Model 19 cracked forcing cone - odds

[Wfevans4]

Bought a new no lock model 19. Not too impressed. Not going to bash QC, but it got me wondering … I've read that on the older Model 19's the forcing cone could crack under constant full power loads. I shoot 158 grain, 357.

Are cracked forcing cones on older Model 19s really an issue or is it so rare I shouldn't worry about it? May just get me an older Model 19.

 

[bigfatty]

I've never seen it happen, but it's been pretty much verified. You should be ok if you get one that wasn't shot much. 38+P and even 158 Magnums ought to be ok. 125 grain 357 seems to have been the primary cause.

 

[Yendor357]

The new ones are tough. Buy one to shoot.

The old ones were prettier but more delicate. Buy one to look at.

 

[skipcress]

I'll let Nelson Ford and Brain Pearce speak for themselves, they would know:

Nelson Ford (discusses the Model 19 at around 09:10)

Brain Pearce

If you want a handy, classic blued Smith & Wesson with non-MIM parts and in .357 Magnum, you may consider a 586. If you do get a 586, you may want to go with either a 586-2 (or later), or an earlier gun with an "M" stamped on the yoke. Prior to the "-2" the 586 had an intermittent issue with certain brands of ammunition where the hammer nose would stick in the primer, tying up the cylinder. Earlier guns with an "M" stamped on the yoke had this fix retroactively applied. This again was a very intermittent issue, so you may never encounter it one way or another, but since you're looking for a shooter you might as well

 

[loc n load]

I'll let Nelson Ford and Brain Pearce speak for themselves, they would know:

Nelson Ford (discusses the Model 19 at around 09:10)

Brain Pearce

If you want a handy, classic blued Smith & Wesson with non-MIM parts and in .357 Magnum, you may consider a 586. If you do get a 586, you may want to go with either a 586-2 (or later), or an earlier gun with an "M" stamped on the yoke. Prior to the "-2" the 586 had an intermittent issue with certain brands of ammunition where the hammer nose would stick in the primer, tying up the cylinder. Earlier guns with an "M" stamped on the yoke had this fix retroactively applied. This again was a very intermittent issue, so you may never encounter it one way or another, but since you're looking for a shooter you might as well

I have owned & shot 19's & 66's since 1973. The flat area at the bottom of the forcing cone is the weak spot on these models. Having said that, I have seen high mileage K frame 357's at FLETC in the 80's that had thousands of magnum rounds through them without mishap. These were usually the Federal 125 gr 357 magnum loads.
It is generally acknowledged that the longer shank bullets like the 140's & 158's were not as likely to cause an issue.
You are going to get varying opinions about shooting a steady diet of full throttle magnum rds thru the K frames.
When model 19 & 66 barrels could be procured, the forcing cone issue was not that big of a deal.. You just bought a couple extra barrels and drove on.
I have extra barrels for my 19's & 66's, but have never needed them. I have several K frames 357's that have 60,000 plus rds thru them. Most of these loads have been 158 cast SWC,s over 13.5 of 2400.
I have seen cracked forcing cones. I know a fellow who cracked two of them shooting 1970's vintage loading data with max charges of 4227.
I have also seen cracked forcing cones on high mileage PPC revolvers that shot nothing but 38 spl wadcutters, again that flat, thinner section at 6 o'clock was the culprit.
Today if I was going to shoot tens of thousands of full throttle 357's thru a S&W, I would do as other's have recommended. Procure one the new 19's ( like you have) or a L frame and blast away.

 

[jkmo]

The forcing cone on my 19-4 cracked, so it happens

 

[bigggbbruce]

The forcing cone on my 19-4 cracked, so it happens

My 66-1 6" cracked. It sure does.

 

[Wfevans4]

Thanks everyone for pitching in. So, it is in fact a real possibility. I was hoping it was so rare that it was borderline a myth.

 

[old bear]

I was hoping it was so rare that it was borderline a myth.

It can and does happen. Using proper ammo will stop this from happening. Do know this is not an every day event, just watch your ammo choices.

 

[stansdds]

Except for the current production versions, the K-frame 357's were not intended to be used with a steady diet of full power 357 Magnum ammo. The K-frame 357's were developed for law enforcement, which at the time would have officers practice with 38 Special and use full power ammo only for qualification and carry. Also, the standard full power load was a 158 grain load. Under these conditions, the K-frames held up well. When law enforcement switched to the high velocity, 125 grain magnum loads and changed their practice ammo to full power ammo, the weaknesses of the K-frame became evident. It also did not help when S&W moved the gas ring from the cylinder to the yoke, which required even more clearance between the barrel's extension and the crane, making that thin spot at the bottom of the extension even thinner. I think this was done late in the production run of the 19-3, then S&W went back to putting the gas ring in the cylinder during the run of the 19-4, but continued to make the generous clearance cut on the barrel extension.