S&W model 296

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NRA UR2

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I have a CCW and carry at all times. Like alot of you I've experimented with every type of firearm and rig that they make. In fact I've got a whole drawer full of various IWB holsters, ankle rigs, pocketcovers, and of course every snubby S&W, Ruger have seen fit to tempt me with.But my favorite rig and the one I am most comfortable carrying is a pocket rig which fits perfectly in my deep pocket Wrangler Jeans. Its a cut down thin layer Galco which mainly eliminates printing...and in it goes my S&W model 296 stoked with 5 200gr JHP(Max weight for that gun). I know its butt ugly, but its pleasant to shoot and it came from the factory with one of the smoothest trigger pulls I've ever encountered. Am I the only one carrying this combo? Or if you've got something close lets hear about it.

NRA Benefactor:cuss:
 
that's how I...

...carry my Bodyguard (baby brother to your humpback 296) around the house...like it's not even there... how much fun's that thing to shoot??
 
296 Rig

It has the looks, weight and heft of a bodyguard on steroids except its completely internal lock. Its called the Airweight TI. Because of the light weight and size and the smooth double action pull its a hoot to shoot. I,too favor a bodyguard and have several including the all stainless 649 which preceeded all the Airweights. If you want some gut twisting ammo for your bodyguard, try some Mag-Safe 38 +p+, 65gr 1800fps out of a 3" Ruger Sp101....moderate recoil, controlled penetration but very expensive. It comes in 6 round packs at $22.95 per. I bought several packs 5 years ago at $15.95. Obviously this is not practice ammunition but is available to the public but most ofter sold to anti-terror police forces.Its not a shotshell, but rather pre fragmented bullet pieces.It looks like any 38+P JHP.


NRA Benefactor
 
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.

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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.

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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
 
Stainz said it all pretty much. Here in Kali us lucky enough to have a CCW have to have the Serial # and ype of gun listed on the back of card. It is hard to get a new listing and my card is maxed out according to DOJ, so no 296 license. I set up this 296 and 242 (7shot .38+p) with ClipDraws as I wanted a holsterless gun (a holster makes this L frame package pretty big) to slide into pants pokets or waistbands of jogging suits ect, Alas the Clips work well! I like the Blazer 200 grain HP ammo for even lighter weight, and they seem to offer good performance!The Knive is a 7" bladed Darrel Ralph CudaMaxx Ti.
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Thanks for posting the knife! I love the gun also!!!!

Here is a look at the new 5.5 version of the Maxx that is USA made.
It is a semi production knife.
assisted opener.
Enjoy

Darrel Ralph
 

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My Bodyguard's...

...the 649...like the weight and the stainless...I wish they'd offered the 296 style in all stainless...it'd be worth diamonds and gold...I have the 696...unfired in box...sold awaiting transfer...but don't like the adjustable sights at all...don't know why the humpback .44 wasn't made stainless....I use the FBI load in my 649...only hurts on the receiving end...light recoil....
 
My 242 with Rem 158LSWCHP+p shoots twice as well as my 296 with 200 Gold Dot ect. I don't think its all flinching with the .44 either.
 
With the rounded UM's Combats, like the 10, 64, 67, etc came with most recently, my 296 was quite accurate. I could get 3, or more, of the five rounds of 200gr Gold Dots in a cylinder to ping a 12"-16" steel plate at 100yd on 'good' days. The 296 was shot hand held while I was standing. My 696, same grips but 240gr LSWCs, could often go 5 for 5. Even with the 296's backstrap & hump 'covered', it is still a thwack! I have, on a lark, shot the 296 with the Blazer 200gr Gold Dots at the SPC targets rapidly and never missed - 5 plates for 5 shots - no timer, however, but it seemed fast. Those UM Combats were great - sadly, the boots are on it again for pocket carry. That 296 is accurate.

I like the 242 - would love a 7-shot .38 like my 296. In an either-or situation, I'll take the 296, however. The .44 Special is more my speed - big, clumsy, and slow! Either, the 242 or 296, is a visual 'acquired taste', for sure.

Stainz

PS As I have said before, I won't load those Blazers in my 296 - actually shot all I had some time back. I had one split it's center half of it's case in my 696. No damage in the SS cylinder - don't know what it would have done to the 296's Ti cylinder. No more here - GA Arms Starline brass cased variant chrono's the same at a lesser cost - and you gain good .44 Special brass.
 
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I've got one. I've fired it once. I shot a dog that was attacking me in my own yard in the middle of the night. The cops were amazed. One dog, one shot. They would have fired at least 20 times.:D I have a 340PD which I carried for a couple of years. I am hard on a carry gun, I sweat on them, I get tossed out of canoes with them in my pocket..... The 340PD was really taking a beating and I got an LCR to replace it. I don't really want to tear the 296 up so I don't carry it.
 
sheepdog, I carry a 696 and found that by simply removing the sights it makes a very slick carry gun. At 15 yards or less I and all of my friends are able to hit a B 29 target every time. Try it. Just use the rib the front sight mounts onto for a crude sight.
 
I can't...

...I got it sold and have to keep it pristine...I was going to put Ashley's XO Express sights on it but I found a Taurus 431 Stainless 3"...so figured why modify it when I had what I want...at the ranges I'll shoot, the sights are just an extra sharp edge...I like your solution and may use it on another gun...thanks!!!

...I'm kinda confused...does the 296 have an internal hammer or a hammer in a slot like the 649??? Did they make any .44 humpback all stainless to give it some weight or just the lightweights??? I think the Bodyguard style in an all-Stainless .44 would be the cat's meow!!!
 
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