I broke! S&W 396 Night Guard - .44 Spl

[Zee]

Glad you got one and had the opportunity to ring it out a bit. Wanted one myself since the 696 was introduced. The 396 is my next up when funds allow.

I shot a buddies .44 Mag Scandium (don’t remember the model number). That was not a fun experience.

Have not had the pleasure of the 329. Have shot a Scandium 357, it wasn’t a lot of fun. My scandium 325 45 ACP on the other hand is quite pleasant.

Cool! I haven’t shot those two.

[Bigslug]

Have not had the pleasure of the 329. Have shot a Scandium 357, it wasn’t a lot of fun. My scandium 325 45 ACP on the other hand is quite pleasant.

The Scandium magnums are simply not fun. The .357's cease to be entertaining once you put +P .38's in them; the .44's - yee-owch!

One of my work/hunting buddies brought in his 329 to go over for. . .something. I forget exactly what it was that S&W added, but they did drop in an extra part or two for the purpose of keeping all their internals properly in place during the crazy-sharp recoil impulse.

They are definitely guns that will benefit from the early black powder cartridge concept - big-ass solid bullets, pooted out at 600-750 fps.

[JunkCollector]

Very nice gun.
Like your choice on grips too.

Lots of powders you can use/try unique and 231 are others.
For a max performance guy like you 2400 may be "it"

Looking at the front sight was wondering if a U notch rear sight would have worked ?

[Zee]

Very nice gun.
Like your choice on grips too.

Lots of powders you can use/try unique and 231 are others.
For a max performance guy like you 2400 may be "it"

Looking at the front sight was wondering if a U notch rear sight would have worked ?

I have Unique and I think I’ve used it before. I’m also using Trail Boss.
And yes, a U Notch Rear would be nice.

[Bigslug]

Lyman manual showing a lot of promise for Unique. Numerous "potentially most accurate powder" highlights within that practical 650-850 fps range. Seems like ample justification to dive in with it.

FWIW, charge range for a 255 grain slug is 5.7gr/635fps/10,200 CUP to 6.6/747/13,600. Based on my dinking with the .455 Webley, that should get you around two feet of gel penetration on the low end. No need to hot rod them for usefulness, unless you just like the abuse.

[Zee]

Lyman manual showing a lot of promise for Unique. Numerous "potentially most accurate powder" highlights within that practical 650-850 fps range. Seems like ample justification to dive in with it.

FWIW, charge range for a 255 grain slug is 5.7gr/635fps/10,200 CUP to 6.6/747/13,600. Based on my dinking with the .455 Webley, that should get you around two feet of gel penetration on the low end. No need to hot rod them for usefulness, unless you just like the abuse.

I wouldn’t need to hot rod the cast bullets.
Only one I’d probably try to bump to 1k would be the 200gr GD bullets.

[Diver43]

Very nice pick up.

[Elk Creek]

The old skeeter Skelton load was 7.5 grains of unique with a 240 gr Keith bullet. I load 7 grains with a 240 swc and call it a day in my 3” GP100. Does everything I need a handgun to do

[Zee]

The old skeeter Skelton load was 7.5 grains of unique with a 240 gr Keith bullet. I load 7 grains with a 240 swc and call it a day in my 3” GP100. Does everything I need a handgun to do

What velocity are you getting?

[rberg]

I don't remember the powder or load (need to find my book) but for my 4" Tauris 44sp my load was with the 250 grain cast swc bullet, pact coronagraph showed 1050 fps. Shoots to 2 1/2" at 25 yards.

[Zee]

I don't remember the powder or load (need to find my book) but for my 4" Tauris 44sp my load was with the 250 grain cast swc bullet, pact coronagraph showed 1050 fps. Shoots to 2 1/2" at 25 yards.

That velocity shows promise! Powder?

[rberg]

I will check in my shop, should have it out there.

[Elk Creek]

The old skeeter Skelton load was 7.5 grains of unique with a 240 gr Keith bullet. I load 7 grains with a 240 swc and call it a day in my 3” GP100. Does everything I need a handgun to do

What velocity are you getting?

That video I sent you…. I’ve never actually ran it across a chrono.