S&W 696 .44 Magnum?

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George Hill

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I am told that .44 Magnums can be safely fired in a S&W 696 - a gun made as a .44 Special.
To me, this sounds very funny, but the guy opened his cylinder and in it were .44 Magnum shells. Right out of the box of .44 magnum shells he kept in his glove box.
This guy is doing it - so it can be done... but is it safe?

If I was to do this at all, it would be because there is only one flavore of .44 Special ammo for sale in my whole town. I would only buy and use very mild magnums - but only if I was sure it was perfectly safe. I am not wanting a hotrod here.
 
That's what I thought too. This is why he had to pull the gun out and empty the cylinder... I didn't believe it.

(Again, I am not an expert in revolvers.... )
 
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A heavy enough crimp might be sufficient to allow a loaded .44 Magnum round to fit in a .44 Special chamber, but it wouldn't be healthy idea to fire the rounds. Likewise, it is not unheard of to find a loaded 3" 12 gauge shell which can fit in a 2.75" chamber. (Remember: Shotshell lengths are based on the open length of the hull, not the crimped length.) The problem in these mismatches comes when the crimp can't open/release properly.
 
The fact that you can do something doesn't mean it is a good idea. I will bet more money than I can afford, when this guy touches off one too many of these (and it could be the first one or the 50th one, who knows) and the gun blowes up in his hand and face, he or his family will be the first in line to sue S&W.

This is a bad idea, a dangerous idea, and a stupid idea.
 
!@#$%^&*() for GOD SAKES NO!

THERE, it had to be said.:mad: You're risking whatever portion of your body is in the path of the shards that fly loose whenever that puppy gives way.:eek:

RUN away from the firing-line when he decides to engage in this foolishness and dial 9-1 on your cell phone with your finger poised over a '1'.:eek:
 
He might also have trimmed the brass, the same way rifle rounds are made when the desired brass isn't available. Also, both cases can be loaded to the same "standard factory" power levels. S&W has said several times their N frame Specials ('80s type version) are as strong as their Magnum frames. Not to say I'd want too hot loads in too weak frames.
 
Well, I am sure he is saving money because in some areas 44 spl costs more than 44mag. Which is a good thing for him. He can sock away funds for his impending surgery...
 
When the 696 first came out, there were several reports of some 44 mag rounds being able to fit in the chambers. Tried mine, and the 44 mag loads come close to being able to fit, and a shorter style bullet might still fit.


NEVER SHOOT ANY 44 MAG LOADS IN A 696.:banghead: IT IS NOT SAFE!

Am also of the belief that the older stoughter heavy lead bullet 44 special loads should be avoided, in the 696. The forcing cone walls are pretty thin, and don't believe the 696 can take as heavy a load as the 624's.

Various effective 44 special loads are easily available through mail order.
 
- Not safe-
- Using the wrong ammuniton is stupid-

That out of the way. While I wouldn't do it or recommend it or even tolerate being around anyone doing it......
I've been following Clark's exploits into gun blowing-up stuff for the last couple/few years.
I've been surprised at how much it takes to really blow one apart.
My "best guess" would be that using full boggie .44mag loads in the 696 would render the gun unusable due to excessive wear before it would let go.

I ain't going to try it though. Waste of a perfectly good gun far as I'm concerned.
 
I, too, have a 696... and, yes, it will chamber .44 Magnums. In the same vein, my 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt will also chamber .454 Casull rounds. Both are recipes for instant disaster, and anyone purposely doing so has probably considered a head-first trip over Niagra Falls. Seriously, follow the caliber requirements stated on the firearm - or less. Never go 'up'. I keep my .454 Casull rounds totally separated from my 625MG - as I do my few mediocre .44M's from my 296, 696, & 24.

By the same token that 696 is a fine firearm - try some .44 Russians (Alabama Ammo and others make them.) for a 'change'. Also, the excellent CCI Blazer 200gr .44 S&W Specials are topped with the Speer Gold Dots, great defensive rounds. They are available at a south eastern sports chain, Academy Sports, for $12.99/50 (Four stores around Birmingham.). I shoot a lot of 240gr LRNFP & LSWC's over 4.0-5.5 gr W231 and 4.0-4.9 gr Tite Group in .44 Russian and Special cases in my 696 - real fun 'plinker'... hard to believe it just has a 3" barrel. Don't ruin a fine firearm - find another way to 'tempt fate'.

Stainz
 
I'll have to get some of that Blazer... next time I roll out to SLC.
Where I am, the only flavor of .44 that is NOT magnum is the Federal Classic... this a 200 grain LSWCHP that is loaded to 900FPS. Pretty tame stuff...

Oh, wait... that is still hellandgone from 9MM! :D
 
After hearing about this a couple months ago I had to try the fit. Mine will chamber some magnums and but not all, but YEESH......I never thought of touching one off! I sure hope this guy has trimmed down those cases and was just pulling your chain by showing those head stamps. :uhoh:

Not in MY gun.
 
Those are some darned thin chamber walls in the 696...

Not a whole lot of meat left for high-pressure rounds like the .44 Magnum.

Having said that, my own 696 carries 5 of those Federal 200gr LSWCHP's, with a speedloader nearby holding 5 more. I may have to try those CCI 200gr Gold Dot Blazers sometime.
 
It would be interesting to compare the cylinder wall thickness in a 5 shot, L frame 696, to a 6 shot N frame 329 PD.

In any case, unless the chambers in the 696 were long enough to allow the .44 mag crimp to open up normally, pressures would be off the charts.:eek:

the 329 is made for the .44 mag, and weighs 26.5 oz and by most accounts has stout recoil...that 696 weighs 18 oz, and someone wants to shoot .44 mags in it? ay, ay ay!:what:
 
I *think* he meant...

The AirLite Titanium Model 396 below, listed at 18 ounces on S&W's website. My 696 is definitely more than that, somewhere between 35-44 ounces.

sw163688.jpg
 
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