S&W Model 69 2 3/4" 44 MAG

[6pt-sika]

Anyone messed with the short barreled version of the Model 69 Smith ? https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/m ... bat-magnum

[GunnyMack]

Can't say I have but many years back our local Chief carried a 4" model 29. When he passed away I tried to get it from his widow, I was a day late! One of my buddies beat me to it!
my buddy shot a couple hogs with it. Just a few years ago my buddy passed and now his dad has it.

I do however have a 629, 6" and it shoots better than I can! Only wheel gun I didn't need to change the sights on, dead nuts center mass at 25 when I got it.

[Ray Newman]

Back-In-The-Day, I had a S&W "Lew Horton Special Edition" 629 3" .44 magnum. Was unpleasant to shoot with .44 magnum loads. Later sold it off along with a S&W "Lew Horton Special Edition" 624 3" .44 Special, which was much more pleasant to shoot.

[6pt-sika]

I bought a 629 4" a few years back . Well more then a few years ago . Anyway it was a 4" and like many other things I sold it . I have a Ruger Redhawk 6 1/2" scoped at the moment but I think I would like a LIGHT S&W 44 MAG to carry mostly during deer season and this Model 69 thing looks adequate for the task .
I'm also contemplating a 2 or 3 inch Model 19 as long as its a pinned barrel recessed cylinder gun .

[Old Savage]

A friend had one, Surprisingly easy to shoot.

[Paul105]

Single action trigger broke at a bit over 4 lbs on my RCBS trigger scale. Throats are between .429 & .430 (.429 plug gage go, .430 no go). Bbl/cyl gap - .004 feeler gage go, .006 no go. Gun weighs 35 oz with Hogue 500 grips.

Shot a fairly wide range of ammo ranging from 200 Saeco full wadcutters to 325gr WLNGCs and 22.0gr of H110. Don’t remember the 200gr WC load, but performance on paper was terrible. The best groups at both 25 and 50 yds were shot with a MBW 260gr WFNGC, 23.0gr H100, Fed Mag Primer and new Top Brass. This load shot a bit over 2” at 50 yds. Thought this was a fluke so to verify I shot 5 more with similar results.

The little gun is an absolute delight to shoot with both .44 special equivalent and full mag loads. The lighter loads are obviously more fun for extended shooting sessions.

I have both 4 ¼” and the new 2.75” M69s. My impression is that the 2.75” gun shoots “softer” recoil wise than the 4 ¼” version. I’ve chronographed both with the same loads and the short barrel runs about 100 fps slower than it’s longer brother (except for the big 325gr) — this moderates recoil. Of course, you get a bit of muzzle flash with H110 loads. Both of mine are equipped with the S&W 500 X Frame Hogue grips.

Here are some chronograph results:

Chronoed these from the 2.75” M69. Three rounds at 5 Long paces from muzzle and 68 deg F. Larger sample could change the results a bit. Largest ES was 42 fps.

260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,125 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,126 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,125 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (Deep Seat) 1,119 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,104 fps

For comparison purposes these were shot a while back from my 4 ¼” M69: Same temp, distance from the muzzle.

260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,224 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,230 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,220 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (deep seat) 1,140 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,182


Little out of focus cell phone pic of the 2 ¾” with two holster (fit the M69 perfectly) that I bought sometime back for my 396. A Haugen, OWB, dual position thumb snap, and a Milt Sparks, IWB, Versa Max II.

New front lockup on 2 ¾” (vs orig M69 4 ¼”). Ball detent is on the frame and locks up on/in back of crane/yoke (don’t know exact config as I haven’t disassembled cyl/yoke assy yet).



50 yard target shot over my range bag — 2 ¾” M69, 260gr WFNGC, 23.0gr H110.



Found a .44 Special level load for my 2 3/4" M69 that hits same POI at 25 yds as my .44 Mag Load (260 WFNGC w/23.0 H110).

Load consists of Matt's Bullets 265gr SWCGC (432244) sized .431, deep seated (crimped over front dr band) in Top Brass .44 Mag cases, over 7.7gr of H Universal, set off by CCI large pistol (standard) primers.



This little gun is a shooter.

Paul

[Blaine]

All them S&Ws shoot good. My 629PP 6.5" would do one ragged hole at about 30 Yards with a Burris Speed Dot on it....