Welcome to the Forum, swbinak!
I have had both the 2.5" Al/Ti 296 and the SS 3" 696 for four years now. I've chrono-ed the 200gr GDHP Blazer, Georgia Arms, and my own homebrew load, all using the excellent Speer #4427 bullet, designed to open to that .75+" diameter at just 800 fps. That's fortunate, as it makes only 805 fps from the 2.5" barrel, 840 fps from the 3", and 875 fps from a 4" 629 (All three variants are within a few fps of each other.). An excellent choice for CC/SD ammo.
Now, some of the Al/Ti problems. The cylinder stop, just a cast-in-place Al ridge, can be pared away with a sharp, ie, 'Hollywood' style, rap on the ejector, resulting in the cylinder, hopefully, ending up in your hand. That hard Ti cylinder edge is rather unforgiving there. The Ti cylinder is rather care-sensitive - in use and in cleaning. In fact, the 296 wears a '200gr Max' rule on it's barrel. A call to S&W admonished me to use only .44 Special cases, ie, none of my shorter .44 Russians, and clad only bullets. Mine is primarily a CCW and bedside weapon, although I probably have put 2,200+ rounds through it. It hits coincident POA/POI at 7-12 yd with the 200gr Blazers, etc. With the original boot grips, it is a big CCW - and recoil is 'brisk' with those 200gr-ers. With the Uncle Mike's Combats, squared or round, ia la the 10, 64, 65, 66, & 67, it is far more comfortable, but definitely a holster rider. I paid $349 new/closeout for my 296 four years ago. Your $525 is the lowest 'NIB' 396 price I've ever heard of - and a definite 'Go get it!' suggestion from here - unless you mostly want a plinker. In that case, I'd opt for a 4" 629 or 629MG... and shoot whatever you want in it, weight, clad/lead, .44 Russian/Special/Magnum, etc.
You'll enjoy it, whatever you do! Look for a shiney silver wear spot on that cylinder stop... it can be ruined easily enough in handling to warrant looking carefully at that area. Happy New Year!
Stainz
