Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 2.75" S&W M69 (5 shot L Frame .44 Mag) - First Impressions

Been puzzling over this for a while. For me, short barreled magnum level handguns seem to recoil less than their longer barreled counter parts. Specifically, S&W M69 (5 shot L Frame) 2.75” .44 mag and a 2 ½” Ruger Alaskan in .480. Also noticed it, but to a lesser extent with a Freedom Arms M97 3 ½” .45 Colt shooting 300+ gr bullets and H110.

My theory is lower velocity and less gun momentum (longer barrel, heavier gun generates more momentum). Don’t really have a clue, just thinking? out loud.

Was reminded of this when I got a new S&W M69 2.75” .44 mag a couple of days ago. I have been amazed and pleasantly surprised at how easy shooting (from a recoil perspective) this little revolver is with Magnum level ammo. I’ve since shot a 133 rnds thru the gun over the last three days (Mostly magnum level ammo).

Some excerpts from my original posts on other sites regarding the new 2.75” M69:

Fit and function looked fine.

Cylinder throats approx .4295. Measured with pin/plug gauges (minus verity) -- .429 go, .430 no go in all five throats. Couldn’t find my feeler gages, so didn’t’ measure bbl/cyl gap. Weighs 35 oz unloaded and 39.6 oz loaded w/260gr WFNGCs – both with Hogue 500 X Frame grisp.

Took it to the range for limited workout (time constrained).

Ended up putting the X Frame 500 Hogues on the gun. After that all was good. Holsters for my 396 fit the M69 2.75" perfectly.

All groups shot at 25 yds rested. The lead loads were just some ammo I had around for testing other guns -- I'm sure that a load could be (will be) developed for this particular gun.

The .44 special equivalent loads were easy shooting. The .44 mag equivalent (H110) loads were not at all unpleasant (in fact quite comfortable) with the Hogue 500s.



Misc lead loads:


Mag loads w/H110 - I'm very happy with the two groups with H110 considering old eyes, iron sights and short sight radius.



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 a 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

The more I shoot this little gun, the more I like it.

Paul

I could be happy with that one for sure.

nice shooting, nice gun

Looks good. Does the ejector allow for full ejection of a loaded round in this barrel length?

You turbo suck!!! My LGS hasn't been able to get me one yet

I may have to give in and buy one of the ones already posted on Gunbroker.

By the way, my 4.25" Version is extremely accurate and fun to shoot.

I lucked out today!!! My LGS finally got me one! Can't wait to try it out!

Damn nice and versatile little packing revolver- and an excellent write-up. Thank you.

It's there a 45 Colt version?

Full length ejector rod, same a 4 1/4" version.

No .45 Colt version.

CHL -- interested in your impressions.

Really like this gun. Easy and fun to shoot (still can believe how well it handles recoil). I've had it out 4 or 5 times over the last week and always leave wishing I'd brought more ammo.

Paul

How did the 325 gr loads shoot?

Not great at 25 yds (could be me however). Also, POI about 5" - 6" higher at 25yds vs 260gr w/23.0gr H110.



Here's a group shot at 50 yds the other day -- same load that shot best at 25 yds (pic in orig post).



I'm really enjoying this little revolver. With loads it likes, it shoots amazingly well for me.

Paul

Nice gun!!!

Thanks for the 325 gr load results. I'm not surprised they shoot higher... that is an amazing amount of penetration through any kind of angry animal that walks this Earth in a very small package! I'm guessing that the recoil was several notches up from the "lighter" loads though?

Have you looked at the Ruger GP 100 3" 44 special? Nice gun and good trigger. If I'm using it for PD I like using a gun and a load that
is going to give me an edge, recovering from recoil to give me a faster 2nd and 3rd shot.
I've got Ruger Alaskans in 44 mag, 454 Casull, and 480, and while none of them are bad
to shoot using special loads in the 44 and the 454 (45 Colt, even hot loads) gives me an edge.
Nothing wrong with the Smith either, just saying.

Does the model 69 come drilled and tapped for scope mount bases? I'm wondering if there is a simple way to mount a miniaturized red dot sight on it?

My 61-year-old eyes don't see front sites very well anymore, but I'm thinking a miniature red dot sight on something that size and power would be a lot of fun! Maybe a Crimson Trace Laser grip too... (I really really hate not seeing a front site very well anymore...).

They are not drilled and tapped. You'd be better off to get a set of the Crimson Trace Laser grips if you can't see the sights clearly anymore. The red lasers ain't worth a damn in bright sunlight, though. The green lasers are more expensive, but worth it IMO.
I'll be ordering a set for my new Model 69 snubby .44 in a few days! Just got my yearly birthday coupon from Midway, yesterday. Haven't had time to shoot mine yet, but I'll post a target when I do.

Marlin, my LGS just got in one of the new GP 100's in .44 spec a few days ago. I really like it and it will be my next handgun purchase. A friend just sold me a NIB Benelli Light Weight 20 ga auto loader fir a price that was WAY to cheap to pass up, so once again, I'll have to let my mad money funds get rejuvenated before I can pick up one also. .44 specials are one of my many addictions

Only one notch. Pretty manageable actually.

Paul

Yes most new (all) S&W revolvers are drilled and tapped for scope mounts. Just remove the rear sight their are three holes in the rear sight mortiss.

Here's are pretty trim little mount for Red Dots

https://www.allchingunparts.com/col...ts/smith-wesson-mini-sts-scope-mount-new

Here's a picture of the Alchin mounted on my 629 Classic DX



Both Weaver and Weigand make bases that fits the S&Ws. I've only tried the Weaver -- It will mar the top strap a bit with use.

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearchQuery=Weaver+s%26W+mount+base&userItemsPerPage=48

Here's a pic of the Weaver with a 4x Leupold on my 4 1/4" M69. I was using it to test loads:



Paul

Well, I've wanted a model 69 from the first time I saw one, and this thread put me over the edge. I ordered one on the way home from work today, although I'm getting one with the 4.25" barrel. Not sure I should take advice from someone that says shooting a snub-nosed .480 Ruger isn't so bad!