Smith 396 opinions please....
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Pappy John
New member
It's a great caliber, IF you're a handloader, since factory .44 specials are typically hard to find and expensive when found at all. Locally I hardly ever see them on shelves. Thc CCI Blazers are a great load, using the 200 gr. GoldDot bullet from Spreer,but I had to have mine shipped and I hoard the ones I have left for carry loads and make my own range ammo. But it's a very accurate and highly flexible caliber in terms of bullet weight and velocity/power.
The light weight of this gun is great for carrying and that three inch barrel length is my personal favorite for making a revolver quick handling, yet still accurate at longer ranges.
I was put off by the sights on the 396, but that is a pretty subjective judgement. I've heard others say that those 'hi-viz' sights work very well. I just thought that they looked like they were mounted much higher than they had to be and it seemed that they would would be snaggy going into, and coming out of a holster, so I passed on this one when I was shopping for a .44 special in favor of the all steel 696.
I think also that, if I remember correctly, the 396 might be restricted to bullets under 200grs in weight due to the light weight of the revolver causing heavier bullets to pull out of their cases under recoil. Also jacketed bullets are recomended for the titanium cylinder. That kind of takes some of the wind out of the sails of the flexibility of the caliber.
The light weight of this gun is great for carrying and that three inch barrel length is my personal favorite for making a revolver quick handling, yet still accurate at longer ranges.
I was put off by the sights on the 396, but that is a pretty subjective judgement. I've heard others say that those 'hi-viz' sights work very well. I just thought that they looked like they were mounted much higher than they had to be and it seemed that they would would be snaggy going into, and coming out of a holster, so I passed on this one when I was shopping for a .44 special in favor of the all steel 696.
I think also that, if I remember correctly, the 396 might be restricted to bullets under 200grs in weight due to the light weight of the revolver causing heavier bullets to pull out of their cases under recoil. Also jacketed bullets are recomended for the titanium cylinder. That kind of takes some of the wind out of the sails of the flexibility of the caliber.
Pappy John
New member
Tamara, does the lead splatter come off your cylinder face okay, without damage to the finish? I use a bronze brush to get lead off of steel, but I have no experience with those non-ferrous cylinders.
My 296 is a dedicated CCW gun, and looks don't matter to me, since it dwells in the darkest recesses of my purse. I haven't scrubbed the cylinder face since I bought the thing...
(Yes, it looks vile, but most of the ammo shot through it has been jacketed, so a simple rubdown of the cylinder face with a Hoppe's-soaked rag after each range session has served to keep the gun functional, if somewhat unsightly.)
Lloyd Smale
Moderator
had one and there great to carry and hard on the hand with full snort loads they will shoot 250 grain bullets all the way up to kieth level loads if you can hang on to them. At that level though id rather shoot my .500 linebaugh. The sights suck but that stupid fiber optic can easily be replaced by a good blade that rediculus v rear can be changed out too. I ended up selling mine and now have a 696 and to me its a lot more pratical.
CHARLIEWALLERFAN
New member
I have one and it is probably my favorite Smith and Wesson revolver. This is quite a feat as I’ve probably had 25 that have passed through my hands, including a 696, which to me was just too heavy for what it was.
My 396 must have the best trigger pull possible, which is weird considering the funky metallurgy. But I really like it because it is kind of a “little big gun”. To me, it just doesn’t get any better than a .44 small and light enough to actually carry comfortably every day ... that’s accurate enough for bullseyes and small game close up. Yet the frame is big enough and there is enough heft about the piece that you don't shake as you are squeezing off a couple of shots.
I feel it is a reloader’s gun, so if you’re limited to factory stuff I wouldn’t bother.
Why? You will find full power loads unpleasant for prolonged target sessions. I load my .44 spls. down and the gun is no different than shooting a .38. Also, the bullet-pulling "problem" is not a problem at all if your loads have a strong crimp. I shoot 240’s quite regularly with no problems yet. But I get the impression that factory .44 spl.’s use a lackadaisacal kind of crimp. So reload and you can control that.
With full power loads, it kicks like it’s a magnum, not at all "brutal" as some on here claim, and I am quite recoil sensitive due to arthritis. However, I don't shoot more than 15 rounds a day in it either.
Besides, sometimes I kind of enjoy magnum recoil in limited quantities. And I am certainly not going to be cranking off a box of 50 at any villain or rabbit anyway, so to me I guess it is more important that I have something powerful but handy vs. something I can fire all day off a bench.
And yes the sights are pretty unusable so far as I am concerned. I’m going to replace my V-shaped rear soon so I can get a real sight picture.
Hope this helps.
My 396 must have the best trigger pull possible, which is weird considering the funky metallurgy. But I really like it because it is kind of a “little big gun”. To me, it just doesn’t get any better than a .44 small and light enough to actually carry comfortably every day ... that’s accurate enough for bullseyes and small game close up. Yet the frame is big enough and there is enough heft about the piece that you don't shake as you are squeezing off a couple of shots.
I feel it is a reloader’s gun, so if you’re limited to factory stuff I wouldn’t bother.
Why? You will find full power loads unpleasant for prolonged target sessions. I load my .44 spls. down and the gun is no different than shooting a .38. Also, the bullet-pulling "problem" is not a problem at all if your loads have a strong crimp. I shoot 240’s quite regularly with no problems yet. But I get the impression that factory .44 spl.’s use a lackadaisacal kind of crimp. So reload and you can control that.
With full power loads, it kicks like it’s a magnum, not at all "brutal" as some on here claim, and I am quite recoil sensitive due to arthritis. However, I don't shoot more than 15 rounds a day in it either.
Besides, sometimes I kind of enjoy magnum recoil in limited quantities. And I am certainly not going to be cranking off a box of 50 at any villain or rabbit anyway, so to me I guess it is more important that I have something powerful but handy vs. something I can fire all day off a bench.
And yes the sights are pretty unusable so far as I am concerned. I’m going to replace my V-shaped rear soon so I can get a real sight picture.
Hope this helps.
