2 Crow
Member
….. I don't wanna be right!!
I picked up the 69 last Friday and was able to make it out to the range twice over the weekend. As I said in an earlier post, it has been some time since I have done any serious work with a revolver and man have I missed it!
I started out shooting with the Pachmayr Renegade grips. I liked the way these stocks felt in my hand and the looks didn't hurt my feelings either. It wasn't until I started to get some tearing of the skin in the web of my thumb that I noticed a crack in the left grip panel near the backstrap. There was just enough exposure there making contact with my skin that I had to swap back to the factory grips to finish my shooting. This is not a ding on the 69 at all, just an after market part that failed and those things happen.
The .44 Special "Skeeter Loads" were very pleasant to shoot in the little revolver with just enough poop to let you know you were shooing a big bore at every press of the trigger. To me, this is one of those classic, sexy cartridges. I would consider them an all day every day round for the 69, and I can only imagine how nice they'd be in my Redhawk.
The magnums I shot were a little more aggressive, though not abusive to either me or the revolver. The 240gr SWC over a healthy dose of Unique were on the moderate end of magnummy, but gave me plenty of thrill without making me pee myself a little with each shot. Between the two range sessions, a total of 130 44 Mags and 83 Specials were fired, and only being short on time kept me from staying and shooting more.
Because I am still nursing a broken foot and not able to stand for any length of time, all shooting was done seated on a bench over my range bag at a distance of 15 yards. With both the specials and magnums, the best I could muster accuracy wise was between 2 1/2" and 3" (double or single action). I do not fault the gun for this. Like I said, it's been some time since I have done any work with a revolver (or auto for that matter), and it may take me a bit to get back up to speed. I have never, not even when I had "young" eyes, been a fan of traditional revolver sights. The rear sight on the 2 3/4" model 69 is very shallow, and doesn't give a lot of frame for the front sight. I can see a Bowen Rough Country rear sight (white outline maybe) and a Ed McGivern gold bead front in the near future.
So, now what? I have returned the Pach's and in the meanwhile have ordered a set of Altamont Altai smooth grips. The factory rubber grips work, but are very small for my large'ish mitts. The Altai's look to be a nice combo of shootablity and concealability, and I am hopeful that they live up to what I have in mind. I will continue to load and shoot the Skeeter Loads (250grn Keith boolit over 7.5grn of Unique in special case) with the occasional magnum thrown in to keep me frosty. On my next range trip, I will test the Hornady Critical Defense and Winchester Silver Tip loads (I have some of each on hand already) to see which will fit the bill for EDC around town.
I have been hobbling around the house these past few days carrying it in my Chesty Puller Rig from Simply Rugged Holsters. The holster is a Sourdough Pancake made for my Taurus 431, so it is a little small for the 69, but will work until I can swing ordering a new one. Great leather and great folks to deal with.
My impression so far of the Smith & Wesson Model 69? I LOVE IT! Once I am back up and mobile, I can see this being a pack along pal for years to come.
I picked up the 69 last Friday and was able to make it out to the range twice over the weekend. As I said in an earlier post, it has been some time since I have done any serious work with a revolver and man have I missed it!
I started out shooting with the Pachmayr Renegade grips. I liked the way these stocks felt in my hand and the looks didn't hurt my feelings either. It wasn't until I started to get some tearing of the skin in the web of my thumb that I noticed a crack in the left grip panel near the backstrap. There was just enough exposure there making contact with my skin that I had to swap back to the factory grips to finish my shooting. This is not a ding on the 69 at all, just an after market part that failed and those things happen.
The .44 Special "Skeeter Loads" were very pleasant to shoot in the little revolver with just enough poop to let you know you were shooing a big bore at every press of the trigger. To me, this is one of those classic, sexy cartridges. I would consider them an all day every day round for the 69, and I can only imagine how nice they'd be in my Redhawk.
The magnums I shot were a little more aggressive, though not abusive to either me or the revolver. The 240gr SWC over a healthy dose of Unique were on the moderate end of magnummy, but gave me plenty of thrill without making me pee myself a little with each shot. Between the two range sessions, a total of 130 44 Mags and 83 Specials were fired, and only being short on time kept me from staying and shooting more.
Because I am still nursing a broken foot and not able to stand for any length of time, all shooting was done seated on a bench over my range bag at a distance of 15 yards. With both the specials and magnums, the best I could muster accuracy wise was between 2 1/2" and 3" (double or single action). I do not fault the gun for this. Like I said, it's been some time since I have done any work with a revolver (or auto for that matter), and it may take me a bit to get back up to speed. I have never, not even when I had "young" eyes, been a fan of traditional revolver sights. The rear sight on the 2 3/4" model 69 is very shallow, and doesn't give a lot of frame for the front sight. I can see a Bowen Rough Country rear sight (white outline maybe) and a Ed McGivern gold bead front in the near future.
So, now what? I have returned the Pach's and in the meanwhile have ordered a set of Altamont Altai smooth grips. The factory rubber grips work, but are very small for my large'ish mitts. The Altai's look to be a nice combo of shootablity and concealability, and I am hopeful that they live up to what I have in mind. I will continue to load and shoot the Skeeter Loads (250grn Keith boolit over 7.5grn of Unique in special case) with the occasional magnum thrown in to keep me frosty. On my next range trip, I will test the Hornady Critical Defense and Winchester Silver Tip loads (I have some of each on hand already) to see which will fit the bill for EDC around town.
I have been hobbling around the house these past few days carrying it in my Chesty Puller Rig from Simply Rugged Holsters. The holster is a Sourdough Pancake made for my Taurus 431, so it is a little small for the 69, but will work until I can swing ordering a new one. Great leather and great folks to deal with.
My impression so far of the Smith & Wesson Model 69? I LOVE IT! Once I am back up and mobile, I can see this being a pack along pal for years to come.
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