S&W 696 No Dash..........44 Special

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GunNut

GunNut

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Was out and about checking the local gun stores for a 2nd Gen Glock 17 or possibly another black gun when I came upon a like new in box Smith & Wesson 696. I was not aware that S&W had ever built a L-frame .44special and was immediately interested, I have always found the 686 to be a great sized gun but don't really enjoy shooting .357mag.

I just about bought the gun yesterday, but I really like to make sure that I am getting a good deal, so home I went to do some research. It appears that this gun is pretty desirable and that the prices are going way up, like $950+ for a LNIB no dash model. Well seeing how I really liked the gun and it was priced a quite a bit lower than what it was worth, I ran back and bought it this morning...:D

My first impression is that I cannot believe how sweet feeling a 3" full lug L-frame is, and then seeing that big old .429 hole brings a big old smile to my face.

I will be loading up some .44 special over the next couple of weeks and then hit the range.

Who else has one and how do you like yours?

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PS: Sorry for the crappy pics.....
 
#1) those are not crappy pics, that is beauty in steel.

#2) Sweet! I'm sure that you will be happy with that one.
 
Just in case you were hoping to make someone envious - I want you to know you succeeded.

I've been scouting for one of those for ages. Still no luck.






:D

Congrats anyway.
 
Thanks to all, it was truly a lucky find.

It's great to find something so neat when you are not even looking for it.
 
I have a -1 and love it. I lucked into a deal from a fellow THR member who did not like it. Congrats on your find. AC

Top target is 10 shots at 7 yards through a chrono in my 696-1.

I finally found a Rossi .44 Spl at the last show, but was cash poor. Not nearly the gun as the Smith, but still a .44 Spl.
 
I don't have a 696 but I love my smith 296 and rossi 720. You got a good looking gun.
 
Boy, talk about being in the right place at the right time! Do you have any idea how many guys are looking for a no dash 696? People must have just glanced at it and thought it was a 686. I immediately bought one as soon as they hit the shelves in 96. It is now my daily carry gun. I would not sell it for any amount. The best load for it if you don't reload is the Speer Gold Dot 200 gr. (in either Blazer aluminum or nickel plated brass.) I have seen some people load really hot 240 gr. Elmer Keith type loads and beat these guns to death rapidly. 200 gr. at 850 to 900 fps. is all you need. The forcing cone on these guns is pretty thin and many guys have cracked them with hot loads. Recoil is a nice soft push instead of a snap. Most of these first editions have a barely visible ring inside the bore where the barrel is torqued into the frame. Some folks worry about it. Mine has it and it doesn't seem to hurt anything. The 5 round HKS speedloader for the Charter Arms Bulldog will also fit this gun. Take good care of your 696 and it will serve you well for a long time. Don't ever sell it. This was one of the last great S&W built. No lock and no MIM parts. A good smith can perform a beautiful trigger job on one of these.
 
A guy just brought this in on Wednesday and put it on consignment. It was at the back of the shelf and no tag had been put on it yet.

I actually thought it was a 686 at first.
 
I have tried a number of handloads and have found that 200 to 215 gr. SWCs work very well in mine. I have not chronographed any but I would estimate they're running 850 to 875 fps. John Taffin has some great loads on his website for this gun. He also likes the 200 gr. loads. I did a trigger job and bought a spare hammer and bobbed it makes a really nice CCW piece. I've been shooting pins with it for a laugh and it takes them off the table just like a .45 ACP. Just don't miss one. 2400, Unique, Red Dot and Green Dot are good .44 Spl. powders. I think you will love this gun.
 
Smith 696 no dash

I have one , its a fun gun to shoot.
I bought it from a guy on Smith & Wesson Forum, it however had .013
cylinder gap and wouldn't shoot to point of aim no matter what load or where I put the sights. I called Smith they had me send it back and fixed everything perfectly , no charge.
Unfortunately they couldn't do the same for my beloved 8 3/8 barrel 27-2 the cylinder face was not square ! So much for older Smiths always being better !
Well they took great care of me and I love my Smith revolvers.
P.S. There is a 696-1 on Auction Arms that is currently under $600.00 !

8898856 is auction number
 
I have a dash one that I bought to carry. I edited it from my carry rotation when I learned how pricey they had become. It had no box or docs and had been fired, so I still occasionally shoot my handloads through it. I have some fairly stout loads pushing a 240 gr SWC. These shoot well through this gun but the recoil can become a bully. IIRC the 'graph was in the 900-950-ish fps range. (That's TRUCKIN' considering it's 240 gr from a 3" tube.)
Enjoy that cool gun, it handles and shoots very well and is just plain "fashionable" to own!

MM
 

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Just sold a no dash 696 on Friday. It went in about an hour. These are really nice guns and have quite a cult following for a reason.
 
What local shop has such things??

(I'm local too, sorta')
ps: It's an absolute brute to shoot!. You'll hate it.

(I sold the Kahr PM9 but what kind of black gun do you need, besides a 2nd Gen G17? A nice M&P9LE perhaps?, A 3rd Gen G19?, An XD45 Tactical?, A KP11?, what? :) )
 
I had a 696 when they first came out. Recoil was comfortable and the 44 Specials I sent downrange hit with firm accuracy. I traded mine to my brother for a S&W Model 52 .38 Special, but I really miss that handy little 696.

Sadly, my brother sold the 696 for something else a few years ago. Definitely hang on to yours, you have a fine gun there!
 
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I bought both a new 696-1 and a new 296 on closeout from my pusher on the same day six years ago. They were $439/696 and $349/296 - and my pusher took off another $10 when I bought the pair on the same day. I was elated!

Of course, first trip to the range - my 240gr LSWC mediocre loads were fun in the 696 - so were the 200gr GD Blazers. Then I shot the 296, limited to 200gr max and clad bullets, with those Blazers. Ouch! A grip change was in order - wood for the 696 - and it's UM's Combats for the 296, making it a holster gun, but much better at the range.

Over the years, I dropped the Blazers after one split it's case in the 696 - nevermore! Georgia Arms loads the same Speer #4427 Gold Dot in new Starline brass for the same price or less - and you gain brass. They both made 805 fps from the 2.5" 296; 840 fps from the 3" 696; and 875 fps from a 4" 629.

My favorite load for the 696 is 240gr LSWC over 3.5gr Titegroup in a .44 Russian case. The 'cute' bullet will make 692 fps (Ohhh, stand back!) while producing a 'major' power factor over 165. Anyone can shoot it - it is mild.

Now, if you want a great smaller .44 Special, and the $700++ for the 696 with it's severe restrictions seems excessive, consider a 4" 629 - SKU #163603. You'll get another hole in the cylinder, another inch of barrel, and only six more ounces of gun! Of course, put whatever grips you want on it - and whatever Keith-level loads you want in it. Seriously, consider it.

Below are what I consider my .44 Specials - the 296 & 696 on the left and current stock 4" & 6" 629s on the right. Clean the chambers well, put my .500 Magnum Hogues back on, and they are .44 Magnums, too.

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Stainz
 
Stainz,
I am enamoured with the grips on your 696. Where'd you get 'em?
Thanks,
MM
 
It usually sports a pair of similar but finger groove-less grips. They are by Kim Ahrends and available from Ahrends or through Brownell's. They are the round butt square conversion cocobolo stocks - $60 retail either place (+s/h). I have more guns than grips, it seems, but today's favorite here is the 'retro-target' style, which is a slimmer S&W target grip style - and I think I like non-finger grooved ones better - at least today!

Here are my 696 with it's usual finger-groove-less square conversions and my new 617 sporting retro targets, ordered plain and oil finished here:

IMG_0951.jpg

Stainz
 
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I've got a pile of Ahrend's grips too, and was just changing two of my square butts to the fingergrip version.

As Stainz said, it's a thing - sometimes I prefer the straight grips sometimes the fingergrips.

BUT, for longer barreled S&W revolvers like the K22, K38, and M25-2 (Model of 1955) it's hard to beat the S&W Gonzalvo Alves target style large grip. Those just park the guns in my hand like they were always meant to be (they were) and even though I've put on various Hogues and Ahrend's I always go back to the big Smith grip.

As comfortable as the rubber Hogues are, I just don't like the look of black rubber on nice revolvers.
 
I ordered some N frame Ahrends grips. I asked for light wood becuase I like the lighter wood on blue guns. They sent a beautiful pair of DARK grips that look like those Stainz posted. H***, his are why I ordered from Ahrends. Mine look almost just like the ones on his 696 in the second pic. Too bad I did not order them for an L frame.

They are sitting in a drawer. If I ever get a SS N frame, I am set. :)
 
Hmmm, perfect excuse to buy that new N frame you need. Might I suggest a 4" 627 Pro or the best 4" .44 Special available - the 4" 629 in my first picture. It feels great with the rounded non-fg Ahrends on it in the picture - even with my milder .44 Magnums. Better feel with the fg square conversions, too. For real Magnums, get the Hogue .500 Magnum grips from S&W Accessories. Yeah, my kind of thinking... spare grips need a new revolver....

Stainz
 
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