Model 19-5?

[Drawdown]

My 1st post on here. I just got a good looking Model 19-5 357mag 6" and was wondering about ammo's. I've had one 357 years ago, a ruger, and I always just used 158gr ammo in it. One of the primary reasons I got this pistol is for Bear protection. I do a lotta squirrel hunting with only a 22 rifle, and it's just a matter of time till I bump nose's with one and I'm getting way to old to wrestle or run! I'm wanting to load it with either Buffalo Bore's or Grizzly ammo in the 180gr flatnose. Believe these are kinda hot, and I figured the 19 would handle it?? One thing I like about the 357 is I can do plenty shooting and practice with 38's.

It cleaned up nice and I took handle's off to clean also. It had in heavy ink on the inside of handle April 14 1988, so I'm thinking date of manufacture.

I'm tickled to death with this pistol cause I've had my eye on either the 19 or a Colt Trooper since I growed up in the seventy's.

I's always a rifle or shotgun hunter but am wanting very much to try me a small doe with it and it's an exact duplicate, weight and feel wise of my Taurus 96 22 which I need to step up with and try for some squirrels!

 

[silentflyer]

158's are fine, not sure about a steady diet of 180's or 125's through it.

 

[Voyager28]

My woods gun is a Model 66 (which is the stainless steel version of the Model 19) loaded with Buffalo Bore 180 grain LFN-GC. But, at the range I fire 99% 38 Spl ammo and only occasionally fire full .357 Magnum. The .357's I fire are always at least 158 grain. I never shoot anything lighter than that.

From experience I can tell you that the BB 180 grain will handle a Black Bear quite nicely. (2 years ago had a female Black Bear got really nasty with me) I wouldn't want to trust it against a Grizz but, here in Florida, we don't have those.

Your Model 19 should handle the above routine without any issues at all.

Bob

 

[PR24]

The other two posters are correct. The 'shooting loose' issues with magnum K's is from people & police who shot full power stuff A LOT. Some of those fears are also unfounded internet bull too. The average joe shooter won't wreck their magnum K with the normal amount of shooting most do. Unless you are a masochist, who wants to torture their hand like that? Besides, .38 is cheaper & gentler.

However; do shoot enough mags to be proficient. I cringe when gun writers say to carry magnums & shoot .38's. DUH! How about recommending some practice with said defense ammo?? They do have very different recoil impulses.

Enjoy the new toy.

 

[Drawdown]

It's a shooter!

Give it a good test run yesterday with 3 kinds of ammo. Shot plenty of Aquila 38's to check for grouping and sights. Then I shot some Grizzly 180's. After I became comfortable with the recoil I really started just squeezing the trigger. They pretty much gouped in same spot as the 38's so I had to adjust my sights. It was shooting at the right level but a good 1" or more to the right @ 15yds. Got the sights dialed in close with the 38's, confirmed with the Grizzly's and finished with a round of BuffaloBore 180's. I'm perfectly happy with this Model 19 for my use, and with more practice, and just a bit of fine tuning, I'll get better with it. For me if it ain't accurate it ain't worth having! It's not to big & heavy for packing, squeezes off them gentle 38's like a rimfire, and capable of Deer or Bear loads. It's Shooter!

 

[Texas Star]

My woods gun is a Model 66 (which is the stainless steel version of the Model 19) loaded with Buffalo Bore 180 grain LFN-GC. But, at the range I fire 99% 38 Spl ammo and only occasionally fire full .357 Magnum. The .357's I fire are always at least 158 grain. I never shoot anything lighter than that.

From experience I can tell you that the BB 180 grain will handle a Black Bear quite nicely. (2 years ago had a female Black Bear got really nasty with me) I wouldn't want to trust it against a Grizz but, here in Florida, we don't have those.

Your Model 19 should handle the above routine without any issues at all.

Bob

Bob-


Please tell us more about this. Weight of bear, where your shot(s) hit, distance, etc. Behavior of the bear that caused you to shoot. Where did you hold the sights on the bear?

I'm always interested in defensive use of handguns on large animals, but few provide many details. That can be very interesting to others who may have to shoot a bear with a .357. Did you dig out the bullets? How deeply did they penetrate? Was any bone involved? Bullets expanded? How much, if so.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Voyager28]

Bob-


Please tell us more about this. Weight of bear, where your shot(s) hit, distance, etc. Behavior of the bear that caused you to shoot. Where did you hold the sights on the bear?

I'm always interested in defensive use of handguns on large animals, but few provide many details. That can be very interesting to others who may have to shoot a bear with a .357. Did you dig out the bullets? How deeply did they penetrate? Was any bone involved? Bullets expanded? How much, if so.

Thanks in advance.

Not really a whole lot to tell. It all happened very quickly. Female bear probably around 225 lbs. Didn't actually weigh her but that was the LE's guess. I was squirrel hunting, 22 rifle, and had my 66 on my hip as I normally do. Heard a loud snort and saw the bear get up off to my left about 30-40 yards from me in a patch of fairly heavy underbrush. So, I started slowly backing away and making a lot of noise as I had done in the past. The bear started making loud "huffing" noises and snapping her jaw and swaying her head from side to side and showing no signs of retreating. I laid my rifle down (figured I'd come back and get it later)and drew my revolver (model 66-1 with 6" barrel loaded with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast bullets).

I continued to back away but, unexpectedly, she started to come towards me in sort of a crouching, head down posture. (This actually gave me a good view of the top of her head) when she got about 20-25 yards from me and showed no signs of backing down I put a round in the top of her head, slightly left of center about 2" above her left eye. I backed it up with a second shot to the top of her head. Probably was not needed but I did it almost without thinking. After a few minutes I approached her and she was dead. I then left and went to my car and drove to where I had cell phone coverage and called the DNR and told them what had happened. They asked me to wait for a LE and show him the bear which I did.

Officer showed up, I took him to the bear and he filled out a report. When we rolled her over there were two nasty exit wounds at the base of her throat. The officer took possession of the bear, I got my rifle, went home and got out a bottle of good bourbon.

That's about it.

Bob

 

[kbm6893]

My woods gun is a Model 66 (which is the stainless steel version of the Model 19) loaded with Buffalo Bore 180 grain LFN-GC. But, at the range I fire 99% 38 Spl ammo and only occasionally fire full .357 Magnum. The .357's I fire are always at least 158 grain. I never shoot anything lighter than that.

From experience I can tell you that the BB 180 grain will handle a Black Bear quite nicely. (2 years ago had a female Black Bear got really nasty with me) I wouldn't want to trust it against a Grizz but, here in Florida, we don't have those.

Your Model 19 should handle the above routine without any issues at all.

Bob

I touched off ONE round of .357 158 grain (I think) without hearing protection once and it felt like somebody jammed and ice pick in my ear. I know it's better then being eaten, but how do hunters shoot without ears on? How was it?

 

[Voyager28]

With a bear staring me in the face I didn't even notice. However, when hunting with anything larger than a 22, I keep soft plugs in my ears.

Bob



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kbm6893]

With a bear staring me in the face I didn't even notice. However, when hunting with anything larger than a 22, I keep soft plugs in my ears.

Bob



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting. No ringing later?

 

[Drawdown]

Voyager, that's the exact circumstances I'm afraid I'll wind up in. My 19 is loaded with 180 gr flatnose BB's! According to the recoil they pack a wallop!

 

[Voyager28]

Interesting. No ringing later?

Nope. Not a bit.

Bob


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BigBill]

I shot six rounds of my stout 125gr jhp reloads as my ear plug fell out. My ear hasn't stopped ringing ever since.

Firing off my 338wm in the woods with no hearing protection I never heard a thing.

 

[Yorkie Man]

It's called auditory exclusion, under the stress of defending yourself your brain shuts down your sense of hearing. During my first shooting as a police officer I didn't hear a thing and everything slowed down, I was actually waiting on the slide to cycle in order to fire the next rounds.

 

[Drawdown]

Finally got another chance to give my Mod 19 a good ammo workout. I run a number of different brands & loads thru it and it seems to actually do well with em all. I tried some 158gr JHP Sellier&Ballot first and after I calmed down from the first 6 they did well. The load I did best with was 180gr JHP Federals. One group was almost one-hole. Already being used to the recoil I did only one group with the 180gr flatnose BuffaloBores, but it was a good tight group. I've already proven the 180gr Grizzly flatnose in it so I didn't waste the $'s. After that I went to fun shooting with American Eagle & Aquila 38's. I did my part and the 19 laid em all in there, off rest & off hand single action, and then off hand double action.

I'm more than satisfied with this pistol and it will be on my side soon when squirrel hunting. Maybe someday I'll take a deer with it I hope!