Range report on a S&W 69.
I purchased a new 69 last winter and it was returned to S&W several times for quality issues. They fixed the gun to the point I am happy with it now+.
This weekend I broke 500 round break in.
Positive negative points.
Shooting 44 mags: I haven't shot any factory magnum ammo only my own reloads. These were 200 and 240 jacketed using both 2400 and H110. The H110 has been the most accurate and consistent with the 200 and 240. Both bullets were Hornady XTP’s. 3 inches groups at 15 yards were easy for me.
The trigger when it was originally purchased was one of the worse trigger I have ever felt on a S&W. Double action weight was massive and very rough, single had was like it was imbedded in sand paper. After S&W worked on it I will have to say single action is as good as any of my N frame guns and that's saying a lot. Double action is still a little rough on the first ¼ of the pull but I hope that clears up over time.
Sights are good. Excellent width between the front and the open rear and easy to pick up. The rear white line is a little thin I would like it better if the white line was a little thicker.
Grips are well designed but before I shot the gun I didn’t like them. They do soak up recoil very well and give a firm sticky grip when it’s hot. The negative point is in my hand the distance to the trigger is a little long. I can’t get the gun high in my hand and at the same time comfortably get the finger completely on the trigger without rotating my hand a little or stretching to get the full index to the joint. Not a big one but for someone with shorter hands than mine you want to take a good look at that.
Hammer spur. Too narrow and if you don’t get your thumb centered it will wear a hole in your skin.
Cylinder release. Still rough but location is proper to manipulate without moving your hand on the gun but does require a hard push to work each time. That should improve with time also.
Reloading, using the proper hold with the left hand fingers holding the cylinder open and supporting the gun works well to dump empties but you must make sure the cylinder is completely out before dumping or one can get hung on the rubber grips.
Shooting.
The only other 44 mag I own to compare it to is a 3 inch 629.
Comparing the two surprised me. Granted the 629 has smaller grips made for carrying but I thought the extra weight would make the 629 easier to shoot with less recoil. Sorry I don’t know the weight difference but the 69 is lighter and with an extra inch barrel length which will increase velocity I figured they would be somewhat the same. They were not. I shoot a lot of big bore revolvers and I am not effected by recoil other than the twitch that comes up after a lengthy firing string.
With my hot but safe loads in the 240’s the 629 can be a little brutal being very sharp.
I wouldn’t want to shoot 100 round strings with mags, the recoil is sharp but has be be a good 20% less with the 69.
44 specials. This is where this gun shines. Being a 44 special nut this is the main reason I purchased this gun since I shoot thousands of specials for every mag. With Penn 240 SWC’s at around 800 fps this thing will drive tacks. And about like shooting warm 38’s in a S&W 19.
Overall impression.
When I first received this gun it was horrible even without shooting it. I took 3 months before S&W fixed the problems and I will say even though it did take several trips I was happy with the work. Including the heavy scratches on the crown of the barrel into the lands.
This gun has become a keeper and will be shot a great deal. I need to find a nice holster and some speed loaders.
If you buy one and the quality is up to S&W normal standard you will like the gun.
I purchased a new 69 last winter and it was returned to S&W several times for quality issues. They fixed the gun to the point I am happy with it now+.
This weekend I broke 500 round break in.
Positive negative points.
Shooting 44 mags: I haven't shot any factory magnum ammo only my own reloads. These were 200 and 240 jacketed using both 2400 and H110. The H110 has been the most accurate and consistent with the 200 and 240. Both bullets were Hornady XTP’s. 3 inches groups at 15 yards were easy for me.
The trigger when it was originally purchased was one of the worse trigger I have ever felt on a S&W. Double action weight was massive and very rough, single had was like it was imbedded in sand paper. After S&W worked on it I will have to say single action is as good as any of my N frame guns and that's saying a lot. Double action is still a little rough on the first ¼ of the pull but I hope that clears up over time.
Sights are good. Excellent width between the front and the open rear and easy to pick up. The rear white line is a little thin I would like it better if the white line was a little thicker.
Grips are well designed but before I shot the gun I didn’t like them. They do soak up recoil very well and give a firm sticky grip when it’s hot. The negative point is in my hand the distance to the trigger is a little long. I can’t get the gun high in my hand and at the same time comfortably get the finger completely on the trigger without rotating my hand a little or stretching to get the full index to the joint. Not a big one but for someone with shorter hands than mine you want to take a good look at that.
Hammer spur. Too narrow and if you don’t get your thumb centered it will wear a hole in your skin.
Cylinder release. Still rough but location is proper to manipulate without moving your hand on the gun but does require a hard push to work each time. That should improve with time also.
Reloading, using the proper hold with the left hand fingers holding the cylinder open and supporting the gun works well to dump empties but you must make sure the cylinder is completely out before dumping or one can get hung on the rubber grips.
Shooting.
The only other 44 mag I own to compare it to is a 3 inch 629.
Comparing the two surprised me. Granted the 629 has smaller grips made for carrying but I thought the extra weight would make the 629 easier to shoot with less recoil. Sorry I don’t know the weight difference but the 69 is lighter and with an extra inch barrel length which will increase velocity I figured they would be somewhat the same. They were not. I shoot a lot of big bore revolvers and I am not effected by recoil other than the twitch that comes up after a lengthy firing string.
With my hot but safe loads in the 240’s the 629 can be a little brutal being very sharp.
I wouldn’t want to shoot 100 round strings with mags, the recoil is sharp but has be be a good 20% less with the 69.
44 specials. This is where this gun shines. Being a 44 special nut this is the main reason I purchased this gun since I shoot thousands of specials for every mag. With Penn 240 SWC’s at around 800 fps this thing will drive tacks. And about like shooting warm 38’s in a S&W 19.
Overall impression.
When I first received this gun it was horrible even without shooting it. I took 3 months before S&W fixed the problems and I will say even though it did take several trips I was happy with the work. Including the heavy scratches on the crown of the barrel into the lands.
This gun has become a keeper and will be shot a great deal. I need to find a nice holster and some speed loaders.
If you buy one and the quality is up to S&W normal standard you will like the gun.
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