For some crazy reason, I had to have a 296 after reading the write-up in American Rifleman years ago. My local dealer found a great deal - I drooled over the <$400 bargain for too long and they both were sold. After a year and a half, another one appeared - and that 696 that had graced his shelf was still there. I watched them for months - even the 696 had been axed by the S&W bean-counters. Several months ago, I ridded myself of my AMT DA 'Backups' in .45ACP and bought both the 296 & 696 for $359 (Yes, less than half it's retail!) & $439.
I feed my 296 CCI Blazers .44 S&W Specials, a nice 200gr (The maximum, according to S&W, for the 296 - and clad, only!) GDJHP. I chrono-ed them at the range yesterday and they averaged 793 fps from the 2.5" barreled 296, picking up to 840 fps in the 3" 696 and 872 fps in my 4" 629MG. They supposedly will open quite well, even from that 296's barrel. I wouldn't shoot through flammable clothing, however! Oh... did I mention that those Blazers were $13/50 and the only thing available in a discount store locally? I also chrono-ed my 200gr Nosler JHP over 5.8gr of W231 in Remington brass and they yielded only 654 fps. That needs further development... I'll keep them loaded with Blazers for CCW use. The 696, all SS, is like me - it'll eat anything. Also like me, it weighs in at a bit more than it should - 36 oz empty. The 296 with blazers tips at 21 oz and hits point of aim at 12-15 yd - I can pop five shotgun clays at 15 yd - not bad for fixed sights.
Firing a stock 296 will whack your hand's web with that 'hump' - ouch! I ordered two pair of grips from S&W Accessories - using my 'new gun $25 off' coupon - a #21993 Dymondwood boot set ($30) and #22662 U.M.'s square conversion ($27). The dimunitive Dymondwood grips look great on the 296 - even improve the grip over the two groove U.M.'s that came stock... still a whack, however. Nice for 'dress-up'! I then replaced the 696's OEM grips with the slightly bigger - and squared bottom - #22662's - great! They, like the OEM's, covered that backstrap - tried the 696's OEM's on the 296 - voila - great fit - no more whack. They are also available as #23744 ($26). It is a bit bigger grip than those supplied boot grips - but it covers the backstrap and is much more comfortable. The 696 feels like a larger revolver now as well.
I carried my 296 in an 'Old World Leather' belt slide holster, the few times I have 'carried' it. Nice fit - and so light, it is hard to believe it is there. I even found my spare HKS CA44 speedloader full of those Blazers while counting out change in the grocery store the other day... need to watch that! I think that the low-velocity big bores are great CCW's - and that 296 is one of the best. I have seen them in stores new recently - running from $400 -$500 - and in a sale flyer for <$400 (CDNN, I think.), so they are still 'around', despite having been axed two years ago.
Stainz