Having good luck at the Oaks PA gun shows finding Old S&W revolvers. Just picked up a Model 1899 in 38 Spl. Any info on the 1899 would be interesting to know. Also since I don't reload myself, what's a good manufactured load that won't hurt this old girl.

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1899 hand ejector.JPG (63.9 KB, 100 views)

Best to use full wadcutter target loads. But any lead bullet loads are OK. The Model 1899 (or First Model) was made from 1899 to 1902, about 20K produced in .38 Special. But .32-20 was also available, and are more unusual. It was the very first hand ejector K-frame in the S&W line, but not the first hand ejector. The Model 1896 in .32 Long has that title. If yours still has its original extractor rod knob, count yourself fortunate. The easiest ID point for an 1899 is the lack of the barrel lug ahead of the extractor knob. Mechanically, the works are somewhat different from the later K-frames.

Welcome to the Forum.

"But any lead bullet loads are OK."

I would pass on any +P loads, even if they do have lead bullets.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Look for "Cowboy Action" on the box, or just the plain old 158gr LRNs. How's the bore? On the rare occasions 1899s show up in These Parts, they're usually rode hard and put away wet, like the (considerably overpriced) $425 32-20 that's been gathering dust on a local gun show vendor's table for well over a year.

Probably the biggest concern about shooting the 1899 is the off chance of part breakage. Replacement parts are tough to come by. That's one of the reasons I sold the nice example I had. I'm reaching the point where if I can't shoot them it's time to move them on. Very nice 1899 and welcome aboard.

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Get off my lawn!

I did take my 1899 out for exercise last year. I only used a mild HBWC loaded with 3.2 gr 231. It shot remarkably well. It's only been fired that one time since I acquired it in 2008. The internals are somewhat different, and there are some tricks to the disassembly of it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Congratulations on a great find. I shoot my 1899 regularly with off the shelf 158 grain or wadcutters.



Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Thanks, bore is good. Took her shoot back in February and managed to keep 10 out of 10 on the paper with most in the rings at 25 yards. I think I could do better, but the thin front blade sight is impossible to see!

Used wadcutters and 158 grain lead nose NO +P AND NO COPPER JACKETS!

Found a good set of repro wood grips and put the originals away for safe keeping.

Kind of nice when everybody else is blasting away with wonder nines and tacta-cool polymer guns and you break out this old girl and shoot better than they do!