I’ve been recovering from hip replacement surgery. Today at physical therapy, walked around the block with only a cane So I’ll be back in the game here shortly (fingers crossed). In the mean time I thought I would relate my recent (pre op) experience with the newly introduced 2 ¾” S&W M69 (5 shot L Frame .44 Magnum).
Single action trigger broke at a bit over 4 lbs on my RCBS trigger scale. Throats are between .429 & .430 (.429 plug gage go, .430 no go). Bbl/cyl gap - .004 feeler gage go, .006 no go. Gun weighs 35 oz with Hogue 500 grips.
Shot a fairly wide range of ammo ranging from 200 Saeco full wadcutters to 325gr WLNGCs and 22.0gr of H110. Don’t remember the 200gr WC load, but performance on paper was terrible. The best groups at both 25 and 50 yds were shot with a MBW 260gr WFNGC, 23.0gr H100, Fed Mag Primer and new Top Brass. This load shot a bit over 2” at 50 yds. Thought this was a fluke so to verify I shot 5 more with similar results.
The little gun is an absolute delight to shoot with both .44 special equivalent and full mag loads. The lighter loads are obviously more fun for extended shooting sessions.
I have both 4 ¼” and the new 2.75” M69s. My impression is that the 2.75” gun shoots “softer” recoil wise than the 4 ¼” version. I’ve chronographed both with the same loads and the short barrel runs about 100 fps slower than it’s longer brother (except for the big 325gr) – this moderates recoil. Of course, you get a bit of muzzle flash with H110 loads. Both of mine are equipped with the S&W 500 X Frame Hogue grips.
Here are some chronograph results:
Chronoed these from the 2.75” M69. Three rounds at 5 Long paces from muzzle and 68 deg F. Larger sample could change the results a bit. Largest ES was 42 fps.
260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,125 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,126 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,125 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (Deep Seat) 1,119 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,104 fps
For comparison purposes these were shot a while back from my 4 ¼” M69: Same temp, distance from the muzzle.
260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,224 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,230 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,220 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (deep seat) 1,140 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,182
Little out of focus cell phone pic of the 2 ¾” with two holster (fit the M69 perfectly) that I bought sometime back for my 396. A Haugen, OWB, dual position thumb snap, and a Milt Sparks, IWB, Versa Max II.
New front lockup on 2 ¾” (vs orig M69 4 ¼”). Ball detent is on the frame and locks up on/in back of crane/yoke (don’t know exact config as I haven’t disassembled cyl/yoke assy yet).
Orig M69 (4 ¼”) front lockup. Ball detent on front of crane/yoke that locks into a v notch on the rear of the ejector shroud.
Interesting to note both guns are stamped 69 (i.e. no dash) on front inside of the frame (crane/yoke cutout). Don’t know if S&W has standardized ball detent lockup config.
50 yard target shot over my range bag – 2 ¾” M69, 260gr WFNGC, 23.0gr H110.
25 yard target shot offhand (two hands) – 2 ¾” M69, 265gr SWCGC, 23.5gr H110 (Different bullet/load than 260gr above). Certainly can’t do this on demand, but shows shootability of the little gun.
Misc 25 yard target using range bag as a rest.
Neat little gun.
Paul
Single action trigger broke at a bit over 4 lbs on my RCBS trigger scale. Throats are between .429 & .430 (.429 plug gage go, .430 no go). Bbl/cyl gap - .004 feeler gage go, .006 no go. Gun weighs 35 oz with Hogue 500 grips.
Shot a fairly wide range of ammo ranging from 200 Saeco full wadcutters to 325gr WLNGCs and 22.0gr of H110. Don’t remember the 200gr WC load, but performance on paper was terrible. The best groups at both 25 and 50 yds were shot with a MBW 260gr WFNGC, 23.0gr H100, Fed Mag Primer and new Top Brass. This load shot a bit over 2” at 50 yds. Thought this was a fluke so to verify I shot 5 more with similar results.
The little gun is an absolute delight to shoot with both .44 special equivalent and full mag loads. The lighter loads are obviously more fun for extended shooting sessions.
I have both 4 ¼” and the new 2.75” M69s. My impression is that the 2.75” gun shoots “softer” recoil wise than the 4 ¼” version. I’ve chronographed both with the same loads and the short barrel runs about 100 fps slower than it’s longer brother (except for the big 325gr) – this moderates recoil. Of course, you get a bit of muzzle flash with H110 loads. Both of mine are equipped with the S&W 500 X Frame Hogue grips.
Here are some chronograph results:
Chronoed these from the 2.75” M69. Three rounds at 5 Long paces from muzzle and 68 deg F. Larger sample could change the results a bit. Largest ES was 42 fps.
260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,125 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,126 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,125 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (Deep Seat) 1,119 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,104 fps
For comparison purposes these were shot a while back from my 4 ¼” M69: Same temp, distance from the muzzle.
260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,224 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,230 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,220 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (deep seat) 1,140 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,182
Little out of focus cell phone pic of the 2 ¾” with two holster (fit the M69 perfectly) that I bought sometime back for my 396. A Haugen, OWB, dual position thumb snap, and a Milt Sparks, IWB, Versa Max II.
New front lockup on 2 ¾” (vs orig M69 4 ¼”). Ball detent is on the frame and locks up on/in back of crane/yoke (don’t know exact config as I haven’t disassembled cyl/yoke assy yet).
Orig M69 (4 ¼”) front lockup. Ball detent on front of crane/yoke that locks into a v notch on the rear of the ejector shroud.
Interesting to note both guns are stamped 69 (i.e. no dash) on front inside of the frame (crane/yoke cutout). Don’t know if S&W has standardized ball detent lockup config.
50 yard target shot over my range bag – 2 ¾” M69, 260gr WFNGC, 23.0gr H110.
25 yard target shot offhand (two hands) – 2 ¾” M69, 265gr SWCGC, 23.5gr H110 (Different bullet/load than 260gr above). Certainly can’t do this on demand, but shows shootability of the little gun.
Misc 25 yard target using range bag as a rest.
Neat little gun.
Paul
