My favorite K frame is my nickle M19-3. I rarely shoot hot .357 loads out of it, but like to . . .

I've read that shooting a lot of hot .357 loads can affect it. Is there a rule of thumb for that? Thx.

General rule of thumb...

Stick to heavier .357 loads; i.e., 158 gr.

Or, .38 special loads of all variations.

And, limit your hot (light) loads (110 - 125 gr.) to familiarization shooting from time to time, and for carry.

Also, keep it clean. Build up around the forcing cone seems to be the big culprit.

Enjoy the revolver! It's a great gun!

CHP5,
The problem with using the lighter 125 grain loads is it produces much higher chamber pressures than the 158 grain. The K frame .357 magnum was designed to use .38 special for practical shooting and practice and use the .357 magnum load for carry purposes.

__________________
M.J.Hanna

+1

MacGuffin pretty much covered all of the bases. I qualified with duty ammo which was the 125 grain in a Model 19. After a few years I had a split forcing cone.

Bill

It isn't the pressure but the force behind that light bullet when it strikes the forcing cone.

The model 19 was the brainchild of Skeeter Skelton who talked S&W into a lighter .357 than an N frame for LE use. If you've ever carried an N frame around all day you'll understand.

It was said that it should shoot .38 Spls and use .357 for carry. Basically a .38 Spl that can occasionally shoot .357's.

The K frame is my favorite of all the S&W's. I have a few of these in the safe. I shoot handloads using 158 gr or heavier bullets at a velocity somewhere between the Spl and the Mag.

Actually Bill Jordan gets most of the credit for the 19.

Another problem with the K-frame .357's, is the end shake which develops after a lot of .357 loads, whether they are 125gr or 158gr.

The NY State Police originally ordered what would become the Model 13. They were replaced, en masse, with Model 28's shortly after they were purchased.

Thanks for the replies. My 19 is my favorite K frame. I guess I need a 686 or a 28 to shoot .357 on a regular basis

According to S&W, 125 grain 357 ammo can crack the forcing cone of any K-frame within 50 rounds. There are NO MORE BARRELS at S&W. Take care of your gun.

As said above, if you shoot 357s at all, limit them to 158s. The preferred service load for K-frame magnums should be +P38 Specials.

Agree with all the above. I bought a 19-5, in almost mint condition. I do baby it. Shoot 38's reg and Plus P. I did put a cylinder full of 158 grain magnums once.

I generally reserve Full House Msgnum loads for my 586-2 & my Ruger Blackhawk.

Just curious, how do those light weight J frames hold up using Magnums? Frankly I wouldn't care to fire magnums in one of those!

Best

Bob

My bad! Was looking up something on Skeeter yesterday and meant Jordan instead.

The 145gr. WW silvertip for carry. Its powerfull and easy on the K-frame. Old school ,but highly effective on the street.

Thanks for the replies.

Can a 686 and a 28 take a diet of full house 357 with no problems?

Yes, they are both designed for routine .357 use whereas the K Frame was "converted" more or less from .38 Spl.

__________________
~I've got your back~

Any one know how many 357 mag rounds is to much for ..say a mod 65 3"? I have a like new 65 it had 23 rounds of 38+p's through it before I got it....I have a few boxes of 357 mag stuff I wanted to use up to get use to the gun. 158 gr swc by mag-tec...some 130 gr fmj winchester..some hornady 180 gr xtp's...will these harm my pistol? What is S&W's take on this?? I see no warning in there manual ect?? Or is it hot hand loads people are talking about? thanks guys

__________________
MOD. 65-5 .357 MAGNUM

+P 38 Specials should not hurt the gun at all. 357s should be restricted to 158 grain. 110 & 125 grain 357s are strictly off limits. This applies to both factory and SAAMI Spec handloads driven at factory equivalent velocities and pressures (SAAMI compliant).

Of course, when handloading it is possible to load the 357 case equivalent to a light 38 Special or to full power specs - and any where in between. The point is that regardless of whether you use 38 or 357 cases, pressures and velocities should stay in the 38 Special to +P38 Special range.

About 25 years ago, HP White Labs reportedly tested a sample Model 19. As I recall, the gun was able to fire about 3000 x 357s before it became inoperable. I believe that a Ruger Security Six was tested as well, with a lifespan of about 9000 rounds.

You will not find this in any official S&W instruction manual, but it is very well documented in many books on the subject.

The point is that K-frame magnums were designed as 38 Specials with the capacity to fire 357 ammo. They didn't say how much 357 ammo. In the 1950s, 357 Magnum ammo was more of an special purpose round, not something typically used. They had 38 Outdoorsman loadings, which were more than equialent to +P38 Specials and had a good reputation- but they were a bit heavy for a standard 38 Special revolver, but not too heavy for a K-frame magnum, in fact probably ideal.

In short, I treat my K-frame magnums as +P38 Specials. I do this because I ruined a Model 19 about 30 years ago with less than 50 rounds of "Keith Loadings" then being loudly advocated by gunwriters. "Keith Loadings" were a bit much even in N-frame revolvers and a disaster in K-frames.

The December, 2008 issue of Dillon's Blue Press covers this problem and gives a lot more information on the Models 19 and 66. Call them at 1-800-223-4570 and ask for that back issue. Betcha they'll send you one for free.

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

If you go to dillons web page you can print the whole story no need to call! Since this was posted I think they got a few calls!! the guy I spoke with seemed to know just what I was looking for..lol!! thanks love the K-FRAMES!!

__________________
MOD. 65-5 .357 MAGNUM

Good stuff: http://www.bridleandbit.net/eb...bject_files/main.swf