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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 08-08-2010, 04:05 PM
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G.T. Smith G.T. Smith is offline
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what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4?  
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Smile what's up with my old m65-4?

I would ask what is wrong with it but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it. I have two of these revolvers. one was bought new in 1990, and the other is a police trade in. both have the MIM trigger and hammers. Today I shot 100 rounds of 158 gr. PMC .357 magnum, JSP, and that makes a grand total of 1000 rounds since the first of the year through the police trade in that I shoot as much as I can afford. The Hammer didn't break, nor did the trigger. The action on this gun is smooth and crisp as the day I bought it, brought it home and gave it a good cleaning which it really didn't need. The forcing cones on both of these guns are totally slick and undamaged. I do clean them after each shooting trip, and pay extra attention to the cones.
The barrel to cylinder gap is unchanged as far as I can measure, nor has the timing or endshake changed as far as I can tell. I do read alot about the MIM parts being inferior to forged parts but I just wonder why.
I have never shot anything but .357's in these two guns and they don't seem any worse for the wear.
I am not saying that anyone is wrong about these K frame .357's, but if you have one, shoot it, clean it and don't worry about it.
I have several revolvers, but when it comes to shooting pleasure, I do love these 65's. both are in 4".
Peace,
Gordon
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Old 08-09-2010, 11:17 AM
Jellybean Jellybean is offline
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I'm really confused now. According to the SCSW the 65 didn't go MIM until the -6 changes, around '97 or '98. Your -4 should have a hammer mounted firing pin, just like my -3.

Last edited by Jellybean; 08-09-2010 at 11:19 AM.
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Old 08-10-2010, 12:16 AM
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what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4?  
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Smile 1990 model 65-4 MIM

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Originally Posted by Jellybean View Post
I'm really confused now. According to the SCSW the 65 didn't go MIM until the -6 changes, around '97 or '98. Your -4 should have a hammer mounted firing pin, just like my -3.
It does have a hammer mounted firing pin, mounted in a MIM hammer. MIM trigger too.
Heres a picture of my old police trade in with ser. no. BERxxxx, manufactured in 1990.
Peace,
gordon.
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Old 08-10-2010, 12:14 PM
Dpris Dpris is offline
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I don't believe S&W made MIM hammers in the older style with firing pin, and they certainly were not using MIMs in 1990.

What makes you think those parts are MIM?
Denis
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Old 08-10-2010, 12:37 PM
ol timer ol timer is offline
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what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4?  
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Quickest way to check the trigger is to look/feel the backside. If it's hollowed out, it's MIM. If it's solid/smooth, it's forged.

Those sure look like flash chrome forged parts to me.

As for the forcing cone on the K-frame, it is a genuine concern. The loads you are shooting will be no problem. It's the hotter, older manufactured ammo in lighter loads that would burn up and crack the cone.

Nice M65!
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Old 08-10-2010, 12:41 PM
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what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4?  
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I agree with ol timer, those appear to be flash chromed hammer & trigger, not mim parts.
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Old 08-10-2010, 01:01 PM
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what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4? what's up with my old m65-4?  
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Originally Posted by H Richard View Post
I agree with ol timer, those appear to be flash chromed hammer & trigger, not mim parts.
well, thats good to know I suppose. I just though that if it didn't look like forged steel, you know, like regular steel color, that it was MIM. I seem to learn something every time I get on this forum. You people are the best.
One poster said that the MIM hammer would be hollowed out on the back, mine are smooth. No wonder they still work like new.
I am going to try to find a picture of an MIM hammer and trigger to see what they look like.
Sorry if I confused anyone, but I sometimes even confuse myself.
Thanks everyone for the info.
Peace,
gordon
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Old 08-10-2010, 02:40 PM
Dpris Dpris is offline
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You can't tell the difference between forged & MIM based on color alone.
Both can & do have some version of case coloring. You may have plating on either or both.
The best way, as mentioned above, is to look at the rear of the trigger for a "hollowed" out section.
Forged will be solid in the area visible.
If you can find a shot of an entire MIM hammer, you can see major differences between forged & MIM.

What you have is just the flash chromed forged versions S&W did for a while.

And, hot 125s will eat up your cone with extended use. It was the advent of those rounds for LE use that began to wear K-Frame .357s out quicker.

Denis
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Tags
357 magnum, endshake, k frame, k-frame, m65, model 65, model 66, scsw

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