Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting S&W model 69 44mag

Yeah, they help.

And I agree, ready for the trails this summer.



Travis

Don't get me wrong... I like Smith revolvers but my Glock Model 20 in 10mm seems waaaaaay more practical in this situation than any revolver made.... 14 down and one up is kinda comforting if push comes to shove...

It doesn't weigh much either unless you count the weight of the ammo... LOL

G20 is 15+1, and I agree I use it much more than even my 329.

This is a backpacking forum...if it ain't light,it ain't right.
37oz? screw that.
Grab a 396 Mountain Ti or the like and move on...mine is 18 oz. and actually shoots excellent.
There are several other choices...

I've been looking for a 396 for a long time.


I settled on a 325PD with Buffalo Bore +P AR loads with the 255 hard casts.

I do have a 696, but now it's a vintage collectors item and I'm afraid to abuse it like I used too.

Having worked for much of my life with clients, family and friends in areas of dangerous game. Alaska and Africa primarily. I choose a revolver for one basic reason. I'm not dismissing those who choose a semi auto. But at least understand there is a very good reason for a revolver.

Even folks who do not know much about guns can pick up a revolver and squeeze the trigger on a revolver. Granted, semi autos can also be cocked and ready to go, but with a safety that delay or confusion for a non gun toting person is bad.

I've also noticed on more then a few occasions, those unfamiliar with a semi autos have squeezed the trigger unintentionally when lowering the gun or shooting it. not realizing they were squeezing it hard enough to fire.

I guess simply put, a semi auto is great for the experienced person using it. It's less functional and far less safe for the novice that has to shoot it in an emergency.

There can be a lot of safety and mechanical limitations for a novice with a semi auto. Not so much with a revolver. I'm not always 100% certain the gun would be at only my finger tips. Another person in the group could possibly have to use it too.

The 69 is without a doubt, a handgun aficionodo's choice. A backpacker it ain't.

Major kudos to Smith making it though. I mean schist, they called it the 69. That alone makes it worth owning.



Travis

Exactly. The Glock is 1/2 lb lighter and almost 2" shorter. 44 mag numbers look good from 8" test barrels, but real numbers from 4" or shorter barrels just ain't that impressive nor that much better than the best 10mm loads from 4-5" barrels.

+1

No, exactly NOT. You do not have your facts straight. Glock 29 10mm lists at 27.1 ounces. S&W 329PD lists at 26.7 ounces.

Loads ... my .44 load pushes a 250 grain SWC at over 1250 fps. Faster. Larger diameter. Heavier. And I didn't have to buy an aftermarket barrel with a supported chamber to do it. Each factor favors the .44, taken together, they overwhelmingly favor the .44.

Tom