Sidetracker
New member
Will a S&W 696 handle a steady diet of heavy loads? I plan on using Corbon's 165gr. at 1150fps. Or should I find another load to practice with?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
S&W 696 + heavy loads?
- Thread starter Sidetracker
- Start date
The 696 is built fairly large and sturdy. The frame should hold up to heavy .44 special loads, IMO. The forcing cone, OTOH, likely won't. The 696 forcing cone is plenty strong for mild to moderate .44 spl loads, but start shooting LOTS of hot .44 spl +p loads in it and it will crack, IMO. I think you will be ok shooting a moderate amount of hot .44 spl +p through your 696, but I would NOT recommend a steady heavy diet. I really do not know about that particular Cor Bon load. In general though, I'd avoid shooting LOTS of very hot loads in a 696. If you want to hotrod a .44 special, your better off with a .44 magnum, IMO. YMMV
It may not exceed SAAMI, but that Cor-Bon is lighter than normal for the caliber and is jacketed.
In .357, that combination has proved brutal on some guns, such as the 66.
Because it's a light bullet, it accellerates FAST and hits the forcing cone harder than a heavier bullet will.
I would recommend something less gnarly for most of my practice in that gun. Cowboy loads would be the least potent; you might not need to go THAT light but then again, unjacketed lead loads will do the least wear on the gun and at coyboy load velocities (700-750ish FPS) leading in the barrel won't be too crazy.
In .357, that combination has proved brutal on some guns, such as the 66.
Because it's a light bullet, it accellerates FAST and hits the forcing cone harder than a heavier bullet will.
I would recommend something less gnarly for most of my practice in that gun. Cowboy loads would be the least potent; you might not need to go THAT light but then again, unjacketed lead loads will do the least wear on the gun and at coyboy load velocities (700-750ish FPS) leading in the barrel won't be too crazy.