[Dom]

Thinking about acquiring a 5 shot S&W 69 44mag," L" frame. Can anyone tell me what is the max loaded length this revolver will accommodate? Pictured are the two bullets I will consider using.. Left, a 280gr, & right a 310gr. Thanks

 

[recoil junky]

Measure your cylinder and that should give your OAL. Try one that's say .125 shorter (before total crimping) than that to see if it will load in the cylinder easily.

These bullets will need a heavy crimp to keep them from moving and preventing cylinder rotation, but you probably already know that.

RJ

 

[TMan]

Can anyone tell me what is the max loaded length this revolver will accommodate?

My M69 is my favorite .44M. It's actually portable without pulling my pants down on a long walk. I don't need a shoulder holster.

The M69 was designed as a full on capable, portable .44 Magnum. And it will handle .44M ammo as well, and as much, as most shooters can tolerate. I need to trim brass close to the minimum OAL, and crimp, tightly, to the forward edge of the crimp groove to make sure the bullet doesn't sneak forward. I use the 1.610" standard spec. and there's 0.128" of room left at the top of the cylinder. In a perfect world, (at least for the length part), my cylinder says 1.735".

My guess is there's what will work with your bullet?? You'll need to get a crimp on board that won't allow the bullet to slip. The bullets I've played with haven't had a crimp groove where I needed it, or I needed to have the crimp over the front driving band, reducing capacity to a "what's the point" length. With the uber long Sierra 300gr bullet, Starline .44 Special brass works perfectly, but it's also capacity challenged.

To the OP, I have a measured 1.735" + a baby bunny hair.

 

[Cheezywan]

You need a grove to crimp into regardless of the firearm.
Top groove for the bullet on the left.
Groove #1 or #2 for bullet on the right.
All above assumes the cartridge OAL fits the cylinder.

 

[Dom]

Was just wondering. Right now I load for my Ruger Redhawk, 7 1/2". Will I have have to seat bullets deeper for the S&W 69? Also looking at a short barreled Ruger 44. Just trying to think this thru before buying.

 

[recoil junky]

Depends on the Ruger but the Redhawk cylinders are 1.75" and Super Blackhawk cylinders are 1.70" where the S&W 69 is only 1.56" long.

Hope this helps.

RJ

 

[TMan]

Right now I load for my Ruger Redhawk, 7 1/2". Will I have have to seat bullets deeper for the S&W 69?

My SBH would clear the face of the cylinder with the Sierra 300gr jacketed bullet, with brass trimmed to minimum length, and the crimp at the top of the cannelure. Make that a tight crimp.
If I didn't crimp with enthusiasm, the bullets would work forward enough to bind against the forcing cone from time to time. The 0.05" extra cylinder length on the RH should help, but with max length brass, and a marginal crimp, my bet is you'll have problems, when you don't need them. The M69? Not a chance.

300gr bullets can work in the M69, if you use Starline .44 SPCL brass.
My experience with the M69 is, if a cast 240gr bullet won't take care of the problem, I needed my 77/44 Carbine.