. OK, but not the same. Sold it and got a 21-4, even less of a good thing.

A 696 is probably the only Smith I really want anymore.

 

[SW357Addict]

The 696 is definitely one of the all time best guns that S&W has ever made.

It is worth getting one even at GB prices.

 

[Hondo44]

I've liked them ever since they came out. I shot a brand new one when the S&W reps came to the local range and let us shoot all their wares. Never liked the Stainless, full lug or round butt, so have a 586 project in the shop to make a 596, Bought the cylinder from a 696 and a 4" tappered 1/2 lug barrel from a .357 Mtn Gun. Once I get the barrel rebored to 44 I'll send off to have it and the cylinder blued. It'll be my 7th S&W 44 Spl.

Also put a 696 cylinder in my 296 for a little more endurance, weight and looks. Love it.

 

[Elmer]

Still looking for another 696 cylinder for a project, they seemed to have dried up.

 

[Bellzy]

I can't figure GB out on these things. There's a guy on there right now who is the current high bidder on three auctions that's willing to pay $950 all day long on 696s. That means that if I would have waited 2 weeks I wouldn't be a 44 special owner. The thing that really amazes me is one week ago a 696 sold for $535. It's really hard to tell if I got a good deal or not. All I know is I'm glad I bought when I did...I think.

 

[Stainz]

I sure wouldn't pay $950 for a 696. Just 6 oz more...

My luck... by the time I decide to sell my 696, S&W will do like they did to the used 'Blood Work' 2 5/8" PC627 UDR market - and start production again!

Stainz

 

[Bellzy]

My luck... by the time I decide to sell my 696, S&W will do like they did to the used 'Blood Work' 2 5/8" PC627 UDR market - and start production again!

Stainz

Wouldn't that be a kick in the teeth? You buy a whole armory full of these at $950 and S&W starts production again. Then again, what would the MSRP be on something like this today?