Model 57 Reliability

[Fairlane]

I have a no dash 57 with 6" barrel. This is one of favorite revolvers. Question is do the 57's suffer from the same issues as the 29's? I thought the dash 4 and dash 5's on the 29 were to address issues of wear with heavy use. Since the 57 is a N frame does it suffer from the same issues?

Thanks

 

[mkk41]

The only 57s I've heard of that had any problems were shot with thousands of 'extreme' handloads. Gunwriter Frank James claims to actually have distorted the frame on one of his 57s. Never heard of any that saw a steady diet of factory or 'normal' level handloads , including mine to have any issues. And I've used some hot 250-295gr bullet loads.

 

[PA Reb]

The model 29-5 was actually when S&W, under new ownership, addressed the "issues" relating to the 29. As for the model 57, I've personally never heard of problems with them. I've owned and fired them for many years and believe it is a top notch caliber that never earned due respect because of the .44 magnum craze.

By the way, I don't believe the model 29 ever had any life changing issues!

 

[Fairlane]

Thanks. I'll keep shooting it. Like I said one of my favorites

 

[NE450No2]

I am still shooting my first 2 Mod 29-2's I bought in the early 1970's.
I have shot a lot of full power 240gr cast and jacketed loads with 22.5 gr of 2400 and 24gr of H 110.

I have had them tuned up, the 6 1/2" twice and the 4" 3 times by a qualified S&W armour over the years.
Both were used as Duty guns and hunted with.

They have shot a LOT of 240gr loads with Unique loads as well.

I never had any issues with either one of them.

I have dropped my 2400 loads down to 21 grains [I am still shooting old 2400], cannot tell any difference in killing power.

 

[mkk41]

I'd also attribute much of the Mod.29/.44 mags perceived 'weakness' to overzealous handloads.

In fact , if ya look at Remingtons ammo page , you'll see that their 210gr JSP .41 mag loading packs a higher power rating (788 ft.lbs) than their 240gr .44 mag (741 ft.lbs).

 

[Sportsterguy]

Said it before. The .41 mag with the right load will do anything a .44 mag will do. Had 3 .44's and now have none, but my .41 mag collection continues to grow. My six inch 76 vintage 57 has made two trips back for tuneups. That was from shooting well over 15K rounds of heavy loads through it. If I would have started reloading sooner and downloaded it doubt if I would have had to have sent it back. It'll still take a deer with ease at 50 yards and in my younger days took longer ones but always made sure I had a good shot. It's still chugging along and has 43 deer to its credit.

 

[getoff]

my current fav is my 57 right now. mine is used, not abused, but used. locks up tighter than a lot of my newer smiths... i dont load so ammo is spendy, but i love to shoot it. i will continue to shoot it till i cant lift it up anymore!

 

[Revolver-time]

my current fav is my 57 right now. mine is used, not abused, but used. locks up tighter than a lot of my newer smiths... i dont load so ammo is spendy, but i love to shoot it. i will continue to shoot it till i cant lift it up anymore!

I am with you. I have a 57 that is very tight. I need to add a set of 41 dies to the bench though. Factory ammo is too much. I can reload about 5 boxes of 45 ACP to one box of store bought 41s.

 

[fyimo]

I sold my only Model 57 no dash because I didn't want to carry another caliber in my ammo inventory. The 41 Magnum 9is a great round but like others have said you need to be a reloader to cut the ammo costs. I'm a reloader so my issue wasn't the ammo cost just the fact that I have so many different calibers all ready that I decided to trade the Model 57 with 4 inch barrel for an equal condition Model 29-2 with a 4 inch barrel.

 

[44wheelman]

My personal opinion is that if you keep bullet weight to 230 grain or less, it will outlast you.

I had a buddy beat the snot out of a 29-3 using 300 grain bullets, I tried to tell him....