S&W Model 69

[Hickory]

I need some input on this shooter, because I sure hated it when I missed out on Smith 696.
The 69 has a little more appeal because of the longer barrel and in the magnum caliber I could get a little more horsepower if needed.
Anyone have any firsthand experience with this shooter?

[frank505]

I love mine. Throats are .431, the edm rifled barrel needs a little fire lapping to smooth it. Had to make a taller front sight. Replaced the grips with x frame so I can shoot it a lot. My load is 19 of WC820(lot47321)Fed155 and the #1103 Keith. Very accurate also with 9.5 of power pistol and a WLP. It is a very useful five gun, feels much smaller and lighter than it is. I correspond with a guy that owns three, and shoots them a lot. He keeps round count records, I don't....

[Kraschenbirn]

Don't own one but have shot one belonging to a friend and wasn't all that impressed. Not really a 'fun gun' (for me) with full-house .44 Mag. loads and, with.44 Spls - even 'hot .44 Spls, I'd prefer my M24 (6 shots and much better DA) any day.

Bill

[376Steyr]

I don't have a 69, but I did spend about $1500 putting together a 4" L-frame .44 Special (donor 686, 696 cylinder, re-bored Mountain Gun barrel, gunsmith services). That was a few years ago, it would cost more now. Mine is nice, but you can have .44 Magnum capability at half the price with a Model 69.

[Hickory]

My intent is to shoot mild loads '44 special velocities' if I wanted to shoot anything hotter I have 6 different 44 magnums to choose from.
This would be just something different for me.

[Shuz]

Hickory--If it's something different, and you wanna try it, why not go for it? I did exactly that about 10 years ago when I bought my 329PD. I have never regretted it, and shoot mine all the time, albeit loads with 190g to 230g hollow point cast boolits in the 900 to 1000 fps range. As you prolly know, the 329PD weighs only 26 ounces unloaded, so it is a lot lighter than the model 69.
Believe me, if I could come up with a "deal" on a nice 69, I'd scarf it right up. Good luck!--Shuz

[Hickory]

Hickory--If it's something different, and you wanna try it, why not go for it? I did exactly that about 10 years ago when I bought my 329PD--Shuz

Yea, I got one of them too.
Great shooter for when you want to pack light.

[bluelund79]

The model 69 is my favorite handgun I own. I have Herrett Jordan Trooper stocks on it, which made felt recoil on heavier loads easier to handle. It's been accurate out to 75 yds so far. Still working up better loads for repeatable 100 yard shooting. I have had zero issues with it

[frank505]

Shot mine fifty rounds today. I still marvel at the accuracy.

[Gun-adian]

I managed to find one about 4 months ago, after a lot of searching. It seems they're in short supply up here, north of the border.

Way back, I was unhappy that Canada missed out on the .44 Special 696 because of the short barrel lengths. I had hoped S&W would release a 5" barreled version for us but no such luck. Fast forward a number of years and we have the Model 69 and because S&W is remembering the Canadian market, it's in the 4.2" barrel length. Being chambered in .44 Mag, this makes it a win-win. Being able to handle both power levels makes it much more versatile than the 696. I will admit that it's a beast with full magnum loads but at .44 Special levels, it's a fun shooter.

All in all, worth the wait.....

[Rodfac]

I really like the gun and have ~900 rounds through it now. It carries well, noticeably lighter on the hip than my 5" 629, and no, I don't miss the 6th round. I use an adaptation of the old Tom Threepersons open top holster on a 1-1/2" waist belt.

Esthetically, some object to the ball lock at the cylinder/frame/yoke joint, the 'lock', and the shrouded barrel. I did as well...at first...now they don't even register as I holster the gun for a day's tromping around, here on the farm. The gun's light weight, magnum capability if you need it, and short barrel for easy carry on any conveyance trump the 'ball', the 'lock', and the 'shroud'. It's that simple.

While it's significantly lighter than the 629-5" (41.3 oz. vs. 50.1 oz. fully loaded), the recoil with mid-level loads doesn't feel that much different.

With full house (for me) .44 Magnum loads in the 1200+ fps, it's still good. I attribute this to Smith's excellent choice in grips. Granted, they're ugly but they soak up recoil, especially on that exposed 2nd knuckle which usually takes a beating. The top of the grip, at the web of the grip hand, still gets a workout, but no worse really than with much heavier 629.

Full house loads with either gun, however, are not a "blast two boxes of 50 and had a fun time" proposition...I'm crowding 70 now and that just isn't my idea of a good time. I much prefer the light and mid-level stuff, with the capability of carrying heavy stuff if the occasion dictates.

Accuracy wise, it's as good a Smith as I've ever owned and that's more than a dozen. Off the top of my head without consulting my loading notes, I don't remember a load tried, that wasn't a 2" grouper, or less, at 25 yds. While .44's from Smith that I've owned in the past (5) were easy to load for, this one seems as good or a bit better. Yep...I'm a 'fan-boy' for this Smith.

For the most part, I shoot it with .44 Special loads. Skelton's well known 7.5 gr of Unique behind a good 240 gr SWC does very well. I like Mihec's 431256 for this, cast from WW + 1% tin and air quenched. 50-50 lube does the trick and I size them to 0.431".

Lyman's 429215 GC, sized 0.431" with the same alloy is maybe my best performer, easily producing sub-2" gps at 25yds on demand. This same bullet, does equally well paired with my Marlin 336 in .44 Magnum. I like it in either .44 Special or Magnum brass, and find the cylinder cleaning chore with Special brass is no problem at all. Skelton's 7.5/Unique load does equally well.

Lyman's other Thompson design, 429244 GC, gives more throw weight and is generally as accurate. I really like this bullet's high speed capability without leading but seldom use it to its full potential.

I've used most of the usual .44 Magnum powders with it and all worked well. It's just a good, accurate Smith in that regard. Win 231 works well for low end target velocities and I like and use Unique and Herco for 1000 fps loads, saving 2400, 296, or Bartlett's reclaimed 820 (the Accurate #9 burning rate one) for high speed/hunting loads. These last, I don't push, finding 1200-1250 fps plenty fast enough for through and through penetration on deer.

HTH's Rod

[Paul105]

I've had two since early 2014. 4,600+ rnds thru one and 2,300 rnds thru the other with no problems to date. Recently added a third just in case S&W discontinued the m69, shot 50 rnds just to make sure every thing was in order and put it away.

Personally don't find the recoil to be as harsh as my 629 Mtn Gun and I shoot the L Frame much better than the N Frame -- YMMV. Mine are equipped with the Hogue 500 grips that are only avail from S&W.

The M69 is one of my favorite handgun platforms -- I wouldn't be without one.

Paul

[Shuz]

Paul105--Do you like the Mdl 69 better than the 329PD?

[Paul105]

Shuz.

For everyday recreational carry/shooting yes, I favor the M69 over the 329. For bow hunting elk here in MT, the 329 is my go to backup piece.

Paul

[frank505]

The Smith and Wesson x frame grips are a must for me as well. The joint at the base of my thumb is tender and cannot take any hits from normal grips. Like I said, put fifty rounds through it yesterday and everything is fine. Probably going to shoot it tomorrow afternoon just because I can.