An S&W rep emailed me that it was OK to shoot Stingers in a Model 41 (my question was about whether the longer case damaged the rifling) but he said it would "accelerate wear of the barrel face." Is that the part I see when I rack the slide -- the chamber is 'in' the barrel face? If so, how would high velocity loads wear it out? By moving the slide more forcefully and 'slamming' it against the face when it returns to battery...?

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By moving the slide more forcefully and 'slamming' it against the face when it returns to battery...?

The slide would move back more quickly, but it comes to a stop before moving forward. The high velocity wear would be where the recoil spring tunnel may contact the frame. The forward speed should be in relation to the recoil spring strength. Maybe...

I've shot many thousands of high velocity rounds through my model 41 with the 5 1/2" barrel installed, but none through the 7". The wear at the barrel face looks identical.

Joe

I doubt anyone could ever wear out a 41.