.357 K frame ammo quesion

[axlracing]

Can someone tell me what the story is, back when i got my first model 19 4" I was told i shouldnt use hot loads in there because of the k frame being originaly made for a smaller round, and big 357 loads will possibly help the gun to loosen up or eve possibly crack.

Well i read on another post here on S&W forum somewhere ,lost it now but it said you should stay away from the 125gr and should stick to the 158gr in the .357 K frame ?

any info would be greatly appreaciated

 

[Model19man]

I bought a new M19-5 back around 1987. Put something like 7500 rounds of very hot "Elmer Keith Memorial" loads through it. Never a problem. The gun was stolen from my apartment in 1989 and never recovered. NRA insurance paid off a couple weeks later at full price of the gun.

That being said I am older and wiser today. I have another M19-5 that will only see 38 Special loads for paper targets and pneumatic plate shooting.

 

[john traveler]

The generally accepted information is that the M19 is based on the century-plus old K-frame size, orginally designed for the .38 Special class of ammunition.

Although made stronger, and heat-treated for magnum pressures, the design has a weak point: namely the relief cut at the six-o'clock position of the barrel stub or "forcing cone" area of the barrel. This relief cut is needed to clear the gas ring of the cylinder/crane. You notice that the L and N frame models do not have this cut. This cut results in many M19/M66 guns developing a split at this point.

It is believed that the barrel failures are caused by excessive firing of 110/125 grain full pressure .357 Magnum loads. It is thought that these shorter bullets do not allow full barrel-to-cylinder obturation and thus results in gas cutting of the forcing cone, weakening it to the point of failure.

Many shooters have reported extensive firing of 158 grain jacketed and cast bullet loads that do not result in M19/M66 damage. The problem only seems to exist with the lighter bullet weights.

 

[jtpur]

my 19-3 is 38 years old now. I was told when I bought it that a steady diet of .357 might crack the frame. I ran a few thousand rounds of .38 and plus P through it and several hundred more of .357 but have no idea what grain bullet although I know I fired a bunch of 158 and maybe some 125.....gun looks good as new and even better. I sent it back to S&W and they repaired some "endshake"

 

[lhump1961]

my 19-3 is 38 years old now. I was told when I bought it that a steady diet of .357 might crack the frame. I ran a few thousand rounds of .38 and plus P through it and several hundred more of .357 but have no idea what grain bullet although I know I fired a bunch of 158 and maybe some 125.....gun looks good as new and even better. I sent it back to S&W and they repaired some "endshake"

I have 3 model 66's and am curious if you are happy with the cost from Smith to do repair work on these guns. Mine all fire fine but one doesn't lock up as tight as the other two.

 

[old bear]

I no longer see any need to shoot .357 Magnum ammo through my K frames, at the range, any longer.That's what my L and N frame's are for. I do though load all of them with .357 Magnum ammo for S/D.

 

[fyimo]

+1 on what old bear said

 

[Martya]

What old bear said - with my 13-1.

 

[chief38]

I normally will shoot standard 38 specials through my K-Frame 357's, but when I do get the urge, I use 158 grain 357's. I have never had any problems with either my M65 or M19. I just don't feed them a steady diet of magnums.


Chief38

 

[sheepdawg]

It might be an old wives tale like the low number Springfield 1903 heat treatment issues but I'd hate to find out it's true. Shoot as many +Ps as you want and shoot nothing but 158 grain 357s when you have the itch.

 

[Cavaliere]

What old bear said - with my 13-1.

Feed (fed) all my K Frame .357s . 38 wad cutters for general shooting, and loaded .357s for carry.

 

[tops]

Don't shoot anything but 158 gr. SWC and 15 grs. of 2400 in my M19. If it breaks I will have it fixed. If it can't be fixed I will buy another one. Larry

 

[celticfisherman]

I've shot everything I can lay my hands on in mine.

However I will say after I started finding really good deals on 38 ammo I quit shooting so much mag. But I would never back down from it.