I now this is a S&W Forum. But, I have an Old Model Black Hawk .357 with a 8 land and groove barrel. Had this gun for several years, always clean it. Just dawned on me the other night it had 8 lands ? Jacketed bullets seem to shoot ok , to mediocre; but lead bullets shoot great. I own no .38's but have a ton of .38 brass. 4.5 gr of TiteGroup and 158 gr Alox coated lead bullet .38 Special brass and wow this gun/barrel shoots. Its a Ruger barrel. Have got no responses on the Ruger Forum. Just seems odd to me , never seen this on any other handgun I own , or have owned