Combat Magnum 69

"I've read that the pictures sometimes aren’t really accurate."

The picture shown on Bud's Gun Shop site does show an incorrect picture of the 100064/Mod 69. It shows a much shorter ejector rod shroud than the on my 69. Also the grip shown on Bud's site is different from my originals. The grips are typical S&W rubber.

Whatever, I really like the 69 even though I've only fired a tew rounds out of it so far. The addition of the third cylinder lock makes it just a tad stiffer to open and close but that's not a negative. I have several S&Ws from different eras and the trigger on he 69 is as good as any and better than most...especially in double action, very smooth.

It looks like Bud's gun shop edited the photo of the 4.25" bbl Model 69 to shorten the barrel. The picture they show has an artificially shortened ejector lug and it features the grips that come on the 4.25" model.

Here are the photos of what the products actually look like: https://www.smith-wesson.com/search/node/model 69

I usually replace the factory S&W rubber grips with Hogues these days, if I go with rubber.

The grips S&W seems to be using these days, seem to cover the backstrap, and do two things that are negative for me. One, pushing the back of the grip away from the trigger, makes the placement of my trigger finger wrong. And two, the grips come together in a sort of dull, knife-edge, that concentrates the recoil in the palm of my hand, and I find it annoying, and even painful, if Im shooting a lot, especially with the heavier calibers.

The Houge Mono and Bantam grips fit my hand better, put my trigger finger where its used to being, and leave the backstrap exposed, and makes for a wider surface, which helps spread the recoil, instead of concentrating it.

In my attempts at shooting .44mag fast, I've discovered, as AK103K has, that I like the Hogue Mono grips best. I think the 69 is ideal for CCW on outdoor treks when you feel like you may need something with a little more juice. I have the 4" model. Here it is with the original grips.

Before you do anything, Id give the factory grips a try. You never know, they might turn out to be just what you want.

I dont have a 69 (still looking for a snubby), but I do have a 3" 696 (44 special L frame). The Bantams are what I have on it.



The Mono grip actually makes it a nicer shooter, if youre planning on shooting it a lot, but also makes it a tad bigger.

I shoot revolvers DAO, and that little bit of offset you get with the grips covering the backstrap, makes a noticeable difference in how the gun feels in the hand, and how the trigger feels leverage wise.

It may also be all in my head, and Im sure if I worked at it, I wouldnt notice in short order, as I got used to it, but all my other S&W's have the same exposed backstrap, and they all feel the same in my hand, .22's - 44mags.

The focusing of recoil into that raised edge on the other hand, is something else, and I dont see how that will go away without a change in how the grips are shaped across the back.

I think S&W knocked it out of the Ballpark with the 69 ...a stout built , easy to carry 44mag

I've got the 4.25" bbl'd. model...like it a lot...and find the supplied grips pretty good for recoil mitigation. But...the gun weigh's ~38 oz., unloaded, (within an ounce of my M19 Smith) and that's very light for current production, full-house .44 Magnum rounds. I've shot the magnums, but padnuh, they're not fun.

The supplied grips are good in my hands, but nothing, IMHO, is going to make full-house Magnums comfortable. I generally carry mine for woods walks & farm chores with 240 gr LSWC's at 950 fps..Skelton's old load. That's a good, working load that's comfortable for extended shooting sessions...more on a .44 Special level. We keep horses on the farm, have also kept cattle, and found that load sufficient when one of them needed to be put down.

That Mono grip has worked well for me on a Smith M60 3" bbl'd .357 with full-house 160 gr LSWC loads. I hadn't thought of them on the .44 but they're cheap enough I just might give them a try on my M69.

YMMv, Rod

Ive used both the Bantam and Mono grips on my 696. The Bantams are the way to go if you want to carry the gun, but aren't quite as comfortable when shooting hotter loads.

The Mono grip makes the gun a bit bigger, but is the more comfortable grip to shoot with, especially with the heavier loads.

One advantage to both is, they are both fairly cheap, and readily available, so it wont kill the wallet to try both. I have a box with a number of "spares" that Ive acquired over the years, so they dont usually go to waste, and when I see them, it just reminds me they need a gun to go on.

eBay is a good source for them, often at cheaper prices too.

I put the Packmayr Compac grip on my short 69 and it is wonderful with magnum loads.

I prefer un checkered Ahrends finger groved round butt custm grips on my short .44 S&W Mags.I've tried them all over the years on various ones.

I’m a big fan of the M69. Have several of each barrel length (in case S&W decides to discontinue). Bought a 4 ¼” when they first came out in in early 2014. Been shooting the 2.75” pretty much exclusively for the last couple of years. For the moment, it’s my “perfect packin’” pistol. I just drop one in the hip pocket of my Carharts when I walk the dog here in Montana.

I’m in my mid 70s and don’t find the recoil objectionable until you get into “boutique” 300gr + ammo. I get to the range maybe three times a week on average. At least two of those days is dedicated to shooting the 2.75 incher with 20.5gr 2400 and 240gr JSP (or equivalent). I only shoot 30 or 40 rnds per outing because I tire quickly and am lazy when it comes to reloading ammo. I shoot both single action and double action.

My guns are equipped with the Hogue X Frame 500 rubber grips (I’ve worn out five or six sets). My X Frame grips are both stock and modified (rounded butt and removed finger grooves). I have shot the guns with the factory provided grips but find the X Frame grips more comfortable. I can’t do wood grips as they pound the bone at the base of my thumb. What grip works for me, may or may not work for you.

The nice thing about the .44 Mag is that you can use ammo that suits your needs – from soft shooting .44 special equiv to 300gr plus – it’s your choice.

Left - Stock Hogue X Frame on 4 ¼” M69. Center - Modified Hogue X Frame on 2 ¾” M69. Right – Kahr CW45.




Paul

Nice!