S&W 351C

[Joe Kent]

Does anyone have any experience with one of these yet?

[rogo123]

I too am interested. We worry about bullets tumbling in short barrell .22 revolvers

[rogo123]

Also, the 351C and 43C have ALUMINUM cylinders. How will they hold up with today's hot ammo in .22 LR and .22 Mag.? (Erosion at cylinder face.)

Maybe they are steel lined? Does anyone know?

[rogo123]

My further research indicates that the cylinder is indeed aluminum. So now I worry about the steel locking bolt eating away at the locking notches in this aluminum cylinder.

Is this a "carry a lot and shoot a little" gun? I would hope that S & W tested this design adequately.

Even with all my concerns, I am intrigued by this revolver concept.

I picture myself lounging in front of my camp trailer, with my 351C on an elastic lanyard around my neck under my Charlie Sheen shirt, loaded with the new Hornady FTX rounds, awaiting a campground zombie attempting to raid my cooler of my smoked trout and Amstel Light.

[Kenneth L. Walters]

When the 43C was announced I asked an engineer I know at Smith about the aluminum cylinders. He said that they work well in 22's and that they had been used periodically in the 617's with no ill effects. So Smith clearly believes that this isn't going to be a problem and I see no reason to not believe that.

[Robinett_11B]

If there were no ill effects, then why did S&W quit offering the 617's with the aluminium cylinders? I wouldn't imagine to save money? .......I wonder if a newer SS 8-shot M63 cylinder would be able to be fitted in place of the 8-shot aluminum cylinder that's supposed to be on the M43C?

[ladder13]

Buds has them, 351C's, FYI

[whitecoyote]

I just picked up a S&W 351C today. I'm very impressed with the overall quality of the revolver.
Fit, and finish is excellent. The revolver locks up very tight, and is very light weight. Best of all NO LOCK!
I'll try to get out next week for a range report.

[noah228]

White Coyote that is very nice!!! Congratulations. I have the 351C's brother the 351PD and I like it alot. Mine has performed very well. Hope to get to try the new Speer gold dot and the Hornady short bbl. loads. Some say its just a gimmick but I've got a few different handgun chamberings and I'm always surprised at the performance of the little 22 Magnum. For its size it has very good penetration. Its an underestimated round for sure. Hope you will post your range report soon.

Noah

[410bore]

I have been looking at these....I want one, it should make a perfect CCW....22 Magnum has got tons of punch

[HLG]

whitecoyote - Have you had a chance to shoot your 351C yet? How is the trigger pull?

[whitecoyote]

Originally Posted by HLG

whitecoyote - Have you had a chance to shoot your 351C yet? How is the trigger pull?

Yes, I shot it today. It shot very well. The trigger pull is typical of the S&W double action (somewhat heavy, but smooth).
I shot 175 rounds today. 75 Federal Premium, 50 Winchester, and 50 CCI TNT. All shot just fine.
The only problem that occured was when I got to approximately 100 rounds the aluminum cylinder started heating up, causing new cartridges not being able to be inserted all the way into the cylinder until it cooled down. Also, I figured out the cylinder became dirty, also causing difficulty chambering the cartridges. Once the revolver was cleaned there were no problems.

[Bullet Bob]

"why did S&W quit offering the 617's with the aluminium cylinders"

Because they didn't sell. My aluminum 617 has a little over 3000 rounds through it, and is great - it shoots fully as well as the ones I have from the 40's and 50's, just 4 more times.

[dvincentp2]

I have one for one month now. Shoots really well. It is my primary ccw. I am thinking about getting another one for a NY reload!

[Doug M.]

Any feedback on how the gold dot would work for a small potentially sensitive shooter in the 351C? Recoil, blast, etc?

[TACC1]

Very tempting! The only problem I have with the 22Mag round
is the incredible muzzle blast. No problems with the recoil of a
NAA Mini-Mag, which weighs about 5 or 6 ounces. With the
j-frame package, it ought to be a real sweet shooter. TACC1

[JTaylor]

Originally Posted by whitecoyote

Yes, I shot it today. It shot very well. The trigger pull is typical of the S&W double action (somewhat heavy, but smooth).
I shot 175 rounds today. 75 Federal Premium, 50 Winchester, and 50 CCI TNT. All shot just fine.
The only problem that occured was when I got to approximately 100 rounds the aluminum cylinder started heating up, causing new cartridges not being able to be inserted all the way into the cylinder until it cooled down. Also, I figured out the cylinder became dirty, also causing difficulty chambering the cartridges. Once the revolver was cleaned there were no problems.

My 43C should be in this week. Any special procedures for cleaning the aluminum cylinder? Regular brush should be fine?

JT

[whitecoyote]

Originally Posted by JTaylor

My 43C should be in this week. Any special procedures for cleaning the aluminum cylinder? Regular brush should be fine?

JT

I bought a 43C last month. It was already sent back to the factory for repair. The cylinder kept binding up. Could not figure out why. S&W ended up replacing the cylinder. I have not had a chance to get out, and shoot it again.

[nossew]

Is that a Tritium sight on the front?

[Babalooie]

Regarding aluminum cylinders, I used to own a model 17-8. It was a ten shot revolver with a six inch barrel. I used to take it out on Saturdays and run a brick of ammo through it. Never had a problem. I still don't know why I got rid of it. Just a fit of stupidity, I guess.

Now, I have a 351PD, a seven shot .22 magnum with a 1 7/8" barrel. I replaced the fiber optic front sight with a night sight; installed "The Plug" replacing the Internal Lock; installed a Model 38 hammer to make it more CCW friendly; added some J Frame grips made by some guy in Thailand; and tracked down an eight shot .22LR cylinder to increase my shooting options.

So far, the "new" cylinder appears to be working fine, without issues. I thought I was going to have to replace the original hand to accommodate the extra shot capacity. That wasn't the case. Timing is perfect. I don't know if I'll be shooting CCI Stingers through the new cylinder. Will have to do a bit more research before making that decision.

[coach22]

To Smith & Wesson:

MAKE IT CALIFORNIA LEGAL!!!!!

I could probably recover whatever it costs you in one month of sales
at the gun store where I work.

[BobR1]

I have been playing with an LCR 22 for about a month now. This is Ruger's version of a 43C. I shot it in our Clubs Defensive Pistol Match a couple weeks ago, in BUG Division. As we had 2 Tactical Reloads on the clock, I borrowed a couple Model 1022 Quick Strips from my brother to reload with. I shot the BUG match 2 times with the LCR 22. The first time through I had 10 rounds in the Tuff Products Orange Model 1022 Quick Strip. I discovered that I did not have enough clearance between rounds to load the cylinder in pairs like we do with the 38/357. The second run I loaded 2 round and left a shell out, loaded 2 more rounds and left a shell out, and loaded 2 and left 2 shells out. I was only allowed to load 6 rounds maximum, so this was no problem. I indexed the cylinder when closing it with the empty chambers under the hammer. This worked out well, and the reload went faster than my 38 Speed Strip reload. My experiance that day got me to thinking about Practice/Training with the J Frame size 22LR handguns, and also the need to also practice reloading with speed strips which most of us who carry a J Frame size 38/357 carry for a reload.

Speed Strip for 43C:
I have contacted Tuff Products about making a change to the Model 1022 Quick Strip so it is tactical reload friendly for the 43C, 317, LCR 22, SP101-22, and Taurus 94. The Model 1022 is a 10 round speed strip. It needs a space between pairs for cylinder clearance to do a tactical reload. When you load 2 at a time, you need a space when you push them into the chambers to clear the edge of the cylinder.
This is what a Model 1022 looks like now loaded in pairs with a shell left out between pairs: OOXOOXOOXO
As you can see we only have room for 7 rounds in the Model 1022 speed strip. I am hoping we can convince Tuff Products to either build this strip in an 11 shot version that will hold the 8th round when loaded in pairs, or make a dedicated Quick Strip for 8 shot 22LF revolvers with a space between pairs. A useable 22LR Speed Strip will make a great training tool. Most of us carry spare ammo for our J Frame in a speed strip. Why not when practicing with our J Frame 22's also practice a Speed Strip reload as well? Makes very good since to me.

Good News for those carrying a 351C or 94-22Mag. The Tuff Products Model 1017 Quick Strip Loaded in this manner OOXOOXOOXO should make a very good option for carrying a reload, or two. I have not tryed it, but with a little luck the 1017 should work fine, and it holds 7 rounds when loaded in pairs.

http://tuffproducts.com/

Bob

[JTaylor]

Have you been out again? How is it performing?

Originally Posted by whitecoyote

I bought a 43C last month. It was already sent back to the factory for repair. The cylinder kept binding up. Could not figure out why. S&W ended up replacing the cylinder. I have not had a chance to get out, and shoot it again.