Anyone have feedback on the 43c or 351c ?
Any reliability issues? Problems!???

I own a 351PD, the model with the exposed hammer, I have had zero problems with it. It is a really nice pistol. Very loud though with the magnum rounds.

I own both a 43C and a 351C and could not be more pleased. I have had good luck with both of them. Joe.

Does the 43C have a very very heavy trigger like the 351pd?

I’d say a very heavy trigger, not very, very heavy.

As bad as the 351pd?

I don't have a 351C yet, but I giggle every time I pull the trigger on my 43C -- too much fun. I shoot about 95 percent in DA mode, even with SA guns, so I don't notice a heavy trigger. I'd say my 43C is probably a bit lighter than my .38 or .357 or 9mm Centennials.

I think it's impossible to say every 43C is lighter than every 351C. I believe each undoctored revolver has its very own pull, no matter the caliber, and they all seem to improve with use.

__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

My 43C trigger is a feather compared to my 351PD. Like them both, but I really like the 43C. Weighs basically nothing and I can hit reliably with it. People will po-po the .22LR as a defensive round, but I have yet to encounter one of them that will let me put one in their chest to prove their point.

If your on the fence on the 43C...All I can say is get it...IMHO its well worth it and its stupid amounts of fun to plink with as well as walk the dog at night.

I have the 351C. No issues whatsoever.

I own both, use the 43c for practice and carry the 351c ( just kidding). Love both, JMO the differences are the differences you find in any two new revolvers, as stated previously, the actions of revolvers smooth out in use. My EDC is a M640, rimfires require good strong springs, but I don't notice the pull being more than on the 640.

__________________
Certified Curmudgeon

Smith & Wesson claims the 351c is for Concealed Carry and Personal Protection. Just kidding? That must be why they didn't put the lock on the 351c. I guess they figure let the kids play with it since they can't hurt themselves with such puny ammo.

Also, Bill Jordan and Skeeter Skelton were just kidding about the .22 magnum. Skeeter even joked in 1967 that .22 WMR was the frequent choice of professional predator control hunters after big cats and bears. Can you imagine? Bears! They sure told some thigh-slappers back then.

I have a 351C, friends have a 43C. Both really nice guns. I will carry my 351C when too lazy to carry an actual firearm (joking, just joking!!).

Ammo I keep in the 351C for carry is either the Speer Gold Dot or the Hornady 45 grain FTX. Pocket carry (Alabama pocket holster). Handgun is light as a feather.

Rich

Yes and yes. Before I shelled out the money for the M43C I would look into a Ruger LCR.

Really two different size handguns. Fired both. The Ruger (own an LCR .38) is somewhat larger than the S&W J frame. Enough to make a difference.

Rich

The rimfire ruger LCRs that I have fired have nicer triggers than J-Frame rimfires, but like RichCapeCod said, they are not the same sized guns.

I've been carrying my 351PD lately as a deep concealment gun, loaded with gold dots. Even though all of my water tests show the GD doesn't expand out of these guns.

What I love the most about my 351PD is the weight, and the sights. That orange hi-viz sight is the best front sight I have ever used. I wish the orange was a standard option for any of their other sights, but its not. If I could get one of the airweight 32 H&R j-frames and put one of those orange sights on it I would be in heaven.

Like I said, I have and love a 43c and a 351c. The 'just kidding' was in reference to practicing with the 43c (you know, so the recoil doesn't wear you down). With 8 CCI Velocitors ("HP design derived from Gold Dot technology") in the LR, I would figure it equal to 7 Gold Dots in the Maggie. Love 'em both. And, if shot placement really is everything either is more than adequate.

__________________
Certified Curmudgeon

I've never cared for the looks of the Ruger LCR revolvers, but they do get good reviews.

As to the 43c trigger pull, mine was manageable when the gun was new but I'm frankly shocked at how well it has lightened/smoothed in only a few hundred rounds.
My wife rips through a cylinder with no problem now, and she hates hard trigger pulls.
My 63-5 has a similar round count and the trigger on that one has gotten remarkably better.

I think that you won't be disappointed if you get a 43c.
At the worst, you could get a good smith to smooth out the trigger a little, but if you will just shoot it, I think you will be pleased.

__________________
<><

I have had the same results that mini14jac had with both the 43c and the 351c and 351pd.

Anyone have issues with empty case extractions after a few cylinders being fired ?

I have a 351C and it’s awesome. I took it apart and using a YouTube video I polished where instructed and I also polished the front face as well as the edges on the trigger. I also started inserting my finger so the inside of the first finger joint is just pass the off side of the trigger, this helps keep a straight line of pull. Shooting Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dots extraction is nice and smooth but with CCI Maxi Mags I do get a little resistance but nothing difficult.

I have a 351 C the trigger on it was terrible I had Teddy Jacobson from actions by T were he did the trigger on it and I have no problems with it fires all kinds of ammunition I do stick to CCI though. Through the years Teddy did much work on the double single action 351 PD so I figured I’ll give them a shot with this 351 C and it came out as always great.

I had problems with empty case extractions. This happened to me after the second cylinder I fired. I bought my 351c brand new. While shooting the third cylinder, I felt something sting on my finger (like a rubber band being snapped on your finger). Part of the case torn off and stuck in my finger (I'm left handed). Four cases were hard to eject, one extremely hard, and one was stuck in there. I called S&W and sent the gun back. They replaced the cylinder and now everything is great. I've had to use S&W customer service twice over the years, both times they paid the shipping and fix the problem ...but its a great gun, so light and easy to carry. I use it mostly for local errands and taking walks in the evening during warm weather (we walk 5 or 6 miles). I had a Ruger LCR 22 Magnum, but the weight difference is huge.

Attached Images

20180915_112743.jpg (47.7 KB, 38 views)

I have had problems with extraction on my 43C. The cases stick in the chambers, and I have had to tap the end of the rod with a small mallet, that I keep in my range bag. So far, no rims have gotten stuck under the extractor star.
I think the problem might be that there is more friction between the Brass cases and the Aluminum Chamber walls than there is with Steel Cylinders. That is the nature of Aluminum.
I am wondering if Aluminum Chambers can be polished with Flitz, etc. That might help with the sticky extraction. Also, my Stainless Cylinders are not coated on the inside. The Aluminum Chambers are coated with paint or whatever. That might increase the friction.
I really like the 43C. The speed in placing 8 rounds in a 5 inch circle at self defense distances helps to mitigate the lower power of the Cartridge. Also, I consider the total mass of a Cylinder full, rather than that of just one round.
Besides occasional carry, I use the revolver for low impact training time for my 442, which is my regular carry gun.

Best,
Rick