Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W 69 2.75”

Anybody tried one of these out yet? I’m considering one as a sidearm for hunting in areas with large predators and I’ll probably carry it here too if I come across any opportunities on pigs. I own a couple Smith’s and think they’re great. I thought this would be a cool backup in bear country to my rifle, or for packing out animals after I have filled my tag, and during scouting trips. I’m ready to buy one but I’m interested to hear your experiences. Also, finding one right now is easier said than done, I have found.

Would probably hand load mag loads down a bit unless I was in grizz country. I would also be interested in everyone’s thoughts on that too.

I’d get the 4.25” for the sight radius. Weight difference is nil and field carry will be about the same. Either way you choose I like the L frame 44

I've owned two but both were the longer barrel length. They're a nice little gun. I preferred my Mountain Gun to them or I'd still have one. Nothing wrong with them though. I sold my last one to a cop in Wichita and he was tickled to get it.

Hmmmmm. Longer barrel eh?
This pistol might do double duty at a carry weapon though. Not sure why, just cause. Looks like a sexy little revolver either way.

A Buddy has the 2.75” version.
240xtp’s or 429421’s over 8-9 grains of Unique or Universal.
I’ve put 50 rounds through it and to 35 yards on gongs of varying size, I don’t think I’ve missed with it.
There’s was a really good thread on here about them a while back. Someone here had done quite a bit of work with them, up to and including 300grn LBT’s and H110. A bit of a search should turn it up.

I prefer the 4” version.

The weight difference is negligible. But the 4” bbl “points” much better.

If I want a snubnose .44, I carry the Charter Arms Bulldog loaded with a 250 gr LBT WFN Hard Cast bullet loaded with 9 grains of Unique. Not exactly a 44 Magnum, but it’s a hog killing SOB.

Paul105 is the guy I would ask about this.

Here is a thread with some useful information:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...3934177/model-69-2-75-inch-combat-magnum


Paul has done a lot of work with that gun and the 329s.

Hope that helps.
MS

I have both barrel lengths, like and use both a lot. Bought the first 4 1/4" when they came out in first qtr of 2014. Added the 2 3/4" in 2017. I have duplicates of both barrel lengths and have shot both a bunch. They can be loaded to the performance level you desire as long as withing SAAMI specs. My guns are equipped with the Hogue X Frame 500 S&W Tamers both stock and modified to eliminate finger groves and rounded butt. For me, perceived recoil is less with the 2 3/4" (vs 4 1/4") - less velocity. Also, I find the M69 (4 1/4") has less muzzle flip than the 4" Mountain Gun (lower bore axis of M69 and pencil bbl of Mtn Gun). Of course, as they say, your mileage may vary.

For light loads, I've shot a lot of std commercial 240gr SWCBB (both trad lubed and coated) deep seated (crimped over front drive band) in .44 mag cases over both 6.5gr of HP38/W231 and 5.0gr of WST. The HP38 load runs 875fps from the 4 1/4" gun -- haven't chronoed it in the 2 3/4". Never chronoed the WST load.

The L Frame just works for me and the 2 3/4" gun is, for me, what a carry gun should look like LOL. I just drop the 2 3/4" in the hip pocket of my Carharts for short trips afield (which is all I do any more).

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. All in new Starline cases and CCI 350 primers.

225gr Barnes XFB with 18.1 gr A#9 avg (1,214 fps (muzzle vel from Labradar)
240gr Cutting Edge Flat Point Mono – 22.6 H110 1,218 fps (1,247 fr 2.5” 329 Alaska Backpacker) Muzzle vel from Labradar
240gr Zero JSP with 24.0gr H110 avg 1,126 fps
240gr JHP Fed Factory avg 1,125 fps (bought at an estate sale “44a 1981 production” – 1,375 fps from 7 ½” RSBH)
260gr WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,125 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (Deep Seat – crimped over front drive band) 1,119 fps avg
265gr SWCGC (429244) 23.5gr H110, seated and crimped in crimp grove in Mag cases ---------- 1,162 fps

310gr FNGCDC (Lee) with 20.0gr H110 avg 1,100 fps
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,104 fps


I Was curious, so I bought some 305gr Buffalo Bore and Underwood ammo – here are chrono results.

Buffalo Bore, 305 LBT LFN HC rated 1,325 fps
Underwood, 305 LFNGC Plated (HiTech?) rated 1,325 fps
LabRadar muzzle velocity at 33 deg F


S&W M69 2.75" ===> BB 1,195 fps ===> Under 1,147fps
S&W M69 4.25" ===> BB 1,276 fps ===> Under 1,248 fps
Ruger SRH 7.5" ===> BB 1,395 fps ===> Under 1,315 fps



Chrono Comparison - Same Loads in 2 3/4" and 4 1/4" guns.

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 my 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
21.1gr A2400, 250gr Keith 429421, std primer 1,250 fps from 4 1/4” M69

NOTE: The 240gr Fed Factory load chromed 1,375 from a 7 ½” Ruger Bisley Hunter


I cobbled this together from several older posts and was interrupted several times, so that's my excuse if this is a bit disjointed.

Found a picture of the modified Hogue Tamers

I have both. I carry the one with the 4.25” barrel in a shoulder holster but the snubbie’s easy to carry on my hip. The recoil with it isn’t bad although I usually don’t shoot full loads from it. I really like them both.

Here’s a link to a thread I started after I got mine. It has some chronograph data I took.

Model 69s

Thanks, gents.

Paul, those grips look good! Given your extensive experience with both barrel lengths, which one would you choose if you could have only one?

Paul

I have a 69 with the Hogue grips. How did you take down the finger groves, by hand, belt sander ?

As I get older, I don't get out for more than a couple of hours anymore and then just drop the 2 3/4" in the back pocket of my Carharts. After hip surgery, I rarely wear a belt holster so the 2 3/4" get the nod. At the range, the 4 1/4" is a bit easier to hit with, in fact was out shooting it yesterday.

Personal preference, experience and intended use should be given consideration when choosing bbl length. The 2 3/4" is going to be a bit harder to shoot until you get some trigger time with it. I happen to like the shorter barrels and shoot a couple of days a week.

FWIW,

Paul

I've done it a couple of different ways. A small knife sharpening belt sander, Dremel sanding drum, and a sanding block. Pretty messy with the belt sander, not quite as bad with the dremel. Go slow, and you can avoid getting into the plastic shell backing -- I'm impatient and it didn't matter to me and you can see the result.

Paul

Thanks Paul. I'll start with the Dremel.

I like 4” barrels on my Smith & Wesson’s, but I have a couple 6” S&W’s too.
I have one 2 1/2” Model 19. It’s like new. I just have little use for the short barrel.

My 2.5" Model 19 has a great trigger and is easy to shoot well at combat distances. It was the 3rd handgun I bought, in about 1985. It joined a 6" 586 and a Franken Colt. An Officer frame with a Commander barrel and slide.

Great post, Paul. I like the Jordan Trooperized Tamers, too.

Yeah. I bought one of the 2-3/4" barreled guns in hopes of replacing a S&W 329 PD that ... hurts to shoot. After shooting them side by side, I couldn't feel any difference. I considered 5 rounds vs 6, and 36 ounces vs 25-ish ounces, and decided to keep the 329 PD and sold the 69 that was supposed to replace it.

The 2-3/4" version has been tried/tested, found lacking, and sent on down the road. If you were looking for mostly a .44 special you could shoot an occasional magnum load in, might be ok, but that was not my intent .. if I'd wanted a 5 shot .44 special I'd have gone with the GP100.

Tom

Wow. I found my 4" M69 to be very comfortable to shoot. I don't normally shoot 300 grain and over bullets over huge gobs of W296 though so...It was comfortable to shoot with 240 grain standard magnums and very comfortable with 250 grain Cowboy type loads.