Model 19 cracked forcing cone - odds

[DRankin]

Cracked and missing forcing cones do happen. I saw several.

Avoid high pressure light bullet .357 loads. They hit their pressure peak right at the barrel cylinder gap.

Heavier bullets at the same pressure hit the peak down the barrel a bit. Much easier on the gun.

 

[Engine49guy]

1972 manufactured Model 66 badly needed a complete overhaul by 1980. I had S&W overhaul it,
View attachment 791462

Wondering if that 66 came with a .500 wide flash chromed target hammer / trigger and if so how low your serial is?

To the OP,
The K magnums weakness is the forcing cone flat spot at the 6 O'clock position, the L frame eliminated that weakness.
I havent handled the new K magnum but does your new one have that flat spot weakness?
If so perhaps an L frame is a better way to go, especially the new 7 shot Mountain gun with iL deleted, those tapered barrels and 7th hole actually make that MG lighter than a 6 shot K magnum plus 1 more round capacity.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Bought a new no lock model 19. Not too impressed. Not going to bash QC, but it got me wondering … I've read that on the older Model 19's the forcing cone could crack under constant full power loads. I shoot 158 grain, 357.

Are cracked forcing cones on older Model 19s really an issue or is it so rare I shouldn't worry about it? May just get me an older Model 19.

Probably not as likely with 158s. Anything heavier than 145 grain should be ok. The problem was the shorter bullets 125s, 110s, etc. As the bullet passed from the cylinder into the barrel through the barrel shank and forcing cone, the lighter bullets were too short and they did not keep the gap "closed" long enough to let the violent forces subside and apparently that tiny fraction of a second less was enough to cause the flame cutting. S&W and the FBI figured this out and that is why the FBI chose the Winchester Silvertip in .357 Magnum, which had a 145 grain bullet rather than the 125 grain load which screamed along at 1,450 fps.