When both of my AMT DAO .45 ACP Backups proved they were jamomatics at the range eleven years ago, I went home, cleaned them, found their boxes, and drove to my lgs to trade them in on a pair of new S&W's - a closeout priced ($349) 296 and a regular price ($439) 696, getting $400 for the pair of bottom feeders. The 296 was for carry - the 696 was for bedside - both with 200gr GD JHPs in Blazer ammo (They were $11.99/50 locally at Academy back in the 'good old days'!). I banned the Blazers here after one split it's Al case in the 696, next using my homebrews for range use and GA Arms 200gr JHP, both the same Speer Gold Dot bullets, as carry ammo. They are reportedly still slow making them - Starline is backlogged on brass orders. All three variants, Blazer, my homebrews, and GA Arms, make 800-810 fps from the 296's 2.5" barrel, according to the range's chrono. Speer, etc, states that the Gold Dot doubles in surface area at 800 fps in ballistic gelatin - it should be a good 'stopper'.
I carried the 296 in an OWB holster - infrequently, but gripped with larger backstrap-padding Combat grips (Actually, the 696's OEM grips - it sports Ahrends cocobolo!). When R. Mika started making his grips some years back, I had him make me then a pair for both my 296 and a then yet to be owned 642. To fit ~3/4 of my britches front pockets, I had to go back to the 296's OEM boot grips... ouch! I later added a similar but smaller 642 (.38), which fits all of my pockets, as does the 351PD I added last year. Here is the 296, Mika pocket holster, GA Arms 200gr GD JHPs, and a Buck Custom Shop 110 - for scale:
I still carry the 296 when woods bumming - with a 240gr LSWC first up, followed by 200gr GD's. Heavy lead will uncramp with the lite weight 296's rapid recoil - I've proved this!
Stainz
