Well, I’ve had mine for close to a month now. Have put close to 700 rounds thru it. About 70% of those were .44 Special level loads (240-260gr w/5.5 to 6.5gr HP38) and the rest have been mid-range to full house .44 Mags.
So, everything from 240s at 750fps to 325gr LWNGCs at a chronographed 1,182 fps. Yesterday, I finished up chronographing all loads that I might use in this gun (240gr Horn JHP XTPs at 1,323 fps, 270gr Speer JSPs at 1,153 fps, 240gr lasercast CSWCs at 880 fps) and some 200gr Horn JHP XTPs at 1,236 fps. I had previously chronographed some older Federal 240gr JHP factory ammo at 1,212 fps. The above hand loads do not exceed those published by recent Speer or Hodgdon load data.
For general use, I will use the 6.5gr HP38 load. It is accurate and comfortable to shoot in quantity.
Recoil in my experience mimics eldon519s – this gun’s (mine’s equipped w/Hogue 500 XFrame grips) felt recoil (to me) is less than my 629 Mountain Gun. The M69 sits lower in the hand and has a bit more weight forward (recoil is less “flippy” as observed by eldon) vs. Mtn Gun.
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.
FWIW,
Paul