5 inch barrel

Muley Gil · #51 11-17-2020, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

Now, yes.

Then, no.

In the 70s, I would decline a trade on a 3-1/2" gun.

A friend brought one into the shop in 75 and wanted to trade it for one of my guns. I declined. He came back with it 3 or 4 days later. I still had the gun he wanted. He'd been trying to sell his 3-1/2. He was a cop and knew how to move guns. He said "Get me out of it." I said "I'm gonna hurt you." He said "Hurt me" and we traded. That was in Atlanta, which is not a small gun market.

They were actually that hard to move back then. Anybody wanting to pack a 357 wanted a 2-1/2" 19 or 66.

The publicity given to 3-1/2 Reg Mags packed by G-Men and Lawmen before WW II, to a large extent done on this very board, have added the mystique to the 3-1/2" guns. BUT, don't forget, they didn't have a choice of a smaller, lighter magnum.

How many would have chosen a 3-1/2" N frame to wear with a suit if a 2-1/2" K frame had been available?
The Mod 19, a smaller, lighter 357 came about largely through the recommendations of Bill Jordan, just about the LARGEST man that ever packed a gun all day, every day.

Back in the late 1970s, I had a nearly new 6" M28 and I needed some money. I walked into one Birmingham, Alabama gun dealer and the owner said, "If that's a Smith & Wesson, don't even bring into the shop."

handejector · #52 11-17-2020, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truckman

I think he was lucky it was only a six-shooter...

...Ben

Another 70s story-
A guy came to the shop with a Mod 10-6 HEAVY barrel. Said the ammo I sold him (38 125 JHP) jammed his gun. The cyl would not open or turn. I said leave it and I'd take a look later. With a strong light, I could see a hollow point near the muzzle, but I could not see through the cyl gap. The barrel had a pretty good crack opening up right beside the locking lug and a pronounced bulge. I could barely see a glint of copper through the crack outside in sunlight.
He had said it sounded REAL loud when he was shooting, kicked hard, and spit lots of fire.

I knocked the barrel pin out and removed the barrel. A bullet was stuck halfway into the forcing cone. Since the barrel was split, I decided to saw it in half lengthwise. I sawed it from the sides so the bullet(s) would remain intact.
The forward bullet was a 158 JHP, which was a load I had never sold in 38 Special. Behind it were NINE 125 JHPs.

I called him up and said I figured out what happened and he could come by.

When he arrived, I asked him if he had shot any other ammo that day. He fessed up and said he had some of his buddy's reloads.

The forward 4 or 5 of the 125 JHPs had been swaged into flat pointed cylinder shapes with no contour at all. I think the 158 had stuck halfway down at the lug, and the following shots kept pushing it, which caused the crack beside the lug after the repeating blows.
I explained that the 158 gr that caused all this did not come from me. He took it well and left with his frame. He had a new barrel installed and kept shooting the gun.

I have to wonder how many bullets that guy could have stuck in an 8-3/8" barrel!!!

Muley Gil · #53 11-17-2020, 06:30 PM

I have read about several battlefield pick-up muskets where the barrels were slap full of Minie balls. The first shot misfired and the soldiers kept loading loading and pulling the trigger, probably without putting a fresh percussion cap on the nipple. It's a good thing that they DIDN'T fire with a barrel full of bullets and powder.

tacticalshooter · #54 11-18-2020, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowe

I ultimately filed the flats down

Apologies glowe, would you be so kind as to elaborate on what this means?

I am really appreciating the insight and reassurance from everyone here.

Muley Gil · #55 11-18-2020, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacticalshooter

Apologies glowe, would you be so kind as to elaborate on what this means?

I am really appreciating the insight and reassurance from everyone here.

The Henry has an octagon barrel. He filed down the bulged area. This is a very heavy barrel, so the filing didn't affect the strength of it.