|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
November 21, 2020, 09:24 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 28, 2006
Location: South Central Michigan...near
Posts: 6,501
|
A not ideal for anything gun
I have a S&W 696 (.44 Special), three-inch barrel that is apparently not ideal for anything. It is too heavy for comfortable concealed carry (unless you want it to pull your pants down) and being an L frame instead of an N frame, it only holds five rounds. The three-inch barrel is too short for hunting (at least 4 inch for hunting, 6 inch being better).
That begs the question: Just why did I buy it then? I bought it because it is a drop-dead gorgeous fun to have, shoot and own gun. Not all guns need to have any purpose other than to be a fun gun. |
November 21, 2020, 09:29 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 28, 2006
Location: South Central Michigan...near
Posts: 6,501
|
It has never seen a factory round...just my cast bullet handloads.
Big, heavy RCBS Keith-Type semi-wadcutters, powder coated in Red. Each weighing about 250 grains. |
November 21, 2020, 11:25 PM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: November 30, 2012
Posts: 66
|
Beautiful furniture.
|
November 21, 2020, 11:48 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 5, 2010
Location: McMurdo Sound Texas
Posts: 4,322
|
Very good looking gun.
Nothing says it has to be 2020 King of 2 Miles or anything else. Really nice gun.
__________________
Cave illos in guns et backhoes |
November 21, 2020, 11:50 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 21, 2007
Location: Illinois - down state
Posts: 2,404
|
Absolutely!!!
Almost all of the guns I own are for the fun of shooting them. If I only kept my hunting and carry guns I'd have to lose 2/3rds of what I own.
It's a hobby much like any thing else that is a hobby. And, if you ever go fishing or hiking in the north country . . . you have the perfect gun to bring along. Life is good. Prof Young |
November 22, 2020, 12:02 AM | #6 |
Staff
Join Date: February 12, 2001
Location: DFW Area
Posts: 24,989
|
I have a Beretta 92G Elite II that has been customized. It's not really suitable for self-defense since the trigger mod that is designed to optimize the SA pull renders the DA pull unreliable. At the same time, it's not quite a competition gun either.
It's just the way I wanted it to be even if it's not really that useful. It is a lot of fun at the range. I've posted pictures of it many times here.
__________________
Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?
|
November 22, 2020, 12:03 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 29, 2011
Posts: 751
|
44 Special is just fine!
|
November 22, 2020, 09:36 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,566
|
So, you are wrong-----It is Ideal to have fun with.............I got a bunch like that. Enjoy it..
|
November 22, 2020, 04:35 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 12, 2008
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,598
|
That .44 would make a fine nightstand gun.
__________________
Say when..... |
November 22, 2020, 06:48 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 22, 2009
Location: North Texas
Posts: 163
|
If it makes you smile, then it's ideal for that purpose and needs no other justification.
|
November 22, 2020, 06:53 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
|
Nice gun, dahermit. Now, if it only was blued and had a hammer spur.....
Don
__________________
NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor |
November 22, 2020, 07:12 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 1, 2001
Posts: 10,223
|
I have a Lipseys 696 as well. Nice gun, just wish they hadnt Mag Na Ported it.
A cylinder or two of LSWC's and you cant see the front sight. Shoots well when you can see it though. Figured out plated or jacketed bullets are the better choice, and it takes a lot longer for the front sight to foul. |
November 22, 2020, 07:46 PM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 12, 2005
Location: North central Ohio
Posts: 7,486
|
Quote:
Though, sadly, he passed several years ago, my guess is if he still owned it, the Model 696 would be worth considerably more to collectors than the Model 686 does, everything else being equal. Though I believe that both revolvers are equally nice looking (aside from the size of the holes, they pretty much look the same), I also think that the 686 is arguably (and, no, I don't want to argue about it) a better choice for self-defense; for the same size and weight it offers two more shots with a cartridge that takes a back seat to no-one when it comes to "stopping" power. As much as I'd like to have the Model 696 back to keep my Model 686 company, I'd gladly give them both away and every gun I own to have my friend back.
__________________
ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member |
|
November 24, 2020, 12:13 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 28, 2006
Location: South Central Michigan...near
Posts: 6,501
|
Those grips are a pretty as they are impractical. Nice to look at, but way too slippery to be of use it it were a carry gun (but plenty good enough to be a fun gun).
If I were to carry that gun as my cealed carry gun, I would most certainly replace those slipper grips with with rubber Hogue. https://www.hogueinc.com/grips/grips...ip-black-black |
November 24, 2020, 01:18 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 12,453
|
"...why did I buy it..." Big kids don't have to justify buying anything. "I want it." is a reason.
"...4 inch for hunting..." That your rule or some daft unelected civil servants? Difference in velocity between a 3 and 4 inch with a 200 grain bullet is less than 100 FPS. No game would notice. Mind you, an "N" frame is a big fellow. http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/44special.html
__________________
Spelling and grammar count! |
November 24, 2020, 01:42 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 22, 2010
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,293
|
The most important purpose is to cause your friends at the range, hiking in the woods or hunting great envy. It should be carried in an attractive holster in a sturdy gun belt outside your pants so that gorgeous grip is displayed. Replacing those grips with black rubber would be like camo dipping a fine English over and under shotgun- heresy.
.44 Special is a cartridge for the connoisseur. Those who understand understand, those that don’t haven’t experienced big bore yet. It roars, not barks.
__________________
My book "The Pheasant Hunter's Action Adventure Cookbook" is now on Amazon. Tall tales, hunting tips, butchering from bird to the freezer, and recipes. |
November 24, 2020, 02:19 PM | #17 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 28, 2006
Location: South Central Michigan...near
Posts: 6,501
|
Quote:
So, I know what you are talking about when you say that ".44 Special is a cartridge for the connoisseur.". |
|
November 24, 2020, 02:22 PM | #18 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 28, 2006
Location: South Central Michigan...near
Posts: 6,501
|
Quote:
Last edited by dahermit; November 24, 2020 at 02:31 PM. |
|
November 24, 2020, 08:28 PM | #19 |
Junior Member
Join Date: November 22, 2020
Location: Canton Michigan
Posts: 4
|
I think it’s a gorgeous piece... short walks, better yet a chest holster for hiking... things come through our life that may not have any apparent value... yet, if it brings a smile to you, it’s justified. Show it some love, take it for a walk... life is too short to carry ugly firearms! ������������
|
November 24, 2020, 08:55 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 12, 2005
Location: North central Ohio
Posts: 7,486
|
Welcome to The Firing Line, Olive. Where is Canton located?
__________________
ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member |
November 25, 2020, 12:08 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 16, 2000
Location: Mesa, Arizona
Posts: 1,456
|
dahermit,
Did you bob (DAO) that hammer? Who ever did intended to carry that gun, probably concealed. Also they understood a defensive DA revolver should be thought of and utilized DAO. Dave
__________________
RSVN '69-'71 PCSD Ret |
November 25, 2020, 06:23 PM | #22 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 28, 2006
Location: South Central Michigan...near
Posts: 6,501
|
Quote:
It has been my observation that there are many people who own double-action Smiths who never shoot them enough (practice) in double-action to achieve any meaningful skill in their use...try it a few times then give up on it. Of the three deer I have taken with revolvers, one killed with a S&W M58 (double action), one killed with a 6" inch S&W M657 (double-action) and one with a Ruger 5" .45 Colt Blackhawk (single action of course). As for defensive shooting with a double-action revolver, I too believe that single-action has very little utility in a defensive situation...and being as practiced as I am (96 rounds double action every day, seven days a week until the primers ran out last Spring) with double-action, I do not see that need for single action...even in the unlikely scenarios some fantasize about, that they think would require a single action shot. |
|
November 26, 2020, 12:45 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 22, 2007
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,299
|
That is a perfect kit gun for dangerous game territory, compact enough to be plopped into a fishing tackle box without getting in the way. So it IS perfect for something, even while it's perfect to just make you smile.
|
November 26, 2020, 03:38 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 28, 2006
Location: South Central Michigan...near
Posts: 6,501
|
While it does make me smile, a .44 magnum, not .44 Special, with six shots, not five, would be a "more perfect" gun in dangerous game territory given that the only two "dangerous game" I know of are Brown Bears and Mountain Lions. While .44 Special is likely o.k. for Mountain Lions, six shots would be better.
|
November 27, 2020, 12:48 PM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 12, 2006
Location: NKY
Posts: 12,463
|
Get yourself a dedicated gun belt and you can solve at least one of your "problems" with that gun.
Otherwise, it's a beautiful gun. Everyone needs a .44 mag. They are a hell of a lot of fun to shoot, at least for a bit.
__________________
"He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson |
|
|