Post by ruber on Jul 25, 2017 18:30:13 GMT -5
Well, since there is a S&W section, had to post:
I picked up this 69 earlier this year and have needed to work out a few bugs, but it is a real blast to shoot. For folks who have not shot one, it is a 37 oz, 5 shot 44 magnum built on their L-frame. So a bit trimmer and lighter than say a Ruger GP100.
It shoots great and has got me back into a cartridge I really have not shot in years because I don't like carrying the bigger guns around. It's as accurate as my larger .44's in my hands, and if I pick the right loads, seems to retain a good amount of the performance.
Brian Pearce has an article in the December '14 Handloader featuring both magnum and special loads for this gun ( www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl293partial.pdf ). Some of the magnum loads using faster powders work pretty well so far. In the short barrel, they give results not too far behind the max loads and don't beat on my wrist like full power loads.
But... The breech face/recoil shield had some rough spots that needed to be stoned before it cycled smoothly and the lock needed to go. With the rough edges knocked down and the lock flag gone, it has been a reliable and smooth shooter.
I'll get a set of troopers when I get a little extra cash, but the Pachmayrs help with grip and recoil for now.
As for cosmetics, the factory hammer looks like it was kicked around the assembly floor, I think that and the cylinder release will be replaced next. They work fine as is, so still low priority.
I picked up this 69 earlier this year and have needed to work out a few bugs, but it is a real blast to shoot. For folks who have not shot one, it is a 37 oz, 5 shot 44 magnum built on their L-frame. So a bit trimmer and lighter than say a Ruger GP100.
It shoots great and has got me back into a cartridge I really have not shot in years because I don't like carrying the bigger guns around. It's as accurate as my larger .44's in my hands, and if I pick the right loads, seems to retain a good amount of the performance.
Brian Pearce has an article in the December '14 Handloader featuring both magnum and special loads for this gun ( www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl293partial.pdf ). Some of the magnum loads using faster powders work pretty well so far. In the short barrel, they give results not too far behind the max loads and don't beat on my wrist like full power loads.
But... The breech face/recoil shield had some rough spots that needed to be stoned before it cycled smoothly and the lock needed to go. With the rough edges knocked down and the lock flag gone, it has been a reliable and smooth shooter.
I'll get a set of troopers when I get a little extra cash, but the Pachmayrs help with grip and recoil for now.
As for cosmetics, the factory hammer looks like it was kicked around the assembly floor, I think that and the cylinder release will be replaced next. They work fine as is, so still low priority.
