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It is well known that every firearm has its good and bad sides. Some are more suitable for hunting big games with a brutal blast capacity.
On the other hand, some are more suited to shooting grounds with impeccable accuracy. There is always a trade-off involved.
Therefore, some accuracy might be sacrificed for power, or recoil management sacrificed for size.
These tradeoffs are why different purposes often require different types of guns, with rifles serving different purposes from a revolver.
This piece will discuss the Smith & Wesson Model 69 Combat Magnum, its few downsides, and their solutions.
Problems With S&W Model 69
Like every other gun you can get, the S&W Model 69 .44 Magnum is not without problems. The main complaints from owners of the firearm are not numerous.
There is high recoil when shooting full bore .44s and an uncomfortable grip that leads to sweaty palms after a few shots.
There is also a shoddy ejector even for new M69s and lower than expected accuracy.
In this section, we discuss each problem of the S&W Model in detail and proffer solutions for it.
Recoil Management
It is a considerable complaint and probably the most common problem with S&W Model 69. If you are shooting a .44 special, you will get a seamless experience.
However, with a full bore .44 Magnum, the giant muscle blast and recoil can make for an uncomfortable shooting experience. You WILL flinch.
Heck, an amateur shooter might be unable to stay on their feet after firing a .44 from this gun.
For this reason, it would be best to always stick to lighter rounds if you can’t use proper recoil techniques.
Solution
The best solution to any issue of gun recoil is to learn effective recoil control techniques.
If you want to shoot stopper .44 bullets from your M69, you will have to learn some of these techniques. Some of them are:
- Learning a proper stance: A fundamental part of shooting, a proper shooting stance will help you keep your position. It works as well for the M69 as for any other type of firearm.
- Getting the correct grip: Outside keeping your stand, another vital part of recoil control is returning the gun to its starting position after shooting. The correct grip will help with this, and you can achieve it with a few shooting lessons.
- Using a muzzle brake (recoil compensators): muzzle brakes are more often used for cannons and rifles with considerable recoil. However, you can get a smaller one made for handguns for use on your M69.
Alternatively, you could decide only to shoot lighter rounds of .44 special to manage the recoil.
However, this is not a great thing because the gun is advertised as a .44 revolver. Thus, shooting a .44 would be underusing the M69.
If you want to use it to its full potential, you must follow the techniques mentioned above.
Grip
The gun handle is made of hard plastic with a softer rubber material. It makes for one of the common complaints about the S&W Model 69.
The handle can make shooting uncomfortable. After a few shots, you will probably start getting sweaty palms, especially in hot weather.
You will probably have to splash the cash on a new handle if you want to shoot it consistently.
Solution
You can quickly get a replacement handle that will be more comfortable than the original.
These replacement handles often cost around $20, a price well worth the comfort you’ll get from using them.
If you want to get one, ensure that it is soft enough to give comfort.
Accuracy
Unless you are skilled, you are bound to run into accuracy problems when shooting .44 Magnum on the model 69. It is well designed, no doubt.
Still, the size of the revolver and the high recoil is enough to affect the destination of the bullet.
A high recoil prevents the revolver from going back to its starting position. This phenomenon faults the shooting process and causes inaccuracies.
Solution
Fixing the grip and recoil using the techniques mentioned previously should be enough to give you impeccable shooting accuracy.
Even shooting a .44 magnum won’t be an issue when all these are solved.
Faulty Ejector
It is pretty standard for new S&W M69s to have ejectors with damaged parts. It is doubtful that this will affect the performance of the firearm.
However, it is a disappointing thing nonetheless. Some might say it is a trivial problem, but it isn’t very reassuring for a brand like Smith and Wesson.
It is one thing for a problem like a recoil to exist because of the laws of physics. But a faulty Ejector in a new revolver is but a sign of poor quality control.
Solution
There is not much you can do about this if you find yourself getting an ejector that has slights.
As it doesn’t affect performance, the best course is to contact Smith & Wesson customer support and request a replacement.
How Massive Are The Problems Of The S&W Model 69?
All being said, the model 69 is good enough as a concealed carry. The .44 magnum magazine will stop almost any threat dead in its tracks.
The 4.25″ and 2.75″ barrels are small and light enough to carry around for extended periods. They also pack enough punch to do severe damage to any target.
However, we can not ignore the issues of the S&W Model 69 raised in the preceding sections.
While not severe enough to make the revolver borderline useless, they are still significant enough to raise concerns.
The final decision? If you plan on keeping the Model 69 on you for self-defense against two-legged animals, fine.
It is powerful enough to stop anybody. With it, you are unlikely to face a situation where a threat looms, but your bullets can’t stop it.
If you plan on taking it with you as protection against wild animals, again, you are fine.
Even a grizzly bear will probably be seriously wounded or scared away if hit with the M69. The revolver is also light enough to make drawing it very easy.
However, anything outside those uses will be unsuited to the S&W Model 69.
Conclusion
Whether or not to get the S&W Model 69 .44 Magnum depends on a lot of contexts.
It is perfect as a trail gun for hiking, hunting, backpacking, going to the woods, or fishing.
It is a good firearm for self-defense, extra ammo for hunting small games, and even a police handgun. However, there are some common problems with the M69.
They include an uncomfortable grip, high recoil, and low accuracy that could come up from it.
While some of these are unlikely to come up if you stick to the .44 special, it isn’t pleasant. But still, it’s a good gun for its purpose.
