Model 19 cracked forcing cone - odds

Wfevans4 · Saturday at 11:33 PM

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 · Saturday at 11:39 PM

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 · Saturday at 11:50 PM

The new ones are tough. Buy one to shoot.

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

skipcress · 2025-08-31T00:45:42-0400

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 · 2025-08-31T10:01:43-0400

skipcress said:
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 · 2025-08-31T10:15:44-0400

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

bigggbbruce · 2025-08-31T20:09:34-0400

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

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

Wfevans4 · 2025-08-31T22:29:18-0400

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 · 2025-08-31T22:38:44-0400

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 · 2025-09-01T07:13:16-0400

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.

Shadow1006 · 2025-09-01T09:19:31-0400

My 19 while it doesn't have 10K rounds through it it has had some stout loads with Blue Dot Powder over the years and so far the forcing cone is OK!
Caliber – 357 Magnum
Powder-Blue Dot XX.0grs
Case – Mixed
Primer – CCI 500
RCBS 180gr Gas Check Silhouette
COL – 1.660" Sized .358"
Velocity 1320 feet/per sec

ImDrRich · 2025-09-01T09:29:54-0400

Wfevans4 said:
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.

In the 70's when I had a Model 19, I was warned to shoot mostly .38 special and go very easy on the .357 magnum. That K frame was never really suited for the constant pressures of the .357.

Am I surprised that it happened on the "classic" model? I wish I could say 'yes' but QC being what it is . . . .

walkin' trails · 2025-09-01T11:27:04-0400

I've never seen it, but don't doubt it could happen. I have seen K-frames that digested more magnums than the, "shoot wadcutters for practice and training and magnums for duty" line tend to get out of time and spit lead really bad. And that was with 110 grain SJHPs rather than the 125s.

Mike SC Hunter · 2025-09-01T11:35:51-0400

old bear said:
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.

NO it won't........WHAT is your so called proper ammo???............Repost from the 80's........150 gr gr lead SWC hand loaded.................Again......What is your proper ammo?

VinnieL59 · 2025-09-01T11:56:21-0400

walkin' trails said:
I've never seen it, but don't doubt it could happen. I have seen K-frames that digested more magnums than the, "shoot wadcutters for practice and training and magnums for duty" line tend to get out of time and spit lead really bad. And that was with 110 grain SJHPs rather than the 125s.

Years ago I was qualifying as a LEO on an indoor range when the model 19 of the shooter adjacent to me started spitting lead. It was not a fun experience. Our Armorer loaded the range ammo. (125 gr hollowpoint .357 with 4.3 grains of Bullseye) I stepped back from the line. When asked why I told him the revolver of the lady next to me is spitting lead. Things stopped and she was given a loaner revolver until hers could be fixed.

Rock185 · 2025-09-01T13:03:54-0400

It happens, but I sure wouldn't lose any sleep worrying about forcing cone cracking, especially with the new Model 19s. Many years ago, when we all carried revolvers, I did see a Model 19 or two with forcing cones cracked at the 6 O'clock position, and one Python with more of a bulged, but not cracked, forcing cone. We we were Issued the .357 125 grain ammunition. I carried a 1972 manufactured Model 66 for several years back in the '70s and shot mostly Magnum ammo through it. Forcing cone didn't crack, but it badly needed a complete overhaul by 1980. I had S&W overhaul it, and started carrying a new L-Frame shortly afterward. Still have the old 66...

Model 19 cracked forcing cone - odds

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