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.