Getting ready to load for a couple of older Smiths and need some advice. One is a 1902 which predates treating and the other is a 1905 4th Target #330003 which may or not be treated. Using 148 gr. HBWC's and have Unique, Titegroup and 20/28 powder. Thanks.

Please move to reloading forum.

Very likely has the heat treated cylinder. The first was serial number 316648, in September, 1919.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I neither know nor care about questions such as this---much less about the answers. BUT----but I know something which may very well be of some help to those who do. The hooker is what I know is specific to a point in time (March 1, 1934)---and may or may not be applicable to earlier times.

Here's what's what about the steel S&W used in March of 1934 (this from a letter from D.B. Wesson to an inquisitive customer): "------the steel as it comes from the mill shows a tensile strength in the neighborhood of 80,000 lbs., which does not make the additional strength gained by treating a necessity-------." He goes on to say "-----but we do very much prefer the greatly increased factor of safety that is obtained with the 130,000 lbs. elastic limit that the treating gives." (He is explaining why they do not bother with heat treating of parts of some guns---and do bother with it for other guns. This is preceded by this: "As a matter of fact, even in our larger calibers"------------the steel as it comes from the mill is just fine.

So that's the 1934 steel. The other steel from other times is other steel from other times. Make of all this what you will.

Ralph Tremaine

Thank you very much for posting that! A lot of new folks may find that information very helpful.