For use as a shooter, I don't consider elongated chambers to be a serious defect. I have a HD like that, and have fired full-power .357 loads (both factory and reloads) in it with no adverse consequences. But not often, as I normally use .38 Special wadcutters. I always have wondered why S&W did not offer the HD chambered in .357, at least after the .357 appeared on the market. It would probably have appealed to many police users.