I carry a 66 everyday with Federal 125 grain magnums. But when I go to the range to practice I shoot 38 specials. Shoot magnums in moderation with the K frame and it will last a long time. Heck this last weekend when I went to the range to practice I did so with Winchester silver tips 145 grain magnum. Which I believe has a lot more felt recoil than the 125s, But is easier on your gun.

quote:

Originally posted by Gress:

quote:

Originally posted by Wyatt Earp:
I too would like to know what is the mechanism involved in creating the forcing cone cracks.

I can only think of flame temperatures associated with super fast 125 grain magnums causing embrittlement of the steel.

some explanations here
http://www.gunblast.com/Butch_MagnumLoads.htm

Thanks for the link that was a good article

Thanks to oldschool and all who posted to this very interesting thread. I just searched for 158gr lead 357s and can only find Remington available. Are there other alternatives?

quote:

Originally posted by oldschool63:
Thanks for the link that was a good article

It definitely is, however the anecdotal data presented and statistics is inconclusive.

Recovered another link to an old article on the topic
http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl248partial.pdf
(page 20)

Has anyone ever used the Federal Premium Vital-Shock CastCore 180gr loading? It's loaded with a 180gr hard cast gas checked bullet. Because it's muzzle velocity is only 1130 fps and it's length & weight will cause less hot gases(unburned powder)I think it would be less likely to cause those forcing cone cracks. I will try to post a link below. Any thoughts/opinions welcomed

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/handgun.aspx?id=327

quote:

Originally posted by oldschool63:
I picked up a Model 19-3 last weekend and I am going to shoot it Saturday. I read on a few other boards that it is not good to shoot 357 mag 125gr loads in a M 19. Is this true? If so why. What about 125gr 38spl loads?
Thanks

No problem with the 38s. The problem with the 125 grain magnum load is not so much the bullet weight, but the powder and the pressure to get that 1400 fps velocity out of that load (in 4 inch), which causes flame cutting and other problems in constant use. I never had any problem using the 125 grain SJHP magnum load IN MODERATION in any K frame. Use MOSTLY 38s for practice and use the magnums for occasional familiarization and carry and your K frame will last the rest of your life and that of your children, provided you take care of it.

noshow,
I am also interested in finding safe 180gr ammo to use as a hunting load in my M66.
I was considering trying buffalobore 180 gr. LFN-GC (1400 fps ME 783 ft. lbs.) but was not sure if it is a safe one for the gun.
Thanks for posting it seems like the federal's one is a way safer bet. Buffalo's one is definitely hot and looks more attractive from the power/efficiency standpoint.

I bought a Model 19-5 at a pawn shop. It was a real beauty for only $300 OTD.

But when I got it home and cleaned it up, anticipating taking it to the range, I discovered that the forcing cone was cracked at the 6 o'clock position. This crack was camouflaged by the dirt on the forcing cone when I inspected it at the pawn shop. And pawn shops are all sales are final!

I called Smith & Wesson and they issued me a call tag to pick it up and, to make a long story short, I got a brand-new 686 free as a replacement for it since there are no more barrels for them to fix the 19s.

Ron

The fella over to Gunblast has it about right. The area of the frame where it is tapped to receive the threaded barrel has only a thin web of steel left after the threading. When a bit of lead builds up in the forcing cone and this is followed by a higher pressure jacketed load excess pressures can occur in an area that is thin to begin with.

If you keep the area of the forcing cone clean the over rated jacketed .125 gr. loads can be used IMHO.

tipoc

Ever wonder why folks think a 357 out of a J frame has plenty of margin for safety, but the much larger K frame components are dangerously unsafe? If you want to run maximum loads of 357 ammo, buy and shoot an N frame. Why bother stopping at L frame guns? Some simple answers. Most people can't survive a steady diet of such loads in J frame guns. Their hands stop working before the gun does.

As a practical matter, those of us with N frame guns don't shoot all 357s in them, we shoot 38s, just like a lot of us shoot more 44 Specials than magnum loads. Part of that could be that many of us pay for our own ammo, but the police departments that suffered the failures were paying with public dollars for that ammo.

As pressures go up, costs of reloading go up, too. Brass fails much sooner, and as the velocity goes up, so does the need for jacketed bullets over our cheap cast bullets. Those that want to play with max velocities and even hard cast bullets, welcome to the world of leading. I know, you're favorite cast alloy never leads.....

If I thought that there was a real problem with the 19/66 firing magnum rounds, I would not own so many.

My two high round count K-frame magnums are a 19-4 with over 12,000 rounds (about 3000 of those were 158 grain 357's) and an ex Chicago PD 66, with who knows how many rounds through it (I've put just over 6000, 2500 of those 158 grain 357's) with absolutely no problems. No cracked forcing cones, no endshake, no top strap stretching, and very little forcing cone erosion. Did I mention that almost every one of those thousands of rounds was with jacketed ammo? I don't reload, and rarely if ever shoot lead rounds. I hate cleaning off the lead build up afterward, and personally think that poor cleaning of forcing cones on these revolvers may contribute to any "problem".

I'll repeat again for the benefit of any folks who are new to the K-frame magnums, that in thirty nine years of carrying, qualifying, shooting and generally collecting model 19, and model 66 revolvers, I have yet to see a cracked forcing cone, or stretched top strap for that matter, in person. I have seen photos of cracked forcing cones on the internet, and noted that all of those were on model 19-5's (first variant with a crush fit barrel) and every one of those model 19-5's were filthy dirty, or very poorly cleaned/maintained. IMHO, combine those factors with 125 grain 357 screamers, and you MIGHT have a problem.

Keep your K-frame magnums clean, practice/IDPA with 38's, and 10% 357's and your grandchildren will be enjoying those revolvers.

Oh, before I forget, will anyone who has ever seen or HEARD of a cracked forcing cone on a model 66 please step forward...................yep as I thought. I've never seen or heard about one either.

Quit worrying and enjoy your Combat Magnums. Regards 18DAI.

Model 19 Combat Magnum. Everything you need in a revolver, and nothing you don't.

If you keep the area of the forcing cone clean and free of lead build up you likely won't have a problem. Well after a few thousand rounds you may need a tune up.

tipoc