Tips on S&W 69 recoil

[Takem406]

Finally was able to get to the range and shoot the new 69. Awesome! Started with a cylinder of Hornady Critical Defense and wow! Shot like a kitten! Then the 240 American Eagles, hot dang that hurts lol! Then my grizzly load of choice is the 305 HSM's. It seemed the heavier load was more of a heavy push than the sharp crack.

Now the plan is to buy stuff to load 44 specials with some kitty cat loads.

But for shooting full house loads is there a way to handle these better? Would the Hogue grips help any over the factory? Do I need to be up higher or lower on the grip? What about having it magna ported?

Obviously shooting a hot magnum load from a small gun isn't going to be fun and I knew what I was getting into, just a noob looking for some knowledge.

 

[jdavis123]

I think that you have the right idea by shooting lighter loads in your model 69.
I can remember getting my first .44 mag way back when and thought that I had to load the hottest loads because after all, Dirty Harry said that it was the most powerful handgun made. It would be a shame to use anything less than those full power loads. The only problem was that it was downright painful and was hard to hit anything with them. I soon realized that I could actually enjoy shooting my .44 mag when I used reduced power loads and you will also.

 

[2zulu1]

I load more for split times with my M29 Mountain, ~39oz, and use powders with less flash/blast.

 

[AKMtnRunner]

I've read replacing the grip with the factory Hogue X Frame grip is the way to go if you want to make it most pleasant to shoot hot 44 loads

 

[paul105]

The factory grips are a bit narrow at the top for me. The Hogue X Frame grips are quite a bit wider which tends to spread recoil over a greater are of you hand. All my round butt S&Ws are equipped with the Hogue 500s, so I may be a bit biased.

The M69 has a lower bore to grip axis than most other .44 mags. This tends to limit muzzle flip producing recoil that is directed straight back into the hand. The lower you grip the revolver, the more muzzle flip you will get. The higher you grip the gun, the less muzzle flip and the more the gun will recoil straight back. Magnaporting also limits muzzle flip and, again redirects recoil straight back into the hand.

Try the Hogue 500s avail from S&Ws on line store. Take a good firm grip on the gun, keep your elbows slightly bent (not locked) and most importantly DON'T FIGHT THE RECOIL. Most folks new to the .44 Mag take a death grip on the gun, which significantly increases felt recoil. Try different grips on the gun until you find one that is most comfortable FOR YOU. Everyone is different and what works for one, may or most likely won't work for you.

Don't mess with .44 special cases -- use .44 mag brass with .44 special loads (you can start with loads listed as maximum FOR THE .44 SPECIAL in .44 Mag cases). Better yet, lots of manuals will list .44 special level loads for the .44 Mag.

Just so you will know, bullet weight and velocity all effect the bullets point of impact on target. Here's a target I shot with my M69 - different bullet weights and at different velocities.
.
Two shots per load to reduce recoil induced fatigue. Rested at 25 yards, same point of aim - center diamond for all loads - with the rear sight bottomed out.



Great gun, enjoy the journey.

Paul

 

[eldon519]

I second paul on just about everything. Get yourself some Hogue X-frame grips and hold the gun high because that is where the sorbothane is on the Hogue.

No need for .44 special brass if you reload, it's just one more thing to track/separate and then you have to worry about cleaning the chambers after shooting lots of specials. 6.5gr Unique under a 240gr cast LSWC is a great light load in my guns. Feels about like a .45ACP in the 69 but feels more like a popgun in my 6" 29.

Eta: my 69 also shot really high with magnums, and I could not get it remotely close with the factory sight. I took a picture of my target marking up POA, POI, and the difference in inches at that range and sent it in for service (not just for the sight, had the barrel looked at too). They replaced the rear sight for free and mailed it and the original sight back to me. Now I can actually shoot POA=POI. I bet with a phone call you could probably get them to send you the new sight for free if you can tell them how high it is at range X. Mine was an early one so maybe the new guns ship with a more approrpiate sight.

 

[paul105]

Quick note:

The above target was shot with a gun that I bought in early 2014. I bought another M69 (backup) late last year. S&W changed the sights and I could zero 240gr JHP .44 Mag ammo without bottoming the rear sight. S&W must have got the message on the orig sight config shooting high.

You most likely will still have a problem if you choose to use 300gr + T Rex stompers at longer than contact range.

Bottom line -- try the sights before you go trying to fix what might not be broken.

FWIW,

Paul