Some thoughts on the S&W Model 19 and full house .357 loads.

[Trooper Joe]

I just picked up this 19-6 for a great price. It had some dumpy looking rubber grips on it so I sprung for the Altamont grips (laying on the table). However, when I shot it with .357 Mag ammo (158 grn stuff), it really stung (the Altamont grips are a lot thinner than the stock grips). So, I picked up some used, stock grips and added a Pachmayr grip adaptor. It was a lot more pleasant with .357 ammo, but I still think I will limit my shooting to the "FBI" load from Buffalo Bore (158 grn, hp, gas checked, .38 Special +P).



If I want to shoot full house .357 ammo, I am going to stick to this S&W L frame, model 581 (.357 magnum with fixed sights/great gun).



The Pachmayr grips laying on the table were purchased for my model 19, but they are too big and bulky (besides, the grips don't keep damage from happening to your gun even though the felt recoil will be decreased). I may install these grips on this 581 and see how that works out.

I purchased this model 66 (same as model 19 but in stainless) from the widow of our former Michigan State Police range officer. When I first got it, it seemed to be a little "notchy" when I tried to open the cylinder. Took it to the MSP armor and he advised that the former range officer did shoot this gun a lot and probably slightly stretched it. The armor was able to tweak it so the gun works perfect now. It is quite comfortable with full house .357 158 grn loads with Pachmayr rubber grips on it (not quite so comfortable with these wood presentation grips but not bad).







I think that I will use the "FBI" load in my K frame .357 magnums and save the L frame (Model 581) for the full house loads.

As a side note, the +P "FBI" loads are really not very comfortable in my various 38 Specials so I am going to stick to non +P in those (although my heavy barrel model 10 would probably be OK).



Lot of good information on this forum.

Thanks gang,

Trooper Joe

[kraynky]

Nice collection there Trooper! The 19 is my pick! Nice photos too.

[Breakaway500]

.357s in K frames are do-able..but not if you have an L or N frame handy instead. If I'm going to the range with a hot magnum..it's usually wearing Goodyears. Nice shots...and some cool revolvers. That 66 is all class.

[Trooper Joe]

I just realized that I posted this twice. Either my computer did not update this thread quick enough, or I got into the beer too early.

[KalamazooKid]

Beautiful! I just got a 4" M66 that's a pure pleasure to shoot - but so far just with regular 38's. Enjoy!


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[Wee Hooker]

Nice looking model 19. Not that they won't handle 357's but I pretty much stick to 38 special loads in my K (and J) frames. No point in beating the gun (and myself) up for range practice.
357 loads are reserved from my L and N frames where they are handled with ease.

[kaaskop49]

CCI Blazer .357 158gr JHP "medium" loads are fine in both J and K frame magnums. Just picked up another case, that's how much I like them. I bet your K-mags would eat them up.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

[Peak53]

I, too, have no particular need to shoot full on 357's in my K-frames. Lot's of folks just don't realize how big a step it is from 38 to 357, because it is after all the same diameter and just a smidge longer. The increase in pow factor, however, is very big. I reserve the hotter loads, say over about 1150 fps in a 158 gr. SWC loaded in mag cases for my L and N-Frames. More comfortable and easier on the guns. The K-frames excel at robust +P levels.

[M29since14]

My typical .357 load for K-frames for around the last twenty years has been a ~160 gr lead plain-base bullet of one design or another and enough fairly fast powder of one type or another (lately AA2) to yield 1,000 FPS in a 4-inch gun. That's always seemed like plenty of power, and it is completely comfortable with Pachmayr Presentations. I load even lighter loads in .357 cases for indoor target shooting, usually around 800 FPS. In the 6-inch guns I sometimes use a #2400 load with the Thompson gas-check that goes about 1200 FPS. That's as hard as I care to push the Combat Magnums.

I keep some 145 gr Silvertips and 158 gr Hydra-shoks around for special occasions but since they are difficult to replace, maybe only fire 10 or so a year. Some day they will all be gone.

[Jack Flash]

Originally Posted by Trooper Joe

I just realized that I posted this twice. Either my computer did not update this thread quick enough, or I got into the beer too early.

Or both?