model 19
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Targets Guy
US Veteran
If it locks up tight and no rust anything below $600 is fine. Some say a constant diet of .357s is not good. Many threads on here that talk about that.
I love my 19-2 I found at a local gun store.
Welcome to the forum.
I love my 19-2 I found at a local gun store.
Welcome to the forum.
I picked up a very nice six inch 19-3 last month for $575 and absolutely love shooting it. Be careful about shooting a lot of .38 b/c the end of the cylinders can get cruddy. The .38 caseings are shorter and if you don't clean each cylinder thoroughly the magnum rounds can be difficult to load and extract. Aside from that one of S&Ws best revolvers.
If you look you will see that the forcing cone ( rear of barrel/ inside frame) is flat on the bottom....... in the 1970/80s a lot of experimentation with "hot", light, .357 hollow point loads using a 125gr bullet.
A few, to some 19 barrels "cracked" on the flat area.......................
Today most factory loads are not that hot..... and if you stick to bullet weights over 140gr ; you should be OK for many decades of shooting.
A few, to some 19 barrels "cracked" on the flat area.......................
Today most factory loads are not that hot..... and if you stick to bullet weights over 140gr ; you should be OK for many decades of shooting.
As far as price a lot will depend on the "dash" number. Look inside the crane and see. The earlier, especially if the gun has the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder, will typically bring more money.
A good deal would be $400 but they can run much higher. Also dependent upon the accessories, up to $1000+. Good luck.
A good deal would be $400 but they can run much higher. Also dependent upon the accessories, up to $1000+. Good luck.
Check for end shake and look for cracks in the frame under the barrel with yoke open.
TangoDelta1959
Member
I had a Model 19, 3 or 4" back in the late 70's. I shot quite a few .357 (reloads) that I had, I think about 500 rounds. Certainly not hot loads and the Model 19 handled them well. After the 500 or so rounds of magnum all it had was .38's. I've read about running many rounds of magnum through it but I never had one problem. I traded it off for something, don't even remember what. I like the Model 19 but prefer the Model 27 with the larger frame. If you find a 19 for a good price and it's tight, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. I'd run .38+P's through it but I certainly would not hesitate to run magnums either .. good luck ... TD
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cowboy4evr
Member
It was the police depths that had to go to the lighter bullets . the public was screaming about over penetration . many people loaded the same powder charge in weight (21.0 gr of H-110 ) with their 125gr bullet as what is used in some 41 magnum loads with a much larger , stouter N-frame . Over time it was just too much for the k frame 357 . It eventually would loosen them up and sometimes cracked the barrel forcing cone @ the six o'clock position .
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thanks for the information. it I don't make a deal on this 19 I will be getting a new 586.
dave
thanks and you have a very nice looking model 19.If it locks up tight and no rust anything below $600 is fine. Some say a constant diet of .357s is not good. Many threads on here that talk about that.
I love my 19-2 I found at a local gun store.
Welcome to the forum.
dave
Good luck!
Walter Rego
Member
I looked for a 4" Model 19 here in CA for many years. Oddly enough, probably 3 out of every 5 that I looked at that were in high condition and not ridiculously high priced even for California, exhibited slow carry up. I have seen very few S&W's in excellent shape and that appeared to have been fired very little that were out of time so it puzzled me why so many Model 19's I saw were. My unscientific conclusion was that the Model 19's were one of S&W's most popular models during the 70's and early 80's and were made during the so called Bangor Punta era when a higher number of guns escaped QC than should have. The factory was cranking them out to meet demand. So, besides the other areas to check that have been mentioned above, check the timing carefully.
The pre-1982 pinned & recessed guns in excellent shape are a great deal at $600 and sell often in the $800+ range, especially in this state.
The pre-1982 pinned & recessed guns in excellent shape are a great deal at $600 and sell often in the $800+ range, especially in this state.
Only bit of advice I can give after reading all the above is don't shoot any ammo with less than 158 grain bullet. Shooting the lighter grain bullets can eventually cause a fire cut in the frame above the forcing cone and even a cracked forcing cone. I shoot nothing less than 158 grain in .38 or .357 in my model 19s.
thanks for the information
dave
thanks I will keep that in mind when I buy ammo. right now I have 300 rd of 130 gr and a few 125 gr. I have been shooting in my gp100.
dave
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