The New "Combat Magnum".

[HexHead]

I've got a 69 and it might be my favorite of my DA revolvers. The only thing keeping it from being my overall fav is my Colt SAA.

I used to carry a Charter Bulldog .44 Spl and also have an N-frame Model 24 .44 Spl Thunder Ranch Special. My original plan was to get the 69 and the 329PD since it weighed within 3oz of the Bulldog. I came to find that using the holster for my 24, the 69 carried as easily all day as the Bulldog, so I didn't need the 329. Or the Bulldog any longer for that matter.

It shoots my 200gr Nosler JHP .44 Spl loads (I use Nosler's recommended most accurate W231 load) as nicely as the larger 24. I had my gunsmith do an awesome trigger/action job on it like he did to my 24, giving it about an 8lb DA trigger.

It's as close to the perfect revolver you can get now IMO. Easy to carry, soft shooting, .44 Mag capability. What more can you ask for?

 

[Coyote3855]

CajunBass...If I use the excuse that I was old and the sights were fuzzy I'd be laughed out off the range by my friends.

Oh...ByTheWay...I'm the oldest in my group. I'm 72.

Still just a kid. Wait 'til you get old, then criticize the accuracy of others. I'd settle for his groups at 10 yards, especially with a new gun I'm not yet familiar with.

 

[CajunBass]

Originally Posted by The Bushmaster View Post
CajunBass...If I use the excuse that I was old and the sights were fuzzy I'd be laughed out off the range by my friends.

I'm sorry. Did I give the impression that was an excuse? I didn't mean to. I meant to give the impression that I'm just a lousy shot, and that I don't really give a hoot what anyone else thinks about it. I actually thought I had said that in my original post, but maybe I didn't.

If you're a better shot it's OK with me. I won't hold it against you.

 

[The Bushmaster]

 

[Candyman87]

I want one. Enough said

 

[dickydalton]

I shoot loads slightly heavier than 44 Special loads (900 fps) in 44 Magnum cases in my Model 69. It is a dream to shoot.

I'll probably never put a full magnum load through it. My 460 XR satisfies any desire i have for wrist snapping recoil.

I believe that my 460XVR and 200 grain loads kicks less than my 629 Mountain Revolver with full power loads. 360s may be close.....

 

[Barry the Bear]

I love the idea, but I already have two three inch smiths, 29 and a 629 don't see it fitting for me other than a "want" gun and the Mrs. Bear already said I'm only allowed one more gun this year which will be a colt saa. Still maybe one day....

 

[mnrivrat]

I like nice looking grips on handguns. Makes em look pretty.

When it comes to actualy shooting however ,I prefer the rubber grips. I don't need to get into the reasons why cause that always leads to arguing like a bunch o 5 year olds over something that is personal preference anyway.


As far as the shooting goes - I think I would like to see some video of Bushmasters shooting skills to compare. Just to make certain he's the real deal shootist and not an internet expert in the craft .

 

[CajunBass]

If this gun had a really pretty finish, like a nice blue steel gun has, I wouldn't have those erasers on it for any longer than it took to get another set. But with the flat finish it has, I don't really think nice wood would look right either.

The black sights, trigger, hammer, cylinder release and grips are starting to grow on me.

 

[ThomasT]

Nice looking gun. I like it just the way it came.

I had a 5 shot Tuarus Tracker 44 mag with a 4" barrel and really regret selling it. I think I shot maybe two cylinders full of mag loads and the rest were downloaded in mag cases to around 1000 fps. It would have been an excellent trail gun. The frame yoke area was about the same size as a K frame Smith. I am not sure how it would have held up to full power loads but I guess I would have never found out.

There is a gunshow this weekend and I may keep an eye out for a model 69. I haven't bought a new gun in several months.

 

[just for fun]

I'm old, plastic and guns are two words that I can't understand being in the same sentence. You bought a Smith revolver, life doesn't get any better than that!

 

[mnrivrat]

My younger years were filled with Smith & Wesson guns , Mostly Model 19's, 66's, and 686's when they first came out. I owned a few Colt wheel guns including the Diamondback, Trooper, and SA's New frontier. A Dan Wesson and a sprinkle of others.
Had less issues with the S&W guns then Colt so mostly stuck with them.

Now that I am over the hill and life has left me beat up and in realitive poverty (all my good guns fell to putting food on the table for my two daughters) I have had to look at alternatives with lower prices the last few years. That has meant guns like the Taurus 44 mag Tracker, Taurus model 94 , and my carry gun the Taurus 731 Titanium.

I alsofound the Interarms imported Rossi 720 in .44 Special, and their 971 comp in .357 mag.

I am OK with these guns from both the price standpoint and overall service, accuracy , etc.

They are not Smith & Wesson, but from looking at newer made guns from S&W they are not exactly as nice as I remember the guns to be 40 years ago.

Bottom line, value is where you find it and its not always by brand name.

 

[eldon519]

I tried the 69 with stock grips, Nill Griffe grips, Hogue Bantams, Hogue monogrip, and the Hogue x-frame rubber grips. If you have any intention to ever put a .44 mag round through it, the X-frame grip is the way to go. I wanted it to work with the Nill Griffe grips very badly, but they were smooth and even a death grip wouldn't stop it from slipping in my hand and driving the cylinder release into my thumb knuckle. Might have worked with checkered or stippled grips, but it wasn't exactly pleasant. After a couple cylinders, my hand would numb up though and quit hurting to allow for maybe a 75 round session. The X-grip is much, much better.