S&W 696 .44 Special

H

hickok45

New member
Has anybody had any experience carrying and/or shooting the S&W 696 (.44 Special 3" stainless)? I love little .44 Specials, even though this one doesn't look all that small.

Thanks,
Greg

------------------
"Happiness is a warm gun" John Lennon 1966
 
I don't personally have one but have a shot a friends and love it. As you said they are not especialy small and perhaps partically due to that the recoil was quite managable.
As an interesting side note I have seen one that slipped through the factory that will except magnum cartridges.

------------------
Gunslinger

We live in a time in which attitudes and deeds once respected as courageous and honorable are now scorned as being antiquated and subversive.
 
I've had one since shortly after they came on the market. I like mine a lot -- it handles and shoots great. It's not the easiest revolver to conceal, but it can be done. Its main drawback as a CC weapon is that it carries only 5 rounds, but all of us who have carried J-frame revolvers are already used to that.

Factory .44 Special loads are quite mild in this gun, and handloading can step up the effectiveness of this caliber by a considerable amount, and in perfect safety.

Dave-Bob says check it out.
 
It's a little big (read massive) for what you get (five rounds of .44 Special). Size aside, I like it. I think it would be a better revolver if Smith hung a tapered barrel, stuck with black sights (vice the white outline and red ramp), and maybe a set of boot grips on it. (I really hate full lug barrels.)
 
Hi G. Glock:
I have had my 696 for about 4 months and am very pleased with the gun. Recoil with hand loads not that bad. The only thing that I am going to change is the front sight(hate orange). Good shooting.......45Fan
 
Had one, sold it, wish I didn't. It's not small, but with a hi-ride holster it conceals well. I found that it likes soft lead bullets. Jacketed bullets only shot so-so. It's extremely strong though. If you measure the cyclinder walls, you'll find they're every bit as thick as a six shot ruger .44 mag if you count the weakness in the stop notch. I have email from a pretty well known gun writer that he has loaded his well beyond what you would consider sane, with no problems. We're talking double what the cartridge is rated for. I don't reccomend it though. I found that a 240gr cast bullet with 15gr/2400 was about as stout as I would want with a defensive gun. If you get some grips, I reccomend the S&W DiamondWood grips. Their the best fit for concealment and ergonomics that I found and they don't cost much. Plus, they're tough as nails and look really good.
 
I bought a 696 a couple of weeks ago. I've only fired 50rds thru it (Blazer 200gr GDHP) but I like mine alot. As soon as as get all of my reloading components, I'll be switching to lead bullets. Going to try Bull-X 200gr RNFP with W231 powder.

I was concerned about recoil as I have a previously broken shooting wrist that never healed completely, but the 696 has been very pleasant to shoot. My primary usage is going to be for HD or as a truck gun. As noted above, the sights don't suit me either and I'm going to have them replaced.

This one is defintely a keeper!

------------------
BKs Pistol Pages
 
I recently bought a M696, but haven't had
a chance to try it out yet. My question
is, since I handload, would 7.5gr Unique
behind a 240 LSWC GC be too stout for the
little gun. I read on another board that
there is a weakness around the area where
the barrel meets the frame, which could
cause the barrel to blow off the gun with
a heavy load. Everywhere I've read suggests
6gr Unique with a 240gr LSWC for about 800fps. Any comments from reloaders out there?

------------------
Never do an enemy a minor injury. Machiavelli
"Stay alive with a 45"
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Yanus:
I read on another board that
there is a weakness around the area where
the barrel meets the frame, which could
cause the barrel to blow off the gun with
a heavy load. Everywhere I've read suggests
6gr Unique with a 240gr LSWC for about 800fps. Any comments from reloaders out there?

[/quote]

The barrel/frame weakness sounds like nonsense to me.

I've been happy with 6.4 gr of Unique and a 240-gr SWC.
 
David,
I am also skeptical unless the shooter was
attempting to get 44mag results from a 44spl.
What kind of velocity and accuracy do you
get with the 6.4gr Unique load? Are you shooting a M696? Any 44 caliber gun begs
for LSWC bullets IMHO. That's all I shoot
in my 44mag Redhawk. I use 10gr. Unique
behind a 240 LSWC GC in the 44mag.

------------------
Never do an enemy a minor injury. Machiavelli
"Stay alive with a 45"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top