SMITH & WESSON’S NEW WHEELGUNS

[Graybeard]

https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/2017_revolvers_smith_and_wesson/

BY RICHARD JOHNSON     FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Smith & Wesson’s name is legendary in the history of the revolver. From the development of the .357 Magnum to Dirty Harry’s Model 29, the fingerprints of this company are all over the wheelgun world.
 
While some would like to claim the revolver dead, nothing could be further from the truth. While at the recent SHOT Show, I saw dozens of new revolvers on display. Some were brand new designs while others were variations of a current offering.
 
Of all the companies, Smith & Wesson appeared to have the largest number of new guns on display. Here is a look at a few of these new guns.
 

Smith Wesson Mod 69
 
S&W introduced a pair of Combat Magnums with short barrels for concealed carry. One is a Model 66 in .357 Magnum. This K-frame revolver holds six shots and has a 2.75″ barrel. The other gun is the Model 69. The Model 69 is chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge. For the 69, S&W stepped up to the L-frame and reduced capacity to 5 rounds.
 
Both guns have synthetic grips and a pinned front ramp sight with a red insert. Both guns also have a full underlug to protect the ejector rod.
 
Performance Center Revolvers
 
The Smith & Wesson Performance Center (PC) is one of the best in-house gunsmithing teams you can find anywhere. In addition to doing custom work, the PC crew also develops new models for limited sales.
 

Smith & Wesson Model 642 Enhanced
 
One of the new PC guns is the Model 42 Enhanced Action. The PC starts with a stock Model 642 and enhances the action for a smoother trigger pull. These guns are also fitted with custom wood grips that are thin for concealment, but slightly longer than the stock boot grips. This allows you to get more hand on the gun to control recoil.
 

Smith & Wesson 460
 
Another new PC gun is the Performance Center Model 460XVR Hi Viz model. This X-frame gun is chambered for the smoking hot .460 S&W Magnum cartridge. The 7.5″ barrel is fitted with a special muzzle brake, and the top of the gun has a length of rail for adding a scope. The standard cylinder has been replaced with a polished, unfluted one. The PC crew tuned the action for a slick double-action pull and a crisp single action break. As the name suggests, the gun comes with a front fiber optic sight from Hi Viz.

Richard Johnson

Richard is a writer with a background in law enforcement and sports photography. In addition to his work in the firearms industry, he writes in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. More of his work can be found at GunsHolstersAndGear

[DDZ]

I really like the looks of the Model 69, and one in a .44 mag would be nice to have. Might not be that fun to shoot, but since I have an SP 101 in 357, that mod. 69 would be cool to have in a .44,   Handgun recoil never bothered me much anyway.  I friend of mine bought a freedom Arms .454 and never shot it because he couldn't stand the recoil. I shot a cylinder full out of it and didn't think it was all that bad to shoot. I offered to buy it from him, but he wouldn't sell.  So from that day i don't think he has shot it, and that was maybe 25 to 30 years ago.   

[Graybeard]

I have a M69 with 4.25" barrel I got when S&W first started making them. It weighs 37 ounces and is way more than I can handle these days using .44 magnum ammo. I only shoot .44 specials in mine and really that is what I bought it to use in it. I did try the magnums tho.

I used to have no difficulty shooting 200-300 rounds a day of .454 Casull and .480 Ruger in my FA83 and my pair of Taurus Raging Bulls.

I thought nothing of shooting huge volumes of .357 Magnum in my S&W M60 3" either. Those days are over.

Arthritis has taken over my hands and that surgery on the left hand back in mid December of 2020 sure ruined it. I have almost no strength in it and when shooting handguns might as well shoot one handed as to try to use the left as a support hand.

[DDZ]

I see the Mod. 69 in 44 with the 2.75 inch barrel has a listed weight of 34.4 oz.  Just wishful thinking, but I'm pretty sure shooting .44 mag rounds out of that wouldn't be much fun.

Always wanted a Freedom Arms handgun in  .454, but I guess they were always a little more than I wanted to spend.  I offered to buy my buddies FA a few times but he never wanted to sell it.  Could never figure him out. He was a guy that had money, and would buy all kinds of guns, but never shoot them. I'm sure he has a good many that he has never shot.

So which gun has more felt recoil? Your .454, or the .480? I have never fired a .480

To bad about the arthritis in your hands. Age does bring on limited abilities. Many times our minds think we can still do things we used to, but our bodies tell us different.  I don't know if one of those hand grippers could maybe help get some of your hand strength back. They make them in different spring tensions. 

[Graybeard]

So which gun has more felt recoil? Your .454, or the .480?

All I can fairly compare is the two in the two identical Taurus Raging Bulls I had. Both had 8-3/8" barrels. I honestly couldn't tell the difference in recoil between them. Mostly I shot 325 grain bullets at 1550 fps in the .454 and 420 grain bullets at about 1050-1100 fps in the .480. To me recoil seemed the same.

In the FA83 I also shot some stuff Buffalo Bore and Cor-Bon sent me and WOW those 360 grain .454 loads were unreal. With a scope I was OK but when I shot them with the scope off the hammer came back and brought blood from my shooting hand.

In the Raging Bull I was able to shoot them with no real pain and for sure no blood loss.

Personally I rate them about equal in recoil.

Can't recall who but one day someone was out here with a Ruger Super RH and it was in .44 magnum. I shot full magnum loads from it and honestly the recoil was fully the equal of the two Raging Bulls in .454 and .480.

In the last few years I've missed those and wished I had kept them. Now I can't shoot a +P .38 in my light weight S&W guns or full magnums in my S&W M66. So now I don't really miss them so much.

[BUGEYE]

My oldest brother (rip) after 24 years in the Navy, retired and went to work at Menard prison in Illinois, where he shot on the prison pistol team.
He had a matched pair of S&W 38 special revolvers that he had sent back for trigger work etc.
Maybe someone here can guess at the model, they were dedicated 38 special, had what looked like 6" barrels, and did not have a full under lug.  They were like fine Swiss watches.
Does anyone know the model so I can read up on them??

Off topic BTW.

[billy_56081]

My oldest brother (rip) after 24 years in the Navy, retired and went to work at Menard prison in Illinois, where he shot on the prison pistol team.
He had a matched pair of S&W 38 special revolvers that he had sent back for trigger work etc.
Maybe someone here can guess at the model, they were dedicated 38 special, had what looked like 6" barrels, and did not have a full under lug.  They were like fine Swiss watches.
Does anyone know the model so I can read up on them??

Off topic BTW.

Model K38 maybe.

[Graybeard]

If adjustable rear sight most likely Model 14 especially if barrels were 6".

[DDZ]

Could they be the old Military & police 38'S. My dad used to have one.

GB, you mentioned shooting a super red-hawk in .44. I have one that has a 9.5 inch barrel and have loaded max loads of W/296 with 300 gr. XTP's  and it wasn't all that bad to shoot. Of course a Super RH with a 9.5 inch barrel has lots of steel to absorb the recoil. 

[BUGEYE]

If adjustable rear sight most likely Model 14 especially if barrels were 6".

Both you and Billy are correct.  Wiki said K38 masterpiece model 14.
The picture shown looks exactly like his revolvers.
Thanks to both of you.  I'm gonna read up on that S&W.

[Graybeard]

GB, you mentioned shooting a super red-hawk in .44. I have one that has a 9.5 inch barrel and have loaded max loads of W/296 with 300 gr. XTP's  and it wasn't all that bad to shoot. Of course a Super RH with a 9.5 inch barrel has lots of steel to absorb the recoil.

Yes the SRH I shot that day was the 9.5" barrel one. I don't recall the load we were shooting but it was a full max velocity magnum load. To me the Raging Bull guns in both .454 and .480 had similar recoil to the SRH in .44 magnum.