Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W 396. Anyone own one?

Local shop has a 396 (44 special) for $850. Seems like a hard kicker but wondered if anyone has experience with one.

I think deflave had one. Since it would be about the same weight as an original Charter Bulldog, it would not be bad to shoot at all. It'd be pretty damned sweet, actually, IMO.

lighter version of the L frame 696. Not suppose to fire the heavier bullets in the 396. What is funny is during the original run of the 696 smith couldn't give them away, and dropped it. It then became a cult classic.
I have the 696 and like it, light to carry, only five rounds, but it is a .44 and per brian pearce, can be loaded if wanted somewhat hotter than the old .44 special.
Think the 396 is suppose to be best with the lighter bullets.

I have a 696 but $850 is a pretty good price for the 396. I've already bought 3 guns this week so I won't ask you where it's at. Looking forward to hearing a review.

I have one. Bought it in 2003.

Early on I emailed S&W if I could use 250gr bullets. There answer was yes. Later, as I understand it, some were marked with "200 gr bullets only" (mine in not so marked). Supposedly this was in response to reports of bullets jumping the crimp.

Crimp jump can be a problem but can be overcome with proper reloading techniques.

Recoil with this lightweight .44 can get increasingly unpleasant as you increase the power level.

Buffalo Bore chronoed their 250gr "Heavy" load (rated at 1,000 fps) from the 3 1/16" 396 at 984 fps. This load is guaranteed to get your attention.

I worked up a load with a 250gr Keith (leadheads) that actually weighed 260gr that chonoed 1,014 fps in my 3 1/16" 396 (for backup while bow hunting elk in MT).

I have also shot the Keith load in my 396 and it runs a bit under 1,100 fps at 70 deg F and 5 long paces from the muzzle. Recoil with these loads is brutal (for me anyway).

The thin barrel shank, not the 5 shot cyl, is the weak spot and is problematuc with with heavier loads. Brian Pearce has written about the 396 in a couple of Handloader mag articles -- the most recent acknowledges the thin barrel shank and limits handloads to 18,000 PSI IIRC.

The factory supplied Hogue Bantam grips will make you bleed with anything other than "soft" .44 special loads.

The 396 provides a lot of versatility in a lightweight packing handgun.

FWIW,

Paul

I have the 396 NG but I assume you are referring to the ML.

At that price it is a no-brainer. If you don't want it send me the info.

The BS about 200gr. bullets is just that. BS.

But as already stated the Special gets pretty Special in a lightweight L Frame.





Travis

Just got my second 396 - a no-lock version - as trading off my first one was a mistake. It recoils enough to get your attention. For my purposes, the Speer factory 200 grain GDHPs are the right choice. Definite recoil but manageable. I intend to order a pair of Ahrends for this one. At $850 I'd buy it if it's in good shape.

200gr bullets make the lightweight .44 Specials much easier to handle.




Travis

the first time you look at the hole in those gdhp's it's pretty impressive.

Thanks for the feedback. Went last night to look at it but was at the wrong store (this pawn shop has several storefronts). I will try to track it down this weekend and check it out.

Yes, very impressive to see the HPs in the GDs. Much more so though to come into contact wi them at speed, on the receiving end. They turn the 396 into an interesting LWT platform for SD EDC.

Trying to decide now whether to go with a set of Ahrend retro Banana or Spegel extended Boot grips.

Well, I own one now. They sold it to me $848 OTD with tax. 396 no dash. No box but did have a Bianchi thumbreak holster (nylon) with it. In good shape except for one mar in the finish on the barrel. No flame cutting that I could see, forcing cone is in good shape and the lock up is super tight.

Need to order a better set of grips for it and take it out for a trial run.

They had it marked as a 396-1 44 mag for some reason.

I think I'd consider the X-frame grips. What does it have on it now? Glad it's the no dash.