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Old 05-26-2018, 08:23 AM
stansdds stansdds is online now
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The Model 19 was designed when most shooting was with 38 Special ammo and the use of magnum ammo was just for familiarization and actual duty or hunting use. Also, 38 Special and 357 Magnum ammo of that time period did not generally feature bullets lighter than 140 grains. 110 and 125 grain 357 Magnum ammo was introduced in the 1970's and although it proved to be effective against two-legged predators, it also proved to be hard on the forcing cone of the Model 19 and 66, specifically, the portion of the cone that was milled away for crane clearance.

I have shot 110 and 125 grain magnum ammo in my 19-3 and it did not take long for me to see erosion at the edge of the forcing cone. These days, I do not put those lightweight magnum loads in my 19-3. It is far more comfortable shooting cast lead 148 and 158 grain loads that are in the 38 Special to 38 Special +P velocity range. If I want to shoot magnum ammo through it, it would be 135 grain reduced velocity magnum loads or 158 grain magnum loads and I would keep that to a minimum.
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