New (used) woods gun found today

[bikemutt]

I should know better than to enter a pawnshop unsupervised

I'd been toying with getting a woods gun and had a few guys tell me they really like the Smith & Wesson 69, the 44 mag L-frame 5 shot. Well, I swerved into a pawnshop this morning by accident while supposedly "running to the store for supplies" and there under glass was a used 69 that looks and feels as if it's been fired once or twice.

Maybe because mine was the only car in the parking lot, the shopkeep accepted my final offer. Anyway, figured getting a new-to-me woods gun was worth a share and a coupla pics

 

[.308 Norma]

Real nice! Looks exactly like my favorite "woods" gun.

 

[Charliefrank]

I've carried a 29 4" for years as my woods gun. Love it

 

[Charliefrank]

I've carried a 29 4" as a woods gun for years. Love it.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I like mine a little shorter,thats a very nice 69

 

[Walkalong]

I should know better than to enter a pawnshop unsupervised

This is becoming a pattern with you.

That would be a great choice for midrange loads for fun and the occasional full loads when needed.

 

[If1HitU]

Very nice,I have one just like that S&W 69 .44 Mag.myself.

 

[bikemutt]

I like mine a little shorter, thats a very nice 69

That's a nice one Ks5shooter. I owned a 454 Casull at one time, a nice Freedom Arms piece, I couldn't manage the recoil so I passed it on to someone who could.

I see S&W came out with the 69 in a 2.75" model that looks nice but really didn't want to drop the coin for a new one right now.

 

[bikemutt]

Question for the experts:

Does it look as if the previous owner put an X-Frame grip on the 69 I just bought?

I don't believe that's the grip the 69 ships with. This grip does have the S&W logo on it.

 

[Iggy]

View attachment 779876
What's a woods gun? View attachment 779878

 

[JeffG]

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What's a woods gun? This my stompin' grounds..

You would need a sage gun...

 

[Iggy]

All kidding aside, I think that 44 would be right handy even in the sage brush.. Enjoy it.

 

[Riomouse911]

Ahhh, another lucky gun finds a good home and fully recovers from the previous owner's, "Bought it high, shot it twice, sold it low" syndrome....

I'll bet about weeks pay that the first, and only, rounds fired in that gun were about 15 full house .44 Mags. When the new owner felt that hearty recoil the rest of the rounds were left in the box, the gun was put away, and it wasn't ever fired again.

Nice find, now go show it some love and take it out to the range!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Does it look as if the previous owner put an X-Frame grip on the 69 I just bought?

Howdy

If you go to the S&W web page, that looks just like the grip they show.

I would be curious to know what the recoil is like with a 44 Mag in a L frame revolver.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Question for the experts:

Does it look as if the previous owner put an X-Frame grip on the 69 I just bought?

I don't believe that's the grip the 69 ships with. This grip does have the S&W logo on it.

From what I know the K/L grips and X-Frame grips are the same.

Nice revolver. I'm not sure what critters are in your woods but they must be big lol.

 

[horsemen61]

Very nice op I love mine!

 

[bannockburn]

bikemutt

All I know is that some guys have all the luck...just sayin'! Congrats on the great find!

 

[paul105]

Nice find! I've been a fan of the M69s since they first came out. I have both 4 1/4" and 2 3/4" versions. I find the recoil a bit more moderate than the same loads in My 629 Mountain Gun. M69 has a bit more heft forward (even though total weight is a bit less) and lower bore to grip axis vs the Mtn Gun. The L Frame .44 just works for me.

Yes, those are S&W 500 X Frame Hogues. They are my preferred grip -- they help protect the bone at the base of my thumb -- your mileage may vary.

The little 2 3/4" gun is amazingly accurate and easy to shoot. Here's the 2 3/4" gun and a moderate 44 special level load. Rested over my range bag at 25 yds.



Hope you enjoy yours as much as I've enjoyed mine.

Paul

 

[ECVMatt]

I have a 69 and love it! I hope you get many good years of use from it.

 

[mnrivrat]

"I would be curious to know what the recoil is like with a 44 Mag in a L frame revolver."

I owned a Taurus Tracker in .44 magnum which is L frame size. No problem shooting 240 grain standard pressure ammo. Recoil was not at all excessive with their ribbed style rubber grip. It was a very nice gun by the way and only got sold because I needed the cash.

 

[ACES&8S]

I should know better than to enter a pawnshop unsupervised

I'd been toying with getting a woods gun and had a few guys tell me they really like the Smith & Wesson 69, the 44 mag L-frame 5 shot. Well, I swerved into a pawnshop this morning by accident while supposedly "running to the store for supplies" and there under glass was a used 69 that looks and feels as if it's been fired once or twice.

Maybe because mine was the only car in the parking lot, the shopkeep accepted my final offer. Anyway, figured getting a new-to-me woods gun was worth a share and a coupla pics

View attachment 779853

View attachment 779854

Mine is a S&W model 19-3 357 mag, got this from my aunt a few years ago & it had not been fired till I got it.
But--- it had been put away with the hammer back for about 25 years!
I replaced every internal piece in it & worked with various springs to get it perfect, now it goes where I go.
Super accurate hammer.