Impulse buy: S&W 69 Combat Magnum

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eldon519

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Well, I came across one of the new S&W 69s on Saturday, and I held the thing, and it stuck in my head all weekend. I originally walked away because all my big bores are .45 Colt, and I already have the reloading setup for it, but for whatever reason, I love 5-shot revolvers. So this is both my first .44 magnum as well as my first S&W revolver surprisingly. I can't wait to shoot it. I read through the manual and couldn't find any ammunition restrictions, but I am figuring I'll probably just feed it 240s for its lifetime. I have a feeling it will be a handful. I know some people had been curious about the thickness of the forcing cone so I added a shot of it.
 

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Congratulations, really looking forward to your shooting review.

I'm sort of a wimpy type, so for me it would be a 44 special with the magnum capability more for show, but rock on if it's suits ya! :evil:
 
Congrats and hope you enjoy shooting it. With a smaller hand, the L frame may be more comfortable to shoot than the N frame.
 
Haha, no blood...yet. In which case it would probably be mine. On John Linebaugh's website, he recommends lubing the front and rear of the cylinder for his custom conversions to help with longevity. I have no idea how that is supposed to help, but for whatever reason, I glob grease on mine.
 
I played with one at the big PA Outdoors Show this weekend. My thoughts:

The S&W "69" is REALLY COOL! I hope every single revolver nut that ever swore all he wanted out of life was a good smaller-framed 5-shot .44 will go out and buy a dozen! Neat-o! Honestly, as I'm a N-frame guy, the Ls always feel a bit skimpy in my hands, but I'd bet I could get used to it.
 
oh if only it had a 3 inch barrel and a full underlug...
I'll bet that's not too far off though
 
eldon519 said:
Haha, no blood...yet. In which case it would probably be mine. On John Linebaugh's website, he recommends lubing the front and rear of the cylinder for his custom conversions to help with longevity. I have no idea how that is supposed to help, but for whatever reason, I glob grease on mine.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a recipe for cylinder binding once soot from firing starts accumulating. I could be wrong!

Awesome gun though! I'm in the market for the new model 66. I have a Ruger GP100 with a 6" barrel that I've decided is just too big and heavy for my liking.
 
he recommends lubing the front and rear of the cylinder for his custom conversions to help with longevity. I have no idea how that is supposed to help,
Click to expand...
Because the cylinder of any revolver gets slammed back & forth both directions, at very high G-Force every shot.

Just a little grease or any lube for that matter reduces metal to metal contact and helps prevent wear.

Folks would be amazed how long any type of machine would last if it was properly lubed all the time to prevent metal to metal contact at all times.

rc
 
Ain't that the truth. For years when I rode motorcycles most of my friends had dry rusty chains and were constantly griping about replacing them (or breaking them). My chain was always clean and oiled with 80/90 gear oil and they lasted a VERY LONG TIME. Doesn't take that long and makes a huge difference. That S&W 69 looks very tempting but I couldn't deal with carrying a 4 in. barrel. I have a first generation 696 with a 3 in. barrel and it is perfect for carry use. I haven't decided if i like the two piece barrel setup though. Maybe I'm just TOO old fashioned. It sure is nice to see a DIRTY gun for a change.
 
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I guess my curiosity with Linebaughs advice is that I am familiar with lube for shear and rubbing situations but not so much for cushion to impact such as a cylinder would experience upon firing.
 
And additionally thanks for all the compliments. Somehow this one just strikes my eye and feels great in my hand. Even little details like the black cylinder release. Hopefully it shoots as well as it looks.
 
Cat shooter, I think it is either 4 or 4.25". It does have a detent lock on the front of the crane.
 
Ah ha. Four and a quarter.

Crane detent, so no lock like Smith has had for the last hundred years or so under the barrel? So a two and a half incher could be done. Sweet.


Cat
 
I'm not 100% sure what you are asking, but there is not a detent at the end of the ejector rod. Just a detent on the front face of the crane.
 
Badly want the precious!

My LGS knows that I am number one in line for the first 69 that rolls through the door. Have not lusted after a gun like this since I spent years tracking down a mint 25-2.
 
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