CT Smith Fan
Member
I saw my first L frame model 696 the other day.Any thoughts about this model,It looks like a pretty thin barrel root .But I like the size and the caliber.
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S&W model 696 .44 spl
- Thread starter CT Smith Fan
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alde
Member
The 696 is one of the most sought after S&W revolves out there. I wish I had never sold mine.
Daimler1989
Member
great
Hi,
my wife owns a 696 for some months now. After she got accustomed to the hiviz front sight, she groups 5 rounds at 25 meters on a square not much larger than a postcard (with mild handloads). Keith-level handloads are quite stout in this gun, but don't consider it a snubby - this is a 2 pound handgun, large and accurate enough to even do bullseye shooting.
regards
Ulrich
Hi,
my wife owns a 696 for some months now. After she got accustomed to the hiviz front sight, she groups 5 rounds at 25 meters on a square not much larger than a postcard (with mild handloads). Keith-level handloads are quite stout in this gun, but don't consider it a snubby - this is a 2 pound handgun, large and accurate enough to even do bullseye shooting.
regards
Ulrich
Sportsterguy
Member
I want one real bad, but want a full lugged 3" 657 more.
That 696 is one great revolver. Would love that L frame.
That 696 is one great revolver. Would love that L frame.
Last edited:
crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I picked one up off this forum a few months ago. I put a bobbed hammer on it and it makes a nice size package. Loaded a few Sheeter Skelton 44 spls last night - 7.5g Unique behind a 250g cast SWC. I shot some factory Cowboy loads and some Blazers loaded with 200g Gold dots, and it shot well.
I love it.
Charlie
I love it.
Charlie
RdrBill
US Veteran
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CT.
I consider myself more of a shooter than collector. From that perspective.
I had one and sold it within a month. I have a serious dislike for the gun.
It is a poorly thought out engineering disaster.
It has one positive quality and that is, it shoots the .44 Special. Plus 1
It has a thin walled L frame barrel bored out to .44 caliber. Minus 1
It has a reduced capacity L Frame cylinder bored out to .44 caliber. Minus 2
It has a round butt K frame grip on it. Minus 2
It has an over inflated price on it. Minus 1
If you add up the plus and the minus count, it is not a good gun for a shooter.
When that gun came out , stores could not sell them to shooters. They quit making them because no one was buying them. They were a marketing Dud. Now that they are scarce, Collectors have started a price war over them, but only for their collectors value.
As a shooting gun, it is funny. It starts out with a big hole in the muzzle and as you move to the rear the gun keeps getting smaller. You end up with grips that are more appropriate on a 38 snubbie.
It is factory Bubbatized Frankengun.
You can buy a 4 inch 624 for 60-75% of the price of 696. A 624 is N frame from the front to the rear. Wonderful engineering.
There are many folks that like them. That is good. I am one of a few that does not. This is AMERICA, I get a choice.
I consider the 696 to be a good ladies purse gun, if it is not loaded with hot ammo.
Bill@Yuma
I consider myself more of a shooter than collector. From that perspective.
I had one and sold it within a month. I have a serious dislike for the gun.
It is a poorly thought out engineering disaster.
It has one positive quality and that is, it shoots the .44 Special. Plus 1
It has a thin walled L frame barrel bored out to .44 caliber. Minus 1
It has a reduced capacity L Frame cylinder bored out to .44 caliber. Minus 2
It has a round butt K frame grip on it. Minus 2
It has an over inflated price on it. Minus 1
If you add up the plus and the minus count, it is not a good gun for a shooter.
When that gun came out , stores could not sell them to shooters. They quit making them because no one was buying them. They were a marketing Dud. Now that they are scarce, Collectors have started a price war over them, but only for their collectors value.
As a shooting gun, it is funny. It starts out with a big hole in the muzzle and as you move to the rear the gun keeps getting smaller. You end up with grips that are more appropriate on a 38 snubbie.
It is factory Bubbatized Frankengun.
You can buy a 4 inch 624 for 60-75% of the price of 696. A 624 is N frame from the front to the rear. Wonderful engineering.
There are many folks that like them. That is good. I am one of a few that does not. This is AMERICA, I get a choice.
I consider the 696 to be a good ladies purse gun, if it is not loaded with hot ammo.
Bill@Yuma
diamonback68
US Veteran
Bill, I've seen your rant before, but no matter what you may think about this gun you can't make it go away.
Dave T
Member
Following along with Bill's comments, I have never figured out why S&W can't build a 44 Special on an L-frame and have a thick enough forcing cone when Charter Arms manages it in what is essentially a D-frame (Dick Special) Colt size revolver. Charter is still building them but S&W insists they can't manage a K-frame, 5-shot 44 Special. Baffling!
Dave
Dave
Once upon a time, my better half saw me looking at a gun mag that had a picture of a 696 on the cover. I mumbled something like, "That looks cool!" or whatever.
Lo and behold she really shocked me that Christmas with a brand new 696, no dash, first year of production! (too bad I wasn't looking at a CS-1)
A friend of mine and I put 600 roundnose cartridges through it, then I put it away.
My friend was a .44 geek at the time and loaded up three different loads which we both fired from a sand bag. We agreed on the best load for my gun and he loaded 500 rounds for me. (Some of them are still in the safe; 246 gr. SWC the rest of the data is on the boxes!)
That 44. L-frame is a tack-driving fool and is still "cool." I'll probably shoot it again this month because I'm thinking about it now. I maybe have 750 rounds through it, including some 165gr. Cor-bons and some 200gr. Silvertips. There is no evidence of forcing cone damage, or any other issues.
Sometimes I wish it was a 3-inch 686 though! BUT, I'll probably never sell it because, well, you know the reason!
Lo and behold she really shocked me that Christmas with a brand new 696, no dash, first year of production! (too bad I wasn't looking at a CS-1)
A friend of mine and I put 600 roundnose cartridges through it, then I put it away.
My friend was a .44 geek at the time and loaded up three different loads which we both fired from a sand bag. We agreed on the best load for my gun and he loaded 500 rounds for me. (Some of them are still in the safe; 246 gr. SWC the rest of the data is on the boxes!)
That 44. L-frame is a tack-driving fool and is still "cool." I'll probably shoot it again this month because I'm thinking about it now. I maybe have 750 rounds through it, including some 165gr. Cor-bons and some 200gr. Silvertips. There is no evidence of forcing cone damage, or any other issues.
Sometimes I wish it was a 3-inch 686 though! BUT, I'll probably never sell it because, well, you know the reason!
Chop
Member
I am no expert on anything.
I do have two Model 696's. One is a ported Lew Horton. I bought them both new about 10+ years ago. I have shot the ported one perhaps 1500 rounds of mostly factory Blazer 200 gr gold dots. The revolver fits my hand just right and have no problems at all with it. I do not see any wear on the frame, forcing cone, or the top strap.
I also have a 624 4" and a 24 3" and being N-frame's, I dont think it is fair to compare them to the 696's.
Chop
I do have two Model 696's. One is a ported Lew Horton. I bought them both new about 10+ years ago. I have shot the ported one perhaps 1500 rounds of mostly factory Blazer 200 gr gold dots. The revolver fits my hand just right and have no problems at all with it. I do not see any wear on the frame, forcing cone, or the top strap.
I also have a 624 4" and a 24 3" and being N-frame's, I dont think it is fair to compare them to the 696's.
Chop
my opinion
I really like 4" N frames and sometimes carry one IWB concealed. However, I find them best suited to sturdy OWB belt holsters. Just a couple of days ago I was at the range shooting a 22-4, a 625, a 696, and a 396NG. They all shot equally well (with the correct grips.) Earlier today, after reading Bill's rant, I grabbed an N frame to carry instead of my normal L frame .44. I was going to meet a former coworker and friend for lunch later. Before I left the house about an hour later I put it back in the safe and instead carried a 696 no dash I bought new years ago. For ME it is just a better handgun for normal use. Since I retired I no longer strap on heavy duty gear but instead, opt for a shooter that is easy to carry. I have had no problem with the forcing cone over the years and expect none in my lifetime. I admit I had to search for grips that fit me and the gun. When I finally found the ones I like it balanced the 3" full lug L frame perfectly.
I really like 4" N frames and sometimes carry one IWB concealed. However, I find them best suited to sturdy OWB belt holsters. Just a couple of days ago I was at the range shooting a 22-4, a 625, a 696, and a 396NG. They all shot equally well (with the correct grips.) Earlier today, after reading Bill's rant, I grabbed an N frame to carry instead of my normal L frame .44. I was going to meet a former coworker and friend for lunch later. Before I left the house about an hour later I put it back in the safe and instead carried a 696 no dash I bought new years ago. For ME it is just a better handgun for normal use. Since I retired I no longer strap on heavy duty gear but instead, opt for a shooter that is easy to carry. I have had no problem with the forcing cone over the years and expect none in my lifetime. I admit I had to search for grips that fit me and the gun. When I finally found the ones I like it balanced the 3" full lug L frame perfectly.
I love my 696-1 and if anyone cares to dispose of their burdensome pre-lock 696's give me a shout. Factor the negatives into the price, too. 
I'd trade my 98-99% 4 inch 24-3 for two of them no-dash 696's if someone is looking to empty the trash.
I'd trade my 98-99% 4 inch 24-3 for two of them no-dash 696's if someone is looking to empty the trash.
S&W forever
Member
crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Come on Bill. Tell us what you really think.
Charlie
Charlie
RdrBill
US Veteran
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- 514
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Come on Bill. Tell us what you really think.
Charlie
Sir.
I prefer a gun with a handle on it that is proportional to my hand size, something like this.
From my perspective, the 696 is a bit small and lacks ergonomics.
Bill@Yuma
semperfi71
US Veteran
Nice .45.
I am not totally in agreement with RdrBill, since I think the M696 (I have one) does balance and point well with the proper grips.
But...it is a bit of a "strange concept". I think it is too large to carry in normal concealed circumstances, except for maybe offensive linemen in the NFL. It might work if a normal to bigger sized person goes about with a coat or jacket on. Or carries it in a purse, with little room for anything else.
For outdoors use, it's great if you don't have any real big animals about like maybe black bear of some size or bigger. It is a .44 Special but I think it is prudent to load it with mostly lead bullets at 800 fps or slower. If loaded with 240 grain bullets at 800 to 850 fps it will generate some recoil and (although few admit it) a lot of folks would not like the recoil. If it is loaded with lighter bullet at the slower velocities it may lack power for, again, the larger animals.
On people targets it should do well. But if you're in agreement with my thoughts, you won't be carrying it in concealment as much as carrying it walking around the woods.
Therefore, if I was going hiking in my territory I might carry it and I might not. If I was really concerned about bears and such I'd be carrying my full size .41, .44, or .45 handguns loaded up stout.
I will admit to having never heard of (mostly read here) about one ever cracking a forcing cone but that cone is very thin! I would not push it.
I guess what I am implying is that it is a specialized handgun with a narrow range of use.
And no, You folks are not getting mine yet. I intend to enjoy it for a few years before I turn it over to someone else!
I'm thinkin' I might load some of the Hornady 240 grain swaged lead SWC hollow points to about 800 fps. That'd be a people-stopper I think and fun to shoot.
I am not totally in agreement with RdrBill, since I think the M696 (I have one) does balance and point well with the proper grips.
But...it is a bit of a "strange concept". I think it is too large to carry in normal concealed circumstances, except for maybe offensive linemen in the NFL. It might work if a normal to bigger sized person goes about with a coat or jacket on. Or carries it in a purse, with little room for anything else.
For outdoors use, it's great if you don't have any real big animals about like maybe black bear of some size or bigger. It is a .44 Special but I think it is prudent to load it with mostly lead bullets at 800 fps or slower. If loaded with 240 grain bullets at 800 to 850 fps it will generate some recoil and (although few admit it) a lot of folks would not like the recoil. If it is loaded with lighter bullet at the slower velocities it may lack power for, again, the larger animals.
On people targets it should do well. But if you're in agreement with my thoughts, you won't be carrying it in concealment as much as carrying it walking around the woods.
Therefore, if I was going hiking in my territory I might carry it and I might not. If I was really concerned about bears and such I'd be carrying my full size .41, .44, or .45 handguns loaded up stout.
I will admit to having never heard of (mostly read here) about one ever cracking a forcing cone but that cone is very thin! I would not push it.
I guess what I am implying is that it is a specialized handgun with a narrow range of use.
And no, You folks are not getting mine yet. I intend to enjoy it for a few years before I turn it over to someone else!
I'm thinkin' I might load some of the Hornady 240 grain swaged lead SWC hollow points to about 800 fps. That'd be a people-stopper I think and fun to shoot.
