Hendel,
I checked the other forum photos and that is truly a weird looking thing! I would concur with a lot of posters that it was either a case of improper heat treating (likely) or someone who didn't know what he was doing bubbasmithed the cone with a reamer to "improve" it. It likely would have cracked rather than belled in that case if it had been properly heat treated. Which could be why someone tried to bubbasmith the cone ... it exhibited poor accuracy very early in life if too soft.

The loads, while hotter than a standard 44SP, are not that particularly hot for the gun. Should only be around 22.5kpsi or so.

Going to be interesting to hear what S&W has to say!

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