I would say that 'pleasant to shoot' and 'a properly stoked S&W 296' should be mutually exclusive terms. With the CCI Blazers, Speers, or Georgia Arms (My choice.) loadings of the Speer #4427 200gr .44 Special Gold Dot JHP all making 800-805 fps from my 2.5" 296, I'd rate the recoil of the stock boot-gripped revolver as stout. Mine, which I bought new nearly seven years ago, had a stiff trigger - remedied by removing the sideplate to blast away the manufacturing grime and leave a drop of lube... then, it was 'good'. As I don't replace OEM springs in CCWs, it will pop any primers, too. Below is mine with a Buck 'Custom Shop 110' , five of the GA Arms 200gr GDJHPs, and a Robert Mika pocket holster. It carries well in my cargo pants and jeans - maybe 3/4 of my pants' front pockets. It's smaller sibling, a 642 in a similar but smaller holster, rides in any of my pants pockets.
I carry it loaded with two 240gr LSWCs first followed by three of the 200gr GDJHPs when woods stomping. The heftier bullets do pull even a well executed crimp, if five are loaded - in such a loaded experiment, it would likely have jammed had it been a six-shooter. The fifth GA Arms 200gr GDJHP, in a similar experiment, did not appreciably 'pull' it's serrated ring crimp. You can lessen the recoil, taking it out of the pocket carry camp, by subbing Uncle Mikes rounded 'Combats', which cover that backstrap. Better still, ad absurdium, is the use of the X-frame Hogues that are OEM on the S&W .460/.500 Magnums (They universally fit K, L, N, & X frames.). They look a bit weird - but offer serious help with recoil. Belt holster carry, only.
When I bought my 296 new, they had been on closeout for some time. I had been interested in it every since it's entry - but it was expensive. It's last MSRP was $789 - I paid $349 - a deal. I bought it locally - as a CCW - to replace my pair of AMT DAO Backups in .45 ACP, which I could carry pocketed. The day I traded, both AMTs had failed at the range... they became fodder. I also bought a new 696 ($439) the same day - combined purchase got me another $10 off, but still represents the most I've spent in a day on new S&Ws. The 296 was seldom carried until I got the Mika holster - my OWL OWB holster carry was just not practical.
If you look at used 296's, look at the cast-in-place cylinder stop - it is often pared away by the edge of that Ti cylinder from a hard 'Hollywood slap' of the ejector rod. The result is that the cylinder can end up, if you are lucky, in your hand when you eject the empties. Recall that with care it will last - but it is designed as a CCW, not a plinker. A used 4" 629 is a great .44 Special launcher/plinker - that has adj sight, longer barrel, and another round in the cylinder... and can go Magnum when you want it. Likely, it'll be more available and reasonable in the used market. My 296 has a home, of course... something about having an atom emblazoned on the side of a revolver... even if it's a Ti atom!
Stainz