Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W Model 69

That price on the 69 is a bargain, at least in my neck of the desert.

Agreed. I think I paid $750+tax and that was about the going rate that I could see at the time about 2.5 years ago.

Its $750 here in SE PA.

79inPA where are you located?

Northeast pa.

How would the recoil on the 69 compare to that of a 4 or 6 inch 29?

Every time I pick one up it just feels right. I'll get one eventually.

I believe that I red that the cylinder is a bit shorter than the 629. I have a Tarus 44 Tracker, and the cylinder is a bit shorter than I like.

What is the cylinder length, and how long a round will it chamber?

Thanks.

Found this info in my notes:

629 Mtn Gun Cylinder Length: 1.705”
M69 L Frame Cylinder Length: 1.670”

(Note: The M69 cylinder is 1.670+ inches and isn't recessed for cartridge rims -- a 1.718" hand load fits (325gr Beartooth WLNGC), but is right at the face of the cylinder. Lymans No 49 edition shows OAL w their 425421 Keith Bullet is 1.710". A .429 minus plug gauge will enter all throats a .430 plug will not.)

Paul

If they come out with one that has a three inch barrel, fixed sights, and round butt frame, I'll be all over it. A shorter frame, and a .44 Special cylinder to match, would be better yet. It would look like the big brother of an FBI configured Model 13. First thing I'd do, in any case, would be to have the key lock mechanism removed.

Even if they kept the adjustable sights, and configured it like a snub nosed (maybe 2.75" barrel) Model Model 19 (naturally, to include a round butt frame), I'd be all over it.

I got to shoot mine. The double action trigger pull is in excess of 10 lb. (scale only goes to 10) but it is smooth. The single action pull is 6 lb. That does not help accuracy.

I was surprised to find it is a round butt. I had a pair of Hogue square butt rubber grips. They fit but left a gap at the base of the frame. I'll get the round butt set.

The stock grips are not bad but the knuckle on my middle finger gets beat up with light loads. The recoil from magnum loads is snappy but my middle finger does not hit the trigger guard. Figure that one out.

I am also surprised by the way the 69 handles recoil from full magnum loads. The recoil is nowhere near what I was expecting. It is snappy but not painful. I shoot a 29 and an Anaconda and I feel it in the palm. Not with this pistol. I will say a quick second shot will not be as quick as the other two pistols.

I shot it at 15 yards and 50 yards. At 15 with light loads the hole keep getting bigger.....a good thing. The magnum loads were right under the light stuff.

At 50 I was getting most of them on paper. It was hard concentrating on the front sight while rupturing myself pulling the trigger.

I am very happy with it and I expect it will be a shooter when I get the trigger done.

Good. I'd expect it to be a good shooter, too.

I got a S&W 69 about a year and a half ago. I got it mostly to use as a 44 SP but have shot it with full 44mag loads.

It shoots good now, but I thought I had a lemon to begin with. It wouldn't group very well at all. After looking at it I realized the lands of the rifling were sticking out of the end of the barrel. I had the barrel re crowned and it settled right in, shooting like it should. My brother's 69 had the same problem with the barrel crown that mine did. It was really weird looking and sharp enough to cut your finger if you tried to feel the crown.

I really like the S&W 69, but it had me worried to start with.

My model 69 with a set of Pachmeyer Grips , until I can get a set of Herrett Troopers made . Lock delete plug floating around in the mail somewhere .


So far it's good at ventilating coffee cans . Need to find time to run through some loads for accuracy.

Super happy with this configuration.

It looks good.

Very nice.

Forget the fixed sights and buy yourself a 696 it's a 3" adj sight, 44 special, round butt. Very nice gun. These are not inexpensive.

If you are hung up on the fixed sights get a Taurus 431 in either blue or stainless. I've got both, they are 3", 44 specials and for the price exceptional gun.

Smith just introduced a 2.75" model 66 and 69 .

Will that be long enough to have a full ejection of fired brass?

I just measured my 4 1/4" M69

From face of cyl to tip of ejector rod: 2.0"
From face of cyl to end of ejector lug: 2.5"

With a 2.75" barrel, that would leave approx .25" of barrel beyond the end of the ejector lug.

So, depending on how S&W executes the 2.75" barrel, you should get full ejection of the fired brass.

Measurements for the 66-8 (357 Mag), also to be offered with the 2.75" barrel, are the same as the M69.

FWIW,

Paul

That would be good.