K Frame cracks

[gtoppcop]

Bananaman,

As you can tell we have a lot of sage advice by folks in the know. Suffice it to say that there are three (3) main causes to my mind's eye.

1.) Dirty Forcing Cone (encrusted with lead) having to handle a 25-50K degree nano-second flame cut.
2.) A high volume of quick shooting that doesn't allow the gun to cool down (not the ONLY cause mind you, but one of them).
3.) Different burn rates/burn temps of powder that are used in the factory .357 Mag lightweight bullets.

I'd be willing to bet in the intervening 50+ years of the Combat Magnum's existence, metallurgy and ammo manufacturing processes have changed for the better.

I have a Model 65-5 and a 19-5 that I shoot regularly, albeit not with high-power Magnum loads. I did shoot a box of the excellent Buffalo Bore 125gr Magnum (+P) through both guns without a hiccup. In fact, it didn't even do any flame-cutting to the top strap. Tim and his Buffalo Bore Team are good stewards of the .357 Magnum.

Bottom Line: Shoot all the magnums you want, just don't mix lead and jacketed bullets and DON'T shoot it at the cyclic rate. The 158gr Magnum (especially in Buffalo Bore and/or Remington trim) is just as good of a round. The Combat Magnum and Magnum M&P (revolver M&P) are GREAT guns that will give you years (if not generations) of service.

Hope this helps!

Greg Topp

 

[roaddog28]

As I understand the problem (?) with the split forcing cones was only in K frames. Your 629 is an N frame and the N frame forcing cones are thicker than those on the K frames'.

I no longer feel the need to shoot .357 Magnum ammo in my K frames any longer, that is what my L and N frames are for. I do though load full power .357 Magnum ammo in all my revolvers for Self-defense though.

Old Bear, although the K frames have according to reports split forcing cones, other heavier frame revolvers have too. Look at my above post. It shows a Ruger GP100 with a split forcing cone as the result of shooting a high round count of full power 125 gr magnums. The fellow was shooting about a 100 rounds a week. He did this for about a year and the above picture is the result. This fellow shipped it back to Ruger to get rebarreled. I think for average guys like me, I would shoot full magnums in moderation. And clean your revolver well and pay attention to the forcing cone. Have I ever used full power magnums. Yes, but only in moderation.
Regards
Howard

 

[three-five-seven]

re: frame cracks

In your post Bananaman you did not mention where the frame was cracked. However I will guess like others that it is the forcing cone. Sometimes forcing cones crack on revolvers (anybodys) when a jacketed bullet is shot in order to "clean out " all the leading that has built up. I would have the revolver checked out by Smith and Wesson or by a competent revolver doctor (Smith and Wesson warranty center" and get it repaired.