I'm a little confused because based on the opinion here S&W brought out a new line of 357 magnum revolvers in the L frame and that was only because they wanted a full under lug and heavier revolver when they could have just made an engineering change and added it to the Model 19 and 66. Anyway, everything I've read online said that they brought out the L series of revolvers because of problems with the light 357 magnum bullets causing problems with the forcing cones.
k frames and magnum rounds
- Thread starter smokin54
- Start date
If that was really the case, you would figure they would have discontinued the magnum K frames in 1981 when the L frame was introduced, not 2005 or whenever they did. Ironically they discontinued them after they introduced what was thought to be a fix, a re-designed K frame with a 2 piece barrel and modified yoke.
Sebago Son
Member
Doen't make much sense...
Funny that it took from 1956 until 1983 to find out there was a problem...
Funny that it took from 1956 until 1983 to find out there was a problem...
I can load 38 wadcutters even cheaper.
Yep. And those I shoot through one of my .38's
38-44HD45
Absent Comrade
Interesting, though mostly uneducational thread. If one is restricted to the use of factory ammo, then overuse of factory 125gr. JHP loads can accelerate wear in any .357 K-frame. Known fact. As to it being a matter of "light bullets," BS, and as to the idea that a small number of hot factory 125gr. loads can be a problem, the BS factor is even higher. Factory loadings of 110 gr. bullets are a non-issue, because they are loaded so light. It is ONLY the factory 125gr. screamers that are an issue at all. I tend to baby my K-frames more than I likely should, just because replacement parts and repairs are a problem. Will a reasonable number of hot 125gr. factory loads ruin or excessively wear a .357 K-frame? Hell, no! This subject is tee-totally worn out. If you have a nice K-frame magnum, don't fear that it will explode if you shoot a few hot, factory 125gr. JHP loads. If you want your K-frame maggie to last a long time, then limit your use of magnum ammo, REGARDLESS of bullet weight. The forcing cone issues are a bigger problem with 125gr.bullets, but insofar as overall wear to the gun, full-power 158gr. loads will beat it up just as much, if not more.
You wouldn't expect a Model 19 to stand up to the same heavy use that a Model 27 probably will, would you? I certainly wouldn't. But having said that, I will add I have been fortunate to have had quite a few Model 19s and Model 66s, for many years (some of them well before widespread use of the www came along), and in spite of all the recent-think that we see on the internet, I have complete confidence in them, for my uses.
What was it RR once said in a presidential debate a long time ago, "There he goes again!"
Surely no one acutally believes this, do they? Two-hundred and fifty-thousand rounds...
Please provide your source for these known facts.
Educate me. Clear up the B.S.
I mean, I'm ready to become a believer and put up with the dirty chambers and reduced accuracy.
But I need data.
Thank you.
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notsofast
Member
I have a N frame 357x8 for high powered magnums. I enjoy my M19 for it's lighter weight and classic style, beautiful and very smooth shooter. I won't shoot any bazooka powered charges with it or any bullets lighter than 158 gr. That's my approach other people may disagree.
dfariswheel
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The only thing I'd add to the subject is that we need to consider what happens if your gun does suffer a damaged forcing cone.
S&W no longer has barrels for many of the older model "K" frames and supplies of usable used barrels are drying up fast.
If you have a damaged barrel you may be left with a good frame and no barrel to replace the damaged one.
In the case of rare guns like my Model 66 with a 3" barrel a cracked forcing cone would be a catastrophe.
I plan on protecting it by shooting only heavier Magnum bullets and doing most of my shooting with .38 Special ammo.
S&W no longer has barrels for many of the older model "K" frames and supplies of usable used barrels are drying up fast.
If you have a damaged barrel you may be left with a good frame and no barrel to replace the damaged one.
In the case of rare guns like my Model 66 with a 3" barrel a cracked forcing cone would be a catastrophe.
I plan on protecting it by shooting only heavier Magnum bullets and doing most of my shooting with .38 Special ammo.
"My own department was a good example. Until the mid-late '70's (1970's to you youngsters) officer would use two guns to qualify and carry with.
As PPC was big back then they would show up with highly tuned target guns for range qualification. Then they would walk off the range, shove their duty gun back in the holster and go on duty without firing a shot."
My department had several officers who did similar things. Several detectives would carry J frame Smiths or M59s day in and day out on duty, and then on range day, show up with K38s or 6" Pythons.
Finally, the rules got changed to shooting with duty guns ONLY.
As PPC was big back then they would show up with highly tuned target guns for range qualification. Then they would walk off the range, shove their duty gun back in the holster and go on duty without firing a shot."
My department had several officers who did similar things. Several detectives would carry J frame Smiths or M59s day in and day out on duty, and then on range day, show up with K38s or 6" Pythons.
Finally, the rules got changed to shooting with duty guns ONLY.
dfariswheel: "I plan on protecting it by shooting only heavier Magnum bullets and doing most of my shooting with .38 Special ammo."
notsofast: "I won't shoot any bazooka powered charges with it or any bullets lighter than 158 gr. That's my approach other people may disagree."
I wouldn't disagree with either of you folks.
You are stating what you will or will not do with your own gun and that's cool. My problem is with the preachers who say "if you want your gun to last, you need to ..." or similar without the benefit of facts.
notsofast: "I won't shoot any bazooka powered charges with it or any bullets lighter than 158 gr. That's my approach other people may disagree."
I wouldn't disagree with either of you folks.
You are stating what you will or will not do with your own gun and that's cool. My problem is with the preachers who say "if you want your gun to last, you need to ..." or similar without the benefit of facts.
Many of us in law enforcement in the 70s or 80s were advised by department armorers that K frame smiths could crack a frame AND that usually happened with a heavy diet of 125 gr .357 Mag factory loads. Advice was practice with .38sp or 158 gr .357 mag. sight in with 125 gr. Mag and only shoot a few. As training requirements went up most departments started requiring only the duth gun and duty ammo could be used for qualification. The 125 gr. .357 mag was very hard on both the gun and the shooter. The L frame had more weight and a tougher design for shooting the 125 gr .357mag. Soon auto fever made the issue unimportant.
In ALL of my K-frames (that are made for .357) I shoot the 125 gr load enough to know where it will hit, but I do not shoot them often.
my .02
Doc
In ALL of my K-frames (that are made for .357) I shoot the 125 gr load enough to know where it will hit, but I do not shoot them often.
my .02
Doc
Hannibal Barca
Member
When I saw this kind of post I wonder what about those J frames chambered in .357 Magnum.
I know almost nobody is going to shoot a lot .357 Magnum loads in a J frame revolver, but if the K frame is weak for a constant diet of .357 loads (at least weak for some loads), how will the J frames .357 Magnum be?
I know almost nobody is going to shoot a lot .357 Magnum loads in a J frame revolver, but if the K frame is weak for a constant diet of .357 loads (at least weak for some loads), how will the J frames .357 Magnum be?
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ruger-p94
Member
I have just reloaded about 1000 rounds of 158 grain with 7 grains of Unique for my Model 13-3. I'm also 64 years old so I am not going to worry to much about the cone. I figure I will be gone before the cone cracks. For me the 158 grain is meant for the K frame. It shoots nice and I am sure S&W would have done something about it if there was a problem. If I wanted to fire a 38 I would have bought one....come to think of it I did....that age thing again...
Back in the 70's I loaded 125jhp over 19.5 grains of Hercules 2400 for shooting in N frames. I am pretty sure these loads would have caused problems in K frame guns. I think that any factory loads today are not likely to beat a K frame to bad.
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