Smith & Wesson 296 .44 Special
Model: 170248
Smith & Wesson 296 .44 Special
Model: 170248
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Smith & Wesson 296 is a DAO .44 Special built for deep concealment. It is no longer made, so it is a used buy. Its barrel is a stainless steel insert inside an alloy shroud, which is how S&W cut weight from a .44 caliber revolver while keeping a steel bore.
The frame is aluminum alloy and the trigger is a smooth combat DAO, so every shot is the same long pull with no hammer to cock. A frame-mounted firing pin block is the safety. The grip is an Uncle Mike's boot grip, cut short for hiding. Nothing on it is cut for an optic, and S&W no longer carries the model, so sights, springs and cylinder parts come off the used market.
If you're cross-shopping, the Charter Arms Bulldog Boomer 2" is the current-production alternative, 18.0 oz with a DAO trigger, a stainless frame and no sights at all. The Smith & Wesson 396 Night Guard is the newer S&W take, with an MSRP of $1,269, 23.4 oz, a scandium frame, a tritium front sight and an adjustable rear.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The barrel insert is stainless, so the surface the bullet rides is steel even where the shroud around it is not.
- A frame-mounted firing pin block means the revolver carries loaded with nothing to switch on or off.
- One consistent trigger pull is simpler to train than a gun with two.
- S&W no longer carries the model anywhere in its catalog, so parts and service are a specialist's job.
- An alloy frame on a cartridge this size keeps practice sessions short.
Category Rankings
How the Smith & Wesson 296 .44 Special ranks among subcompact .44 Special handguns.
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Alternatives to Consider
Similar subcompact .44 Special handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Charter Arms Bulldog 2.5" Blued .44 Special
Charter Arms
|
$418.99 |
|
Charter Arms Bulldog Boomer 2" .44 Special
Charter Arms
|
$436.99 |
|
Charter Arms Bulldog Classic 3" .44 Special
Charter Arms
|
$449.99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the hammer be cocked for a single-action shot?
No. The action is DAO, so each shot is one long pull from start to finish.
What is the rifling twist?
1 in 18.75, right hand, which suits the heavy bullets .44 Special gets loaded with.
Where do these go wrong with age?
Timing, lockup and the condition of the alloy shroud around the barrel insert. None of those parts are sold by S&W now, so a problem there is a gunsmith's project.
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