I own two -- Updated round count -- thru yesterday gun 1 -- 834 rnds (572rnds of 240s at 875 fps) gun 2 1886 (1,177 rnds of 240s at 875 fps) the rest were everything from 325gr WLNGCs at 1,180 fps to 265gr SWCGCs at 1,140 fps.
Here's a range report I did on Lee Martin's Singlactions.com website
http://singleactions.proboards.com/thread/12309/model-69-frame-magnum-bbl
I cobbled together some posts made over time. Didn’t feel like editing to closely, so some info may seem out of place or redundant – if so, ignore it.
No, I haven’t replaced the 329 with the M69. I’ve been carrying the M69 while walking the dogs for a while now. It is narrower than the 329 and sits deeper in the Simply Rugged pancake. The m69 is very comfortable for belt/hip carry in the SR pancake, but I did notice the extra weight.
Anyway, I have two M69s, bought the 1st one in late January and liked it so much added a backup in early March. To date, I have shot 830 rnds thru the first and 1,167 in the second. Everything from 240gr at 750 fps to 325gr at 1,180fps (all actual chrono results).
Here are the targets I’ve shot testing loads, identifying point of impact and trying to determine accuracy potential.
Gun number one with open sights right after I bought it. The 9.5gr was longshot and the 10.6 was HS6 under 240gr Laser Cast SWCs and seated/crimped over front drive band (.44 spcl OAL).
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It was windy, and light was fading fast, but wanted an idea of accy/POI
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Later mounted a 4x Leupold on Gun #1 for further accuracy testing.
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Wanted to check point of impact, so I bottomed out the rear sight on gun #2 and shot the following 2 shot groups at 25 yds. Shot from a rest, with butt left free to recoil without any resistance (nothing under butt of gun). The black circles are to separate close or overlapping two shot groups.
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I really like this gun – the L Frame just works for me. I have had no problems with either gun except for possible sight regulation issue.
Mounted a 4x Leupold on the M69 to do some load development. It was windy, and even though I had a good rest, it was not perfectly stable.
Loads are marked on the targets. The 265 SWCGC crimped over the front drive band chronoed 1,142 fps and the 310gr Lee FPGC chronoed 1,141 fps (not a typo) seated and crimped in the top grove (short OAL). Both at 50 - 60 deg F and 5 long paces from the muzzle.
The 240gr/6.5gr HP38 is seated deep (1.502 OAL) and runs 883 fps on the chrono.
As most know and the targets show, it pays to test various loads to determine best potential accuracy.
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I posted the following on Lee Martin’s “Singleactions” website:
http://singleactions.proboards.com/thread/12309/model-69-frame-magnum-bbl
Following is a recap of my comments/observations from the above thread:
Anyway, here are some photos, dimensions, loads, and personal observations. The long/thin barrel shank/forcing cone of the 696 .44 Special is evident in the picture below.
S&W Model 69 (L Frame) 4 ¼”, Round Butt grip frame.
629 Mtn Gun weighs 39 oz
M69 L Frame weighs 37 oz
629 Mtn Gun Cylinder Diameter: 1.70”
M69 L Frame Cylinder Diameter: 1.56”
629 Mtn Gun Cylinder Length: 1.705”
M69 L Frame Cylinder Length: 1.670”
(Note: The M69 cylinder is 1.670 inches and isn't recessed for cartridge rims -- a 1.712" hand load fits, but is right at the face of the cylinder. Lymans No 49 edition shows OAL w their 425421 Keith Bullet is 1.710". A .429 minus plug gauge will enter all throats a .430 plug will not.)
629 Mtn Gun Frame Window - Height: 1.735“
M69 L Frame - Frame Window Height: 1.600“
629 Mtn Gun Frame Window – Width: 1.880“
M69 L Frame - Frame Window Width: 1.820“
629 Mtn Gun Cylinder Wall at Narrowest Point: .095” -- (.0900” between chambers)
M69 L Frame Cylinder Wall at Narrowest Point: .060 “ -- ( .130 “ between chambers)
(629 Cyl Bolt Cuts are over the chamber while M69 bolt cuts are between chambers)
629 Mtn Gun Frame Top Strap – Width: .665“
M69 L Frame - Frame Top Strap Width: .665“
629 Mtn Gun Frame Top Strap – Height: .220“ to top of frame (includes sight mortiss)
M69 L Frame - Frame Top Strap Height: .210“ to top of frame (includes sight mortiss)
629 Mtn Gun Barrel Shank OD: .630“
M69 L Frame - Barrel Shank OD: .620“
629 Mtn Gun Frame Over Barrel OD: .900“
M69 L Frame - Frame Over Barrel OD: .880“
629 Mtn Gun Trigger Reach: 3.10“ (same grips for both 629 & M69)
M69 L Frame - Trigger Reach: 3.00 “
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES:
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M69 Barrel Shank/Forcing Cone area:
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M696 Barrel Shank/Forcing Cone Area:
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629 Mtn Gun Barrel Shank/Forcing Cone area:
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Family Portrait - 629 Mtn Gun, M696, New M69:
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Sorry about the "so-so" pictures -- light wasn't the best and I'm not the best photographer.
What a neat little package.
Some loads were:
240gr SWC Lasercast (.431)seated to 1.500" OAL and crimped lightly over the front drive band. Multi-x Starline cases and Winchester WLP primers.
5.6gr of HP 38 (Vel: 739 fps)
10.6gr of HS6 (Vel: 1,035 fps)
9.4 gr of Longshot (Vel: 1,078 fps)
265gr SWCGC (429244) (.429) seated deep and crimped over the front drive band. Multi-x Starline cases and WLPs.
16.9gr A2400 (Vel: 1,142 fps)
When seated deep (as was done here), this load will run right at 1,200 fps from a 6" barrel.
Federal Factory 240gr JHP (No. 44A) Vel: 1,217 fps
(We chroned this load at 1,375 fps from a 7 1/2" Bisley Hunter.
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Couple of observations:
For me, while very comfortable feeling, the grip panels that come with the gun aren't comfortable under heavy recoil (shouldn't be a problem in the field). I'll probably mount some of the S&W 500 Hogues for longer bench sessions to test heavier loads.
Looks like this gun was sighted in at the factory with .44 Special ammo.
The rear sight has some room to move the POI down, but may need a higher front sight.
I was real pleased with the limited test targets.
That Fed Factory load looks to have excellent accuracy potential.
Recoil with the 265gr SWCGC/16.9 A2400 and the 240gr Fed Factory load were the same and would not be abusive with proper fitting (to the individual) grips. We'll see what it's like with some 305s and 325s.
CHRONOGRAPH DATA:
Load Data for REFERENCE ONLY -- NOT A RECOMMENDATION.
Replaced the factory grips with the Hogue 500s (see 629 photo above).
Didn't shoot any groups but ran some loads over the chronograph.
Chrono 5 long paces from muzzle and temp was about 45 deg f., 5 shots except for 240gr Fed Factory, and 325gr WLNGC (both 3 shots):
Bullet make, OAL, cases and primers shown above
240gr, 9.4gr Longshot, ... 1,078 fps avg, 18 fps ES.
240gr, 10.6gr HS6, ....... 1,035 fps avg, 24 fps ES.
265gr, 16.9gr A2400,...... 1,142 fps avg, 37 fps ES.
240gr, Federal Fact, ..... 1,216 fps avg, 12 fps ES
Load Data for REFERENCE ONLY -- NOT A RECOMMENDATION.
300gr WFNPB 1.651" OAL - LBT type - source unknown.
20.0gr H110.
Fed 155 (Mag)
New Top Brass (Scharch.com).
1,102 fps avg, 37 fps ES
310gr RNFPGC DC 1.605" OAL (top crimp grove) - LEE mold.
20.0gr H110.
Fed 155 (Mag)
New Top Brass (Scharch.com).
1,141 fps avg, 23 fps ES
325gr WLNGC 1.711" OAL - Beartooth Bullets.
22.0gr H110.
Fed 155 (Mag)
New Top Brass (Scharch.com).
1,182 fps avg, 13 fps ES (3 shots only)
Load Data for REFERENCE ONLY -- NOT A RECOMMENDATION.
The Hogue 500s worked great making this gun comfortable to shoot with the heavier loads. I have a problem with grips that are hard or narrow at the top (or both) -- recoil just hammers the bone at the base of my thumb -- the Hogue 500s pretty much solve this problem for me.
Fitted with the Hogue 500s, FOR ME, it is comfortable to shoot with any and all loads likely to be used. Again, FOR ME, it is the ideal handgun - reasonable weight, portable size, good balance, good accuracy (so far), and sufficient/versatile caliber.
I took the 329, 629 Mtn Gun and the M69 to the range one afternoon. Ammo was the aforementioned Federal Factory .44 Mag 240gr JHP (No. 44A). My perception was that recoil of the 329 is definitely snappier/faster, and the Mtn Gun has a bit more muzzle rise vs. the M69. Only thing I can think of is that the barrel is skinnier and the bore to grip relationship is higher on the 629 vs. the M69 (which rides lower in the hand and has a bit more weight forward). Could also just be my imagination. As should be expected, the Mtn Gun feels a bit bulky compared to the M69 – subtle, but noticeable to me.
Recoil is subjective, so your mileage may vary.
Some more chronograph data.
240gr Horn JHP XTP at 1,323 fps (Hodgdon says 1,522 fps from 8.275” Bbl)
270gr Speer JSP at 1,153 fps (My 6” 629 gives 1,207 fps -- Hodgdon says 1,421 fps from 8.275” Bbl)
260gr LBT WFNGC at 1,224 fps
240gr lasercast CSWCs at 880 fps.
200gr Horn JHP XTPs at 1,236 fps.
For general use, the 6.5gr HP38/240-250gr load gets the nod – seated deep and crimped gently over front drive band. It is accurate, reasonably powerful and comfortable to shoot in quantity.
Recoil continues to surprise favorably – seems to recoil less than 629 Mtn Gun with same loads (can’t explain it other than it has a bit more weight forward and sits lower in the hand).
The more I shoot the m69, the better I like it – it just works for me – YMMV. In fact, I like it so much, I have a backup on order.
